Friday, February 20, 2009

My 1st CQ Block

I started with a piece of muslin an inch all around bigger than the finished size I want. So my finished is 8 inches so the muslin is 10 inches square.
I started with the center fabric with the flower. I like the look of the blocks I have seen with a design or picture in the center. Choose a fabric and trim it so it has 5 straight uneven sides at least a 1/4 inch outside of the pattern. I think my longest side is about 3 inches but it all depends on what picture you are using. My heart (as I have chosen to make a heart shape) is about 8" so I have read that a good rule of thumb is to use at least the number of different fabrics as the number of inches your block is. So I have chosen 8 fabrics that kind of go together but are not blended in to the previous colors.
After putting the center down and it can be anywhere it does not, and think should not be centered. Now choose a side and mentally number each of the five sides around in a clockwise direction. 1,2,3,4,5 Choose a fabric as your number 1 fabric and line it up along the number one side. My light pink is the number 1. Make a 1/4 inch seam. unfold and press. Press flat after each fabric is sewn. Take your number 2 fabric a contrast to what you have already used. Mine is the stripped fabric. Lay this along the number one and the center fabric and make a 1/4 inch seam now trim away the excess number 1 fabric from this seam. Press flat. and take the number 3 fabric. Mine is the burgandy it will lay long the number 2 and center fabrics. Each time your straight line is determined by the center fabric line. Again make the 1/4 inch seam trim off any extra of the number 2 fabric in the seam allowance. Open the fabric and press. The 4th fabric will go along the third and center fabrics and make the 1/4 inch seam. repeat with the 5th fabric along the 4th fabric and 5th side of the centerseaming, trimming, and pressing. Now your 6th fabric, dark pink, will go from 5th, 1st and 2nd fabrics.Seam, trim and press. The last fabric number 7 ( counting my center that is 8 fabrics) will finish off that last corner mine went along the 3rd and 4th fabrics. It can be a triangle or oblong depending on what you have left open. If you will notice I did not want that large of a last fabric so I ended it near a seam turned under the 1/4 inch and hand sewed it down. If your item is still not completely covered continue with more fabrics unti it is completely covered. Draw a line around the entire piece and baste just outside of this line for your square or heart or your choice of shape.
I really hope this helps you. I need step by step when I try anything new.
JeanneZ

1 comment:

  1. Oh, yes, I read this on the CQnewbie list. It is great. Very helpful. Thanks

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