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

BUCKET LIST QUILT # 1

 For the last year I have been thinking about what quilts I still really want to make. You know, those "BUCKET LIST" quilts you really want to make while you can. 

My thought process is to make that LIST. Then pull the FABRICS for each quilt. That should make it easier for me to let go of so much "extra" fabric I have no plan for and can't live long enough to use. That's the theory, anyway...

Why should I let go of fabric? Because there is just too much! My 3 closets, so full:

 

So for the next few weeks I will show you one of the quilts that has made my BUCKET LIST. In no particular order here is #1

HAWAII SUNSET 1845: Quilters Newsletter Magazine Feb/Mar 2010.

Saved this magazine for 14 years

Yardage I have on hand that works--I have many fat quarters in these colors to supplement this group

The ONE RULE I have set for myself for these BUCKET LIST QUILTS is I will BUY NO MORE FABRIC TO MAKE THEM. I will use what I have.

There is only one fabric in this quilt that requires a sizeable amount--the Navy Blue sashing. I have enough of one, it's a bit lighter than the one used in the magazine. I have enough of two other darker Navy Blues, if I am willing to use one for the body of the quilt and one for the perimeter triangles. Time will tell which I decide to use. 

This resembles Western Sun I made a couple years ago but the fabric selection is very different and the Nine Patch centers will be much faster to make than these Star blocks:

Western Sun 110" square

Do you have a Bucket List Quilt?

Let's quilt.

Barbara 

New Project on the Way

 I've been having a mental debate with myself about what quilt project to start next. It's been on my mind for months. 

Not that I don't have plenty to do. There are videos and blogs to prepare, work for the 2021 and now, 2022 Block of the Month  quilts for The Quilt Show.  That takes a lot of time. I am teaching locally again and that takes time. Next week I'll be in Houston to give a lecture and teach a workshop for the Quilt Guild of Greater Houston--love that too.

There are several quilts to quilt, a few for my guild quilt show next March. They will take time. So I have plenty to do...

But I always want to have the "next great idea" lined up. Digging around the studio the other day I remembered this project and knew this is "IT". Ever since this 2010 magazine arrived I've been planning to make this "someday". In a large plastic tub I found all these fabrics, ready to go, the magazine, AND all the paper patterns for the flying geese--printed years ago--READY  TO GO. So, this is it. 

I will pre-wash these fabrics soon. I can't start this until more of the Block of the Month stuff is done but that will be in about a month. Oh, wait, then I will be in Houston for Market and Festival, 13 days away from home, SO, maybe  this will see action in November. 

It just feels good to know what is next. Does that happen to you? Do you have a plan for the next idea or just wait to see what happens? I have several projects under construction I could go back to but the bright, new shiny thing is so much more appealing!

Let's quilt.

Barbara