Month 3: Sarah Alexander/Wagon Tracks

Our November meeting was a dinner, and we decided not to present a block that evening.  You may pick up your handout from me on Sunday, I will have them with me! Here is the tutorial for the Sarah Alexander block, or Wagon Tracks.

This block is put together much the same way as the previous two, in a basic nine patch formation.  You will be making 4 half square triangle units in your dark and light fabrics, and 5 four patch units, using small squares in your medium and light fabrics.

The final look is all in how these units are placed, so be sure and follow the diagram carefully as you sew your units together!

A more detailed tutorial will be posted soon, comment if you need me to do that!

Month 2: Lucy Mack Smith/New Hampshire Granite Rock

October's block is in honor of Lucy Mack Smith, called the New Hampshire Granite block.  Here is a brief tutorial in case you missed our fun apple meeting, or need a refresher!

 

After cutting your pieces as directed, take your dark squares and your small light squares.  Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the small squares, then place this in one corner of the dark squares, then stitch on the drawn line.  Flip it back and press.  Repeat for the opposite corner, then the other two corners. Make four.

Next, sew your rectangles together, one of each color. Make four.

Put your rows together like the diagram on the instructions and press. You are finished with block 2!

FAQ

I have had a few questions, and I am excited that so many of you are going to participate!


Q. How many blocks will there be?

A.  12.  The biographies and quilt block demos will be presented at each monthly Tuesday night Relief Society meeting. So be sure and attend so you get your patterns, and so that you may get tips on construction your blocks.


Q.  How much fabric should I buy for my blocks?

A.  A good start will be to buy 12 fat quarters, a mix of light, medium and dark fabrics.  A fat quarter is a precut section of fabric that measures 18" by 22".


Q.  How much fabric should I buy for the rest of the quilt;  sashing, back, and binding?

A.  This will depend on how you set (lay out) your blocks.  In a future post I will make specific suggestions for this, but let's focus on the fat quarters for the blocks for now.


Q.  What if I don't have a sewing machine?

A.  These blocks are easily hand pieced, or you may borrow a machine from me. ;)


Q.  Where is a good place to buy quilt fabric?

A.  Any quilt store will have a fine selection of fabric suitable for quilting. K &H Quilt Shoppe in Kaysville, Quilter's Attic in Bountiful, Sweet Lavender in Roy, My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe in Logan, and Quilter's Haven in Bountiful are all great shops.  Bennion Crafts in Kaysville has quilting fabric, and sales and coupons.

A Beginning!

The first block of our Pioneer Women quilt is a nine patch, in honor of Eliza R. Snow.  It is a simple block meant to get you started! Please refer to your instructions on how to construct the block.  In future posts there will be tutorials for you to use as a reference.

If you are just starting out in quilting, there are a few points to remember:  Always use a 1/4" seam allowance when sewing your pieces together.  A rotary cutter and mat will yield the most precise pieces, and take care when pressing not to distort your units and blocks and press to the dark whenever possible.

Try to make each month's blocks as it is presented so you won't fall behind!  I am excited to take this journey with you as we make our quilts and learn more about or pioneer women heritage.