BLOCK OF THE MONTH - November, December and January

Block of the Month

for

NOVEMBER   DECEMBER   JANUARY

Have you noticed the Christmas decorations quietly appearing in the supermarkets?  They're warning us that the silly season is not too far away...and that means most people are going to be very busy for the next 3 months with all the preparations for Christmas... presents, gatherings, parties and many will go away on holidays.

So, we're going to do things a little differently this time.  There are two blocks.  They can be made over the months of November, December and January.  You can make as many as you like over the 3 months and send them as you make them.  Maybe your schedule will allow you to make a couple in November and then again in January or you may have holidays in December and only be available to make a few blocks during that time.  

Remember, if you add your email address I can advise you when your blocks arrive.

Thank you sincerely for making these Australiana blocks for our Aussie Heroes.

Both are traditional blocks and will be familiar to many people, they are...

             

Snowball

Friendship Star

The theme for these blocks is

AUSTRALIANA

So, find all those green and gold fabrics you have in your collection.  They can be Bali prints, tone-on-tone prints, printed designs, spots or stripes.

But wait...there's more!  Do you have some of the beautiful Australian print fabrics with iconic pictures like the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, koalas, kangaroos, flowers of Australia or outback scenes?  Any picture fabrics that are obviously Australian will work very well in these blocks.  Maybe you have some Aboriginal print fabrics.  These fabrics can be colours other than green and gold.

If you love APPLIQUÉ... 

this is an opportunity to embellish your blocks with 

iconic Aussie designs eg. kangaroo, bottlebrush, Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Vegemite label etc.

These are the sample blocks I made up in fabric to test the instructions

Fabric suggestions for Snowball Block

• Green and gold fabrics as pictured above (top pictures)
• Use an Australiana print fabric in the centre of Snowball with green or gold corners, whichever contrasts best with the main fabric, or even another colour - these blocks should be stunning!

Fabric suggestions for Friendship Star Block

• Green and gold fabrics as pictured above
• Use an Australiana print fabric in the centre of the STAR with green and gold in the other two positions as shown
• The centre of the star can be the same colour as the points of the star (as in my sample block)

Please note ... After sewing your blocks together DO NOT TRIM them!  Extra fabric has been included in the blocks so that ALL edges can be trimmed back to make the blocks all the same size.

Friendship Star Block 

use 1/4 inch seam allowance for all seams

Cut a strip of green fabric 4 5/8 inch x 21 inch

Trim off a small strip to level the fabric and then cut four squares 4 5/8 inch wide - these are the corners of the block

Cut a strip of yellow fabric 3 1/4 inch wide x 15 inch

Trim off a small strip to level the fabric and then cut four squares 3 1/4 inch wide - these make the points of the star

Cut a strip of green fabric 3 1/4 inch wide x 23 inch

Trim off a small strip to level the fabric and then cut four rectangles 4 5/8 inch wide AND one square 3 1/4 inch wide - these are the background fabric "behind" the star AND the square is the centre of the star

Clearly draw a line as shown above, from corner to corner on the WRONG side of the yellow squares

Position a yellow square on a green rectangle as shown (angled line should be run as in the picture) with right sides of fabric together and pin on both sides of the line.  Stitch along the line.

Fold the yellow across to show the right side of fabric and press the fold.  Lift the yellow triangle and remove the excess fabric from underneath leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  If you would like to send the little triangles that are cut away, with your block, I will join them into blocks for another quilt...thank you.

                      =

Lay out the above 3 pieces, then stitch together to form a row.  Make 2 rows.

                                       =            

Lay out the above 3 pieces, then stitch together to form the middle row of the block.

Join the rows as shown above to make the block.

Snowball Block 

use 1/4 inch seam allowance for all seams

                                                          
Cut a square of yellow fabric or Australiana print fabric 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches

Cut a strip of green fabric 5 x 22 inches

Trim off a small piece to level the fabric and then cut four 5 inch squares - these are the corners of the block

Wrong side of fabric

Clearly draw a line as shown above, from corner to corner on the WRONG side of the green squares.

                                                                    

Position a green square on the yellow fabric, with right sides together and pin on both sides of the line.  Stitch along the line. 

Fold the green triangles over towards the corners of the block and press.

Lift up the top green triangle and trim away excess fabric underneath leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance.  If you would like to send the little triangles that are cut away, with your block, I will join them into blocks for another quilt...thank you.

                                                                   

                                               

Two of the ways green and gold blocks could be joined to make quilts.
Blocks with Australiana print fabrics will make gorgeous quilts that look different to these images.
 I'm looking forward to seeing your blocks over the next 3 months.  I hope you have fun with them.

Please send your blocks to

Sandy Corry

9 Wendouree Court

North Boambee Valley   NSW   2450

...and thank you again for making blocks for Aussie Heroes quilts.