Old School BOM 2021

Welcome to my post on fussy cutting for the Old School BOM.

What is fussy cutting? Fussy cutting can be both –

1. Taking a single design element such as a motif from a piece of fabric and placing it in a block. For example, an eye-spy quilt where you cut a cute element and frame it to make multiple blocks.

2. Taking a specific design within an area and repeating it to make a secondary pattern. This is a common technique used in English paper piecing (EPP).

Today, I will show you how to give an easy block that WOW factor. The block is quite simple but I have used a busy fabric with many intricate design elements to produce and interesting secondary pattern. I have also included a striped border, a fussy cut border and fussy cut corner pieces.

What you will need …

• A piece of fabric that is at least 1/2yd. I used a piece from the Tula Pink, Linework collection. It has an interesting and intricate design with large repeats. (A)
• FQ of striped fabric (B)
• FQ of border fabric (C)
• At least 12″ square of fabric for corner pieces (D)
• 4.5″ x 4.5″ square ruler

Let’s Cut

• Place your 4.5″ x 4.5″ square ruler over the design element that you want to use for the block.
• Cut out 4 .5″ x 4.5″ squares (A)

• Using the cut square, lay it over the fabric and move until you find the exact same pattern and match the edges of the 4.5″ square to the underlying pattern.
• Using flat pins, secure the piece and cut around the edge using a ruler and rotary cutter. Repeat until you have cut 4.

Tip – Printed designs on yardage is not always 100% accurate. Do not stress if a busy design is not quite perfect throughout.

• Lay out the 4 – 4.5″ x 4.5″ square (A).
• Matching the design on two pieces pin together. I fold back the seam a 1/4″ while I am placing pins to see if the pattern matches. Shift pieces to line them up with each other if they don’t quite match up.
• Sew a 1/4″ seam. Press open or to the side. Open will give you a flatter seam.
• Repeat for remain two squares.
• Sew the 4 squares together. Remember to fold down the seam a 1/4″ and match the pattern on both pieces.
• Press seams open or to one side.

• From the striped fabric (B) cut
  2 strips – 1 1/4″ x 8 1/2″
  2 strips – 1 1/4″ x 10″

• From the border fabric (C) cut
  4 strips – 1 3/4″ x 10″
  Hint: I chose a motif (the panda face) as my border element. I left 1/4″ below his chin. I also cut strips longer than 10″ so I could centre one of the panda faces in the middle of the border.

• From the corner block fabric (D) cut
  4 squares – 1 3/4″ x 1 3/4″
  For the corner squares, I selected a large dot, found the centre and drew a 1 3/4″ square using my 2.5″ x 2.5″ square ruler.

Finish the block ….

• Sew stripe border (B) to the top and bottom and sides of the centre block.
• Sew border (C) to both sides. Sew corner pieces (D) to both sides of two, border pieces (C). Sew the D/C/D unit to the top and bottom of the block.
• Unfinished block size measures 12.5″ x 12.5″.

Download PDF here

Join my fellow quilters every month …

January 12, 2021 – Kim Lapacek (Persimmon Dreams)
February 12, 2021 – Nancy Scott (Masterpiece Quilting)
March 12, 2021 – Quilt Jane
April 12, 2021 – Missy Carpenter (Traditional Primitives)
May 12, 2021 – Natalie Santini (Sew Hungry Hippie)
June 12, 2021 – Kerry Goulder (Kid Giddy)
July 12, 2021 – GoGo Kim
August 12, 2021 – Lee Chappell Monroe (May Chappell)
September 12, 2021 – Yvonne Fuchs (Quilting Jetgirl) 
October 12, 2021 – Pat Sloan
November 12, 2021 – Katy Cameron (The Littlest Thistle)
December 12, 2021 – Sherri Falls (This and That Patterns)

Use hashtag #OSBOM21 #quiltjane for posting your blocks on social media.
The FB group can be found here.

I am very excited to see the wonderful and imaginative designs you create making this block.

Rulers for fussy cutting ….

We all have a weakness and mine is collecting acrylic rulers and templates. They make cutting so much easier, especially complex shapes. One particular set of square rules I collect are the Creative Grids rulers. They come in sizes from 2.5″ to 20.5″. I like them because they have grips on the back of the ruler, marked centres, angle lines and clear markings. I have collected of the years all the sizes so I can grab the correct size when cutting a block or fussy cutting a motif. The 2.5″ and 3.5″ are perfect for fussy cutting small pieces. The Fat quarter shop has a great selection of these rulers to purchase.