AFTERNOON DELIGHT--Month 1, Part 1

This pattern is the 2020 Block of the Month pattern offered FREE to Star members of The Quilt Show--join today to receive the entire year of patterns free. This is in addition to all the great content provided by The Quilt Show, 26 shows, a new one every two weeks, and so much more. If you want to know more about why I am such a fan, here is why.

Welcome to Afternoon Delight, designed by the late Sue Garman. This month you will begin to make both pieced and applique blocks. Part 1 will discuss the pieced Shoo Fly block. Part 2, coming January 2, 2020, will discuss applique by machine, both raw edge and turned edge techniques.

Find information on Fabric Requirements here.

Read ALL the directions before beginning. If you have the Kit, you will find it easiest to cut the fabrics according to the list provided each month. This month simply decide which fabrics are Backgrounds 1-6 and Prints 1-6 and cut the sizes listed in the pattern accordingly.

For example, Backgrounds 1 and 2 are cut 8" x 12" to start with. They will be used for the Shoo Fly half square triangles and Applique blocks 1 and 2 backgrounds. Each fabric is listed as to where it is used that month and what size to cut the fabric to accomplish this.

TIP: All the applique backgrounds are cut 8" square to start. After all the applique is stitched, you will trim the block down to 7.25"--this is the unfinished size. More about Applique in Part 2.

The Shoo Fly Block:

Sue's directions are excellent, with great visuals. I won't repeat what she says here. I will only try to clarify a few things.

The instructions say to cut Background 1 and 2 into two 3 1/8" squares. Since you know Background 1 and 2 are also used as Applique block backgrounds, you can cut those 8" x 12" fabrics into one 8" square each and use the remaining 4" x 8" pieces to make the two 3 1/8" squares from each background. NOTE: I cut the squares 3 1/4" and sewed them first before cutting--see below.

Follow the directions for Prints 1-6 to cut the pieces needed for the Shoo Fly blocks. All of the fabric left will be used in the 4 Applique blocks. Do the same for Backgrounds 1-6.

My sample quilt is being made from red, white and blue fabrics. Here are the parts ready for two Shoo Fly blocks:

NOTE: I prefer to make half square triangles from squares and I cut them slightly larger, 3 1/4" instead of 3 1/8". After sewing on both sides of a drawn pencil line, I cut them apart, and "trim to perfection":

I am willing to waste that much fabric for that much perfection. Trim to 2 3/4"

I am working scrappy, from leftover pieces and yardage. All I do is see what sizes of Background/Prints are needed and cut those from scraps. I am using some fabrics more than called for, some less.

The entire quilt has a total of 9 Shoo Fly blocks, each with 41 pieces. They will be placed all around the quilt, not assembled until the end. So it really does not matter which fabrics are used in each block. Just spread the colors around as you like.

With my red,white and blue theme, I had at least three choices when it came to the Shoo Fly blocks--red and blue corners in each block, or some all red, some all blue. Which do you prefer?

My choice is shown at the top of this post.

You will like how those little four-patches "float", meaning the corners of the little squares not not supposed to touch the outside edges of the block or half-square triangles. That's just the way the simple math works out and it's easier too.

You are encouraged to post photos on the Forum in our Afternoon Delight Block Progress Show and Tell Topic.  Show and Tell Your Blocks Here

The Forum is the first place I post updates/suggestions and each time I post a blog that covers Afternoon Delight, I post a Topic on the Forum to alert you--just in case you don't follow my blog.

Please feel free to ask questions--the Forum is a great place to ask--I check it at least once a day.

There are 9 of these blocks in the entire quilt--Sue spread them out over 5 months. But now that you know how to make them, if you are itching to get ahead, go on and make some more--remember, just 9!

Part 2 posts January 2--we will tackle the Applique blocks there.

Let's quilt.

Barbara