2012 BOM

The new Block of the Month for 2012 is called simply -- Vintage Sampler!  I have given it the nickname of "This Old Quilt."  Blocks will be posted on the 1st and 15th of the month, and will be available for free for 30 days.  Then they will be available for purchase on my website.

 2012 Block of the Month

Rules which govern this year’s BOM.

I love to design and share my work but it reflects literally hundreds of hours of my time. I will ask that you respect the requests I make for the use of my work.

• I will release two blocks each month – one on the first of the month and the second on the 15th of the month.
• If I am a day or two late posting the free blocks or sending out the newsletter it is because I have a very demanding day job as a college professor and I do most of my online work late at night after I am done grading papers and preping classes. Sometimes, I just need to sleep!
• Each pattern will be available for free for 30 days only. Once removed, blocks will be available for purchase on my website.
• Block patterns may be downloaded and ONE copy may be printed for personal or charitable use only. You may not print and share additional copies of them with others, but you are free to direct others to my blog or website (www.morningglorydesigns.net) where they will be able to download a copy for themselves.
• Patterns will only be available as downloadable PDF files and requests to receive patterns by email will not be honored
• If you make a quilt using this pattern you may display it publicly. I ask that you include "Design by Reeze L. Hanson, Morning Glory Designs" on any label or tag affixed or assigned to the quilt or display.
• You will need to download a current version of Adobe Reader (available for free) to open and use these files.
• Newsletter subscribers will receive links to two additional free blocks in the bi-monthly newsletter -- a 12" intermediate and 16" advanced versions for each block. Links will be open for 2 weeks. When a new issue of the newsletter is sent, links are opened for the current block and closed for all previous blocks.
• Missed blocks may be purchased on my website. Requests to have past newsletters emailed to you will not be honored.
• These patterns are Copyrighted and may not be sold or used for commercial purposes of any kind without the specific written consent of Reeze Hanson, Designer.
• Quilt Guilds or Groups which would like to use this pattern as a BOM for their group may do so only with written permission of the Designer, Reeze Hanson, and only if each member downloads their own copy. Copies of the pattern may not be published in any newsletter, mailing list or email. You may publish the link to my website or blog where members may download their own copy.

June 1, 2012

I am going to be on safari for a few days so since I posted the last block late I thought I would post the next block early!  Whoo hoo!  This is called Two Roses, but maybe I should call it two and a half roses.  If you want, you can make the stem on the red flower touch the stem on the yellow flower, but in the original Old Quilt it was just like this.

Vintage Sampler Block 11 Two Roses - 9" finished block

Download the Free Pattern for Block 11 HERE

Available for free from June 1  to July 1, 2012

You could also make the flower center circles to make them easier to stitch down by machine.  Or just use a button for the centers, or both! 

This is the sample block I made but have not yet embellished it.  I am going to do embroidery on the lines in the flowers and but a small button in the center.  Here is what I did on the large wreath version of this blocks.  I put small yellow buttons in the red flower centers and double buttons, white and red, in the yellow flowers.  This one was a lot of fun to make.  It is one of the blocks features in the BLOCK OF THE MONTH Quilt at Quilting Bits and Pieces in Eudora.  You can purchase kits for this block and the other 11 wreath blocks here:

 

Quilting Bits & Pieces736 Main St., Box 9, Eudora KS 66025
Phone: 785-542-2080 or toll free 877-639-2080

 

 

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May 15, 2012

Some objects are not found in nature.  And this flower block is one of them.  I call it Fantasy Flower because it reminds me of those art deco and art nouveau stylistic representation which had an origin in nature but fails to resemble it to our eyes today.  No matter where it came from it is a hoot!  Make it in any color and you will love it.  So simple.  Just 7 pieces.  After all those leaves last time you are gonna love this easy block.

Block 10 Fantasy Flower- 9" finished size
Free from May 15 to June 15

Download the FREE pattern for Block 10 HERE.

Hey upload pictures of your completed blocks to the Flickr site by June 1!!

I have a pile of FQ's just sitting here waiting for me to draw a winner!!!

May 1, 2012

A traditional Rose of Sharon variation is offered this month, called Rose and Leaf.  It should really be Rose and LEAVES because it has a lot of them!  The pretty posey is simply adorable and the halo of leaves around it make it distinctive and unique.  Vary the number of leaves and their positions to suit your own tastse.  And the fabric choices can run the gamut from solids, as in my samples, and batiks to modern florals. 

Block 9 Rose and Leaf - 9" finished size
Free from May 1 to June 1

Download the FREE pattern for Block 9 HERE.

Pattern tester Charlene Calhoon made a sample in batiks and her blocks, as always are so sweet.

Tips for Making Block 9:

1. Vary the size and shape and color of the leaves.  It would be fun to see each leaf in a different green fabric, or alternate between two fabrics.  Tuck the leaves behind the flower or let them just touch the flower as they doo in the samples.  Or skew them a bit and have them point in an angle away from the flower.  That would be especially fun.
2. Use a big yellow button for the center of the flower or embellish the center yellow cirdle with beads to look like stamens.

April 15, 2012

The second block in row 2 is the first example of a block from This Old Quilt which has a vase.  So of course I call it Vase O Roses.  This square rose bloom are really fun.  You can put them square as shown or be bold and put them on point.  Both versions are cute.  I have put them on point in one of the bonus wreath blocks (only available to newsletter subscribers) and I like them both ways.

Block 8 Vase O Roses - 9" Finished Size

Purchase Block 8 HERE.

I did the vase in gold with a green stripe, as this was as close to the original quilt block as I could get.  But you could make the vase any color you prefer.  It looks cute in blue and turqoise.

Here is the block that pattern tester Charlene Calhoon did.  Her interpretation of the block is just adorable. Her vase looks like wood bark!  What a surprise!  and the textured pink and green fabrics add a real whimsical touch to the block.

Tips for Making Block 8:

The band on the vase could be embellished with embroidery threat, a band of cross stitches, or any machine decorative stitch instead of using fabric.

1. the flower centers would be adorable as big yellow buttons instead of fabric centers.
2. Be sure to tuck the two wonky leaves BEHIND the side flower stems.  I tried them in front and they just don't look as good.  Make sure the bottom of the leaves and the ends of the stems are tucked under the edge of the vase and flowers by only  1/8".  More than that and they may show.
   

   Hey upload pictures of your completed blocks to the Flickr site by May 1!!

   I have a pile of FQ's just sitting here waiting for me to draw a winner!!!

April 1, 2012

We are starting row 2 of the Vintage Sampler Quilt already.  How are you doing keeping up with the blocks?  They really are easy to do, aren't they?  Row 2 begins with a fun block, a pink sunflower!  Yes, pink!  Now my Pattern Tester Jean made up one of the 12" blocks and made her block more traditional looking in yellow and brown.  And I have to admit Jean's block looks great!  (See the free BOM page on my website to see a picture of Jean's block)  But I sort of like the pink.  What do you think?

Block 7 Pink Sunflower - 9" finished size

Purchase Block 7 HERE.

Tips for Making Block 7

• Before you fuse the web onto the back of the pink flower fabric, cut out the center of the web so you have about 1/2" of web around the outside of the shape.  Then fuse the web onto the back of the pink fabric and cut out the pink flower.  This technique is used for any larger applique piece, especially when there are other layers of applique on top of it.  It keeps the block from getting stiff because of all the layers.
• Trace the yellow circle template onto the template for the brown circle on the paper side of the fusible web. Be sure the smaller circle is centered inside the larger circle.  Fuse this onto the back of the brown fabric and cut out the brown circle on both sets of lines.  You will have a brown donut!  Trace the yellow circle about 1/8" larger than the template onto the fusible web.  Cut out the yellow fabric circle on the outside of this line.
• Position the yellow circle in the middle of the pink flower.  Place the brown donut on top of the yellow circle.  Make sure that all the edges of the yellow circle are beneath the brown circle.  Fuse in place.  This way the brown (dark color) won't show through the yellow (light color).  Cool huh?  :-)
• When stems sit beneath a piece of fabric that is lighter in color than the stems, the stem fabric could easily show through.  To prevent this, have no more than 1/8" of stem beneath the edge of a flower or leaf.  The edge stiching will hide any show through this way. 
• The bottoms of the three stems will all show in this block so be sure they are all lined up evenly.  If you need to trim them, fuse down all but the bottom inch of the stems.  Then lift the edges of the stems, trim them off evenly, and then fuse them down. 
• Embellishing this block will be fun.  How about this. . . instead of using a brown donut around the yellow circle, glue down brown ric-rac around the yellow circle.  When you get to the starting point, over lap the ends of the ric rack, lift them up and cut through both layers at once.  Now glue down the two ends.  They should butt together perfectly.
• Use flannel or wool for the brown and yellow circles.  The fuzzy texture will really make the flower center look soft and textured.
• Use "Texture Magic" on a pice of yellow fabric before cutting out the yellow circle template.  Or create a ruched flower for the center.  Stick a little fuzzy bee button on the edge of the center!  oh cute!

March 15, 2012

Block t is a fast and simple block.  If you do fusible web, needle turn or freezer paper techniques you will find this block very fast.  And its big, and its purple.  What is not to love?  I call it Purple Posey.

Block 6: Purple Posey 9" finished size

Purchase Block 6 Here

Tips for Making Block 6:

• Just six pieces, the seemingly simple block can really be dressed up using embellishments.  I am going to use embroidery to add veins in the leaves and petals and add some dimension in the flower center. 
• You could even use a big button for the flower center. 
• And why not make thsoe little leaves 3-dimentional by lining them and then just tacking them under the edge of the flower? 
• If you want, you could make the center yellow, but in This Old Quilt is was orange! Very appropriate for the 1930's.
• Here is my version.  In this picture I don't have the edge-stitching completed.  I am almost done, however, and will show you a copy when its completed.  It appears darker in the photo than it actually is. 

Don't forget to upload your completed blocks for my monthly drawing HERE.

 

March 1, 2012

Block 5 is a totally funky and fun block. I just loved this and recreated it as close as possible from This Old Quilt. Yes the colors are orange and golds, but I had to bring a little blue and lavendar in there when I designed the intermediate and advanced blocks. And my pattern tester Charlene did a fabulous sample using purple batiks that just glow. Why the name? When I was drawing this block I thought the three-lobed flower looked like thumb prints. So it became "All Thumbs!"

Block 5 - All Thumbs

Size: 9" finished Block 5 - All Thumbs

Purchase Block 5 Here

All Thumbs  9" Block by Pattern Tester Charlene Calhoun

I made a version of the block in Moda Bella Solids.  I started to make gold "ears" as in the design, and at the last minute I just couldn't do.  I made blue and purple ears and I just love them.  You can make your "ears" any color you like. :-)

9" Block made by Reeze

Tips for Making Block 5 

1. There are 2 circlular templates in this pattern.  The smaller one i for the little round yellow center for the flower.  The slightly larger one is a template to use to cut out a whole in the gold star shaped piece so that the background flower will show through.
2. Make the "ears" of your block any color you like.  The yellow in the original was totally cool as it is, but I love what the blue and purple do when they are sitting next to the orange and gold.  No big suprise, they are compliments.  Complimentary colors are those colors that are directly across the color wheel from another color.  Purple and yellow are compliments, and red-orange and blue-green are compliments.  You gotta love playing with color, and the clear tones of the solid colors really help you become more sensitive to color combinations without being distracted by pattern, print or texture.
3. Embellish this flower with a button in the center, or leave out the yellow center and embroider a ring of lazy daisy stitches around the middle or poking out like spokes on a wheel.  Give the green leafs some embroidered veins.  And them embroider a confused honey bee in one corner trying to find where to land on this funky block!  LOL

Tutorial on how to assemble flowers with an applique pressing sheet.

After you have traced all the applique pieces, applied the fusible web and cut them all out you are ready to begin assembly.

I place all the parts together so they are ready to to assemble.  I don't want to make a mistake with fusible web.  Once its down, it is almost impossible to remove a piece without leaving the glue behind.

Pin your applique placement guide to an ironing surface.  Pin your fabric on top of the placement guide if the applique is fairly simple.  If there are a LOT of pieces, use the applique placement guide first, then transfer the completed motifs to the background fabric.

In the picture above I am using the background fabric because it is a simple block and I can see through the fabric just fine.  Start with the parts which are furthest back in the block.  This will usually be stems or leaves.  It is easy to tell when looking at the placement guide.  I put the curved stem down first then add the straight stem over it.  I trimmed off the top of each stem so that only about 1/8" extends under the flower.

Use the iron to fuse the bottom of the stems to the fabric but leave the tops loose.  You may want to adjust their placement a bit once you add leaves and flowers.

Place the leaves over the stem and alighn them with the placement guide.

Next position the flower parts lining up the edges of each part with the placement guide.  Don't forget to remove the paper from the back of each template.  If you are satisfied with the placement, lightly press the whole flower, leaves and stem in place.

Add the next pair of leaves and position them using the placement guide.  Sometimes you may need to trim a piece if you did not trace or cut it out accurately.  And always check how it looks to you!  You may want to arrange ethe petals leaves or stems differently and that is just fine.  NOTE:  be sure to stay away from the edges of the block.  I always cut applique blocks over-sized so I can trim them down to the correct size after I applique down the flowers.  The fusing and stitching can slightly shrink a block so this is an important safeguard.

Once the final flower parts are in place.  Press the whole block to fuse all the pieces in place.

Notice in this completed block how the green leaves show through the pink flower.  I don't like that very much.  I know that when I edge stitch the applique that most of that will be covered by thread, but there are two ways to solve the problem. 

First, I should have trimmed part of those leaves so that less than an 1/8" of underlap shows.  There is more than 1/4" showing on this block and the edge stitching will not be able to hide it all. 

Second, whenever you are using light colored fabrics, such as pinks or yellows, and know you will have dark colored fabrics under them, you can line the piece with fusible interfacing before you apply the fusible web to the back of the fabric.  The fusible interfacing is light weight and provides good coverage.

Here is the finished block with all the blanket stitching completed.  I am not thrilled about the green showing through the pink flower and I may redo this block later if I have time.  But I am pleased with the edge stitching and the matching thread colors.

Don't forget to upload your completed blocks for my monthly drawing HERE.

February 15, 2012

Block 4 - Camellia

Size: 9" finished beginner block 4

Purchase Block 4 Here

February 1, 2012

Block 3 --  Morning Glories

 Purchase Block 3 Here

January 15, 2012

Block 2 - Tossed Daisies

Purchase Block 2 Here

January 1, 2012

Block 1 -- Poinsettia

Purchase Block 1 Here

If you subscribe to my newsletter you will also get instructions for the four-motif crossing blocks in a 12" version, and a 16" wreath version. 

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Watch for Block 7 on April 1!!