Cloud 9 Blog Hop - Good Points Tutorial
Today is such an exciting day! Why, you might ask? Because it's Day 2 of the Cloud 9 Blog Hop, and I am super excited to present my tutorial for the block I designed, which I'm calling "Good Points."
The fabrics were generously donated by Cloud 9 Fabrics in five really inspiring and beautiful fabrics: Shadow, Iris, Lilac, Amazon and Sky. They are gorgeous, let me say at the beginning. I definitely want more.
The Blog Hop is hosted by three lovely ladies: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, Yvonne @Quilting Jet Girl, and Stephanie@Late Night Quilter.
I had a really great time designing this block. It took me a while to get it just the way I wanted, but in the end, I have to say I LOVE to make this block! It's paper pieced, which while quite messy, is very fun. When finished, it measures the required 12 1/2 inches, but it really consists of four 6 inch blocks. So without further ado, here is the tutorial for the block, Good Points.
Step 1: Pattern
Download the block patterns for Good Points here, here . here and here. You will want to make one copy of each block A, B C and D on paper piecing paper. ( I like vellum the best because you can really see the sewing lines through it. If you cannot see the lines through the paper, you will have to use a ruler and trace them as you will be sewing from the back and you will need to be very precise with your seams to keep the points sharp.) I’ve added the colors onto each block template just to make it a little easier. Cut out each block, making sure to add 1/4 inch around all four block edges for sewing the blocks together. Each finished block will measure 6 1/2 inches.
Materials needed:
Fat Quarters of Cloud 9 fabrics in Shadow, Iris, Sky, Amazon and Lilac
Vellum paper or some sort of paper piecing paper
Add-A-Quarter ruler (these are one of my favorite tools! So handy, especially for paper piecing)
Rotary cutter
paper scissors or cutter
Ruler (6 1/2 x 9 or larger)
thread and machine
trash can nearby (paper piecing is super messy!)
Cutting Instructions (These are generous cuts as it’s better to be bigger than necessary than smaller, trust me on this one!)
From Shadow:
Cut 4 - 5 x 71/2 inch rectangles
Cut 4 - 2 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch rectangles
Cut 4 - 2 1/2 x 2 inch rectangles
From Sky:
Cut 4 - 2 1/2 x 4 inch rectangles
Cut 2 - 2 x 6 1/2 inch rectangles
From Amazon:
Cut 2 - 2 1/2 x 4 inch rectangles
Cut 2 - 2 x 61/2 inch rectangles
From Lilac:2 1/
Cut 2 - 2 x 7 inch rectangles
Cut 2 - 4 x 5 1/2 inch rectangles
From Iris:
Cut 2 - 2 x 7 inch rectangles
Cut 2 - 2 x 4 inch rectangles
Cut 2 - 4 x 5 1/2 inch rectangles
Assembling the Blocks:
Pictures show piecing for Block A, but really, once you get the hang of it, it is pretty simple and fun. Make sure to set your stitch size quite a bit smaller than the normal stitch size. This is so that the paper is perforated and tears away pretty easily. It also allows you to get more perfect points as the stitches are smaller. (On my Bernina, the normal stitch is 2.50, and I put it at around 1.80 or so. ) There is a lot of flipping from front to back in paper piecing. You always sew on the paper or back side and press on the front or fabric side, just to be clear. Another thing to remember is to sew right on the line, and don’t go past the points because you will have to do a fair amount of folding and if you’ve sewn too far, it won’t work.
And picking out those tiny stitches isn’t too fun.
Take a 2 x 7 inch IRIS rectangle. Place it right side up, completely covering A2. Keeping the fabric in place, turn the block over to the back side. Fold along line A1/A2. Again making sure that the fabric completely covers A2, take your +1/4 inch ruler and lay it against the fold line, cut, and pin in place to the paper. Turn block back to front.
2. Take a 2 1/2 x 4 inch SKY rectangle and lay it along the cut edge of the A2 iris fabric, face down. Make sure that the fabric is centered so that there is fabric hanging over the outside edges of the vellum paper as shown. Pin in place.
3. Turn block to the back again. Sew along line A1/A2 line on the back, (paper side up) making sure to stop at the end of the point. You will have to pull out the pins as you sew as the stitches are so small you can’t sew over the pins. Do NOT continue on over the edge of the square as you will need to fold later and this will make it difficult. Turn block fabric side up.
4. Flip the sky rectangle over and press. Your block will look something like this:
5. Turn the block to paper side and fold along the A2/A3 line. Lay +1/4 ruler along the line and cut.
6. Turn block back to the front, lay the 5 x 7 SHADOW rectangle face down against the edge, again making sure that it is centered and will completely cover all edges of the A3 area when flipped over. Pin in place.
7. Turn block over to paper side and sew along A2/A3 line to the point. Turn block to fabric side, flip the shadow piece over and press.
8. Turn block to paper side, fold along A3/A4 line as shown. Using +1/4 ruler, cut along fold and flip back to fabric side.
9. Take a 1 3/4 x 6 inch Amazon rectangle and lay it face down against the edge of the gray fabric A3, making certain that the strip will cover all edges of A4. Pin in place, turn to paper side and sew. Be sure to start from the point. Turn block over, flip Amazon rectangle over and press.
10. Turn block to paper side and fold along A4/A5 line. Using +1/4 ruler, cut along the line. Turn block back to fabric side.
11. Put 2 1/2 x 2 inch shadow piece along the edge of A4/A5, making sure there is overlap on all sides. Pin in place.
12. Turn to paper side and sew along A4/A5. Turn block back to fabric side, Flip shadow piece over to cover A5 and press.
13. Turn block over to fabric side again. Fold paper backwards along A5/A6. Using +1/4 ruler against the fold, cut fabric. Unfold and turn block to fabric side.
14. Take a 2 x 4 IRIS rectangle and lay it agains the edge of the fabric, making sure there is overhang on all sides. Pin in place.
15. Turn to paper side and sew along A5/A6 starting at the point. Turn back to fabric side, flip iris piece over to cover A6 and press.
16. Turn back to paper side and fold along A6/A7. Using +1/4 ruler, cut along line, unfold paper and turn back to fabric side.
17. Lay 2 1/2 X 8 1/2 SHADOW rectangle against the cut edge, making sure all edges will overlap A7 when flipped. Pin in place. Turn block to paper side and sew along A6/A7. Turn to fabric side, flip to cover A7 and press.
18. Turn to paper side. Fold back the paper and trim piece A6 to a quarter inch, using +1/4 ruler. Turn back to fabric side. Lay 2 1/2 x 4 inch LILAC rectangle against the edge of gray A7. Pin in place. Turn to paper side and sew along A7/A8. Turn back to fabric side, flip to cover A8 and press.
19. Now all you have to do is trim around the outside of the square and tear off the paper.
The completed block looks like this:
***Note that you can see a little of the back edge of the sky fabric. This is okay, but it’s better if the fabric is centered a little more so that there is not so much edge.
Blocks B, C, and D are made in the exact same way. I have put the colors on the actual block templates to make it a little easier.
Completing the square
When all four blocks are complete, sew them together.
Sew Block A to Block B, making sure that the points match up. Carefully trim some of the bulk off of the center part to make it easier to sew to the bottom.
Sew Block C to Block D, making sure that the points match up. Carefully trim some of the bulk off of the center part to make it easier to sew to the bottom.
Sew A/B to C/D, again making sure that the points match and seams match up in order to get the crisp points.
Here is the completed square, Good Points! It should measure 12 1/2 inches.
Now for the fun part! Here is an example of a quilt made from this block:
Here are a couple of alternates of the same block, using Allison Glass fabrics - gorgeous!
And last, here is a test block of a pillow using the Good Points block, and fabrics by Malta Dubrowsky at #StitchnDye.
Here is the schedule for the Blog Hop. Today is the second day but you can go back and see yesterday's by clicking on the links below
Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Abigail @Cut & Alter Janice @Color, Creating, and Quilting! Lorinda @Laurel, Poppy, and Pine Melva @Melva Loves Scraps Renee @Quilts of a Feather Kathryn @Upitis Quilts Kim @Leland Ave Studios Amanda @this mom quilts Holly @Lighthouse Lane Designs Irene @Patchwork and Pastry Jennifer @Dizzy Quilter Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats Anne @Said With Love Suzy @Adventurous Applique and Quilting Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio Kathleen @Smiles From Kate Amanda @Gypsy Moon Quilt Co. Sarah @Sarah Goer Quilts Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter Anja @Anja Quilts Daisy @Ants to Sugar
Tuesday, September 13th
Host: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs
Miranda @I Have Purple Hair Jennifer @The Inquiring Quilter Sarah @123 Quilt Leanne @Devoted Quilter Jen @Patterns By Jen Jennifer @RV Quilting Amanda @Quiltologie Sharon @Yellow Cat Quilt Designs Jen @A Dream and A Stitch Jen @Faith and Fabric Carole @Carole Lyles Shaw Stephanie @Quilt’n Party Susan @Sevenoaks Street Quilts Katrin @Now What Puppilalla Amista @Hilltop Custom Designs Nicole @Handwrought Quilts Marla @Penny Lane Quilts Silvia @A Stranger View Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly Carrie @the zen quilter (you are here!) Mary @Quilting is in My Blood Velda @GRANNYcanQUILT
Wednesday, September 14th
Host: Stephanie @Late Night Quilter
Kathy @Kathys Kwilts and More Paige @Quilted Blooms Mary @Strip Quilts Pass it On Allison @Woodberry Way Seven @The Concerned Craft Olusola @Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co. Ann @Brown Paws Quilting Jodie @Persimmon + Pear Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts Kitty @Night Quilter Francine @Mochawildchild Shelley @The Carpenter’s Daughter who Quilts Jayne @Twiggy and Opal Geraldine @Living Water Quilter Shannon @Shannon Fraser Designs Lisa @Sunlight In Winter Quilts Jessica @Quilty Habit Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life Deanna @Stitches Quilting Denise @Craft Traditions
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#tutorial #cloud9bloghop #newblock #paperpiecedblock #paperpiece #cirrussolids
