Friday, February 15, 2013

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
Oct 15th 2012
Jenny
Nov 15th 2012
Jennifer M
Dec 15th 2012
Natalie
Jan 15th 2013
Stefanie
Feb 1st 2013
Jennifer I
Feb 15th 2013
Sandra
Mar 15th 2013
Nicole K
April 1st 2013
Bree
Apr 15th 2013
Tracey
May 15th 2013
Felicity
June 15th 2013
Erin
July 15th 2013
Nicole N
Aug 15th 2013
Dhia

 
Happy Quilting,
 
Sandra
 
 


20 comments:

  1. I love spring, it's my favourite time of year! The warmer weather, blue skies and all the wonderful shades of green!
    I'm a happy follower!

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  2. Spring is the that time of year when the trees and flowers begin to wake up from the cold days of winter. New buds are fun to watch as they grow into their full potential. From your follower in NJ...Sue M.

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  3. Thank you for sharing a lovely giveaway, the fabric is delightful. Great block, I love having lots of photos to help me along. I am a new follower and have just come over to you from Peach Patch Quilts. Spring is my favourite time of the year. I love to see gardens full of spring flowers after a dull and cold winter. I was married in spring too and have pictures of us standing in the middle of lots of crocuses.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  4. Hey Sandra! I follow your blog. I love watching the azaleas explode with color in the spring! They look like they are on fire.

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  5. Oh, that tutorial was GREAT!! Very easy to follow. Thanks for such a great block!!!

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  6. thanks for the chance! I'm a new follower.

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  7. I love spring and all the bulbs pushing up, esp the daffodils. thanks for the great give away.

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  8. I really like this block. I have been looking for a good block to use up my scraps and think this would be a great one. I am a follower and my favorite part of spring is all the beautiful flowers with their fresh colors.

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  9. Hi, I'm a new follower! My favorite part of Spring is the first few warm-ish days. The sunlight, the smells of budding trees and flowers just feel so full of promise!

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  10. Hello! I am a new follower. My favorite part of Spring is probably the smell. With the warm rain and budding of new flowers there are always tons of wonderful smells in the air.

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    Replies
    1. I completed my block and put it up on the Flickr group :)

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  11. Thanks for the tutorial.Love the block.I`m a follower and my favorite part of the spring is almond and apricot blossoms, seems a snowfall.In my area are many almonds and apricot.I love the flowery fields, with red or orange poppies.

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  12. Lovely block. It's on my "to do" list now! I am a new follower. This is a wonderful tut. Thanks.
    2 suggestions: I think the last part of instructions should be labeled #9 (8 was listed twice)
    It would be nice if you added "follow by email" as it helps those of us who follow a lot of blogs to not miss a post because we get email notification that you posted.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win.(just LOVE the fabrics you chose for the giveaway) Favorite part of spring is the new spring flowers and planting the veggie garden.

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  13. I follow by email. Thanks for the new block. My favorite part of spring is the flowers. My birthday is in the spring and my mother used to tell me that God brought out all the flowers just for my birthday! Thanks for the giveaway! I love the black and yellow colorway!

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  14. Very nice, Sandra! I am a follower! Love this collection! Spring is my favorite time... not to hot yet! The flowers are in full bloom, the skies are usually nice, the wind blows and it's the best time to be on the beach and perfect for camping as well! Thanks for sharing this on the Threads_of_Friendship Yahoo group!
    ~~Jenny

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  15. Sandra-thanks for the opportunity to win. My favorite part of spring is the birds at my bird feeder. I love sitting at the table and watching all of the comings and goings of the different birds and the fighting for position at the feeder.
    I am a follower.
    I have been looking for a two color block that I have not done before-this might be the one.
    Kathy

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  16. Hi, I am a new follower and love this matterial! I could find a few thins to do with bee material in spring! Hope you pick my!

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  17. Hi Sandra,
    Love that you find time to blog with your busy schedule, when do you sleep? The meet in the middle block is awesome as were your tutorial. I love everything about spring, especially rocking on my porch watching the blue birds and stitching my favorite applique. Sadly the gnats also love spring so I have to pick my outdoor time around their schedule. (I am a Sandstitchers buddy)

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  18. I don't proof read too well, that should have been as was your tutorial.

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  19. My favorite thing about spring is that I can start seedlings for the garden. With such a long winter, any bit of green makes the wait until gardening season bearable.

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