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Quilt Block of the Month: September

Have you ever wanted to make a quilt but couldn't find just what you had in mind? The editors of Quilter's World magazine have compiled some block patterns, from the thousands of traditional blocks available, that you can download for free. With a few basic skills and a variety of block patterns, you can create countless designs in no time.

A new 8" x 8" finished block will be available each month along with helpful hints, tips and tricks. We will also give you ideas for block combinations and possible quilt settings from time to time to help you create fabulous quilted projects. We hope these blocks will inspire you to experiment with quilt design and create your own layouts. So get a binder and some page protectors to fill with block patterns and samples to fuel your creative juices.

Flower Basket

Finished Block Size
8" x 8"
Flower Basket

Cutting

From Light Fabric:

  • Cut 1 (4 7/8") square. Subcut on 1 diagonal to make 2 A triangles. Set aside 1 triangle for another project.

    Flower Basket

  • Cut 2 (2 1/2" x 4 1/2") B rectangles.
  • Cut 4 (2 7/8") squares. Subcut each square on 1 diagonal to make 8 C triangles.

From Dark Fabric:

  • Cut 1 (4 7/8") square. Subcut on 1 diagonal to make 2 D triangles. Set aside 1 triangle for another project.

  • Cut 4 (2 7/8") squares. Subcut each square on 1 diagonal to make 8 E triangles.

Assembly

  1. Stitch a C and E triangle together along the long angled edge referring to Figure 1; press E away from C. Make a total of six C-E half-square units.

    Flower Basket

  2. Stitch an E triangle to one end of a B rectangle referring to Figure 2a, press E away from B. Repeat to make a reversed B-E unit referring to Figure 2b.

    Flower Basket

  3. Stitch three C-E half-square units together to make a top row and two C-E units together to make a side unit as shown in Figure 3; press seams toward E.

    Flower Basket

  4. Stitch a C triangle short side to an E side of the remaining C-E half-square unit (Figure 4); press C away from C-E unit. Stitch another C triangle to the adjacent E side and press away from E referring again to Figure 4 to complete a C-E corner unit.

    Flower Basket

  5. Stitch the C-E corner unit to the D triangle as shown in Figure 5; press seam toward D.

    Flower Basket

  6. Stitch a side unit to the C-E cornerunit side of the square made in step 5 (Figure 6) and then add top row; press seams to reduce bulk.

    Flower Basket

  7. Stitch B-E and reversed B-E units to the D edges of the square made in step 6 (Figure 7); press seams toward B-E units.

    Flower Basket

  8. To complete the block, stitch the A triangle to the angled E corner of the block referring again to Figure 7. Press seam toward A. Note: Set aside the remaining A and D triangles to make a second block or another project.

Helpful Hints

  • Choose light and dark fabrics for this block. Use scraps from other projects or purchase fat eighths (9" x 22") or fat quarters (18" x 22") to make one sample block.
  • Cut individual pieces from scraps or cut strips and then individual pieces from strips if using yardage or large pieces of fabric. For example, to cut several 2 1/2" squares, cut a 2 1/2"-wide strip the width of the fabric. Subcut the strip into 2 1/2" squares.
  • Use a 1/4"-wide seam allowance for all seams and stitch right sides together.
  • Use common sense and press seams to cut down on bulk. Traditionally, quilters press seams toward the darker fabric. However, some blocks may benefit from pressing seams open. Pressing tips are often given in the pattern.

Choices

Sometimes a traditional quilt block design is just absolutely right. The designer got it in one and we are left to wonder how we can ever compete with such perfect understanding of our craft. Flower Basket is like that.

It is our job to fill this perfect rendition of an early 18th and 19th century garden tool with bountiful color. This is a perfect scrap quilt block.

Choose a basket color for D and the E triangles stitched to the B rectangles making sure these match in each block. Otherwise, no two blocks need be exactly the same. Scatter color willy nilly throughout the quilt like an English garden. Give your quilt a springtime feel with soft pastels or a fall feel by using the flame colors of mums.

You can choose to be a traditionalist and keep the 'flowers' in the E triangles above the basket and choose a light background color for the C and A triangles and B rectangles. Or, fill all the triangles above the basket with color and a smattering of leafy green and keep the background color in the B rectangles and A triangle around the basket.

Copyright © 2015 Annie's. All rights reserved.

For more detailed help with quilting techniques, view our Quilting Lessons or consult a complete quilting guide. Your local library will probably have several on hand that you can review before purchasing one.

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