Cindy’s Block Party

One of my goals for 2014, was to add more to this blog.  Each month from now through October, I will post a quilt block for you to make.

You can create a wall hanging with the block or make more than one block each month to create a bed size quilt.

For this block party, the quilt blocks should be done by hand.  It is a project you take with you to the doctor or dentist office, to a basketball game, on a trip (if you are not driving), and while you are watching television.

This month’s block is “Hole in the Barn Door.”  It first appeared in a quilt in about 1935.

For this block, choose two different colors of fabric.

To make the corner squares:

Color 1 – cut 3-7/8” x 7-3/4” strip; cut this into for two 3-7/8” squares

Color 2 – cut 3-7/8” x 7-3/4” strip; cut this into for two 3-7/8” squares

Cut the 3-7/8” squares on the diagonal then sew a Color 1 triangle to a Color 2 triangle using a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. Open square and press seam toward darker fabric.  Trim the squares to 3-1/2” if needed.  Make four units or four corner squares.

To make the top, bottom and sides:

Color 1 – cut 1-1/2” x 26” strip

Color 2 – cut 2-1/2” x 26” strip

Mark the strips at 6-1/2” intervals and cut.  You should have four 1-1/2” x 6-1/2” strips from color 1 and four 2-1/2″ x6-1/2″ strips from color 2.

Stack Color 1 and Color 2, right sides together and sew the strips together longwise using a scan 1/4” seam allowance.  You should end up with four 3-1/2” by 6-1/2” strips. Press seams to darker side.

To make the center:

Color 1 – cut one 6-1/2” square

Put the block together:

Sew one corner square to one 6-1/2” strip then sew on another corner square.  Do this twice:  once for the top row and once for the bottom row.

For the center row, sew one 6-1/2” strip to the 6-1/2” square then sew on the other 6-1/2” strip.

Press seams in alternate direction on each strip.  For instance, press the top row seam to the right, the center row seams to the left, and the bottom row seams to the right.

Sew the top row to the center row, match seams as close as possible.

Sew the bottom row to the center row, match seams as close as possible.

Press seams.

Check your block to see if it is 12-1/2” square.

If not, don’t sweat the small stuff.  You may find that while you hand piece quilt blocks all your blocks come up short or large.  That is okay, as long as you are consistent.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comment section and I will answer them the best I can.

Until next month, happy hand piecing!