Tips & Tricks ~ June 2011

Our 6th Tips & Tricks block - yahoo! As I type this, we’re just now having some nice warm almost dry weather here, just in time for Memorial Day. While the kids play outside, let’s sew up a fun block!

I had a completely different plan for this month, and then I came across this block on Bonnie Hunter’s Quiltville website. It’s called Pineapple Blossom and it’s wonderful! Here is the link to her instructions: Click here. Please note we are making a 12” finished block, Bonnie’s main directions are for a 9” block. Read carefully! The cutting directions are written in her directions in RED. Because this block is Bonnie’s original design, I cannot do a step-by-step tute like I’ve done these past several months (ya know, copyright laws and that stuff)…but I can list my tips & tricks for you!

If you haven’t yet checked out Bonnie Hunter and Quiltville, do so soon. She rocks with her use of scraps and found materials. Her books are very cool, as are her mystery quilts.

You can so do this block from Bonne’s instructions, there are excellent. I’ll list how I did my block and some tips along the way that I found useful, okay?

I am still using my stash for these blocks. Here is what I picked out…. 

TIP #1: When using a variety of lights for a scrappy background, I like to stick to all same-color family fabrics within one block. For instance, all white-based for one block and then cream-based for another. The quilt will still sparkle once all the blocks are laid out for the quilt top, and each block will be able to stand alone, too).

What I like about this block is that it takes a simple log cabin style block and steps it up a bit.  Looks like the beginnings of a Courthouse Steps block, doesn’t it? Here is mine in that stage…

 

TIP #2: when adding the corner squares, remember to sew that extra seam about 3/8” (or a presser’s foot width) away from the first seam so you can save fabric and gain an extra half-square triangle (HST) to use later in our quilt top.  Bonnie notes this in her directions (and I’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember). You can also use the 5/8” sewing guide line marked on your sewing machine’s presser foot plate. Simply line up seam #1 with the 5/8” sewing guide and sew along. Remember we did this already in a few of our quilt along blocks?

When you get to the cutting off the corner part here’s another tip! TIP #3: Press these seams BEFORE cutting. This will help the block lay flat and the resulting cutting will be straighter – yay!

TIP #4: At the step where you’ve just added the last 4 strips to your block it should measure 12-1/2” square. Go ahead and make sure it is. Doing this now will help it end up being the right size after the last two corners are added. 

Here is my finished June Pineapple Blossom Block! Yippee!!!!!

My block really is square – the photo makes it look a bit wonky {oopsie}.

Many thanks to Bonnie Hunter for allowing us to feature her block this month. And huge thanks to all of you for sewing with me ~ sew cannot wait to see your block! Be sure to post it in our cricketsstudio quilt alongs flickr group.

This post: ©2011, Carrie Graziano, crickets studio

Pineapple Blossom block pattern: ©2005 Quiltville Custom Quilting