Month 3: The Patchwork Barn

This is the FREE Block of the Month pattern "Patchwork Barn", designed by Edyta Sitar exclusively for The Quilt Show. You must be a Star member of this world-wide quilt guild/show/internet community to receive the free patterns each month, beginning January 1, 2018. Join today and get started on this journey.

Previous instructions are here:

Introduction
Month 1
Month 2

NOTE: On The Quilt Show, the Forum is the best place to ask questions, find answers, find out if there is an error on the pattern, as there was for Month 2, Block 5. I recommend you check in there frequently. And there is a Show and Tell Topic--show us your blocks. Forum The Patchwork Barn 

Month 3 brings us three more great blocks. Two of them can easily be paper pieced. NOTE: You can always follow the instructions as written. Here I offer options to help you build your "toolbox" of techniques.

Block 7: Flying Geese  is comprised of 8 flying geese units. In Electric Quilt, it is called "Flying Geese 14". It is easy to print this block out from EQ, being sure you set the correct block size. By printing Foundation piecing patterns, and selecting "Separate Units", you will get a pattern for each strip of geese, here is one ready to sew:

Last month there was a lot of information on how to paper piece.  I also have a Tutorial called Paper Piecing Primer, if you need a refresher--see the Tutorial Tab above. 

In order to paper piece, you need to cut the pieces larger than the pattern requires. Luckily, it is easy to find out what size to cut them: My Four Flying Geese Tutorial includes a chart that shows exactly how to oversize the pieces. 

Start at the bottom, placing the first goose on the back side of the paper.  Being sure you have a 1/4" seam allowance, add the first background triangle on top of the goose, flip the whole thing over, and sew on the line. BE SURE to shorten your stitches--I use 1.5. Stitch 1/4" beyond the stitching line, just as you would if piecing regularly:

Continue until the four geese and their backgrounds are in place. Be sure to finger press or iron press firmly after each seam--do not use steam, we don't want to make pulp:

Left strip before trimming, Right strip after

Trim carefully, being sure you have 1/4" beyond both sides of the strip. Measure from the center out:

Remove the paper from both strips and join the two halves to complete the block.Yes, I know I rotated one strip completely around. Do whichever you prefer:

If you prefer to make the geese with regular piecing, try the "make four geese at once" method--discussed at length in the tutorial mentioned above. I use the oversize measurements and "trim to perfection", my preferred method. To easily draw the line on the background, I start with a square that is the size of the 4 squares, in this case, 2.75" means a 5.5" square. Draw the diagonal lines from corner to corner in both directions, then cut the square in quarters--it's magic, you easily have lines drawn on all 4 small squares quickly:

The Process:

Before and after trimming to perfection:

Make your geese however you like. The choice is yours.

Block 8: Rolling Stone presents a math challenge. The four corners are "square in a a square" units. To be 100% accurate the A square should be cut 1.9142"--a number we just can't deal with. 1 7/8" is slightly too small, 2" is slightly too large. You could fiddle with making a very scant seam allowance OR you can use 1 7/8" as the pattern calls for BUT I recommend you cut the B triangles from 2" squares, slightly larger than 1 7/8" listed in the pattern. This will give you just a smidge more fabric to be sure you get the correct size corners. 

BUT to be 100% accurate easily, those corner blocks can be paper pieced. In Electric Quilt I selected the Rolling Stone block, and printed just the four corner units, being sure the block size was correct:

 Cut the fabrics larger than the pattern lists, very important for paper piecing. I chain pieced all four squares, pressing each triangle as it was added. Left unit trimmed, Right ready to be trimmed:

Consider using different fabric combinations in your three blocks--the choice is yours. Even if using a kit, there is enough fabric to customize your quilt:

Block 9: reminds me of a portion of the Bear's Paw block. This one is fast and easy. My preferred method for making Half Square Triangles is to use Creative Grids Half Square Triangle ruler. Add .5" to the finished size of the HST, cut two strips that size, put them right sides together and cut. They are ready to be easily fed through the machine:

When pressing, remember the little arrows in the pattern diagrams show the recommended direction for pressing. If you prefer to press open, that is up to you. Whatever works best for you is the correct method. 

What if I use different fabrics for the HST and the large center? One more block to go and I just might do this, or something else for that large square. Time will tell--I'll sew the 3rd one at the Sunday Sew and Sews class later this month:

I hope you are enjoying the process.

Let's quilt!

Barbara