BLOCK OF THE MONTH February 2019

POINTY SHOO-FLY BLOCKS

These blocks are going to make great quilts for our Aussie Heroes.  
I think they have such interesting shapes within them and 
have a feeling of strength and movement.
They are not a difficult block to make, as they are the traditional Shoo-Fly block 
turned on point with triangles added to the corners.

Use 100% cotton fabric
Use gender neutral fabrics as the majority of our Recipients are men

1/4 inch seam allowance

Please do not trim blocks as ALL blocks will be trimmed to make 

them the size needed for each original quilt designed for an 

Aussie Hero to meet his or her Requests

COLOURS

Black and White blocks are so useful for meeting many of the Requests of

our Aussie Heroes

These are the Shoo-Fly blocks in the centre of the above blocks

PLEASE USE PLAIN BLACK FABRIC IN THE POSITIONS SHOWN HERE

The white parts of both Shoo-Fly blocks can be

plain white fabric
tone-on-tone white fabric

or
white background with a printed black design as in the sample 

This is a selection of fabrics I took from my collection to choose from

The corners of the mainly black block can be

plain black fabric

black tone-on-tone fabric

or

black background with a printed white design OR printed grey design

This is a selection of fabrics I took from my collection to choose from

NOTE - there must be GOOD STRONG contrast between the two groups of fabric or the pattern will get lost. 

To make this block

From the WHITE BACKGROUND FABRIC  

Cut two 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch squares

Cut one 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 inch square

Cut two 10 x 10 inch squares and then cut diagonally

From the PLAIN BLACK FABRIC

Cut two 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch square

Cut four 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 inch squares

To make this block

From the PLAIN BLACK FABRIC

Cut two 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch squares

Cut one 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 inch square

From BLACK BACKGROUND FABRIC

Cut two 10 x 10 inch squares and then cut diagonally

From the WHITE BACKGROUND FABRIC

Cut two 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch square

Cut four 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 inch squares

DIRECTIONAL PRINT FABRICS - as I have used.  Any pattern of stripes or lines etc. will make a very interesting block BUT before sewing the big triangles to the corners of the Shoo-Fly block, lay them out to see that are placed on the correct corners to get the effect I have in my block.

MAKING THE BLOCK

First draw a diagonal line on the 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch black squares.  I have used a white GEL pen on the black fabric. 

HINT  The white gel pen is easy to see.  Once ironed it will not bleed into cotton fabric.  

Interestingly, this is a permanent mark on cotton fabric and can be very useful for adding small details to appliquéd designs eg. details on an aircraft, eyes on an animal.

Pin together, a white square and black square with right sides together.  Stitch on both sides of the line 1/4 inch from the line.

Then cut along the drawn line and press the seam allowance to one side - the side that will be the outside of the Shoo-Fly block, in this case the black triangles.

Lay out the nine squares of the block

Then join three squares as shown below, into three rows.  

Press the seam allowances of the middle row towards the outside of the block.

Press the seam allowances of the side rows to the inside of the block, as shown.

Join the three rows together to make the block.  

HINT  When pinning the rows, stab pin at the intersections, as shown below, with one seam allowance going each way and pin either side to hold the stab pin in place.  This helps to make the joins line up and is less bulky in the finished block.

Press the seam allowances to one side.  Pressing them towards the centre helps reduce bulk.

Fold the block in half and place a pin at the fold line.  Repeat for the opposite direction.

Take the four white background triangles cut from the 10 x 10 inch squares, and place a pin at the fold line, as shown below.

Open out the triangle and place along the side of the Shoo-Fly block, with right sides together and with the half-way pins matching.  The triangle will be longer than the side of the block.  Pin all the way along the block.  Then stitch together.  Repeat for the opposite side of the block.  

Press the seam allowances away from the Shoo-Fly block and towards the outside of the block.

HINT As shown, don't press the fold all the way into the little triangle and this will make it easier to use these for the OPTIONAL small blocks at the end of the Tutorial.

(Yes, these pics are from the block in the other colourway)

As shown below, lay the block on the cutting mat so that it is square to the lines.  

Lay a long ruler along the side of the Shoo-Fly.  The lines on the ruler should be parallel with seams of the block/large triangles.  

Cut off the ends of the large triangles but DO NOT RUN THE CUTTER OVER THE PINS 

Repeat for the opposite side.  

NOTE  Please include these little off cut triangles with your blocks when posting OR see an optional use for these little triangles at the end of the Tutorial.

As before, open out a triangle and place along the side of the Shoo-Fly block, with right sides together and with the half-way pins matching. 

Pin all the way along the block.  

Then stitch together.   If the edges are a little uneven, it just doesn't matter!  Remember, all blocks will be trimmed to the size needed as quilts are designed. 

Repeat for the opposite side of the block.

Press the seam allowances away from the Shoo-Fly block and towards the outside of the block. 

And there you have it...

The Pointy Shoo-Fly block with White Background Fabric

Repeat the process with the opposite colours to make

The Pointy Shoo-Fly block with Black Background Fabric 

Please do not trim any uneven edges.

THREE OPTIONS...

OPTION 1

Take the 8 off cut triangles and post just as they are with your finished blocks

FOR THOSE WHO ARE COMFORTABLE WORKING WITH SMALL TRIANGLES

OPTION 2

Stitch a black and white triangle together along the long side of the triangle

Press the seam allowance to one side

Post with your Pointy Shoo-Fly Blocks and these will be trimmed and made
into borders and joiners/sashing

OPTION 3

Take the above half square triangles, trim four to the same size and join to make

Pinwheel Blocks

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

These blocks will be used by the Coffs Harbour Sewing Team to make

quilts for deployed Aussie Heroes

Please post to

Sandy Corry

9 Wendouree Court

North Boambee Valley   NSW   2450

if you include your email address I can advise you when they have safely arrived

OR

watch the regular Wednesday Happy Mail to see what has arrived

in the previous week.  

PDF version of the block can be found HERE

Until next time,

Sandy