Quilts of Valor (QOV) Blocks

Alycia, who blogs over at Alycia Quilts put out a call for blocks to be used in quilts to be presented to our returning military men and women.  The pattern for the blocks are found here.  The blocks are very easy and work up very fast.  Pictures below show some of the blocks that I mailed off to Alycia today.



 These pictures show a close-up of the fabric that I used for most of the centers.  I love the words found in this fabric - so appropriate for a QOV Quilt.

 

It was a pleasure to make these blocks for Alycia.  I really love the pattern.  One day I hope to be able to see a quilt containing one or more of these blocks.

Have a great weekend.

Sandra

And the Winner is......

The winner of the Traveling Stash Box #3 is Katie over at Snuggle up with a Dish from Karma.

Thanks to all of you who entered.  Check out where all the boxes are by visiting Cherie at Sewlingly Along.

I will be mailing the box out next week.  Katie, have fun looking through it and deciding what you want to keep then letting us know what you plan to add.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Sandra
 

BLOGGER BOM - FEB 15 - "MEET IN THE MIDDLE"

Meet in the Middle

Dhia over at Peach Patch Quilts asked me to participate in her Blogger Block of the Month some time ago.  Well, today is my turn.  Visit Peach Patch Quilts for giveaway.  I will also be having a giveaway.  See the bottom of this post for all the details.

I have chosen a block which I designed last year for a Black with Brights Block Swap.  The size just did not work for that block swap.  I have once again turned to this block, but have adapted it for 9.5 block.  This is my first tutorial, so keep that in mind as you follow through.  Any suggestions for improvements are welcomed.

Even though I drew this block up on graph paper, I cannot be sure that it is original. I have named my block "Meet In the Middle."

"MEET IN THE MIDDLE" TUTORIAL

Cutting Directions:

Square up your fabric.  All strips will be 1.5 inches wide.

From Background (BG) Fabric cut the following:

2 - 9.5 x 1.5 inch strips
2 - 7.5 x 1.5 inch strips
2 - 5.5 x 1.5 inch strips
4 - 3.5 x 1.5 inch strips
4 - 2.5 x 1.5 inch strips
6 - 1.5 x 1.5 inch strips

From Focus Fabric (FF) cut the following:

13 - 1.5 x 1.5 inch squares

Block Construction Instructions:

Refer to this diagram as you make the block: (The size of the blocks in the diagram are not representative of the ones you will be using.  This diagram is for informational purposes only.

9.5
7.5			5.5							7.5	ROW 4 A	Unit 4			Unit 7 (Row 1, 2A & 2B, 3A & 3B, 4A & 4B)
	1.5				3.5				1.5		ROW 3 A	Unit 3		Unit 6 (Row 1, 2A & 2B, 3A & 3B)
	2.5					1.5		2.5			ROW 2 A	Unit 2	Unit 5 (Row 1, 2A & 2B)
	3.5						3.5				ROW 1	Unit 1
	2.5					1.5		2.5			ROW 2 B	Unit 2
	1.5			3.5					1.5		ROW 3 B	Unit 3
		5 .5									ROW 4 B	Unit 4
9.5

1. Unit 1 --- Sew Row 1 by stitching a 3.5 inch BG strip to each side of a 1.5 x 1.5 FF square

 

 

Iron the resulting seam toward the center square.

 

 



2.  Unit 2 --- Sew Row 2A and 2B by stitching 2, 2.5 inch BG strips to 2 FF squares.  Take these two resulting strips and attach a BG square (1.5 x 1.5) between the two strip made for this unit.  Make 2 of Unit 2.  Iron all seams toward the dark fabric.

 

 

At this stage, the block should look like this:

 

 



 

3.  Unit 3 --- Sew Row 3A and 3B by stitching four 1.5 inch BG strips to four 1.5 x 1.5 inch FF squares.  Attach a 3.5 inch BG square between two of the above strips.  Repeat the process to make the second strip for Row 3. Iron all seams toward the dark fabric.

The block strips should look like this:

4.  Unit 4 --- Sew a 1.5 FF square to each end of a 5.5 inch BG strip.  Make 2 of these units.  Iron seams toward the FF.

 

 

The block strips at this stage.

 



5.  Unit 5 -- Sew Unit 2 to each side of Unit 1. (See Diagram)

Be sure to nest seams so that FF lines up evenly in each row.  With these small strips it is best to pin, pin, pin.  Also, press seams toward the top and bottom edges of the block.

6.  Unit 6 --- Sew Unit 3 to each side of Unit 5. (See Diagram) Press seams toward the top and bottom of the block.

7.  Unit 7 --- Sew Unit 4 to each side of Unit 6.  (See Diagram)  The block should measure 7.5 x 7.5 inches at the end of this step.  Continue to press seams toward the top and bottom edges of the block.

 

 

8.  Sew a 7.5 x 1.5 BG strip to the right and left side of Unit 7. (See Diagram) Press seams toward the sides of the block.

 

 

 

9.  Sew a 9.5 x 1.5 BG strip to the top and bottom of Unit 7. Sew seams toward the top and bottom of the block.   Square up the block to 9.5 x 9.5 inches.

 

You have completed the block!!

Other blocks constructed from this pattern:

The possibilities for this block are unlimited.  If you make one or more of "Meet in the Middle" and would like to donate it to Margaret's Hope Chest, please mail them to:

 

Peach Patch Quilts

POB 0012

Sullivan  WI  53178

 

Donated blocks will be sewn into quilts for Margaret's Hope Chest.  If you would like to know more about Margaret's Hope Chest, click here, then check out the current post on the latest project.

 

In addition to the giveaway on Peach Patch Quilts, I'm also giving each of you a chance to win a nice set of fat quarters from "Bee Happy" by Shelly Comiskey for Henry Glass and Co.

 

 

 

 

To be eligible to win this set of  five fat quarters, you must be a follower and leave a comment on this post about your favorite part of Spring. Please let me know, in your comment, that you are a follower. 

 

The contest will end at midnight CST, February 28, 2013.  Winners will be chosen by the random number generator.

 

The list below identifies all of the blogs that are participating in Blogger Block of the Month.

 

 

Date	Name	Blog
Sept 15th 2012	Carin & Carol	Margarets Hope Chest
Oct 15th 2012	Jenny	Sew Kind Of Wonderful
Nov 15th 2012	Jennifer M	Ellison Lane Quilts
Dec 15th 2012	Natalie	Craftin Mechanic
Jan 15th 2013	Stefanie	Little Lady Patchwork
Feb 1st 2013	Jennifer I	Knotted Thread
Feb 15th 2013	Sandra	Sharp Quilts
Mar 15th 2013	Nicole K	Patchwork Duck Designs
April 1st 2013	Bree	Distant Pickles
Apr 15th 2013	Tracey	Itching 2 B Stitching
May 15th 2013	Felicity	Felicity Quilts
June 15th 2013	Erin	Billy Button Design
July 15th 2013	Nicole N	Mama Love Quilts
Aug 15th 2013	Dhia	Peach Patch Quilts

 

Happy Quilting,

 

Sandra