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LADY OF THE LAKE 8 ½” block

 This quilt, made from 8 ½” blocks set on point, can be made to any size you want. I particularly want to cover a 4 foot bed so that it goes almost down to the floor. So in preparation, I have drawn a grid of the blocks on point to work out sizes. My finished block is 8 ½” square on the straight edges and it will measure about 11” from corner to corner.

I am using 2 colour ways, blues and beiges, and I want to use up fabrics from my stash. Unfortunately many are not the size I require so predictably I have had to buy in more fat quarters (Oh dear what a chore!!) I cut out as much as possible from each pair of fat quarters so nothing is wasted but then I swap the colours around to give maximum variety.

                                  Palette

 

METHOD

For 2 identical blocks, place one beige fabric RS together onto one blue fabric and cut the following:

1 square at 7” and 2 squares at 6 ¼”

On the 7” square, mark one diagonal line. On the 6 ¼” squares mark both diagonal lines.

                                 Mark the diagonals

Use a neutral thread to sew an accurate ¼” seam on both sides of all the diagonals. Press along the sewn lines afterwards to settle the stitches and the fabric.

                   Sew both sides of diagonals

Use a rotary cutter and ruler to cut along the marked diagonal line on the 7” square.

                     Cut on the marked line

On the 6 ¼” squares, cut along both of the marked diagonal lines. Then cut vertically and horizontally (not marked) across the middle of the square (3 1/8” from the straight edge of the 6 ¼” square).

TIP: If you have a good blade on your rotary cutter, you can do all these cuts without shifting the fabric, making it a much quicker process!

                   Cut diagonals and verticals

 

The 7” squares will produce 2 large squares made up of a blue and a beige triangle.

The 6 ¼” squares will produce 16 small squares.

                         Half square triangles

 

Place them in a pile on the ironing board with the dark (blue) square uppermost. Press the seam towards the dark (blue) fabric.

           Press seam towards the dark fabric

                           Pressed squares

On the cutting board, use a square ruler to trim away the excess fabric from around the edges. Reduce the large square to 6 ½”. Reduce the small squares to 2 ½”.  (Note: 2 small squares will be surplus to requirements.)

 Lay the block out as shown below.

                                     Layout

 

Sew 3 small squares together to create a short line and sew 4 small squares together to create a longer line.

                     Sew squares into lines

Sew the short line to the edge of the large square first and then sew the longer line along the top to complete the block. Make sure that the tips of the triangles are pointed.

                            Completed block

Press the seams lightly at this stage towards to middle of the block as seen below (the seams can be repositioned if necessary when the final top is constructed).

                            Press the seams

                                 2 8” blocks

Beyond the joy of learning how to construct an unfamiliar block, the other part of making a quilt is sheer slog! I work several blocks at a time so I am either cutting a lot or marking or pressing or constructing or pinning on the design wall. The work soon gets done.

Here is a re-cap of the important steps.

 

 

 

 

                   1 Mark, sew and slice

                                    2 Press

                                    3 Re-size

                                4 Construct

                                    5 Press

And before you know it you are well on your way to making a quilt.

                   Design wall

We fly to the Yellowstone National Park on Sunday/Monday so there won’t be a Blog next week. Whilst I am there, I will be looking out for more fabric for blocks, borders and backing. It should be far cheaper over there!!!!