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Make a Formal Garden quilt block from Charm Squares.

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We are now half way through the blocks for our 9 Patch Sampler so I thought I might take the dog for a walk and show you how to make a Formal Garden block from Charm Squares – I love the little paw prints and decided to pair them up with the string or leash – I just know what a little dog would do to a formal garden!

NANNY NOTE:  Our first Nannycraft4u Quilting Retreat that was scheduled for this weekend has had to be cancelled due to the flooding associated with Cyclone Debbie.  We are therefore holding an online ‘Retreat’ on my facebook page and I have decided to publish this post early so that members can complete it during our sew in.  Our overseas friends are welcome to join us!

WHAT YOU NEED:

DARK:  4 x 5″ squares

LIGHT:  4 x 5″ squares

OTHER:  1 x 5″ square

LET’S SEW!

1.  Pair up the LIGHTs and DARKs  5″ squares and make HSTs – you will be HST queens after this!

  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines

2.  Trim all squares to 4.5″ and press.

3.  Organise your squares

NANNY TIP:  You will notice as you join half square triangles in different ways , it is not always best to press the seams the same way.  Experiment a bit with your seams – you may find it less bulky if you press your seam open.  There is no rule – you do what works best for you!

NANNY TIP:  If you want to press a seam open, press it to one side first and then it is easy to get the tip of the iron under one side to press it open without burning your fingers!

4.  Sew your 9 Patch and press.

 

I think my little dog has behaved perfectly as we walked around the garden – he stopped and checked each corner and continued on his way!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Churn Dash Block from Charm Squares

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Today we are going to make a Churn Dash block from our charm squares.  The Churn Dash is a popular block and you will see many variations of it.

WHAT YOU NEED:

DARK: 4 x 5″ squares

LIGHT:  5 x 5″ squares

LET”S SEW:

1.  Trim 1 x Light  to 4.5″ square

2.  Take 2 light and 2 dark squares :

  •   Take the light squares and fold in half and finger press or draw a line down the centre.
  •   Place the light square and a dark square, right sides together and sew a scant 1/4″ either side of the centre line. (better too scant than not enough)
  •   Cut along the line between the two rows of stitching.

NANNY TIP:  If you are using a Directional fabric, you will need to join one pair of squares in one direction and the other pair in the other direction

3.  Take 2 x light and 2 Dark squares and make HSTs (Half Square Triangles)

NANNY TIP:  If using a directional fabric, fold the squares along the diagonal to check that you have the right direction before you mark and sew

  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines

4.  Trim all squares to 4.5″

5.  Organise your squares:

6.  Sew your 9 patch and press.

 

That completes our Churn Dash – Block number 8 of our 9 Patch Sampler.  We are now half way through and I am loving seeing your finished blocks so thanks for sharing!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Contrary Wife Quilt Block from Charm Squares

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For all the ‘contrary’ wives out there today we will make a Contrary Wife quilt block from charm squares.

Contrary Wife Quilt Block

WHAT YOU NEED:

LIGHT:  5 x 5″ squares

DARK: 4 x 5″ squares

 

 

LET’S SEW:

Nanny Note:   if you need more detailed instructions just follow the links for a quick reminder!

  1.  Take 3 LIGHT and 2 Dark squares and trim them to 4.5″
  2. Take 2 LIGHT and 2 DARK and make HST’s
  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines
  • trim  to 4.5″and press OR press and trim to 4,5″

3.  Organise your squares:

 

4. Sew your 9 patch and press.

Contrary Wife Quilt Block
Contrary Wife Quilt Block

How did you go with the Contrary wife?  Are you feeling a little contrary now?  I must admit when I saw the name of this block, I imagined a  frustrated quilter ( maybe with little ones crying “Whats for dinner?”) trying to make sense of her squares and HSTs and getting flustered – maybe she was having problems with her corners or maybe her directional fabrics!

Whatever it was, we have been left with a fun block in her memory!

 

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Friendship Star from Charm Squares

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Today we are going to use the same combination of squares and HSTs as we did for the Shoo Fly block, to make a Friendship Star from charm squares.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark:  3 x 5″ squares

Light:  6 x 5″ squares

LET’S SEW:

  1. Trim 1 Dark and 4 Lights to 4.5″ squares

2.  Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make HSTs

  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines
  • trim and press OR press and trim

3.  Organise your squares

 

4.  Sew and press your 9 patch  Friendship Star.

You are a STAR,  friend!

Let’s take a look at our blocks so far:

(I had to use 2 Friendship Stars to fill the space!)

 

Next week we will move on to more combinations of squares, strips and HSTs.  I hope you are enjoying the blocks.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Shoo Fly Block from Charm Squares

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Today we are going to make a Shoo Fly Block from charm squares.  Shoo Fly is a common block used in quilting.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark:  3 x 5″ squares

Light:  6 x 5″ squares

Nanny Note:  You will notice that I have used a directional fabric here, but because it is a busy print, I wasn’t concerned that it would spoil the effect of the block.  

LET’S SEW:

  1.   Trim 4 Light and 1 Dark  to 4.5″ squares
  2.   Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make Half Square Triangles
  • diagonal line
  • scant 1/4″ either side of line
  • cut between the lines
  • trim and press OR press and trim

3.  Press toward the Dark

4.  Organise your squares

Nanny Note: I could have turned the 4.5″ squares to make it all directional but did it this way to demonstrate the difference.  If it offends you aesthetically, make sure you have them all facing the same direction!

5.  Sew and press your 9 Patch

Shoo Fly

Now, as that was so easy, I am going to post another block  this week using the same recipe!

Until next time

Nanny xx

 

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