Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Fabri-Quilt New Block Hop---Watermelon Taffy

Shortly after the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers blog hop came to a close the hop leaders, Cheryl at Meadow Mist Desings, Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl, Stephanie at Late Night Quilter and Terri Ann at Childlike Fascination put out a call to those that participated to possibly join together in another blog hop.  They introduced to us the...


What exactly did this mean?  Participants would be sent a bundle of six fat eighths courtesy of Fabri-Quilt  in a color palette of Watermelon Summer.
Chartreuse, Turquoise, Coral
Aqua, Lapis Blue, White
The challenge would be to write a tutorial on how to make a 12 1/2" block created by the blogger. We would each construct the blocks we designed and then mail them to one of the group leaders, who would then turn them into quilts for three different charities.  

The creation of this block was a collaborated effort between my husband and I.  He enjoys creating designs in a book of graph paper when we are watching Netflix and for a while now he has been wanting me to give one of his creations life.  Since legally half of all his things belong me (I jokingly tell him I have ran a half marathon because I claim half of his full marathon) I figured it would be okay.  Just kidding, he was very excited to see what I came up with.



After a few days playing with colors, figuring out numbers, and making sure I would have enough fabric I was finally ready to cut my fabric and get started.

So together we introduce to you Watermelon Taffy. 


Cutting Instructions

White                                                                                       Lapis Blue (Dark Blue)
Twelve - 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles                                          Four- 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangles
Four- 1 1/2" squares                                                                 Four- 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles
Twenty- 2" squares                                                                   Six- 2" squares

Coral                                                                                        Turquoise
Four- 2" squares                                                                       Four- 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles
Four- 1 7/8" squares                                                                 Two- 2" squares
Eight- 1 1/2" squares                                                                Eight- 1 1/2" squares

Chartreuse                                                                                Aqua
Eight- 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles                                                   Eight- 1 7/8" squares
Eight- 2" squares 



We will combine the twenty 2" White squares with the 2" Lapis Blue, Turquoise, Chartreuse, and Coral squares to makes some 1 1/2" half square triangles.


Oliver, my quilting kitty, stopped by to put in his two cents on constructing half square triangles.  We marked a diagonal line on all of the white squares.  Then matched them with a colored square (right sides together) and sewed lines 1/4" on both sides of the marked line.  Then we cut on the marked line and pressed the two squares open.  Next we trimmed the squares to 1 1/2" square and clipped off the tails.  Wha-la a pretty half square triangle.


You should have 4 Turquoise/White, 8 Coral/White, 12 Lapis Blue/White and 16 Cartreuse/White half square triangles and a pile of pretty confetti.

Now we are ready to start constructing the 4 1/2" units that make up this block.  For unit 1 you will need:

2 White and Lapis Blue half square triangles
2 White and Coral half square triangles
1 White 1 ½" block
1 White 1 ½" x 2  ½" rectangle
2  Coral 1 ½" block
2 Turquoise 1 ½" blocks
1 Lapis Blue 1 ½" x 3 ½" rectangle
1 Lapis Blue 1 1/3" x 2 ½" rectangle


Arrange your pieces in the following layout.


Next sew rows A, B, C and D together.  They should look like this.


Next sew completed rows B and C together to form Row BC.


Then attach the Lapis Blue1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle to Row BC.


After you sew Rows A, BC and D together you will have a completed unit.  You will need a total of 4 of these units.


For unit 2 you will need:

Four Chartreuse/White half square triangles
Two 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" White rectangles
Two 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" Chartreuse rectangles
One 1 7/8" Coral Square
Two 1 7/8" Aqua Squares


Our first step will be to create a square in a square unit using the Coral for the center square and the Aqua for the outer square.  Begin by marking a diagonal line on the Aqua squares and cutting them like in the picture below.


Next I like to fold the Coral Square and four Aqua triangles in half and press to mark the center.


Then when I open them up they nestle together nicely to make sure I have the triangle centered on the square.


Now we are ready to start sewing our unit together. Once you have your triangle matched up on the square, sew a seam 1/4" from the edge.  Repeat on the opposite end then press open.


You will then be ready to trim off the tabs.


Then fold your unit in half to find the center and repeat with the remaining two Aqua triangles.


Then press open and cut the remaining tabs.


Now we are ready to lay out our pieces for the unit as follows.


Sew each row together.


Now all that is left to do is sew your completed rows together.


Now you have a completed unit 2.  You will need a total of 4 of these units.

And now for our last unit and I promise we will only need one of them.  Arrange you remaining pieces as follows.

Four Turquoise and White half square triangles
Four Lapis Blue and White half square triangles
Four Turquoise 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles


Piece together the small pinwheel in the middle and the top and bottom rows.  


Next sewing the 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" Turquoise rectangles on to each side of the pinwheel.  Then  you will be ready to sew your rows together.


Now that we have all of the units constructed we can lay them out and begin to sew the block.


The only thing left to do is sew the rows together and Ta-Da...


Now we have a finished Watermelon Taffy Block.  Since our block is finished I thought it would be fun to play around with EQ7 to show you what a quilt made from this block would look like. 


This is what the blocks would look like if they were arranged in a 4 x 4 block quilt.


These are the blocks set on point.  I think both versions sort of have a stained glass window look to them.

I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial for Watermelon Taffy and have found it easy to follow.  This was my first attempt at creating a tutorial and I have to say the experience has been quite fun.  Hopefully there will be more in the future.  I would also like to say a big thank you to Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs for taking the time to help me proof the tutorial.  Please take some time today to check out my fellow bloggers and their creations.  And most important, Stephanie at Late Night Quilter is offering a give away today and who doesn't love a giveaway?? 



And check out the bloggers from the first two days of the hop.



And tomorrow...with Terri Ann offering another give away.

Thursday, September 3rd


Come join the party!  I'm also linking up to...








39 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

What tiny and precise piecing you pulled off with this block! Wow! And I love that you have help and support from your husband and Oliver. :) Fantastic design and the photo with all the taffy just made me crave sweets so badly...

Stitchin At Home said...

I love your block. The on point setting is my favourite. Very well done.

Leanne Parsons said...

Great block! I love the name too, and the secondary designs the block creates.

Cecilia said...

Great block! This block would look great enlarged and used as a baby quilt! Thanks for sharing.

Heide said...

What yummy colors together! Love the photo with the scraps ( HST), the scraps look like confetti. Great looking square, looking forward ward to seeing the whole quilt.
Hugs, Heide

Rosa said...

It`s just awesome and love both layout!

Jayne said...

WOW! it looks so complicated! Your tutorial is so well done! Congrats!

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

well done, Tish, your tutorial is very clear, and your sewing very precise. Love the summery name too

Cheryl said...

I love this block! Great design and excellent piecing!

Donna W said...

Fantastic block and tutorial. I know that I will be trying this block.

Donna W said...

Fantastic block and tutorial. I know that I will be trying this block.

Anonymous said...

Tish, you were not kidding when you said your block has lots of pieces!!! It is beautiful!!! I love both layouts, I hope you make this into a quilt. Your directions were very clear and easy to follow!!!

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

This is such a great block, and would look fantastic made into a quilt! What a great design!!

Rachel said...

Very pretty. There are a lot of pieces in this 12 inch block! Nice work.

Cut&Alter said...

Wow - what a lovely block and such great instructions. What a talented team you and your husband make!! It great to see what it would look like in a quilt aswell - it would look awesome!

Unknown said...

I love the visual complexity, but the simplicity with which it goes together. Excellent work!!!

Kat said...

Great block, but man those are some tiny pieces! I think this might be cool as the entire quilt.

Sandra Walker said...

I love how several of us have husbands (and cats, sorry Oliver and my Bella) that get in on the action of our quilting passion. This is a super-cool block, so much detail, and yep, tiny, but good for precision. Great instructions, too, Tish.

the zen quilter said...

Wow that is a fancy block! It seems like a great skill builder one, too - you get to do a little of everything. It's kind of a "Suzani" type block that is quite timely, I think. Great job.

Brenda said...

Awesome block you have designed and wrote a wonderful tutorial for also. I love the complete design layout in your quilts. Thank you for putting the work into creating this amazing unique block and it has been added to my to do list. Have a wonderful creative day!

AStrangerView said...

Wow, this is amazing! Great job! My husband also gives me input on design, but I often get a little annoyed with his Art Ed. Professor tone and brush him off, but then later I use his advice.. ha!

Dena@LivingWaterQuilter.com said...

Delicious! I love taffy and I love your block. Congrats!

SewPsyched! said...

Tish!!! What a wonderful block!!
I never would have thought that you could get so much from a bundle of F8s!!
I also like your taffy and cat pics ;)
XX!
Lori

Debbie At The Quilt Journal said...

Love your block with a great tutorial! thanks!!

Cassandra said...

This is a fantastic block, by itself or in a larger layout! I really like that the design of this block is interesting enough to stand on it's own in this scale or even something much larger.

Rebecca Grace said...

What a gorgeous block! Beautiful instructions with clear step-by-step photos, too. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful Tish. You created a treasure for sure. Thank you for the great tutorial also.

Diana @ Red Delicious Life said...

This block is amazing! And all those little pieces. Love the secondary pattern that it creates as well.

DebraKay Neiman said...

All I can say is WOW. In a Larger size would make a great baby blanket. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

Anonymous said...

Combine with your intricate FMQ, this block will make a beautiful mini quilt. Thanks Tish for helping me as I explore blogger land. I really appreciate your help.
Sandra

Mary said...

Love this block, and I would really like to make it some day. And I really like the name too :)

JanineMarie said...

This block looks great in both versions of your quilt layout, but I'm suddenly thinking of what fun it would be to make it as a giant one-block quilt. Hmmm...

Teje said...

Hi Tish! This is gorgeus block! I'm thinking solids a lot lately so I really love this block and want to make it! I would like to have this as mini quilt on my sewing room's wall. Thank you for the tutorial! x Teje

Julie said...

Ok, you're block is gorgeous, but your method is fabulous! You got your husband involved in the actual creative process?? I'm so jealous. This was a tough thing for most of us to come up with, and I envy your collaborative effort. You get the bonus points, Tish.

Thanks for linking up with the Pet Project Show, and showing it off.

Julie

Liz said...

Wow! This block is beautiful! I love how it looks used in a quilt (both variations you've shown), and I think it would also stand up beautifully on it's own as a mini or toss cushion! I love that kind of versatility!

Lisa J. said...

Hi Tish: What a great collaborative effort. This block is beautiful. I just got back from a trip to Mexico and this block reminds me of Mexican Tile work. Great tutorial as well.

Adventurous Quilter said...

That's a great design!

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Altogether, your blocks remind of a beautiful kaleidoscope!!

Kiran Jameel said...

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