I am so excited for today's post. Have you heard about The Desperate Housewife's Quilt??? It is being held by
Quilt Jane of Want It, Need It, Quilt. She is doing 50 different blocks in 50 weeks. Hoolay!!! And I was lucky enough to be asked to design and do a tutorial for one of these blocks. Thanks again Jane for letting me be a part of this super fun Quilt-Along!!!
Okay, So when Jane asked me to do a design for the Desperate Housewives Quilt I immediately thought of the Brady Bunch. Don't ask me why. It is not like Carol was desperate, she had Alice to do everything around the house right :) But I just kept thinking about it. (Maybe it is the blonde haircut in the picture button above) And the more I thought about it the more I knew what my block was going to be. You cant think of The Brady Bunch without thinking of the 9 Grid Square that they all stared at each other from :) So here's our block . . . let's get to it!!!
To make this block you will need - Nine different 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" blocks
Twelve sashing print 2 1/2" x 1" rectangles
4 sashing print 8 1/2" x 1" rectangles
***(Note . . . please pay attention to the sizes listed above and not the sizes mine look in the picture. I had a major pregnancy moment when putting this together and accidently did it a 12" block instead of the 8" block Jane requested. So just use the sizes above and you will end up with your 8" finished block :)
Lay out your fabric pieces as follows. Make sure to get your nine different blocks set out in a way that is pleasing to the eye.
We'll start by stitching the sashings to the squares. Lay your first three sashings in each of the square rows onto the left hand side of the print squares with right sides together. You can pin if you like but it isn't necessary. Sew a 1/4" seam along the edges of all 9 sets. Press towards the squares.
Your block should now look like this :)
Now lay your last sashing onto your last square with right sides together in each of the three square rows. Also, lay your first sashed square onto your second sashed square with right sides together in each of the three square rows. Once again, pin if you like, and sew a 1/4" seam along all 6 sets. Press again towards the square prints.
And now your block should look like this :)
Now one last step to finish the squre rows. Simply lay your last sashed square in each of the three square rows onto your now sewn together first and second sashed squares. Pin if you like. Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge and press towards the print square.
And now your block should look like this :)
And now you are ready to add the row sashing. This is the same process just longer. Lay the sashings along the top of the first and second square row with right sides together. And lay the sashings along the top and the bottom of the third row with right sides together. Pin if you like or just align as you go. Sew a 1/4" seam along the edge and press out towards the sashings.
And now your block should look like this :)
So lay your first square row onto your second square row with right sides together. Make sure to align your seams. You can check this by pinning in the center of teh seam and then on the back side check to make sure the pin is aligned. Sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge being sure to remove pins as you go. Press out towards the sashing.
And then lastly, repeat the same process laying your third square row along the now edge of the now sewn together first and second square row. Pin, check the alignment, sew, and press.
And there you have it!! A Brady Bunch Block!!! Have fun!!!
