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

 

 



Traveling Stash Box #3

Have you heard about the traveling stash boxes?  There are nine of these boxes being passed around just waiting for you to win.  You can see a list here of the current location of these boxes.  One of the boxes is right here at Sharp Quilts!!

I think all quilters know what stash is, but wait until you see the contents of the Traveling Stash Box #3.  It arrived at my doorstep this week courtesy of Cherei at One Heart Scrapper.  Find out about the origin of these traveling boxes here.

This is what was in the box when I opened it:  I am showing the "stash" from three different angles.

View 1

 

View 2

 

View 3

These are the things I picked to keep:

This is what I will put back in the box and send to one lucky winner:

I am adding binding, pins, magnetic pin holder, quilt clips for quilting, a couple of patterns, several fat quarters, a baby quilt panel, a quilting stencil, a spool of thread and a book by Marie Bostwick - Ties That  Bind.  It is the latest book in the Cobble Court Quilters Series.

You can find out about the stash rules and guideline here.  Briefly,  you need to be an active blogger, post about receiving the stash box, announce the giveaway on your blog when you receive it and ship the box to the winner in a timely manner.  Due to the amount of postage required for shipping,  winners can only be within the United States.

There is a list in the box that tells you where the box has been.  Add your information and place the note back in the box.  Click on the link above to get more detailed information.  You may take anything that appeals to you from the box, just replace these items with things comparable to the ones you took.  Add only quilt shop quality fabric - quality that you would like to receive. 

Finally, you must be willing to pay postage for mailing a Large Flat Rate Box to the winner.

If you are interested in the Traveling Stash Box #3 visiting your home next, just leave a comment below.  I will pick a winner from comments received by midnight CST, Thursday, February 21.

Good Luck!!

Sandra

Easy Street Update

 

I have completed all the blocks and sewed the blocks into rows.  I have also sewn two sets of three rows together.  I need to join the two sets of three rows to the middle row.  The picure above shows one set of the three sewn rows.  Not enough room to spread both of them out.  The flimsy should be finished this week, then on to the borders.  I have already decided on the noodle and outher sashing, just have to measure twice and cut.

I want this top finished and on to the longarm quilter.

Sandra

 

Sashay Crochet

In addition to working on Easy Street and preparing for my Blogger Blog's BOM Post next Friday, I have picked up the crochet needle and made one of the Sashay scarfs.  I starting seeing these around Christmas time last year and thought they were so beautiful.

After finishing the pink one I have started on the neutral one of black, gray, and brown.  It is very relaxing.  Sometimes it is good to switch to another type of projects.

Have a great week.

Sandra

Bonus Bloggers Block - Whirlwind

Dhia, over at the Peach Patch, has included a bonus Blogger for February 1.  Jennifer at Knotted Threads is presenting a block that she calls "Whirlwind."  A picture of the block is shown below, and you can see the tutorial for making the block here.  Dhia is having a great giveaway over on her blog so be sure to visit and enter for your chance to win a fat quarter pack of Riley Blake fabric.

I will be presenting my block for the Bloggers Block of the Month on February 15.  Be sure to check in and see what I have come up with. 

Happy Quilting,

Sandra