Graceful Points QAL Block 8

Hello everyone, it's time for another block in our Graceful Points Quilt Along.  Today we are going to be working on Block 8, which marks the halfway mark in our quilt along. Before we begin, I want to see how everyone is doing so far.  Please comment below if you are all caught up or just getting started.  Don't worry if you have you haven't started yet, or you are behind, remember you can catch up at any time.

Block 8, which is Studio 180 Design Blockbuster #10 - Twisted Pinwheel, this block uses the V-Block tool, and the Sidekick & High/Low Technique Sheet, both are available on my website.

Before we start, you will need the following fabric colors, BG, C1, and C3, please refer to your color chart found in your general instructions. You will also want to download the Block #8 and the Blockbuster #10 Twisted Pinwheel Instructions, both are required to make your block.

Please remember that the pictures used in this tutorial are for the 6" block for the Wallhanging.  Be sure to read the Downloaded Block Instructions to get the correct cutting and trimming sizes for the 12" block, which are indicated in (Blue) parenthesis.

Since we are working with a new technique SideKick & High/Low please remember, along with the Technique Sheet there are two videos SideKick and the High/Low that will walk you through the steps of making the units.  

So let's get started making those High/Low Left units.  These units are similar to the V-Block units, they just have one side triangle and a folded corner.

High/Low (Left) Units

Start with cutting our base section units. First off we cut out squares for our based section and side triangles.  The side triangles should be easy with all the practice we had in Blocks 6 and 7.  Just remember to lay your fabric with the right sides facing up for the left side.

Right Handed

Left Handed

We start with our based section placing it on the cutting mat with the right side facing up, for the Left units.  That means we want to put the long angle of the Side triangle on the left.  Placing our V-Block Tool on the based section square, positioning the dashed line of your ruler on the edge of your square and the bottom with the finished unit size at the bottom.  Cutting along the slanted line.

Now lay out all your units as they will look in the final unit.  Position the side triangle and the based section with right sides facing together.  Align the edges, and stitch, just as we would for a V-Block unit.  Press toward the side triangle.  No need to trim at this point.

Tip: you may want to slide your side triangle about 1/8" to make sure you get enough room at the bottom of the unit for trimming later.

Next, we are going to draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the small corner squares.  Place these small squares on the opposite corner of the based section with the line going across the corner.

Stitch on the line, trim seams 1/4" from the stitching line, and press away from the based unit.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Now we can trim the units to size.  Positioning the V-Block tool on the unit, lining up the side triangle seam with the guideline on the tool.  Positioning the intersection of the two seamlines where the guidelines on the tool intersect.  Please remember that the folded corner will not line up with the guideline on the tool. Trim the first two sides.

Right Handed 

Left Handed

Rotate the unit 180° and line up the V-Block tool with the cut size measurement with the previously trimmed edges and "X" with the sewn seam line intersections.  Trim the last two remaining sides.

SideKick (Right)

The SideKick is the same concept as the High/Low unit, the only difference in making the units is that you will not be placing a folded corner in the opposite corner, it will remain empty.

The SideKick which is the Side Triangle will be placed on the right side this time.  So when we remove the side piece from the base section and the cut the side triangles we need to make sure the wrong side is facing up on the cutting mat. 

Align the Side Triangles and based units with right sides together and press toward the Side Triangle as you did in the High/Low unit.  

Right Hand

Left Hand

Positioning the V-Block tool on the unit, lining up the side triangles seams with the guidelines.  Making sure the fabric extends beyond the cleanup lines.  Trim the first two sides.

Right Hand

Left Hand

Rotate the fabric unit 180° and line up the V-Block tool.  Align the cut size measurement with the previously trimmed edges and the "X" with the seam line intersect.  Trim the remaining sides.

Assembly

Next, you will need to make one Four-Patch unit to finish all your units for your block.  

When all your units are complete, the next step is to finish your block #8. Please follow Blockbuster page Download to make sure you lay out the units correctly.  Double checking you have the correct placement of all your units.

Block 8, "Twisted Pinwheel" is now complete, I look forward to seeing your Blocks, and I hope you will share your photos in the comments section below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  Additionally, you can post your blocks on Facebook or Instagram making sure to use the #gracefulpointsqal and/or #quiltingaffection designs.  I can't wait to see your blocks.

On Friday, May 24th will be the release date for our next block. In our next block, we will be using the Corner Beam® tool.  You can purchase them on my website.

Tina 

"Designing to Inspire"

Graceful Points QAL Block 7

Welcome to another release day for the Graceful Points QAL. Today we will be continuing working with our V Block® Trimmer, and we are going to be using our Tucker Trimmer® I by making Combinations and Quarter Square units for our Block 7.  Both can be purchased on my website. 

Block 7 is called in the Studio 180 Design Blockbuster #9 "Three in One."  We will be making all three blocks.

Before we start, you will need all 5 different fabrics, and please refer to your color chart found in your general instructions. You will also want to download Block #7 and the Blockbuster #9 Three in One Instructions, both are required to make your blocks.

Please remember that the pictures used in this tutorial are for the 6" block for the Wallhanging.  Be sure to read the Downloaded Block Instructions to get the correct cutting and trimming sizes for the 12" block, which are indicated in (Blue) parenthesis.

Let's get started

Since these blocks are reviews of blocks that we have made in the past, this will be a brief overview of what we will be making.

Unit A - V Blocks

We covered how to cut the Center and Side Triangle and assembly for the V Blocks in Block 6, so if you need a quick refresher, you can read all about it HERE.

So you will follow Block 7 instructions to cut all your Side Triangles Pairs and Center Triangles.

Helpful Tip: Organization is vital when you are working on new patterns.  I suggest getting paper plates and labeling with color, unit size, or any method that you feel with help and then place pieces on the plates.  As you make each of the V Blocks, you can add to the labels as you go.

Trimming

Right Handed

Left Handed

Place the V Block® tool on the unit and aligning up the Finished size measurement with the seam lines.  Trim along the first two sides.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Rotate the unit 180° and line up the V Block® too over the unit again, aligning the units cut sizes with the previously trimmed edges and "X" with the sewn line intersections.  Trim the remaining two sides.

You will be making four Different V Block units. Suggest place the units on separate paper plates with the unit name used in the block instructions. 

 Unit B - Combination Units:

Now we are going to do a quick overview of Combination units.  We made these in Block 4.

We are going to start off like we are making half square triangles. Using the Quilter's Magic Wand Mark two stitching lines 1/4" on either side of the center diagonal line on the wrong side one of the squares. 

Layer the units Squares with right sides together. Stitch on the drawn lines, cut down the middle and Press to the dark side. Do not trim these units yet! 

Now we are going to add an additional couple of steps to this process. Position the HST and the additional square with right sides together.  Using your Quilter's Magic Wand mark two stitching lines on either side of the center diagonal line.

Stitch on the drawn lines and then cut down the middle.  Press seam in the direction of the new triangle.

Trim using your Tucker Trimmer, carefully aligning the common diagonal and the sizing diagonal lines for the size you are making, refer to you Block instructions.

Unit C - Quarter Square Triangles

Quarter Square Triangles are made the same way as the combination, except we are going to sew the two half squares together.  We have completed QST in several of our blocks already, Block 4 was the most recent one, so I'm going to just a quick overview of this unit also.

Start off by making your half square triangles using the fabric colors indicted in your Block Instructions.  Reminder, you do not need to trim them to size at this point.  On the reverse side of your fabric mark a 1/4" on each side of the center diagonal of one the HST unit.

Position the two half square triangles with right sides together and assuring to position the fabrics to they the opposite of each other.  Stitch on the drawn lines and cut down the middle.

Trim with your Tucker Trimmer, carefully aligning up the common diagonals and sizing diagonal lines.

Assembly of Blocks

When all your units are complete, all you have to do is finish your block #7. Please follow Blockbuster page Download to make sure you lay out the units correctly. 

Block #1

Block #2

Block #3 

Your "Three in One" block is now complete, I look forward to seeing your Blocks, and I hope you will share your photos in the comments section below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  Additionally, you can post your blocks on Facebook or Instagram making sure to use the #gracefulpointsqal and/or #quiltingaffection designs.  I can't wait to see your blocks.

The next block will be released on May 10th, where we will be using new tools, the Corner Beam and the Sliver Technique Sheet.

Tina

"Designing to Inspire"

Graceful Points QAL Block 6

Graceful Points is back today with the release of Block #6 in this quilt along.  If you would like to join in on the fun of this quilt along, you can catch up by reading the kickoff blog post.  Please remember you can catch up at any time.

Block #6, which is Studio 180 Design Blockbuster #8 - 54-40 or Flight block is a fast, easy block to make.  This block uses the Studio 180 Design V Block® Trimmer and Four Patches to make up the unit.  I just recently used this block in last months Island Batik Ambassador, "Vintage Reimagined" challenge project. You can see my project and read about it HERE!

Before we start, you will need the following fabric colors, BG, C1, C2, C3, please refer to your color chart found in your general instructions. You will also want to download the Block #6 and the Blockbuster #8 54-40 Instructions, both are required to make your block.

Please remember that the pictures used in this tutorial are for the 6" block for the Wallhanging.  Be sure to read the Downloaded Block Instructions to get the correct cutting and trimming sizes for the 12" block, which are indicated in (Blue) parenthesis.

Also since we are working with a new tool, please remember to read your V Block Trimmers instructions, and you can also refer to Deb's "V-Block Trimmer" Video

Let's get started, 54-40 or Flight block.

Unit A: V Block 

Center Triangles

1.  Gather your strips, fold them in half placing right sides together on a cutting mat.

Right Handed

Left Handed

2. Fold the ends as shown in the picture above just deep enough to accommodate the slant cut for your finished unit size.

3. Position the V Block® tool so that the dashed line aligns with the fold and the Fold line matches up with the finished size. 

4. Trim along the slanted edge of your tool.

5.  Next, you will remover your tool from your strip. Then pick up the strip and flip from top to bottom.

Right Handed

Left Handed

6. Align the V Block® tool center triangle trim line with the previously trimmed edge and Cut the next center triangles.

Make 4 Center Triangles.

Side Triangles

1. Gather your Side Triangle Strips, fold the strip in half, placing the right sides together on a cutting mat.  Cleaning up the selvage end of the strips.

Right Handed

Left Handed

2.  Position the V Block® tool, so the bold solid line aligns up against the trimmed end of the strips and the Finished line against the bottom of the strip. 

3. Trim along the slanted edge of the tool.

Right Handed

Left Handed

4.  Rotate the tool 180°, positioning the tool, so the extended diagonal line is against the previously trimmed slant cut.  Trim along the straight edge of the tool.

5.  Each cut will produce mirrored image side triangle pairs.

Make 4 Side Triangle Pairs.

V Block Assembly

1.  Arrange your side triangles pairs and center triangles as shown above.  

2.  Position the left side triangle on a center triangle, so the right sides are together, making sure to line up the slanted cut edges tip to tip.  Stitch with a 1/4" seam allowance and press the seam toward the side triangle.

3. Position the right side triangle on the other side and making sure to line up the slants edges tip to tip.  Stitch and press like you did on the other side.

Right Handed Trim

Left Handed Trim

4.  Place the V Block® tool on the unit and aligning up the Finished size measurement with the seam lines.  Trim along the first two sides.

Left Handed Trim

5. Rotate the unit 180° and line up the V Block® too over the unit again, aligning the units cut sizes with the previously trimmed edges and "X" with the sewn line intersections.  Trim the remaining two sides. (not pictured the right-hand trim). 

Make 4 V Block units.

Unit B Four-Patch units.

Since we have done the Four-Patch units before,  I will not be talking about them any further.  If you need a refresher, please read Block #4 Rolling Stone blog post.  

When all your units are complete, all you have to do is finish your block #6. Please follow Blockbuster page Download to make sure you lay out the units correctly.  Making sure the Four-Patch units are going in the correct direction.

Layout

Block 6 is now complete, I look forward to seeing your Blocks, and I hope you will share your photos in the comments section below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  Additionally, you can post your blocks on Facebook or Instagram making sure to use the #gracefulpointsqal and/or #quiltingaffection designs.  I can't wait to see your blocks.

The next block will be released on April 26th, where we will be continuing to use the Tucker Trimmer I and the V Block tools.

Also starting Monday, I will be hosting another Quilt Along for my next Block of the Month Pattern, "Garden Enchantment".  If you would like more information, please check out my website.

Have fun with the block and a great weekend!

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"