Monochromatic Sampler: Block Three Tutorial

I have effectionately named this block "building blocks". I could imagine that in another quilt you could applique numbers or letters onto the blocks and create a nice effect.

The concept seemed a lot easier on paper when I first drew it. My first attempt at this block resulted in a block that was too small. So I unpicked it and re-did it to made the sides of each row longer than the 10 1/2 inch square block so that it can be trimmed down at the end once all the other blocks are done.

Cut a few strips of white and black at the standard width of 2 1/2 inches.

Row One

We'll start with the row with three "building blocks" and work our way up the block.

Cut:

• Three pieces of 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches in Black and
  
• Two pieces of 2 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inches in White.
  

Sew together but remember to press, measure and trim after each line of stitching.

Complete the row by attaching two blocks of 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 in White either side of the three blocks.

Once finished add the spacer to the top of the row.

Cut

• 12 1/2 inch length of your 2 1/2 inch sash and cut it in half. We will use one half for the Row 1 spacer and the other half for the Row 2 spacer.

Attach spacer to the top of the row, press, measure and trim if needed.

Row Two

Cut

• Two 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 blocks in Black and
  
• one piece of 2 1/2 by 1 1/4 in White.

Sew together but remember to press, measure and trim after each line of stitching to make sure that your black blocks are 2 1/4 inches in width before sewing on the sides.

Complete the row by attaching two blocks of 4 inches by 2 1/2 in White either side of the two building blocks.

Once finished add the spacer to the top of the second row. Use the second half of the spacer from Row One, 12 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches in White.

Attach spacer to the top of the row, press, measure and trim if needed.

Row Three

The fastest row of all!

Cut

• One 2 1/2 inch sqare in black
• Two 5 1/2 strips of 2 1/2 inch height in white

Attach the sides to the "building block" and then press with iron.

Compiling the block

Sew each row together.

To line up the blocks I folded the middle block in half, gave it a quick press and used this to line up the blocks above it. The blocks have to line up or the effect will not look as good. Don't trust the perimeter of your rows, as due to stitch length the rows may be different lengths.

After the blocks are joined, sash the top and bottom in 2 1/2 inches height white, at a length or width of 12 1/2 inches.

This block will be bigger than the first two, but that is ok, as we are going to cut them all down to the same size before we sew them together.

Three blocks down, six to go!

Are following along with the Monochromatic quilting adventures? Let me know!