June Block: French Macarons!

This is a quick and easy raw-edge applique block. Start with a 6" square and a 4 3/4" diameter circle (trace a CD to get the right size circle). Use a glue stick to hold the circle in place in the center of the square.

Topstitch the circle to the square using a straight stitch, buttonhole stitch, or a zig-zag stitch, as shown below. (I used a straight stitch, so I sewed around the circle twice, about 1/4" from the edge.)

After sewing, press. Then cut the square in half, horizontally, as shown below. Turn the bottom rectangle upside-down and sew the two together so that the block looks like the one at the top of this post.

FABRIC RECIPE: Choose prints and/or solids in tasty colors. Think: pink and red fruits, lemon, grape, orange, coffee, chocolate, etc. Also lacy prints, damasks, stripes, little dots, pastels. See the colorful macarons and my quilt in-the-works below.

Enter your name in the drawing once for each block that you bring to the June meeting.

Have fun!

Vee Block for May

When you see these blocks together in a quilt, you'll be so glad that you made some! 

They're quick and easy to make, and the quilt looks awesome. 

(Read to end before sewing.)

Start with a 6" x 6" white square. It could be ivory, ecru, a light print...

Measure from the two upper corners to the center of the bottom. Cut.

Cut 2 strips 1 1/2" wide using pretty spring/summer colors. Insert as shown below.

Then trim back to a 6" x 6" square.

Hint: If you start with a block a little taller than 6" it might easier when it comes time to trim. 

April 2013 - Long and Narrow Block: 6" x 55"

Let's make a Strata Quilt! Cut strips 1.25" wide from interesting fabrics in your stash. Sew the ends together  so you have 55" lengths. Then sew these strips together. Make a block about 6" x 55."

Enter your name in the drawing once for each block entered.

Helpful tip: After sewing a long seam, press before opening. This "sets the seam" and makes it easy to keep the seam straight when you press it open. Otherwise it can get a little curvy. 

This quilt was made by readers of the Selvage Blog from all over the world. I finished the quilt, and it now resides in Florida in the home of the drawing winner: the Quilting Violinist.

Remember to bring your Bow Tie blocks from February too!

March: No BOM. Charity Day!

The drawing for the (snow cancelled) February blocks will take place at the April meeting.

April block coming soon!

February: Fast Bow Tie

We need some color in February, and this quilt will do the job! This block takes less than 10 minutes to make, so you might want to make a bunch. Win the blocks, and your quilt is almost done!

Choose 2 fabrics: White (or ivory, ecru, parchment...), and a colorful Kaffe Fasset-type print.

CUT two 3" squares from each.

CUT one 2" square from the print. Cut in half diagonally.

Position a little triangle near the corner of the white square, as shown below. Sew the long side of triangle. Press. Trim.

Now, assemble your 4-patch, and you're done!

NOTE: Because everyone is adding the little triangles by eye, they won't all be exactly the same. I think that adds to the "cottage chic" charm. I also like the modern look of the whites (and off whites). The multi-whites will add depth. This will be a pretty quilt.

Calling All Orphan Blocks!

Bring some of your orphan blocks to the January meeting and you might be well on your way to making a "Kitchen Sink" quilt! I forgot I had these blocks. Any size, any color, any techniques. Anything, including the kitchen sink! As you can see above, just add a little "mortar" and you have a quilt top that will be fun to explore, like a collage. (Even the mortar could be scraps!) Very boho.

December: No Block this Month