03 July 2018

BLOCK OF THE MONTH July 2018

BLACK & WHITE DIAMONDS


We've made Black and White blocks in the past, and they have been SO versatile
for making quilts for our Aussie Heroes.  They represent Sport teams that are requested, sometimes by adding one more colour to the quilt, and they also make a great background to 
add appliqués meeting the Requests.  The girls in the Coffs Harbour Sewing Team often ask "Do we have any more of the Black and White ones, they'll be just right for this quilt" 
or "...for this part of my quilt".
You don't need to make equal quantities of each block.

FABRICS TO USE
  • plain black and plain white fabric
  • both BLACK and WHITE with prints of the opposite colour BUT the black fabric should be predominantly BLACK and the white fabric should be predominantly WHITE so that there is contrast between the fabrics to show the design elements
  • Gender neutral prints
  • tone-on-tone prints in either WHITE or BLACK
  • combinations of the above fabrics eg. plain BLACK with printed WHITE fabric or tone-on-tone BLACK with a printed WHITE
  • 100% cotton fabric
These are a few fabrics in my collection I considered using for the blocks 
(the two tone-on-tone prints haven't shown their interesting prints...😞)

I like to use white thread in blocks that have white fabric so that loose threads on 
the back don't shadow behind the white fabric.

Use 1/4 inch seam allowance

PLEASE NOTE 
After making my blocks, I decided they should be a little larger.
USE THE MEASUREMENTS GIVEN
You will notice in my pictures, that my background squares are a little 
smaller than the ones you are making.

Let's go...

CUTTING OUT THE WHITE BACKGROUND BLOCK

WHITE FABRIC
Two squares 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inch
One square 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 inch
Two strips 1 1/4 x 2 3/4 inch
One strip 1 1/4 x 6 inch

BLACK FABRIC
Four rectangles 2 3/4 x 3 1/2 inch
Two strips 1 1/4 x 6 inch



SEWING THE WHITE BACKGROUND BLOCK

Join the strips,  then press the seam allowances onto the centre strip to make it "pop" 

Cut two pieces each 2 3/4 inch long

Layout the block pieces as shown

Sew the pieces together to make three rows 


Sew the rows together and press the seam allowances towards the centre


Cut both large squares from point to point, creating four triangles


Fold block in half and mark the midpoint with a pin, as shown
Fold triangle in half with WRONG sides together
Lay triangle on the block with the fold line matching the pin

Open out the triangle and pin with edges together, sew the seam and press the 
triangle outwards with the seam allowance under the triangle

Repeat for the opposite side of the block


Place block on the cutting mat with the edge of the block on a guideline.  
Position ruler along the guideline and the edge of the block.  
Trim off the little triangles.


Using the same method as before, mark the centre of the side of the block with a pin, 
fold the triangle in half with wrong sides together, 
match the fold to the pin, open out the triangle and pin in place.  Sew and press.




Repeat for the last triangle

Notice here how my edge doesn't quite make a straight line?  
No problem.  Don't trim!
EVERY block will be trimmed to make it the right size for the 
quilt it is going to be a part of.
REMEMBER...your block will be a little bigger than the pictured one.


Here it is!  The finished WHITE background block.



CUTTING OUT THE BLACK BACKGROUND BLOCK

BLACK FABRIC
Two squares 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inch
One square 2 3/4 x 2 3/4 inch
Two strips 1 1/4 x 2 3/4 inch
One strip 1 1/4 x 6 inch (yes, there are two in the pic!)

WHITE FABRIC
Four rectangles 2 3/4 x 3 1/2 inch
Two strips 1 1/4 x 6 inch

Use the instructions for the White background block, reversing the colour positions.


Aren't they stunning blocks!

PDF version of the block can be found HERE
Please post your blocks to

Sandy Corry
9 Wendouree Court
North Boambee Valley   NSW   2450

Thank you for your contributions.
Remember to include your email address and I'll contact you when your blocks arrive.  
No email?  No problem!  Every Wednesday, check out the BOM Happy Mail 
to see the blocks that have arrived in the previous week.

Until next time,

Sandy











No comments:

Post a Comment