BLOCK OF THE MONTH JUNE 2019

SQUARE ECHOES




THANK YOU
for contributing blocks that will be made into quilts for deployed
Aussie Heroes by the Coffs Harbour Sewing Team

These blocks are made by putting borders around the centre square.
Using printed fabrics in some of the borders will make them interesting blocks.
Some quilts will be made with 1 inch black joiners/sashing between
the blocks, making them very attractive quilts.

FABRICS

Please use gender neutral prints eg. geometrics, stripes, spots, anchors, interesting patterns etc.  

100% cotton fabric

Seam allowance 1/4 inch

Don't trim any blocks, even if they are a little uneven as ALL blocks are trimmed
back to a size to fit each individually designed quilt.

Let's get started...

BLACK CENTRE BLOCK

Centre - black background with white printed design OR plain black fabric

Border #1 - plain red fabric

Border #2 - white background with black printed design OR grey print OR red print OR tone-on-tone OR plain white fabric

Border #3 - plain black fabric

Border #4 - red background with black printed design OR red batik OR red tone-on-tone OR plain red fabric

CUTTING

Cut 1 square 3 x 3 inch from from black background patterned fabric

Border #1 Cut plain red fabric strip 1 1/4 inch wide x about 16 inch long

• cut into 2 rectangles 3 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 4 1/2 inch long

Border #2 Cut patterned white background fabric into a strip 2 inch wide x about 25 inch long

• cut into 2 rectangles 4 1/2 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 7 1/2 inch long

Border #3 Cut plain black fabric into a strip 1 1/2 inch wide x 35 inch long

• cut into 2 rectangles 7 1/2 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 9 1/2 inch long

Border #4  Cut red background patterned fabric into a strip 3 1/4 inch wide x about 50 inch long

• cut into 2 rectangles 9 1/2 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 15 inch long

CONSTRUCTING THE BLOCK

Border #1 

Place the two smaller red rectangles on the centre square, sew and press the seam allowances towards the outside.

Place the other two red rectangles along the other sides of the centre square, sew and press the seam  allowances towards the outside.

TIP - notice in the above picture how the red homespun fabric has shrunk when ironed and the edges of the block are no longer straight.  If this happens with your fabrics, when laying the next strip ready to pin and sew, position the cut edge laying over the centre block, so that it is parallel with a previous seam.  This will keep the block "square" as construction continues.  See the pointer in the following picture.

Border #2

Place the two small white patterned fabric rectangles along the sides of the square, sew and press the seam allowances towards the outside of the block.

Place the other two white patterned fabric rectangles along the sides of the block, sew and press the seam allowances towards the outside of the block.

TIP Another way to keep this type of block straight and square, is to place a pin at the halfway mark of the block where a strip is to be joined.  Then fold the strip in half with WRONG sides together and place the strip with the fold to the pin, secure in position then unfold the strip onto the block.  If there is any discrepancy, the strip will be equally placed and subsequent strips can be positioned to the end of this strip to keep it "square".

Border #3

Place the two small plain black fabric rectangles along the sides of the square, sew and press the seam allowances towards the outside of the block.

Place the other two plain black fabric rectangles along the sides of the square, sew and press the seam allowances towards the outside of the block. 

Border #4

Place the two small red background patterned fabric rectangles on the sides of the square, sew and press the seam allowances to the outside.

Place the other two red background patterned fabric rectangles on the sides of the square, sew and press the seam allowances to the outside of the block.  

And there you have it, the black centre Square Echoes Block.

RED CENTRE BLOCK

Centre - red background with black or white print fabric OR red batik OR plain red fabric

Border #1 - plain white fabric OR tone-on-tone white fabric

Border #2 - black background with white print or red print fabric OR black tone-on-tone fabric OR plain black fabric

Border #3 - plain red fabric

Border #4 - white background with black print fabric OR grey print OR red print fabric (no plain white please)

CUTTING

Cut 1 square 3 x 3 inch from red patterned fabric

Border #1 

Cut a plain white fabric strip 1 1/4 inch wide x about 16 inch long

• cut into 2 rectangles 3 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 4 1/2 inch long

Border #2 

Cut black background patterned fabric into a strip 2 inch wide x about 25 inch long

• cut into 2 rectangles 4 1/2 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 7 1/2 inch long

Border #3 

Cut plain red fabric into a strip 1 1/2 inch wide x 35 inch long

• cut into 2 rectangles 7 1/2 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 9 1/2 inch long

Border #4  

Cut white background patterned fabric into a strip 3 1/4 inch wide x 50 long

• cut into 2 rectangles 9 1/2 inch long
• cut into 2 rectangles 15 inch long

Follow the construction instructions for the previous block,

and there you have it, the red centre Square Echoes Block.

PDF Version of the block can be found HERE.

Please send your finished blocks to

Sandy Corry

9 Wendouree Court

North Boambee Valley   NSW   2450

Remember to include your email address and I'll contact you when your blocks have arrived.  Alternatively, watch the weekly Wednesday Happy Mail Post to see what
blocks have arrived in the previous week.

THANK YOU
for contributing blocks so that we can send quilts to our deployed Aussie Heroes to show
them we respect them and thank them for their sacrifice and Service.

Until next time,

Sandy