Thursday, October 1, 2020

Texas Monthly - Month 1

 I was super excited when my good friends at Stitchin' Heaven  asked if I could participate in their Texas Monthly Block of the Month program and share tutorials for the blocks each month.  You all know how I love tutorials and this quilt is made from all Grunge fabric, my favorite!  So of course, I was all in.  So each month, be sure to check back in for the months blocks and helpful hints on how to put them together.

So now, let's get to Texas!!!  Month 1 is a Courthouse Steps Block and 2 Flying Geese Blocks.   And how great are those beautiful panels by Watercolor Artist Katheleen McElwaine from Georgetown, TX that we will be adding to the blocks!  So get your package open and let's get going.



The Courthouse Steps Block



STEP 1 - CUTTING

Cut your Courthouse Steps Fabrics 12, 8, and 19 according to the cutting instructions.  Trim your Boots Panel to 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".  To center your panel, use an 8 1/2" square ruler.   Measure in 1 1/8" in from the top of the ruler to the top of the boot.  Measure in 1 1/8" from the bottom of the ruler to the bottom of the boot.  Measure in 1 1/2" from either side of the ruler to the toe edge of each boot.   These measurements will center your panel perfectly, then trim around all 4 sides of your ruler so your panel measures 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" square.



STEP 2 - PIECING THE BLOCK

Layout your Boot Panel and 4 Fabric 12 Strips as shown below with the shorter strips on the top and bottom and longer strips on the sides.


Place the top and bottom Fabric 12 strips onto the panel with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of the top and bottom.   I don't use pins as I don't have to worry about aligning any seams, but you can surely use them to align the edges if you prefer.


Press the top and bottom seam allowance outwards towards the Fabric 12 strips.  Now place the longer Fabric 12 strips onto the two sides of the panel with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of the two sides.


Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Fabric 12 strips.  And now we Repeat!   Layout the 4 Fabric 8 Strips and align the top and bottom strips with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of the top and bottom.   


Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Fabric 8 strips. Align the 2 side strips with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of the 2 sides.   


Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Fabric 8 strips.  And one more Repeat!   Layout the 4 Fabric 19 Strips and align the top and bottom strips with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of the top and bottom.   


Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Fabric 19 strips. Align the 2 side strips with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge of the 2 sides. 


Press the seam allowances outwards towards the Fabric 18 strips.    And you are done.  Your unfinished block should measure 14 1/2" x 14 1/2".    You can choose to square your block up if you prefer, but I don't like to square blocks as I prefer to use my seam allowances as guides and not accidentally cut off points ;) 



The Flying Geese Blocks


STEP 1 - CUTTING

Cut your Flying Geese Fabrics 7, 19, 21, 25, and 11 according to the cutting instructions.  I found it helpful to cut Fabric 11 into a 4 1/2" x WOF Strip and then stack my Fabric 7, 19, 21, and 25 together and cut a 2 1/2" x WOF (21" in this case) strip.   Then I could simply crosscut all 5 fabrics at once 8 times at 2 1/2" to cut all of the pieces needed for my block.  


When trimming the panels for the Flying Geese Blocks I used an 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" ruler and paid attention to the 6 1/2" horizontal line on the ruler.  For the Longhorn Panel, Align as shown, with the top of your ruler 3/8" from the top of the horn.  Align the right hand side of the ruler 3/8" in from the edge of the horn.   And finally Align the bottom of the longhorn 3/8" up from the 6 1/2" horizontal line on your ruler.  This means the Left hand side will be overlapping the design slightly, but better to cut off some bush, then the horn :)      Trim around the two sides and top of the ruler.


Now rotate your panel 180 degrees and align your long 6 1/2" ruler up with the bottom of the panel.   Trim the top (which is actually the bottom of the picture) of the panel so your panel measures 6 1/2" x 8 1/2".


For the Flag Panel, Align as shown, with the top of your ruler 7/8" from the top of the flag.  Align the right hand side of the ruler 1/2" in from the top tip of the flag.  Align the left hand side of the ruler 1/2" in from the bottom tip of the flag.   And finally Align the bottom of the flag 7/8" up from the 6 1/2" horizontal line on your ruler.  Trim around the two sides and top of the ruler.


Now rotate your panel 180 degrees and align your long 6 1/2" ruler up with the bottom of the panel.   Trim the top (which is actually the bottom of the picture) of the panel so your panel measures 6 1/2" x 8 1/2".  And with that, we are ready to stitch.



STEP 2 - MAKING THE FLYING GEESE UNITS

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of your (32) 2 1/2" squares.  (Note* if you use a Clearly Perfect Angle, Diagonal Seam Tape or similar marker, you can skip this step. )     Divide your Marked squares in half, setting 4 of each of the 4 fabric squares aside.  Place a marked square onto a 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle of Fabric 11 with right sides together as shown.  Sew a 1/4" directly on the drawn line.  


To save time and thread, we will chain stitch these units.  Chain Stitching simply means not clipping the threads between units.  So to start, stitch on the drawn line of your first unit.  When you get to the end of the unit, just start feeding the next unit in your machine.   Stitch on all 16 units.   Then clip your threads between the Units.


Now move to your cutting mat and align your ruler 1/4" over the stitched center line.  Cut along the edge of the ruler and scrap the two loose triangles.  Press the seam allowance upwards towards the triangle.  And now you can repeat for the second side of the unit using those 16 squares you set aside.  Place a matching colored marked square on the other side of the unit with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the drawn line, trim 1/4" over the seam line, and then press towards the triangle.  


Once again, we will chain stitch these units to save time and thread. Stitch on all 16 units, clip your threads, trim and press.



STEP 3 - PIECING THE BLOCK

And just like that, you have 16 beautiful flying geese that should measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2", and again, I don't square these up, as I want to be able to have the seam allowance at my point.    Now layout your 16 Flying Geese Units in two blocks as shown below paying close attention to color and orientation.  


Sew the 4 rows of units together in the 2 blocks.  To do this, I simply place the first Unit onto the second with right sides together and align and pin the raw edges.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge. (* see next picture for hint in stitching).  Then repeat by placing the now sewn together first and second unit onto the third unit with right sides together  and align and pin.   Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge.   Repeat for the last unit in the row.   Again, chain stitch all 4 rows will save you time and thread!


When stitching the flying geese units together, I have you pin with the first unit on top for a reason.  This way you can see your seam lines.  If you stitch directly through the center of the thread X created by your seams, you will get a perfect point every time.


Now. I like to press my seams open at this point to avoid bulk, but pressing is personal, so if you prefer to press to one side, go for it.   Now simply align the top row onto the bottom row with right sides together.   I like to use this Pin Trick (click on link for tutorial) to align my matching points of the flying geese.   Then stitch a 1/4" along the pinned edge of each of your two blocks.


And again, there is a trick to stitching to get those perfect points.  If you stitch directly along the bottom of the fabric V you will get a perfect point, especially if you used the Pin Trick, as the below point is perfectly lined up as well!


Now once again, I like to press the center seam open so the bulk of all those seams lies flatter but you can press to the side if you prefer.   Finally, Layout your two Panels below the Flying Geese portion of the block.  Place the Flying Geese portion onto the Panel with  right sides together and align and pin the edge.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge and again, stitch directly along the bottom of the fabric V's.  


Press the seam allowances towards the Panels.    And you are done.  Your unfinished block should measure 18 1/2" x 14 1/2".    


And that is it for Texas Monthly, Month 1 :)

If you have any questions on this tutorial, please don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com or leave a comment.  

Hope y'all enjoy making this month's blocks and maybe even learned a few tidbits along the way.  Next month . . . Paper Piecing!

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5 comments:

  1. Cannot wait to get started

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  2. Hi Melissa - This tutorial is great. I'm really new to quilting and this is my first BOM. Should the flying geese measure 2.5 x 4.5 when unfinished? Thanks for your help!

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  3. This is my first BOM and I am very excited about completing the first blocks for February, 2023. I found that the panel I received for the longhorn was small enough that it was not necessary to trim the bush on the left side as indicated in the instructions.

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa