LAUREL RIDGE -- MONTH 4

 Laurel Ridge is the 2025 Block of the Month quilt designed by Lynn Wilder exclusively for The Quilt Show.  Star Members have FREE access to the patterns starting January 1, 2025. Made in two colorways, the complete patterns are excellent. You will love making this quilt. Lynn supports the pattern instructions with Videos too. 

This month we make the Checkerboard Block, 32 of them. The pink fabric here is not part of the Spring Kit, I substituted it for the Pink Parchment:

First, my most important advice is READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Follow the cutting instructions; the number of strips to cut and how to sub-cut them are important. 

The only CUTTING CHANGES I recommend is to cut A, the large floral fabric, Ivory Amazing Grace, 6" rather than 5 7/8". And I also cut B, Pink Copper Trail, 2" vs 1 7/8".  I really like having just that little bit extra for trimming. 

NOTE: My first block was less than perfect. Things didn't fit. The problem was my SEAM ALLOWANCE. Check each step as you go. You want to find the mistake as soon as you make it, not when the block is done but not quite right.

AND I found it VERY HELPFUL to use Starch, Sizing or Best Press on the fabrics before I cut them. After my first sad block, I took time to use Best Press on all the fabrics for the rest of the blocks. 

Make the STRIP SETS as described in the pattern. BE SURE they measure the correct size! For example, ROW 1 has four strips sewn into strata--the strata must measure 4.5" high when sewn. Follow the ARROWS that indicate which direction to sew each strip--this insures you get straight sets of fabric.

ROW 2 measures 3.5" and ROW 3 measures 2.5"--just like it says in the pattern. 

One additional measurement I strongly recommend you check is as you sew the ROWS together. Pairs of rows need to be 2.5" wide. Place the 1.25" line on the ruler on the sewn seam--if the pair is a bit too wide it is easy to trim the outer edges so it is exactly 2.5" wide:

Two pairs sewn together will be 4.5" wide. 

Follow all the ARROWS--for the direction to sew the strips, and the pressing directions. They are well thought out and they WORK.

One last check I made before completing the block was to trim the "dog ears" off the diagonal edge, being sure the point where the PIECED HALF meets the FLORAL HALF was exactly 1/4" in. Using a Half Square Triangle Ruler made this easy: 

The BEST TOOL I now have is the 5.5" SQUARE RULER. What a good investment for this quilt! From simple blocks like last month's large Half Square Triangle to these more complex, "have many pieces" blocks, using the 5.5" square ruler to do the final block trimming is great. They are currently available in the SHOP:

Have fun making these blocks. They take a while but you have all month! 

And next month we will make the lovely BASKET BLOCKS. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara