Curiouser QAL: Fourth Block

I'm sorry that it's been a little quiet here this week. It's not only the alarm at the discovery of exactly how much yarn I have in my stash, but also a snotty cold and plenty of work. The end of the year always seems to manage to bite a little more than anticipated.

Mélanie and I are really enjoying seeing the finished blocks for this QAL, but we thought we would encourage a few more of you to post pictures to our Flickr group. So here is a little incentive... Anyone who has posted pictures of 4 completed Curiouser QAL blocks to the Flickr group by midnight GMT on Wednesday 11th January, will get one entry into a giveaway for these 4 fun fat quarters.

 

If you have posted 8 finished blocks by then, you will get two entries (and we will be delighted by your ability to keep up with us!!). The winner will be drawn at random from all entries and we will announce the winner on Thursday 12th January 2012. I'm happy to post the FQs anywhere in the world, so do get sewing!!

Anyway, moving on to today's design...

Here is my second block design for you - this time, it's a 16-patch block (see how we're cranking you up from 4, to 9, and now 16?). Detailed instructions are included in the following pdf download file: Download 16 Patch Tutorial You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to open the file.

Tools needed:

• Cutting mat, rotary cutter and cutting ruler
• Sewing machine (or patient hand-sewing)
• Iron & ironing board
• Pins

Materials needed:

• 2 darker coloured rectangles (2.75" x 12") print or plain fabric (deliberately longer than needed)
• 2 lighter coloured rectangles (2.75" x 12") print or plain fabric (deliberately longer than needed)
• 2 x rectangles (2.5" x 10") and 2 x rectangles (2.5" x 13") for the outer border - I used a plain fabric, but if you want to use a print, then do!

Cutting instructions:

Cut the list of fabrics specified above - please do ask if you're not sure about how best to do so.

Brief piecing instructions:

Please download the pdf file above for more detailed instructions.

Sew the strips together in pairs - light with dark, or graded dark with mid, light with lighter, you can please yourself with the arrangement.

Be careful to keep the ends aligned.

Having sewn two long rectangles, cut each piece into 4 pieces, 2.75" wide, and turn them round and match them up to make 2x2 squares. Sew the pieces together and press.

Arrange the 4 squares as you like, and sew them in pairs with right sides together.

Press the seams and then sew the two rectangles together, taking care to match the seams as closely as possible.

And that makes the completed centre block.

Add borders as before...

And you're all done! Share a link below if you have blogged about your blocks. And please do post pictures to our Flickr group.

Please do stop by Mélanie's blog and see how she gets on with my design. I shall be back early next week with a whole mountain of finished objects - including my 9 Patch Block from Mélanie's design last week.

Comments

[anna]

phew! i've finally caught up with blocks 1,2 and 3, so photos now on flickr! i think i might unpick block 2 though and use another fabric in the mix at the same time as getting on with no.4. all good so far!

[Jen Arnall-Culliford]

Well done! I've got some catching up to do myself... I haven't made Mélanie's last block yet, and I could do with getting ahead on my own designs for the posts over Christmas...