STATE BLOCK CHALLENGE - ILLINOIS BLOCK 2

Clever Curves: Piecing Techniques

I envy people who have the "gift of gab". I am very bad at small talk and I struggle writing my blogs because I feel I should do some small talk before I show the project. If I am in front of a group talking about quilting, I have no problem, but put me with strangers with nothing in common and I'm at a loss for words. My husband Mike is just the opposite. He can talk to anyone. Most of the employees at our local Walmart know him! It doesn't matter if it is a dr., professor, cashier, or janitor. He treats everyone the same and can talk about anything. He tells me that strangers tell him personal things and doesn't quite know why. I think it is because he takes time to listen. Most people are in such a hurry to go here and there, they don't take time to just listen. We are all so busy on our smart phones or tablets that we have lost the ability to communicate face to face with people. Mike hates technology and only uses it because he has to. Maybe that is why he is still good at talking and listening to people.

I am having a special sale this week. All blenders are on sale for 35% off. Today (Monday) through March 30 (Friday). I will also be having a special sale on Saturday which is my birthday so be sure to check back on Saturday. Click on the blenders link above to see all of the blenders on sale. Write "blenders" in the coupon box when checking out to get the discount. Thank you for looking.

STATE BLOCK CHALLENGE

ILLINOIS BLOCK 2

Today's block is the second Illinois block. It is a relatively easy one. You can use Marti Michell's template set B for this one too. Here is what the block looks like without fabric.

Here are the fabrics I picked for this block. One symmetrical, a light, 2 mediums, and a dark.

Here are the patches cut out. (OOPS, I forgot to include the pink!)

  

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

HST refers to Half-Square Triangles and QST refers to Quarter-Square Triangles

Symmetrical print

*Cut (1) fussy cut Template A. (Marti Michell B10)

OR cut (1) 2-1/2" square.

*Cut two sets of (4) similar repeats with Template D. (MM B11)

OR cut (2) 5-1/4" squares cut twice diagonally into (8) QST.

Light

*Cut (24) Template B. (MM B13)

OR cut (12) 2-7/8" squares cut once diagonally into (24) HST.

*Cut (4) Template E. (MM B14)

OR cut (1) 3-1/4" square cut twice diagonally into (4) QST.

Pink

*Cut (4) Template B

OR cut (2) 2-7/8" squares cut once diagonally into (4) HST.

    

Blue

*Cut (4) Template A.

OR cut (4) 2-1/2" squares.

Purple

*Cut (4) Template C (MM B9)

OR cut (2) 4-7/8" squares cut once diagonally into (4) HST.

PIECING INSTRUCTIONS

CENTER UNIT

1. Sew a light Template E on each side of the fussy-cut Template A. Press to E.

                            

2. Sew a Pink Template B on each side. Press to pink.

                             

FLYING GEESE UNITS (FGU)

3. Sew a light Template B to the left and right sides of the Symmetrical print Template D. Press to B.

You will have (8) FGU. (I have 4 of each.)

4. Sew pairs of FGU together to create (4) sets.

CORNER UNITS

5. Sew (2) light Template B to a Blue Template A. Make (4). Press to B.

 6. Sew that unit to a Purple Template C. Press to C.

BLOCK

7. Sew the Center unit, (4) pairs of FGUs and (4) Corner units as illustrated. Sew across and press to corner units on the top and bottom rows and to the center on the middle row. Sew rows together. Press to FGUs.

The completed block.

Here is the template file.
Illinois Block 2






As always: Do what you love and love what you do. Please leave a comment and share any blocks that you make. Thank you for reading and please share with your quilting friends. Toby Lischko.