January Quilt Block

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 1/2yd, Fabric A
• 1/2yd, Fabric B (Leaf)
• 3"x 12" piece of fabric, Fabric C (Flower)


• MEASUREMENTS:
• 18 1/2"x 18 1/2" block (18"x 18" when sewn into a project with 1/4" seam allowance)


• NOTE: This Snowdrop block is part of the Block-a-Month program. Directions and templates for each block will be released monthly.

DIRECTIONS:

1. NOTE:
• Before starting, read through all directions.
• Press and starch fabric before cutting to help maintain shapes.
• 1/4" seam allowance is used throughout.
• When sewing curved pieces, sew with the concave (curved in) piece on the bottom and the convex (curved out) piece on top. Sew slowly, moving the bottom piece how you would normally to maintain 1/4" seam allowance and manipulate the top piece with your hand to match the bottom piece.


2. Cutting:
• Fabric A (background)
• (2) 10" squares, cut diagonally into half square triangles (yields 4).
• (1) 5" square, cut diagonally into 2 half square triangles.
• (1) 4 1/2"x 2 1/2" rectangle.
• (1) 2 1/2" square.
• (4) quarter circle backgrounds using template A.
• From templates, cut 1 of each for the background of the leaf units: C2, D1, D3, E1, E3, F1, F3, G1, G3, H1.


• Fabric B (leaf)
• From templates cut 1 of each for the leaves: C1, D2, E2, F2, G2, H2.
• (1) 1"x 18" rectangle cut on the bias for the stem.


• Fabric C (flower)
• (4) quarter circles using template B.


3. Assembly:
• Sew the 1/4 circle (B) pieces to the background (A) pieces. Press. Four 2 1/2" blocks formed.
• Sew together quarter circle blocks in pairs as shown in figure 1. Press seams in opposite directions.
• Sew pairs together forming the flower of the block (Fig. 1)
• Sew the 4 1/2"x 5 1/2" rectangle to the bottom of the flower block.
• Sew C1 to C2 forming a rectangle.
• Sew the C unit block to the 2 1/2" square.
• Sew the C unit to the flower unit as shown in figure 2.
• Complete the D, E, F, and G units. Pieces connect in order with 1 on the left and 3 on the right. Press seams to one side.
• Sew D unit to E unit (Fig. 3)
• Sew D/E unit to the flower unit (Fig. 3.1)
• Sew F unit to G unit (Fig. 3.2)
• Sew left side (flower and left leaf) to the right leaf (F/G) as shown in Figure 3.3.
• Sew H1 to H2, completing the H unit.
• Sew H unit to the top of the block as show in Figure 4.
• Sew the 5" half square triangles to the left and bottom corners of the block. Center the bottom triangle with the seam connecting the left and right side. There will be some fabric hanging over which will be trimmed in the next step.
• Square up the block to 13 1/4"x 13 1/4"
• Sew the four 10" half square triangles to the 4 corners of the block and press.
• Square up the block to 18 1/2"x 18 1/2".
• Create bias tape with the bias rectangle by folding the long edges to meet in the center and pressing. Bias strip should be 1/2" wide.
• Pin and press the bias strip into the shape of the stem. Steam from the iron can help with stretching and shaping the bias. Trim bias 1/4" longer than the stem and fold under ends.
• Edge stitch the stem into place using thread that matches the color of the stem.