TUTORIAL - 2013/2014 Block of the Month (Part Two)

Here are some tips on shifting colours/values/fabrics as you move from Section One to Section Two. Note this same method will help you through the other Sections of the quilt.

Let's start with the overall diagram of the BACKGROUND of the quilt. The quilt is split into NINE sections - and each month you get one section. Note the diagram below is ONLY the background - the stars and pinwheel units have NOT been added to this diagram. Note the numbering of each section. As we work through the months - we start at Number One and work to Number Nine in numerical order.

Background of quilt split into nine sections

If you do NOT want to shade your background - then just use ONE colour family or random scrappy. Alternatively you can shade your background from top row to bottom row (the above is shaded from top left to bottom right). There are MANY alternatives. The following will help you with the shading regardless of how you plan to do it.


I took ALL the fabrics that I had set aside for this project. I laid them out shading from light to dark. I do NOT have any lights in my quilt and my value range is somewhat limited. Some of my pieces were scraps - but it will add to variety of the finished project.

All the fabrics for Block of the Month project - 

Then I separated the fabrics into sections to match the background diagram. I took the total number of fabrics and divided by the number of sections. (Even though there are 9 sections - I have already dealt with Section One - so there are only 8 piles in this picture).

Fabrics divided for each section. I only have 4 or maybe five per section. 

Then each group of fabric went into a large ziploc with a NUMBER representing that section

Then I started cutting the pieces for Section Two.  A rough count of the squares required (100 orange squares for Section TWO - I have four fabrics - so I need about 25 of each fabric). I didn't go crazy and specifically count - I just cut!!!!

Strips cut for Section Two

Then I cut squares - 2 1/2"

I cut triangles using the Easy Angle Ruler  - I LOVE this small size!!!!!

I had leftover squares and triangles from Section One. I split the leftovers in half and put half with Section FOUR and the other half went in Section TWO.

Fabric pieces for Section Four and HALF of the leftovers pieces from Section ONE

Once I had my pieces cut for Section TWO - I took some of the pieces and put them in the Section Three bag

Fabrics for Section Three AND some pieces from Section Two

And the Section Five bag

Fabrics for Section Five AND some pieces from Section Two

Then I started laying out the pieces

Laying out the pieces - I pinned the master plan to the design wall. I incorporated the pieces from Section One closer to the "dividing line" between Section One and Section Two

As I got near the bottom - I only had TWO fabrics left. 

I moved a few pieces around and alternated with what I had. 

See how there is a LOT of the same fabric. No problem!!!!!

Here is the layout - I felt there was an EMPTY space beside that vertical row of flying geese - so I auditioned that little bowtie thing with the two half square triangles. I didn't like it. 

So I changed the orientation of the two half square triangles - didn't like that - too many going in the same direction. 

Switched the direction and I like that much better. 

Feel FREE to change things around if you don't like a particular aspect. Also - keep the backgrounds (if you want) in the color shading. Don't use the diagram as gospel especially for the values as the copier doesn't do justice to it.


Next it is time to bring in the pieces from Section Three. I didn't do this on Section One, but because I had fewer fabrics in Section Two - I needed some variety. Here I have replaced about 10 squares of Section Two fabric with squares from Section Three.

Cut strips from Section Three

Here is Section Three - Fabric yardage, strips and pieces from Section Two

Ten squares from Section Two fabric - replaced with Section Three fabric

Then I repeated the process with fabrics from Section Five (which sits below Section Two)

Swapped SIX fabrics from Section Five into Section Two

When you cut your strips - DO NOT cut the entire strip into triangles and squares - the leftover strips can be used for the binding. And strips are more useful than squares and triangles. Unless you get really precise and count exactly how many you need. I use the squares like paint - you never know how many you will need so best to have lots, but not too many. 

Then make the half square triangles and sew together in rows. Remember Row One gets pressed (vertical seams) all in one direction (I kept that the same direction as Section One). 

Start sewing the rows together. Remember to press the rows (horizontal seams) in the OPPOSITE direction that you pressed Section One so they will nest to each other. 

Here are Sections One and Two sewn together. There is a subtle difference between the two in value

Close up of the join on the back - see how the horizontal seams on the left are going up and those on the right are pressed down. 

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!