Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Texas Monthly - Month 11!!

Can you believe it!!!  It is the last month of piecing blocks for the  Texas Monthly Block of the Month program!   This BOM is hosted by Stitchin' Heaven  and is so much fun!!!    All we have left after this is Borders, so exciting!!!   

So let's get going!!  There are 2 blocks this month and we get to do regular piecing :)  The blocks are all pretty basic and fast and fun to sew.    So let's get piecing!!!  



Cutting

I like to start out by pressing all of my fabrics.  Then it is time for cutting!!!  I like to cut all of my pieces for all of my blocks at the start.  Just be sure to keep them in piles separate for each block.  

And with all your pieces cut . . . you are ready to move on to the first block.




The Log Cabin Block

Log Cabin Blocks are super fun to make and fairly simple.  Just make sure to pay attention that you always lay your block out in the same direction and continue to add pieces in a clockwise direction.  They can easily get flipped ;)  We will be making 2 Log Cabin blocks so you want to repeat each of these steps twice.

Layout your Fabric 22 Center square and Fabric 11 Short rectangle as shown.  Place the Fabric 11 rectangle onto the left hand side of the Fabric 22 square with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  


Press the seam towards the Fabric 11 Rectangle.   Then place the Fabric 11 Long rectangle onto the top of the Fabric 22 square with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  


Press the seam towards the Fabric 11 Rectangle.   Now place the Fabric 7 Short rectangle onto the Right Hand Side of the Fabric 22 square with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  


Press the seam towards the Fabric 7 Rectangle.   Now place the Fabric 7 Long rectangle onto the Bottom of the Fabric 22 square with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  


Press the seam towards the Fabric 7 Rectangle.   At this point, I like to place a Pin at the first seam.  This helps me to remember when adding more pieces where my start is and so I can make sure I lay out all my pieces correctly.  We are going to speed things up a bit now :)   


We will now add the Fabric 12 rectangles.   Place the Fabric 11 Short rectangle onto the Left Hand Side of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 12 rectangle.   Now place the Fabric 12 Long rectangle onto the Top of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 12 rectangle. 


Now we add the Fabric 21 rectangles.   Place the Fabric 21 Short rectangle onto the Right Hand Side of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 21 rectangle.   Now place the Fabric 21 Long rectangle onto the Bottom of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 21 rectangle. 

**And remember where I said at the beginning that these pieces can easily get flipped??  Ya, this photo needed a little editing thanks so a little whoops on my part ;)  


Onto the Fabric 9 rectangles.   Place the Fabric 9 Short rectangle onto the Left Hand Side of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 9 rectangle.   Now place the Fabric 9 Long rectangle onto the Top of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 9 rectangle. 


And finally, we add the Fabric 19 rectangles.   Place the Fabric 19 Short rectangle onto the Right Hand Side of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 19 rectangle.   Now place the Fabric 19 Long rectangle onto the Bottom of the Log Cabin Unit with right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Fabric 19 rectangle. 


And just like that, you have two gorgeous Log Cabin Blocks that should measure 10 1/2" x 10 1/2" unfinished.  




So now you are ready to move onto to making two of the . . . 

Quarter Square Triangle Blocks


We made Quarter Square Triangle Blocks back in Month 5 so this will be a snap ;)  Start by gathering your 16 squares and draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the White squares.  




Match a Marked White square to each of the Blue/Green squares.  Align the two squares with right sides together.   Stitch a 1/4" seam on either side of the drawn line.  


Cut on the drawn line and then press the seam allowances towards the Blue/Green triangles.     Do not Trim at this point, I know that is what you are used to with HST's, but we don't need to trim with Quarter Square Triangles ;0  



Draw a diagonal line in the opposite direction of the seam on the wrong side of each of the Blue HST's.




Align a Marked Blue and a Green HST with right sides together nesting the center seam with the White fabrics on opposite sides.   Pin in place and then stitch a 1/4" seam on either side of the drawn line.  




Cut on the drawn line and then press the seam allowances open.  Trim the tails from the edges of the Quarter Square Triangle Units.  They should not need to be trimmed beyond the tails ;)  



You will have 16 Quarter Square Triangles but 3 can go in your orphan block pile as you will only use 13.    Layout 13 Quarter Square Triangles as shown below, one row of 9 and one row of 4 with the Blue Triangles on top for the long row and the Green Triangles on top for the short row.   


Place the second QST in each row onto the first QST with right sides together.   Align, taking care to match the seams on the corners and pin.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges.  


Then place the third QST in each row onto the second QST with right sides together.   Align, taking care to match the seams on the corners and pin.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges.   Continue in this fashion until you have stitched both rows together. 




You should now have a row of 9 QST Blocks and a row of 4 QST Blocks.   Press the seams open.  



And now you have 2 beautiful  Quarter Square Triangle Block Rows that are just so great!!!  The short row should measure 4 1/2" x 16 1/2" unfinished and the long row should measure 4 1/2" x 36 1/2".  



And now all your blocks are made for the entire quilt!!!!  So now let's take this month's blocks and sew them into the Bottom Section!!  

Bottom Section 


To start, we need to trim the Longhorns and Calves panel.  we will be trimming the panel to 5 1/2" x 16 1/2".  To do this and keep your cattle centered, measure in 1" from the top of the middle Longhorn's horns.   Also, measure in 1" from the rump of the right hand calf.  To double check you are aligned, at this point the left hand Longhorn  rump  should be at 15 1/2" on your ruler and the bottom of the hooves should be at 4 1/2" on your ruler.   Once you are all aligned, Trim along the top and and right hand side of your ruler.   


Now turn your Longhorns and Calves panel upside down.  Align the 16 1/2" Vertical Line and the 5 1/2" Horizontal lines on your ruler with the trimmed edges you just cut.     Once you are all aligned, Trim along the top and and right hand side of your ruler.     Your panel will now measure 5 1/2" x 16 1/2".   Also, from that random green strip in your packet, cut a 1 1/2" x 16 1/2" rectangle.  


Place the Green rectangle onto the bottom of the Panel with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge.  Press the seam towards the Green strip. 


Now place the Short Quarter Square Triangle row onto the bottom of the Green Strip with right sides together.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge, taking care to stitch along the bottom of each of the Fabric V's so you get perfect points.    Press the seam towards the Green Strip.  


And now, we can add in the rest of this month's blocks!!  Layout your Panel Section, the Long QST Row, and the 2 Log Cabin blocks as shown below.  Take care your Log Cabin blocks are mirror images of each other in the layout.  


Place the Log Cabin Blocks onto the Panel Section with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the edges.  Press the seams towards the Log Cabin blocks.  


Then place the long Quarter Square Triangle row onto the bottom of the section with right sides together.  Sew a 1/4" seam along the edges.  Again, take care to stitch along the bottom of each of the Fabric V's so you get perfect points.    Press the seam open. 


And the Bottom Section is complete!!! 


And now we can turn that Bottom Section into the Bottom Row!!!

Bottom Row

Layout your Paper Pieced Blocks from Month 10 on either side of the Bottom Section as shown. 


Place the Paper Pieced Blocks onto the Bottom Section with right sides together and pin and align them.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edges.  Press the seams towards the Paper Pieced Blocks.  


And just like that, your Bottom Row is done.  It should measure appx. 14 1/2" x 64 1/2".


And now, with all of your Quilt Section done, you are ready to assemble the Center of the Quilt!!!

Quilt Center

Layout your 5 Quilt Sections as shown below.  Isn't it so fun to see it all laid out together!!! 


Place the Left Hand Center section onto the Middle Center Section with right sides together.   Align and pin the seams.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge, again, watching for your Fabric V's to stitch along the bottom to ensure those perfect points!!  


Now place the Right Hand Center section onto the Middle Center Section with right sides together.   Align and pin the seams.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge, and once again, watch for your Fabric V's to stitch along the bottom.  


Press the two seams open.   And all that is left is to stitch these 3 rows together!!! 


Place the Top and Bottom Row onto the Center Row with right sides together.   Align and pin the seams.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along the edge, and you know, watch for your Fabric V's to stitch along the bottom.  Press the two seams open.  


And your Quilt Center is complete!!!  Isn't it just gorgeous!!!   It should measure appx. 64 1/2" x 70 1/2"



Great job!!!  So exciting!!!!!  Now we just have to wait for Month 12 to do the borders and finish this all up!!!  

Your Texas Monthly quilt is just about done!!!  Hope you loved this month ;)  

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! 

 Looking forward to our last Month!

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2 comments:

  1. One of my favorite traditions is to make butter! As the guests are arriving each one is given a mason jar with heavy cream in it. After you check the lid to make sure it’s tight .You start shaking that jar!
    After your cream becomes butter, drain the whey and add some salt!
    This is tons of fun!

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete

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

Melissa