Block of the Month December and January

Australian Theme Diamond Blocks

Welcome to Block of the Month for December AND January

Aussies love to party and it's a busy time of the year with end of year celebrations, Christmas celebrations, family time and holiday time for many people.  

So, this BOM will cover the busy time.  

It's quite an easy block to do if you only have a little time here and there to spend sewing.  

It's a block that lends itself to cut now...sew later.

Our Aussie Heroes often request Australian Flowers, Australian Animals or an Australian theme quilt.  Sometimes it's appropriate to just add something Australian to one of the quilts.

These are fabrics that I have on hand that would be lovely in the DIAMOND of the block.  

Scenes of the Outback, Beaches or Mountains would also be great.  

In fact ANYTHING that says AUSTRALIA is what I'm looking for.
Applique of Australian images or icons is another alternative.
For those who have computerised embroidery machines, pictures could be
embroidered in the diamond.

The CORNERS of the block should be a PLAIN FABRIC or TONE-ON-TONE FABRIC that complements the Diamond and makes IT the focal point of the block. 

Cutting the Diamonds

Non-directional fabrics

don't require any special instruction other than cut a 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch square

Directional fabrics 

these are also 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch squares BUT they may look better if cut with the picture looking correct or right way, up as in my sample block.  

• An easy way to do this is to take a piece of paper and draw a perfect 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch square using a patchwork ruler. 

 

• Cut out the square and discard it.  The remaining piece of paper with a square hole is then moved around over the fabric to find what part of the print will look good in the diamond. 

 

• Using the ruler to help get straight lines, draw the square/diamond on the fabric, remove the piece of paper and cut out the square of fabric that is needed using ruler and rotary cutter.  

• Alternatively, cut a 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch square of template plastic that is clear and move around over the fabric to find the best pieces to cut for the squares/diamonds.

 

 

Corners of the Block

The corners of the block should be a PLAIN FABRIC or TONE-ON-TONE FABRIC

that complement the diamond fabric and make IT the focal point of the block.

Cut two squares 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch and then cut them diagonally, as shown, to give 4 triangles.

Construction of the Block

Fold the main fabric square in half and press the fold, then fold in half again and press the fold.  Do this in the two steps for accurate marking of the half way points.

           

Fold the four triangles in half to divide the diagonal cut side in half and mark with a pin

Repeat for all four triangles

With right sides together, position one of the triangles over the main fabric square, matching the pin on the triangle with the centre crease on one side of the square.  Pin the two fabrics together and sew together.  Press the seam allowance to one side.  

I have pressed mine onto the main fabric as this will make the main diamond push forward.

Repeat for the opposite side of the square.

Position the third triangle as shown in the picture, with the pin in the triangle matching the crease in the square, and pin.  Sew the fabrics together from one corner of the triangle to the other end.  

Repeat the process for the last triangle.

Before pressing the last two seams, lay the block on the cutting board and cut off the excess triangles as shown.  

Press the last two seam allowances in the same direction as the previous ones, eg. onto the main fabric.

And there you have it...an Australian Theme Diamond Block

THANK YOU

for making Blocks of the Month for our Aussie Heroes.

These blocks will soon be sewn into quilts, meeting their Requests, assuring them during their deployment, that fellow Aussies are thinking of them and honouring their sacrifice and their Service.

Please send the finished blocks to

Sandy Corry

9 Wendouree Court

North Boambee Valley   NSW   2450

Remember to include your email address so I can tell you they've arrived and 

personally thank you for your contribution.

PDF Version can be found here

Until our next BOM in February...

Merry Christmas to your and yours

and may your New Year be filled with wonderful surprises and delights,

and PEACE...what the World needs is PEACE.

Sandy