Do you want to make one too? It's easy! Let me show you how. This week I will get you started. This blogpost will tell you what you need to gather from your " room of requirements " ( also known as the sewing room or local quilting store ), what to cut, and how to make the blocks. Several tips and tricks are included , so read on.
To make a 36 1/2 " square table topper you need the following requirements
* 36 fabric squares 5 inches x 5 inches. ( charm packs are perfect) These squares are for the blocks.
* 3/4 yard cream fabric. From this cut 72 squares 2 1/4 inches x 2 1/4 inches for the blocks and 4 (width of fabric) 2 1/2 inch strips for the first border.
* 1/2 yard fabric for outer border. Cut this into 4 (width of fabric) 3 inch strips.
That's all the cutting done.
For later, you will need
* approx 1 1/2 yards for backing
* 1/2 yard for binding
* batting - approx 40 inches square . I use cotton batting, no scrim if hand quilting.
Of course- you need your usual sewing supplies and a sewing machine.
Now, you have a choice here. If you want to be super accurate ( always a good idea ) you should now rule a diagonal line from corner to corner for each 2 1/4 " cream square with a pencil on the wrong side of the fabric.
If you don't want to do that , and feel confident in your sewing machine skills I will show you a way to sew the squares using a tape guide later.
To make a block, take a 5 inch square and place a 2 1/4 inch cream square in the top left hand corner, right sides together. Pin in place.
Stitch along your ruled line. If you haven't ruled a line, you can place a piece of tape ( I use painter's tape) on you sewing machine as shown below. I place it in line with the stitch line of my machine. I line up the corners of the cream square to be sewn and away I go.
Continue to stitch the cream squares on all of your 5 inch squares . I do chain piece, taking care not to overlap pieces!
Repeat on the opposite corner of the 5 inch squares.
Carefully trim off the corners, cutting 1/4 inch from seam as shown
Open and press seams. Hint - press the seams so that they run the same way , as shown below. This way , when you assemble the blocks, the seams will nest together neatly!
Voila! You now have 36 blocks that look like this.
The fun begins designing your arrangement. I love this block because it can be arranged in different ways. Like this.....
Or this....
or this
Which way will you put your blocks together? Next post - joining the blocks.
Happy sewing! Miriamx
