A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — 9-Patch

suznquilts

  9-Patch Block

I hope you had a wonderful Easter.

It was an odd Easter to be sure.

Our family was able to Zoom for a while thanks to our daughter, Clare.

That at least was fun to share some time together!

Now on to our 9-Patch block.

Had lots more fun going through my scrap basket!

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Cut:

  • 5 floral squares 1 1/2″
  • 4 green squares 1 1/2″

 

Arrange.

Chain piece into rows.

I have better luck not pressing these at this point.

I think it makes the seam nest better if not pressed really flat.

Just pin the seams toward the green fabric.

Perfect match in the corners each time.

I pressed the last seam open &

removed the stitches in that seam allowance.

It shows a bit better on these more contrasting fabrics.

Sorry to be so redundant,

but so quick & easy to make 3!

 

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — Basket

suznquilts

  Basket Block

Since I don’t want to be sewing on Easter Sunday,

Easter Mass & family celebrations or not,

I thought others might feel the same.

So here’s your block for tomorrow, today!

How fitting that it’s a basket, huh???

Today we’ll make this original tiny basket block

that I designed just this morning.

As always I had lots of fun going through my scrap basket!

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Cut:

  • 1 background sq. 3  1/2″
  • 1 basket sq. 3  1/4″
  • 1 basket BIAS rec. 3/4″ x 5″ (cut on the diagonal of the fabric) for use with 3/8″ bias tape maker (if using another size, check the instructions for your bias tape maker 1/4″ or 1/2″ would also work.)

Follow the instructions on the bias tape maker

to turn the 3/4″ x 5″ bias strip into a fused handle.

If you do not have the ability

to fuse the bias strip as your make it,

just cut a 3/16″ x 5″ strip of fusible web

& fuse it to the bias piece after you make it.

Crease the background square in both directions.

Find the center of the bias strip.

Align it with the crease 1  1/4″ from the top of the background square.

Use this as a guide to fuse the handle.

Be sure to align it well inside the 1/4″ seam allowance

at the two sides of the background square.

You may need to use a bit of glue too since the curve is so tight.

I didn’t.

I just went right to my sewing machine & stitched it down.

I used the same tiny blind hem stitch

that I use for all of my little Dresden plates & other applique.

My second basket block’s fabrics have more contrast

& may be easier to see.

The thread should match the basket fabric.

Align the 3  1/4″ basket square with the

BOTTOM

corner of the background square as shown below.

I used my “Lazy Susan” technique once again,

aligning the 1/4″ line of the ruler

corner to corner on the

BASKET FABRIC 

square.

Next, I trimmed away the fabric outside the edge of the ruler.

I then used this edge to sew the scant 1/4″ seam.

I think the backs are so cool!

I truly just love figuring out the mechanics to make this work!

I hope you love making some “Easter” basket blocks.

 

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — Bow tie

suznquilts

  Bow tie Block

This is one of my all-time favorite blocks!

Today we’ll make this cutie.

A quick job going through my scrap basket today!

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Cut:

  • 2 background sq’s. 2″
  • 2 bow tie fabric sq’s. 2″
  • 2 bow tie fabric sq’s. 1  1/4″

I used my “Lazy Susan” flying geese technique today.

It makes this block even quicker.

Just put the 1  1/4″ bow tie squares

on the corners of the 2″ background squares

then trim & sew.

 

Simple.

Arrange then assemble the block.

So quick & cute!

More fun…

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

& I hope you have a happy Easter tomorrow!

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — Friendship Star

suznquilts

  Friendship Star Block

 

We’ll make this tiny friendship star block today.

Had more fun going through my scrap basket!

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Cut:

  • 4 cream squares 1 1/2″
  • 1 solid green square 1 1/2″
  • Make 4 cream/green half-square triangles using 1″ FINISHED Thangles™ or see instructions below for traditional piecing.

I used Thangles for the half-square triangles.

~~~~OR~~~~

If traditionally piecing the half-square triangles (hst’s),

Cut 2 green & 2 cream 2″ squares.

Place a cream square on top of a green square.

Draw a diagonal line on the cream square.

Sew a scant 1/4″ on both sides of the drawn line.

Cut apart the squares on the drawn line.

Press flat, then toward the green fabric.

Trim hst’s to 1 1/2″.

Use your favorite method.

Assemble your block.

Then if you want, make more!

 

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — A Quilt Of Variety

suznquilts

  A Quilt Of Variety Block

It takes more time to say the name than to make this block!!!

Today we’ll make this  very simple & fast block.

Not too many decisions going through my scrap basket for this one!

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Cut:

  • 2 black sq’s. 2″
  • 1 pink sq. 3  1/2″

Aside from my 1-Patch from April Fool’s Day,

you can’t get much simpler than this.

FYI this “pink” fabric is one of my favorite Thimbleberries fabrics

& that’s saying a lot knowing how many I have!

I used my “Lazy Susan” technique again today.

You can cut both corners at once then sew

since the corner squares don’t overlap each other.

Press, then voila!

So easy you’ll make a bunch in 5 minutes!

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — Louisiana

suznquilts

  Louisiana Block

Today we’ll make this cutie.

Hopefully not the one below.

It’s cute but when you change the placement of pieces you change the block!

Had lots more fun going through my scrap basket!

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Cut:

  • 8 black sq’s. 1  1/4″
  • 4 medium green rec’s. 1  1/4″ x 2″
  • 4 light green rec’s. 1 1/4″ x 2″

 

I used my “Lazy Susan” method again with the black squares and medium green rectangles.

I like to press to the path of least resistance so the first seam was pressed open and the second pressed toward the triangle.

Sew the flying geese to light green rectangles.

Careful of placement!!!

Press seams toward rectangles.

Arrange units into pinwheel design.

Sew units together to finish block.

I removed the couple of stitches in the last seam allowance which allows the seam to spin on the middle like on other blocks we’ve made recently.

Have fun making more!

I played with value placement in each of the blocks. It looks different with each fabric group don’t you agree?

Barbara Brickman’s illo looks different than all 3 of my blocks.

Oh & my first block that I was working on while being frustrated to waking to no internet AGAIN & also interrupted by AT&T calls because of our loss of internet, became a different block altogether…

Not that it’s ugly, but it’s not Louisiana!

Yes, I know how to rip out seams…

fortunately these seams are short!!!

It’s a fun block though & I enjoyed making each one.

I’d really like to enjoy our ridiculously slow internet again so I can get my work done!!!

Trying to work from my phone is tedious & a lot of tasks aren’t even possible. Here’s to hoping it gets fixed soon.

Please share your blocks on our Sewing With Susan FB Group.

Even if you’re just starting to sew blocks just jump in where you are.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — Susanna

suznquilts

  Susanna Block

Cool block!

Had lots more fun going through my scrap basket!

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Cut:

  • 4 gold rec’s. 1  1/4″ x 2″
  • 8 cream sq’s. 1  1/4″
  • 4 print sq’s. 1  1/4″

I used my “Lazy Susan” half flying geese technique

with the gold rectangles & cream squares.

Press seams open.

Sew the cream squares to the print squares.

Press seams open.

Arrange pieces for block.

Sew into 4 parts.

Press seams open.

Assemble block.

Removing the couple of stitches in the seam will allow it to press flat.

Easy to make this block nice & precise!

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — Pinwheel Oops!

suznquilts

  Pinwheel Oops! Block

I hope you had another nice weekend at home.

When the weather is cold it’s a lot easier to stay put, right?

It also means I wear my winter coat,

my heated vest (turned on),

a hat & gloves on my 2.4 mile walk each day.

We started walking every day a couple of weeks ago.

I look forward to it each evening.

Are you getting out?

You should!

Today we’ll make this cutie.

Are you familiar with those bread starter things?

Because of my oops! last week on the pinwheel block

you may have a Pinwheel Oops! block starter…

Not much work for my scrap basket!

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Cut:

  • 2 black rec’s. 1″ x 2  1/2″
  • 2 black rec’s. 1″ x 3  1/2″
  • use the too small pinwheel block(s) from last week trimmed to 2 1/2″
  • OR
  • 2 sq’s. each cut 1  7/8″ to make 4 half-square triangles 1  1/2″ unfinished

 

If making the hst’s you’ll need to trim the “ears”.

Assemble the 2  1/2″ pinwheel block.

Remove the couple of stitches in the seam allowance

& the seam will press very flat.

Sew the 2 black 1″ x 2  1/2″ rectangles to sides of pinwheel block.

Press seams toward rectangles.

Sew 1″ x 3  1/2″ rectangles to top & bottom.

Press seams toward rectangles.

I only made 1 block before I noticed my mistake

(sorry I still wrote a mistake into the instructions!)

& today I’m too lazy to make any more!

But it’s still 1-A-Day so I’m OK.

Update:

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your cute little blocks too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

A Quilt Along, My Life

1-A-Day, 3″ Blocks — Cotton Reel

suznquilts

  Cotton Reel Block

These blocks are all easy,

but today’s block is really easy.

 

Had lots more fun going through my scrap basket!

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Cut:

  • 2 color sq’s. 2″
  • 2 half-square triangles with 2 more squares cut 2 3/8″

 

Thangles seemed a bit over kill for 2 half-square triangles.

I used the traditional method for these.

There’s just a little bit of trimming necessary on the little ears.

So little work today.

Before you know it,

You’re done!

And then there were 3!

 

Show us your blocks at my Sewing With Susan FB Group.

We want to see your progress too!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan