Wednesday 2 September 2015

Fabri-Quilt Block Challenge.

     In the Spring I participated in the New Quilt Bloggers blog hop.  This was a great experience for me so when the call came at the end to participate in another blog hop this fall, I jumped right in.  This time we were given a fat eighth of each of the following fabrics and asked to design a 12 1/2" unfinished block . The fabrics are from Fabri-Quilt and the colour palette is Watermelon Summer.  The colours go together beautifully.



top row chartreuse, turquoise,coral
bottom row:light aqua,lapis blue and white

     Over 60 of us are sharing blocks during the blog hop this week. This is day three.  Stephanie of Late Night Quilter is the host for todays blog hop and there are 15 of us participating. There is more information on this at the bottom of the post

     I tend to be a follow the pattern kind of gal so the experience was a bit daunting but a  lot of fun also.  I was seeing potential block designs all over the place, and I had a hard time deciding what to settle on. In the end I decided to keep it simple and bold. 

      I'm sharing tutorials for two blocks today.  They are easy to make so if there are confident beginners reading this post, these blocks are for you.  You do need an accurate 1/4" seam, and I recommend washing the fabric first.


     The block on the left is the Double Diamond Star and the block on the right is the Graduated Cross.

1.  Double Diamond Star Block

Cutting instructions:   From each of the fabrics cut a 4"strip.
sub cut the strips into  four 4" squares.  You will need:

2 squares each of chartreuse, lapis blue, white and turquoise 
4 squares each of coral and light aqua.

Pair two  coral blocks with  two chartreuse blocks .
Pair two coral blocks with  two white blocks.
Pair two  light aqua blocks with two  turquoise blocks 
Pair two light aqua blocks with two lapis blue blocks.




      Draw a diagonal line corner to corner across one square for each pair, using a removable marking device.



     Sew the squares together, one quarter inch on each side of the line.  Cut through the squares along the line.  Press the seams towards the darker colour.

     Trim the blocks to 3 1/2". You will have a total of 16 half square triangle blocks.
4 coral and white (A)
4 coral and chartreuse (B)
4 light aqua and turquoise (C)
4 light aqua and lapis blue (D)

       Take one of each A,B,C and D,  and sew them into the following unit being careful to orient the fabrics exactly as shown in the picture.  Press the seams open.

      
 Make three more of these units.  Rotate the  four units as in the photo below  and sew them together to create the Double Diamond Star. Again press the seams open.


      I named this block the Double Diamond Star because of the secondary pattern that will form when multiple blocks are sewn together, creating rows of light aqua and coral diamonds.


2.  Graduated Cross Block

This block was made with the leftover fabric from the double diamond star.  The white fabric was in short supply which is why the striped units are constructed as they are.

Cutting:

 From each of the turquoise, lapis blue, chartreuse and light aqua fabrics cut one  1 1/2" strip the length of the fabric.

From the white fabric cut a 4 1/2" strip the length of the fabric. Sub cut this strip into four 4 1/2" squares.  From the remaining white fabric cut
one 2 1/2" square   
four rectangles 1 1/2" by 4 1/2"

Cut the light aqua strip into 
two rectangles 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" and 
two rectangles 1 1/2" by 4 1/2".

Sewing:   Use a quarter inch seam throughout.

Sew the chartreuse 1 1/2" strip to the turquoise 1 1/2" strip. Sew the lapis blue strip to the opposite side of the turquoise strip. Press the seams open

Sub cut this strip into 4 units 4 1/2 inches wide.


     Sew a white 1 1/2" by 4 1/2 " rectangle to the lapis end of the block making an A unit. Press the seam open. 



     Make four A units.

Sew the the two light aqua 1 1/2" by 2 1/2" rectangles to two opposite sides of the 2 1/2" white square and the two 1 1/2" by 4 1/2" rectangles to the remaining two sides. Making a B unit. Press the seams open.


     Sew the A and B units along with the 4 1/2" white squares into the three rows pictured below.  For the middle row I pressed the seams toward the centre .  For the other rows I pressed the seams towards the white squares.



     Sew the three rows together into the Graduated Cross Block.



     
    I named this block the Graduated Cross because the colours of the cross go from light in the middle to dark.  This gives the block a luminous quality.  I think this would make an awesome quilt with different graduating colour ways in different blocks.   

       My blocks are on route to Texas where they will be made into donation quilts with the other blocks from the hop.  They are going to be really colourful and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished quilts.

     Here are the links to the other participants in today's blog hop.  Please check them out. I'll be visiting them at a later date as I am on vacation with my sister in sunny Mexico! We left today.  I'll respond to comments when I return.


     And don't forget to visit our hosts for opportunities to win your own 1/2 yard bundle of the Watermelon Summer fabrics.  I'd love to see what you do with them.  The hosts are:  
       
                      Cheryl@MeadowMistDesigns
                                Yvonne@Quilting JetGirl
                               Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination
                                 Stephanie@LateNightQuilter 


Good luck with the draws!

33 comments:

Stitchin At Home said...

I like both your blocks but I my favourite is graduated cross. Well done.

Leanne Parsons said...

These are both beautiful blocks! I can't even pick a favourite between them, and I think both would make great quilts.

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness, two blocks!!!! Get out! And they are both excellent and eye catching. I can't pick a favorite either!

Tish Stemple said...

Two blocks...you go girl. I love the modern simplicity of the graduated cross block. And your Double Diamond Star would look great made on a larger scale and turned into a wall hanging. So many options :) Great job on both.

Heide said...

WoW! Two amazing and eye catching blocks.

Rosa said...

So gorgeous,love both!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I love both of your blocks but I want to jump up and go make graduated cross right now. It is an awesome block that would be so fun to play with color, Lisa!!! :)

Jayne said...

Winners! I am loving the graduated cross block! The possibilities there!! Great job!

Kaja said...

Have a great holiday! I am really enjoying seeing all these clever blocks I especially like ones like your star, where repetition produces secondary patterns.

Anonymous said...

Both of these blocks are great!!! I found your tutorials very easy to follow and your pictures just added to it!

Carol said...

I love the way your shoes match the blocks!

Quilting Tangent said...

Double Diamond Star is my favorite block for today.

the zen quilter said...

Really great use of the colors in the palette. Both blocks are great but I really love the graduated cross block - I know it is the simpler one, but it's graphic and I like the use of color! Very cool, good work!

Pamela said...

Beautiful blocks! Do you have some tips on how to get such perfectly matched seams?

Ruth said...

They are both gorgeous but I think the graduated cross has me thinking... Thanks!

Julie said...

I'm voting with the choir for the graduates cross because it's so simple, but you're star is equally as beautiful. So a big YES to both, and congratulations on sending 2 blocks off to be used so graciously! Woohoo!

Brenda said...

Awesome blocks you have created. I love these fabrics together. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!

Jennifer said...

Love your blocks and color combs. Great job.

Jennifer said...

Love your blocks and color combs. Great job.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Two blocks....both are great. Job well done.

Dena@LivingWaterQuilter.com said...

Woohoo! You did it. Your blocks are awesome. The graduate cross block on point would be interesting.

AStrangerView said...

Those are some really fun blocks. I love cross quilts, and love how your cross block is so different. Great job!

Karen said...

I love the graduated cross and can imagine how great it would look with some ombre action going on. Congrats on being part of such a great Hop!

SewPsyched! said...

that double diamond star is stealing my heart!!!
XX!

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

Hi Lisa, I love both your blocks. They are both very cheery. I think I might use a star now in my turn for Stash Bee. well done, good clear instructions too

Cassandra said...

Both of these blocks are lovely! You have really used the colors in this palette to their best advantage.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Lisa for your doable (to me) blocks. I like what you have created from these lovely colored fabrics.

Sandra Walker said...

Love both your blocks Lisa! Stars are and always will be, my favourite block. However, that graduated one--!! --has me saying eeek! I want to make it.

Diana @ Red Delicious Life said...

Really like both blocks but the graduated cross is my favorite. Love the colors you chose!

DebraKay Neiman said...

Thank you for two really great blocks. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

Liz said...

Both blocks are great! I really like the Graduated Cross, this would make such a striking quilt! I also really love how perfectly your shoes coordinate with the Watermelon Summer colour palette :)

Mary said...

Lisa, I am definitely going to make your double diamond star block. It looks doable for an advanced beginner, which is what I call myself now, lol. I love blocks that create secondary designs when sewn together. Take care, Mary.

Lorna McMahon said...

These blocks are REALLY pretty, Lisa! You know I love the solids....