January - Block of the Month is here!

Its Here!

Let me firstly explain why I have chosen the 8th to release this BOM first block to you all.  

On this day in 1919 my father was born, he left this world nearly 11 years ago.  Whilst I miss him daily, I look around and smile at all of the little anecdotes and quips he has left me with and it makes me remember all the times we had with great fondness.

So now lets get to the BOM!

I have decided to do one of the most traditional blocks known and one that everyone can achieve great results and on its own it makes a wonderful quilt.  I am talking about the 9 patch block.  I was traditionally made with 5 dark colours and 4 light colours or vice versa.  

This block was made as it was portable, quick and made up into wonderful quilts for the people moving west.  Talking about moving, I thought we would take a journey with this block as see what we can create keeping this block in mind.  The 9 patch is the common link in this BOM but we will look at lots that have derived from it and make them.  For this the first one you may wish to make one  keeping it neutral so that later on we can add appliqué on it saying BOM 2016.

So lets look at what we need.  Now you know your block you can decide on the fabrics you will use.  You can also decide to do this on machine or by hand.  I have done both.  I have made the blocks 12" finish so after they are sewn here they will measure 12.5" leaving the .5" for the seam allowance when sewing into a quilt.

both machine and hand pieced blocks

final layout for machine pieced

layout for hand piecing block

For your block you will need to cut out 9 pieces each at 4.5"  decide if you want to use only two or three colours.  You can play with the colours as I have done to see what you like best.  If you want to test your lights and darks change your photos to black and white mode.

 -firstly lets look at the machine pieced block:-

  

layout your block and take to the machine this way you know which pieces need to be sewn to what, do each row

1/4" foot fitted and ready

make the stitch length a bit smaller

quarter inch being sewn

see the quarter inch seam

chain piecing

one row sewn

Press your seams to the dark side read to sew the rows together

making sure you nest your seams

Then sew the rows together taking care to nest the seams

how nested seams should look

final block

wrong side of block 

now for the hand piecing block.  I have used my rotary cutter to cut the 4.5" blocks and I have use the perfect piecer by Jinny Beyer to mark dots for my quarter inch seam allowance, you might like to make a template or even just use a 1/4 ruler to mark you sewing line

I only drew on five of the block unit pieces

Marked ready for sewing

ready for sewing

Pin pieces 

start sewing at the first dot or the intersection of your lines

do a running stitch along the 1/4'

progressing along

one seam sewn

two seams sewn

sewing the rows together

coming to  the junction of the seams

sewing through the seams

completed block unpressed

Remember to check that your block measures 12.5'   this will help later if it is out your quarter inch is either out or your cutting.  

Now let the fun begin, please if I have left anything out just ask, and be sure to post this on the Wehago Designs Quilting Community Facebook group or on Instagram with a #WDBOM2016,  I look forward to doing all of the variations of this block with you and building on the skills you have.  I am so excited to see everyones creations.  Remember if you do not want to make a whole quilt of them just make a placemat or a bag, even a table runner.   All I suggest is we have fun and create together.

Ok everyone, lets go and have some quilt stash fun!

Waiting on you blocks,

Wendy.