The 2015 Fabri-Quilt new block blog hop

My good friend Stephanie, who blogs over at Late Night Quilter, asked me if I’d like to participate in the Fabri-quilt new block blog hop by designing a block with their new line of solids.

Naturally, I jumped at the chance to join the more than 60 bloggers who over four days this week have each designed a new 12-inch finished block and provide a tutorial for their readers. Of course, I’m running late, since this is the last day of the hop. But better late than never!

Fabri-Quilt generously donated fat eighths in each of the following six colors, aka the Watermelon Summer palette from the Prairie Cloths solids line: (from top left to right: chartreuse, turquoise, coral, aqua, lapis blue and white). The blocks will be made into charity quilts.

As anyone who has seen my modern quilt Pinterest board knows, I’m a huge fan of plus-sign quilts. They’re quick, easy and make a bold impact. So, while scouring the Web for ideas, I found an image of the flag from the country of Georgia, and knew I had found my inspiration.

Here’s my interpretation, using the lush Fabri-Quilt colors:

What I like about this block is that it’s easy and is great for using up scraps. You can make it in solids, as I have here, or you could go scrappy with prints. But now that I’ve gotten my hands on this fabric, I can definitely say I’ll order more of it in the future.

To make the Georgian flag block, here’s what you’ll need:

Six fat eighths, each a unique color, cut as follows:
Lapis blue — cut two 2.5-inch strips; subcut one strip to 2.5×12.5 inches, subcut the second strip into two pieces, each 2.5x 5.5 inches

Chartreuse, turquoise, coral, aqua — cut one 1/5-inch strip; subcut to get 2 pieces of each color 1.5×1.5 inches and 1 piece that’s 1.5×3.5 inches

White: cut six 1.5-inch strips; subcut to get 16 squares that are 1.5×1.5 inches each, 8 strips that are 1.5×5.5 inches each and 8 strips that are 1.5×3.5 inches each.

Begin by sewing a white square to each side of a colored 1.5-inch square ensuring you have an accurate 1/4-inch seam. Press your seams toward the middle solid. When complete, your finished strips should measure 3.5 inches.I like to measure my strips as I go, just to be sure I’m on the right track. Sometimes I oversize them, as you can see below, and then trim. Once you’ve done this, proceed with all the remaining 1.5-inch squares.

Next, take one of the strips you just made and sew it to the same color 3.5-inch strip. Press toward the single strip. Repeat with the remaining three-square strip in the same color and attach it to the opposite side of the single strip. Press toward the middle. Your completed plus-sign should be 3.5-inches square.

Sew a 1.5×3.5-inch strip of white on each of two sides of the plus sign, and press toward the white strip. Follow that by sewing a 1.5×5.5-inch strip to the remaining sizes; press toward the white. Your finished piece should be 5.5-inches square. Repeat this process with all four colors.

Take one of the 5.5-inch strips of the dark lapis fabric and sew it to one of the plus sign squares; press toward the lapis, then sew the other side to another plus sign as shown above. Press toward the lapis. Repeat this process with your remaining plus blocks.

Sew the remaining 12.5-inch lapis strip to one side of one of the two pluses you’ve just sewn; press toward the lapis.

Do the same thing with the other side and you’re all done!

A note about the fabric: some of the bloggers said they had a lot of shrinkage when working with the fabric, either during pre-wash or using a steam iron. I’m not a pre-washer, so this didn’t happen for me. I do use steam, but again, not a problem. Just be sure to check your measurements throughout and you should be fine.

Others had trouble with the colors bleeding, especially the red salmon color. I didn’t have that issue, but to be safe, you can put a small piece in a glass of hot water to see if it runs. If it does, it’s time to pre-wash.

But wait, there’s more! There’s even a giveaway! You could win a 1/2 yard bundle of lovely palette by visiting each day’s blog host. And if you want an easy way to view the blocks, I hear some of the bloggers have created Pinterest boards just for the swap.

Monday, August 31st
Host – Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

Kelly @Quilting it Out
Martha @Once a Wingnut
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Andrea @The Sewing Fools
Bernie @Needle and Foot
Silvia @A Stranger View
Wanda @Wanda’s Life Sampler
Sandra @Musings of a Menopausal Melon
Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Jess @Quilty Habit
Diana @Red Delicious Life
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Margo @Shadow Lane Quilts
Renee @Quilts of a Feather

Tuesday, September 1st
Host – Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs

Josi @Avocado Quilts
Stephanie @Quilt’n Party
Cristy @Love You Sew
Sarah @Sarah Goer Quilts
Shelly @The Carpenter’s Daughter Who Quilts
Jayne @Twiggy & Opal
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Adrian @Making It – Family Food Quilts Crafts
Julie @Pink Doxies
Sarah @123 Quilt
Jane @Jolly and Delilah Quilts
Carrie @The Zen Quilter

Wednesday, September 2nd
Host – Stephanie @Late Night Quilter

Hannah @Modern Magnolia Studio
Cindy @Stitchin At Home
Abby @Hashtag Quilt
Lisa @Sunlight in Winter Quilts
Carrie @Chopping Block Quilts
Eleanor @Cat Approved Quilting
Brianna @The Iron and Needle
Tish @Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland
Jan @The Colorful Fabriholic
Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly
Beth @Cooking Up Quilts
Leanne @Devoted Quilter
Liz @LizzyClips Design
Kim @Leland Ave Studios
Kitty @Night Quilter

Thursday, September 3rd
Host – Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination

Helen @Midget Gem Quilts
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Anja @Anja Quilts
Kathryn @Upitis Quilts
Mary @Quilting is in my Blood
Emma @My Handmade Home
Francine @Mocha Wild Child
Dina @Living Water Quilter
Deb @The Farmhouse Quilter
Lori @SewPsyched!
Amy @13 Spools
Denise @CrafTraditions
Sandra @The Bias Edge

XOXO,
Sandra