Desperate Housewifes Quilt,  Uncategorized

The Desperate Housewife’s Quilt – Block 10 New from Old

Welcome to week 10 of theĀ ‘The Desperate Housewife’s Quilt’. Todays block is all about taking a traditional block, cutting it up and making a new one. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block you can post it on theĀ FlickrĀ group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.
*****************************************************************************
Be sure to visit this week’s Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.
My guest this week is Lorraine from The Balancing Kiwi blog spot. Lorraine’s block is called ‘Inspired by Peacock Feathers’.
******************************************************************************
New from Old
We often need to take something old and breath new life into it. Whether it be clothes, meals, friendships or they way we just look at life …….
Techniques explored
  • Playing with original blocks.
Materials
I have dived into the scrap basket and pulled out some reds, tans and creams from a French General charm pack. I tried to breath life into the good old churn dash block by using different tones within the block for each piece.
Cutting
To make this block you will need to make 2 x 6.5″ unfinished churn dash blocks.
  • Cut 8 x dark rectangles 1.5″ x 2.5″
  • Cut 8 x light rectangles 1.5″ x 2.5″
  • Cut 2 x light square 2.5″ x 2.5″
  • Cut 4 x light square 3.25″x 3.25″
  • Cut 4 x dark square 3.25″ x 3.25″

 

Making the Churn Dash Blocks
  • Sew a light 1.5″ x 2.5″ rectangle to a dark one

 

Ā Ā 
Making the HST (Half square triangles)
  • Draw a diagonal pencil line on the wrong side of the lighter fabric.

 

  • Sew a 1/4″ either side of the pencil line.
  • Cut on the pencil line to make 2 x HST’s
  • Press open seams and trim back to 2.5″ x 2.5″ square
Joining the rows
  • This block is sewn in three rows as per the diagram below. Remember to pin intersecting seams for accuracy.
Repeat for the second churn block and you will have two 6.5″ unfinished blocks
Now the fun part –
  • Cut each block once across the diagonal to yield two pieces.

 

  • Arrange the four pieces as shown below.
  • Sew in pairs and then sew pairs together. Remember to handle with care. We are now working with bias edges and they will be stretchy!

Stand back and admire your handiwork. One 8.5″ unfinished block.

Let’s play with some settings.

Horizontal layout with alternating solid squares
On Point with alternating solid squares
On Point

Try different cuts and rotations.

 

Original
Cut in 4 across centre and each piece rotated

 

Cut in four across centre and each piece rotated

 

Cut into four across centre and then each piece on the diagonal

 

I hope you enjoyed cutting up a perfectly good block. Next week, pucker up for a big smooch of a block.

 

*** Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

6 Comments

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will appear after approval.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.