Tips & Tricks ~ May 2011

Wow – it’s time for our May Tips & Tricks block! We’ve had a super rainy April and I am so ready for May flowers (plus, it’s my birthday month, so extra celebrating!) While it rains here, let’s sew up a fun block that we can play with…really, we’ll be playing with it!
First, let’s recap what we’ve already done during the first four months of 2011…
Four 12” blocks

and two bonus 6” blocks

Mine are wonderfully scrappy, just love it.
May brings us the Playful Chevron block (my own name…you’ll see why soon {wink}). For this block you’ll need to pull from your stash:

• Lights: You can pull all one fabric, or a variety of lights – 16 each 3-1/2” squares
• Mediums: Again, use all one fabric, fabric colorway (which is what I am doing) or a variety of colors as long as they all read medium when compared to the lights and darks – 4 each 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles
• Darks: Same as medium above, but remember to make sure these fabrics read dark when compared to the lights and mediums you’re using – 4 each 3-1/2” x 6-1/2” rectangles.

 
We’re not learning any new techniques this month, but we will be reinforcing the flip & sew method we learned in January. It is so common in piecing that it’s almost a new basic in our art form. Always good to practice! Find the original post in the January Tips & Tricks posting for all the details. Don’t forget to sew an extra seam line to get that bonus HST from each flip and sew corner!
First, mark your sewing line on the back of all 16 light squares. Divide in to two groups of 8 each.
Next, let’s get out the dark rectangles and 8 of the light squares. TIP #1: Direction is super important when creating units for a chevron pattern. Read through the directions and then read through them again! Place a light square right sides together on the left corner of a dark rectangle – make sure the sewing line is going from the top left to the bottom right. See mine below:
 
Prep all four in the same way, chain sew them (TIP #2: chain sewing saves a TON of thread and time), trim and press the corner out.
  
Now, take these units, and we’ll add another light square to them. Place a light square right sides together on the right corner of a dark rectangle – with the sewing line is going from the top left to the bottom right again – it needs to be in the SAME direction as the first. It’s easy to turn it to go the other way if you’re thinking flying geese. Resist the urge to make geese – we’re making chevrons today! Chain piece, trim, press…
  
Let’s work on the medium rectangles now. Pull out the 4 medium rectangles and remaining 8 light squares.
Place a light square right sides together on the left corner of a medium rectangle. NOTE – the sewing line is now going the opposite way! Make sure the sewing line is going from the bottom left to the top right. TIP #3: Double-check your sewing line placement! Can’t tell you how many times I haven’t double-checked only to be pulling out my trusting seam ripper – ugh. See mine below:
 
Chain sew all four units, trim and press as above.
 
Repeat with the last 4 squares on the opposite corner, remember the sewing line goes from bottom left to the top right.  Chain piece, trim and press…
 
You now have 8 fun rectangle units! Pair a medium and a dark as I have done below – a “v'” forms.  
Place the dark unit right sides together on top of the medium unit. Repeat with the other pairs and chain piece. Press the seams open.
 
Now the fun begins (can you hear the party music playing?) A traditional chevron pattern looks like Charlie Brown’s shirt…
  
But, since it’s playtime, you can arrange your pieced square units ANY WAY YOU WANT within a four-patch layout! Here are some ideas:
   

I’ll be going with the Charlie Brown layout….I just love the Peanuts!

When you decide, simply sew your squares and then rows together, remember to press your seams so they nest easily. Keep an eye on those “v” points, too!
And our fifth 12” block is done!!!  Please post your blocks in the Tips & Tricks photo album (or my crickets studio blog flickr group) and show off your block! Can’t wait to see all the fun Playful Chevrons.
Oh, and I’ve been playing around with a layout for our blocks and trying to whip up a way to use those extra HST units we’ve made and are saving….have some ideas, but you’ll have to stay tuned….
Thanks for playing sewing with me today!

©2011, Carrie Graziano, crickets studio