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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 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

 

Make a 9 patch Sampler with Nanny

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Welcome to our Sewalong where we will make a 9 Patch Sampler.  This will consist of 16 blocks each measuring 12.5″ and  based on a traditional 9 Patch block.

Instructions will be given for the completion of each block.  At times I will offer you more detail by providing a link, where, if you  click on the word here or the highlighted word, it will take you to the more detailed explanation.

My purpose is :

1. to keep the tutorials short for those already experienced while providing the learners with the more involved detail; and

2.  to save me repeating tutorials that I have already done.   Feedback is welcomed.

Nanny Note:  You will  notice a new addition to my pages at the top of the page – if you click on the ‘Print Friendly’  it will prepare the page for printing minus all of the side bars ie you will just be printing the tutorial.  Please let me know if you have any problems with it.

Fabric requirements:

I will be using up Black and White charm squares from my stash but look forward to seeing your fabric choices.

I have used 3 fabrics:

  1.  A Dark (White on Black background) This is the main fabric
  2.  A Light ( Black on a white background) This is like a background fabric and you might choose to use the same Light throughout
  3.  Other  (plain black) This is a feature or contrast

As I am using my charm squares my fabric calculations will be based on that.

So fabric requirements are:

1st Fabric –  my Dark   – 1.5m

2nd Fabric – my Light  – 1.5m

3rd Fabric  – my Other – 0,5m

These are approximate and you will need more depending on how you decide to finish the quilt top.  Borders, sashing, backing and binding are not included.

You may choose to select a colour combination, purchase a couple of FQs to get started and build on it as you go.  If you decide to do this but with WOF (width of fabric) pieces buy 30cm pieces.

You can cut 12 x 5″ squares from a FQ and  8 across a wof strip so 16  from a 30cm cut.

Charm squares are 5″ square and will be my starting point – I will tell you if you need a different size.  I decided to leave the squares at 5″ to allow a bit of leeway and more practice for you at trimming.

I suggest if you dont already have a quilting ruler, now is a great time to look out for one!  The 6.5″ square is a very handy size and you will use this to cut and  trim squares.

I also suggest that you take the time to check your 1/4″ seam – you can see instructions how to do that here.

BLOCK 1 – 9 Patch

Our first block is going to be a 9 patch as it will be the basis of all our blocks and of course our 9 Patch sampler.  To find more detail, please look  here.

 

What you need:

Cut 9 x 4.5″ squares – 5 Dark (black background) and 4 Light (white background) (more details on how to cut squares can be found here )

If you are cutting your own squares cut them at 4.5″ OR if you are using charm squares trim them to 4.5″

 

Nanny Note:  This is a good block to use ‘directional’ fabrics if you have them.  I had these Eiffel towers and thought the birds went well with them.

Let’s Sew:

  1. Cut or trim your squares
  2. Organise your squares and prepare for sewing.

 

2.  Fold the left side squares over onto the centre squares and stitch together.  Chain piecing saves cotton and keeps squares in order, see here.

3.  Now flip the squares on the right over on to the centre squares and sew together.

 

4.  You now have 3 rows to take to the pressing board  or ironing board remember to press up and down – dont iron!

 

5.  Press toward the dark so your rows will appear like this.

 

Notice how with the seams being pressed this way, it makes it easier to ‘nest’ the seams when joining the rows.  Nesting means that they  lock in place when you hold them together.  You can see more about nesting your seams here.

6.  Sew the rows together checking that you have them in the correct order.  If you nest the seams you will find that you will not need to use pins – keep your finger on the nest as you feed it through the machine.  You will end up with nicely joined corners. Please use pins if you prefer but I encourage you to try this method.

 

7.  Press and admire your block!  It will measure 12.5″ – if it doesn’t, please check your cutting and 1/4″ seams a s per directions above.

 

Well that wasn’t painful at all was it – your 9 Patch Sampler is underway!!

Don’t forget to show us your block and ask if you need help.

We will look at Block 2 next week.

Until next time

Nanny xx

WEEK 2:  Make a Railfence Variation

WEEK 3: Make Half Square Triangles

WEEK 4: Make a Shoo Fly Block

WEEK 5: Make a Friendship Star

WEEK 6: Make a Contrary Wife Block

WEEK 7: Make a Spool Block

WEEK 8: Make a Churn Dash Block

WEEK 9: Make a Formal Garden Block

WEEK 10: Make a Greek Cross Block

WEEK 11: Make a Chevron Block

WEEK 12:  Make a Birds in the Air Block

WEEK 13:  Make a Double 9 Patch Block

WEEK 14:  Make a Card Trick Block

WEEK 15: Make an Ohio Star Block

WEEK 16: Make Your own Block

WEEK 17: Complete the top

WEEK 18:  Backing with a Disappearing 9 patch

WEEK 19:  Completion of the 9 patch sampler

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All content and images belong to Nannycraft4u unless otherwise indicated. You are welcome to link back to my blog, but you may not copy whole posts, tutorials or photos without my permission. Please give credit for my work and link back to the original post at Nannycraft4u.com If you use one of my ideas, I would love to know about it. Designs and tutorials are for personal use only.