Free 2023 Block of the Month ~ Patchwork Projects

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1. Cut the fabrics the size required [Rotary Cutting~ #F].

2. Make the templates [Cardboard Templates] for the chick, bunny & lamb shapes.

Request the Patchwork Spring Templates here

3. Lay out the small squares for each block into a pleasing arrangement.

4. When you are happy with the arrangement, collect the patches into 4 Patch sets, taking them from the left to the right & top to bottom and stacking them with the most left patch on top. Number the sets (I have small cardboards with numbers I keep for this) and hold the sets together with a clothespin.

5. Sew [Machine Piecing] the patches into 4 Patch units by sewing the patches into pairs first.

Tip: Before placing two squares right sides together, place a pin in the top left corner of left patch of the pair. Keep these pins in until the corner is joined to the next patch. This helps you keep track of which is the 'top left' of the pairs/sets of pairs, keeping things straight while you chain piece your patches.

6. Press [Pressing #1] the seams open.

7. Sew the pairs together into 4 Patches, matching the seams (*See the pinning tip below).

*Perpendicular Pinning Tip: Place a pin in each seam of both the rows you are joining. Don't anchor them. Hold the pin perpendicular (90*) with your first two fingers (underneath) and your thumb on top. Now place an anchor pin (going in at an angle) beside it. Remove the perpendicular pin after you've anchored it. Do the same for the other seams along the row, aligning the raw edges at the top.
This pinning method keeps the seams from shifting out of place.

When joining 4 Patch blocks, adding an extra pin through the center of both blocks, before you add the anchor pin, is also helpful.

8. Press the seams open.

9. Sew the 4 Patch units together into rows, matching the seams.

Sew the top and bottom rows together.

10. Press [Pressing #3] the patchwork blocks.

11. Draw the outline of the chick, bunny & lamb template shapes onto the right side of the larger tone on tone block background fabrics with a chalk pencil. Use the guide lines on the template for placement in the center of the square.

Tip: Placing the fabric on a sheet of sandpaper taped to cardboard, will help hold it in place, for a neater finish.

12. Cut out the inside of the shapes, about ¼" from the chalk line, using pinking shears.

13. Finger press the seam allowance over to the back of the shape and baste in place [Stitches-#3c].

14. Pin the smaller patchwork blocks to the back of the background fabrics, covering the openings and then baste into place.

15. Using two strands of the embroidery floss that matches the patchwork colour, Blanket Stitch [Decorative Stitches·#1] around the edge to the background fabric.

 

Chick Block	Bunny Block	Lamb Block

Finished Size: 9" x 9"

16. Block [Blocking].

17. Cut [Border Basics] the 1¾" accent border & sashing strips into: 2~1¾" x 29" (side borders); 2~1¾" x 11" (top/bottom borders); 2~1¾" x 10" (sashing).

18. Sew the 2~1¾" x 10" sashing strips between the blocks [Sashing]. Trim the extra length even with the edges of the blocks. Press.
Draw your sewing line at ½".

19. Sew the accent border [Plain Border] to the outer edges of the center.
Press the seams together, toward the border.
Trim to ¾", as per instructions.

20. Cut one of the 3¾" wide full strips of the main multi-coloured fabric in half. Sew these wide strips of border fabric [Plain Border] to the outer edges of the center.
Press the seams together, toward the smaller accent border.
Trim to 3¼", as per instructions.

 

Design Alternative: You could make a matching set of alternate blocks, like the Patchwork Hearts, using the same 32 square Patchwork Block, and the background tone-on-tone fabrics in the center.

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~Previous Patchwork Projects~

Patchwork Hearts

Patchwork Scarf

 

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