ALTERNATIVE BLOCKS FOR LAUREL RIDGE

 I was asked about the two alternative blocks I made for my Laurel Ridge quilt, the 2025 BOM quilt designed by Lynn Wilder exclusively for The Quilt Show

Any 5" blocks can be substituted for any 5" blocks in the quilt. I wanted a simple block to help me finish this project. And I wanted a more complex block to add interest.

The EASY BLOCK -- Five Patch Shoo Fly:  Brackman #1847

For a 5" finished block, there are 4 Half Square Triangles (HST) 2" finished, and 4 Rectangles 1" x 2" finished. And a center square 1" finished.  

Make HST as you like. I made two blocks at once by cutting a 6" square of background and the green fabric. Draw a diagonal line in both directions, then sew 1/4" on either side of the drawn lines. Cut apart into 8 sewn triangle pairs. Trim HST to 2.5" and you have 8 HST, 2.5" with seam allowance.

This is the same way we made HST for the Basket Blocks in Month 5: Month 5  These are two different sizes but the process is the same:

Cut 4 rectangles 1.5" x 2.5", and 1 center square 1.5". Sew the block together, in 3 rows, very easy. The block is 5.5" with seam allowances.

There are other ways to make HST. See my TUTORIAL here: Half Square Triangles

The MORE COMPLEX BLOCK -- Mosaic, Brackman #2123:

What I liked about this is the Flying Geese are the same size as those made in Month 1: 1.25" x 2.5" finished. See my blog about that here: Month 1

The HST corners are 1.25" finished. I made 8 of them at once from two 4.5" squares, one background, one dark pink. The process is the same as described above. 

The center square can be made a couple ways. I pieced it. The plaid square is cut 2.25". The background triangles that surround the plaid center are cut from 2 squares cut 2.25":

Sew two opposite triangles to the square, press toward the triangles. Add the remaining two opposite triangles, trim center block to 3" square. 

Now assemble the block in three rows. There are a lot of seam allowances on the back. Here is how I pressed mine. You might prefer to press seams open. I starched it and set two heavy clappers on the block to dry flat:

So there you have the two alternative 5" blocks I made. 

Next week I will show how I made four 10" Lone Star blocks, that take the place of sixteen 5" blocks:

Let's quilt.

Barbara

LAUREL RIDGE -- MONTH 5

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 Basket Blocks, 20 of them. Many people love basket blocks, as I do, and I am happy to see them in this wonderful sampler quilt.

As usual, the pattern directions are excellent. I made very few cutting adjustments. 

First, before cutting any BACKGROUND fabric, I checked my "leftovers" from the past 5 months to see what I could cut from it. I keep all the "leftovers" in a large ziploc bag, separate from the Kit yardage. Fortunately, I could cut several of the pieces needed for Month 5 from the background leftovers. So check there first before cutting lots of new strips from the yardage.

CUTTING ADJUSTMENTS:

Background  D outside corner triangle--I cut the strip 3" instead of 2 7/8", my personal preference. 

Feet of the Basket  G--I cut the strip 2" instead of 1 7/8". This did mean I had to carefully trim the block before adding the D outside corner to complete the block. See photo below.

IMPORTANT NOTE: 

Making 8 Half Square Triangles at once is a great thing I have learned from this project. I often make 24 at once, or 4, or "some", but Lynn's method for making 8 all the same is very handy in this, and many other quilts.  This month we NEED 20 Half Square Triangles for the middle of the block. The technique makes 24. So, don't panic, you will have 4 HST leftover. 

CONSTRUCTION:

My pieces laid out. Be careful to get the small HSTs going in the correct orientation:

These two speed-sewing units will make 8 HSTs each of the two sizes needed:

Cut apart on the North/South and East/West axis first, then cut on the drawn diagonal lines:

Press toward the darker fabric then "Trim to Perfection" to the correct size:

With small sizes like those used in this quilt, precise piecing really matters. The instructions tell you what size the various units need to be. It pays to take time to check that yours are the right size with each seam. I often find I need to trim small amounts from a unit because I tend to have a narrow seam allowance. I want to find my mistake AS SOON AS I MAKE IT, rather than after the block is complete and is too big:

There is one extra step I needed to take because I cut the G triangles slightly larger than needed. The two BLUE small triangles (from the Spring Kit) need to be 1/4" away from the outside edge where the D white background triangle joins them. 

I simply used a ruler, placing the 1/4" line on the center place where the two BLUE triangles meet, trimming away a slight amount to get that outside seam ready:

What a help it is to now have a 5.5" Quilters Select Square ruler to check my blocks, being sure they are the correct size!  It is such a help:

What a lovely little basket.

Next month we will make the LARGER APPLIQUE blocks. I will show my "optional alternative" pieced blocks. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

LAUREL RIDGE -- MONTH 1

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. 

Be sure to watch Lynn's Show, #3601, airing December 29, 2024. It is FREE TO ALL, so tell your friends to watch. 

Find the Monthly Patterns under LEARN--DOWNLOAD the pattern to your device before printing. 

Month 1 has us making FOUR PATCH IN A STAR blocks, 4 each in TWO colorways. 

IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY NOTE: While I am using the SPRING KIT, I have added a few additional fabrics and occasionally selected different Kit fabrics for certain blocks. I cannot guarantee the Kit has enough fabric when I use one in a place not intended by the designer. If you are concerned about that, simply follow the design instructions exactly as written for either of the Kits. 

My FOUR PATCH IN A STAR BLOCKS:

The pattern instructions are excellent. I offer tips when I have a suggestion that saves time for ME. 

This month I suggest these cutting adjustments:

1. Letter D--the instructions say to cut 2 strips--you will definitely need 1 but may not need the second one this month. I did NOT NEED the second one to make all the 4-patches required. This depends entirely on how wide your fabric is. Some  WOF may be 40", others are 42" or more. 

2. Letter E--the instructions say to cut 2 strips, then sub-cut into squares before drawing the sewing line on the wrong side. I prefer to cut larger squares, draw the lines, then cut them apart. I cut 1 strip 4 1/2"  but next time I will cut it 4 3/4" for a little more "insurance". NOTE: 4 3/4" worked much better for me.

8 larger Squares provide the 32 smaller squares needed this month. Using a mechanical pencil I carefully drew diagonal lines from corner to corner on the WRONG SIDE of the fabric. Carefully cut the large square into 4 smaller squares--the lines are already drawn, it's like magic:

The instructions and Lynn's Video show how to draw the diagonal lines using a small 1/2" wide ruler. I have one of those somewhere! Once I learned this trick for quickly drawing lines on four squares at once I never looked for that little ruler again.  With an accurate 1/4" presser foot, I only need to draw the center line. If you prefer to draw the SEWING LINES, draw 1/4" away from the center on both sides of the diagonal.

Yes, I know there are other ways to make Flying Geese (FG). This is my preferred method. The measurements are slightly oversized so you can "Trim to Perfection".

It is VERY IMPORTANT to trim these Flying Geese units to 3" by 1.75"--they FINISH at 2.5" x 1.25"--that is when sewn into the block. Lynn's Video for Month 1 shows how to trim using the Bloc Loc ruler.

When I made these first Flying Geese units I didn't have the Bloc Loc ruler in that size. To use a square ruler, place the 1.5" line at the middle of the unit, being sure the height is at least 1 3/4".  Trim the right and top sides to that size--this is the FIRST CUT:

Turn the unit completely around, place the 1.5" line at  the middle again and trim the remaining two sides. The first cut is IMPORTANT,  the second cut is CRITICAL. It will determine what size the Flying Geese unit is: 

What if you have a Bloc Loc Ruler that is NOT THE RIGHT SIZE? Can you use it? Yes, sort of. The 45 degree angle at the peak of the Flying "Goose" is the same angle, regardless of size. You can use a larger Bloc Loc ruler to cut the TOP EDGE of the unit.

In the photo below, the top FG unit shows the accurate ruler size and the bottom FG unit shows a much larger ruler:

 

The larger ruler can help you cut the TOP EDGE only of the FG. Use a square ruler as described above to cut the remaining 3 sides. BE SURE TO TRIM TO 3" X 1.75":

Notice the FG unit is now turned upside down. Place the 1.5" mark on the ruler at the V of the FG, keeping the diagonal line on the seam. The unit must be 1.75" high to be cut accurately so be sure to look at the lower edge BEFORE CUTTING: 

Trim the right and top sides:

Turn the FG unit  again so you can trim the remaining edge. The unit needs to be 1.75" x 3":

Lucy K made a post on the FORUM that the Deb Tucker Wing Clipper II ruler had the markings for the correct size Flying Goose:  1.75" x 3" cut size, 1.25" x 2.5" finished size. My local quilt shop had this ruler in stock so I bought it to try:

It was successful if I was careful to hold the ruler tightly in place while trimming. Having gotten VERY USED to quality rulers with non-slip stuff on the bottom, Quilter's Select and Creative Grids, I found it easy for the ruler to slip as I was trimming. Putting solid pressure on the ruler prevented that, I just had to remember I really had to press down firmly. 

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Quilt Show Store Wing Clipper II

First I watched the video on the Deb Tucker Wing Clipper II page. Very simple to understand. Here are photos of my process:

The diagonal line goes on the right diagonal seam. Remember to CUT 1 3/4" x 3". Trim the right and top sides:

Turn the unit upside down. The X sits exactly at the Point of the goose, the 1 3/4" line is now at the bottom and the 3" line is on the left side. HOLD tight as you trim to exactly 1 3/4" x 3":

So it is clear you don't have to have specific rulers to make Flying Geese.  As it is difficult to find the 1.75" x 2.5" Bloc Loc Flying Geese Ruler most will be using another type of ruler to trim the FG units. Once you get the hang of your preferred method you will be all set. The EXACT SIZE BLOC LOC FG Ruler just makes the trimming process easy, accurate and fast. If and when more of these rulers become available I will announce it on the FORUM

I love making Four Flying Geese at once and always make them the way Lynn describes in the pattern and her video. Making them OVERSIZE allows for insurance. You just have to know what size to cut the squares for the specific size Flying Goose you want to make. I have a TUTORIAL here you might also find helpful: Four Flying Geese

Here is a GREAT CHART that shows the sizes to cut squares needed for a variety of Flying Geese units Four at a Time Oversized: The Crafty Quilter

The 4-Patches are simple to make. The pattern instructions say to press the seams open. I don't usually do that. I "twirled" the center:

The pattern instructions clearly show how to assemble the block with the Flying Geese and 4-Patch units. I pin at all intersections and sew carefully. It's not a race, sew as slowly as needed to be successful. Double check your blocks to be sure they are the correct size when complete.

The pattern instructions also say to press seams open in the block construction. I will be interested to hear what Lynn says about this. For now, I pressed mine like the one on top, the one on bottom is pressed open:

At the time I made these blocks I did not have access to Lynn's show or videos. After I watch those, I may change my mind about pressing. 

Next month the first applique blocks are made. I am working on "optional alternative pieced blocks" should you prefer not to do applique. The choice is completely yours.

Let's quilt.

Barbara