Last Border Before the Orphan Blocks

Dear friends,

I hope you are enjoying the warmer weather we have been having. Plenty of sunshine and I know that some of you are more busy now that the children are out of school.




 
We are moving on to the last border of the medallion and then we will start adding our orphan blocks. Some of you might want to add orphan blocks even in the corners of this round. 

The first option for the next border is solid cornerstones. 

 
Cut four strips  4.5" x 24.5"
Cut four  4.5" squares

The second option is putting blocks in the corners, the blocks I used were orphan blocks that were left over from a swap.

Cut four strips  4.5" x 24.5"
Choose four 4  inch orphan blocks.

 

If you do not have any orphan blocks that are 4 inches in your stash, and you want to use that option, three patterns have been provided for you. This shoofly, and eight pointed star, and a pinwheel pattern have been posted along with the foundations to put the blocks together. If you would like to use these blocks, click here

http://rosemaryyoungs.com/center/

 

These are your two choices side-by-side,

 

 Here is the preview  of how we will continue.  You will be placing your orphan blocks  that you have in your stash  around the center.  Different options will be given every month and blocks patterns will also be supplied for those that don't have enough orphan blocks.  They might not be the same patterns as pictured .

 

 

 

I will post the next instructions at the beginning of July. That will give you a couple of weeks to catch up on your borders. If you fall behind, it will be really easy to catch up once we are using the orphan blocks. It is so much fun to pull orphan blocks out of your stash and use them.

 

Have a great week, happy stitching,
Rosemary

 

 And as always if you have any questions, drop me an e-mail   ryquilter1@msn.com  or post here
 

Second border

Good evening,

It is hard to believe that it is June one already, the month of May went by so fast. We are ready to work on our next border, you actually will get a chance to use some orphan blocks in the following border. I have really enjoyed your photographs and hearing from you, glad that you are enjoying the process.

Your block should measure 18 1/2 inches now, you have four different choices for the next round.

First choice is to put a solid border around what you have done so far.

Cut two strips 3.5" x 18.5".
Cut two strips 3.5" x 24.5"

 



 

Your second choice  is to add a border with cornerstones .

 

 Cut four strips 3.5" by 18.5"

 Cut four cornerstones 3.5 in.²

 

 

 Next choice, how about half square triangle units.

Assemble 28 3 1/2 inch half square triangle units . Combined 6 half square triangle units to form two sides and 8 half square triangle units to form the other two sides. Your block should now measure 24 1/2 in.²

 

 

 If you would rather do some appliqué, how about adding some circles around the block. I used perfect circles and made 24  2 1/4 inch circles. I positioned the circles evenly around  the square and then I machine appliquéd them. If it is easier you can add to circles to the strips  and then add the strips to your block.

Cut two strips 3.5" x 18.5".
Cut two strips 3.5" x 24.5"

  No matter what you choose, just have fun with it. You can make it scrappy or you can make it more organized with color. Just remember  in order to make it looks somewhat like a medallion orphan block quilt, we have to do a couple of borders  first , one more border and we will really get into using the orphan blocks. If you have any questions at all,  post to the comments or e-mail me. Ryquilter1@msn.com

Happy stitching,
Rosemary

 

First border

Happy Memorial day weekend, I hope you're finding plenty of time to work on special project. Flowers and yardwork are done here, that seems like a typical thing to do on Memorial Day weekend.

Now it is time to talk about the first border that goes around our block. We will be using more orphan blocks later on in the Quilt, we just need to add a couple of borders so it will look like a medallion style Quilt.

You will have two different options to choose from.  The first option is a solid border around your 12 1/2 block.


Cut two strips of fabric  3.5 x 12 .5 inches
Cut to strips of fabric 3.5 x 18.5 inches

  

The second option includes cornerstones
Cut four strips of fabric  3.5 x 12 .5 inches
Cut four cornerstones 3.5 in.²

 Your block should now measure 18 1/2 in.². If you have any questions, just e-mail me anytime or post a comment here.  Thank you for all of you that e-mailed me pictures of your blocks, it is great to see the different  blocks you are choosing from your orphan blocks stash.

 

Have a great weekend and happy stitching,
Rosemary

The beginning, the center block

 Good afternoon,

And off we go, we are starting with the center which is a 12 inch block. I am going to provide you a pattern for a 12 inch block, if you go through your orphan blocks and you find a 12 inch block that you would rather use, pull that out of your orphan blocks and your block is already finished..

I thought this basket type block would make a great center. I am going to do my squares in an assortment of backgrounds, mostly shirtings. Here is an example of the block made with just shirting fabrics and one made with a solid background fabric.

Cutting Instructions for Center Block

Template A

Cut 2   2 1/2 squares of 4 different fabrics

Template B

Cut 4   2 7/8 squares of background fabric

Cut each square in half diagonally to make two triangles for a total of eight triangles.

Cut 2   2 7/8 squares of four different fabrics

Cut each square in half diagonally to make 2 triangles for a total of 4 triangles of each color.

Template C

Cut 4  2 1/2 by 4 1/2 rectangles of your background fabric

Template D

Cut 1   5 1/4 square of your background fabric diagonally twice to yield 4 triangles.

Template E

Cut  1  4 1/2 square

If you click here, you will be directed to the website that has the block pattern, the actual size of templates and the foundations that are needed to put the block together.
The cutting instructions are also posted there if you would like to print them.

http://rosemaryyoungs.com/Center/

***
 A very important note, when you go to print off the block pattern or the foundations, they appear at 50%, you need to print them at 200%.  The templates are the correct size. 

 

 

 

 

I chose to foundation pieced my block together, the block went together very easy using the five foundation piecing sections.  If you have any questions, please let me know, I want to present it as easy as possible so even a new quilter could even work on the blocks .

There also has been a Flickr page set up that you can post pictures of your blocks as you work on the quilt.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/2659397@N23/pool/


Happy Stitching,
Rosemary

Happy Scrappy Orphan Block of the Month Quilt

Welcome to a new journey, we will be working on the Happy Scrappy Orphan Block Quilt over the next two years. Blocks will be posted that you can use in your quilt or if you have large stacks of orphan blocks in your quilt room, they also can be used in place of the blocks I will provide.


It will be a great chance to learn how to piece together different blocks  or use your old blocks from all your unfinished projects.  You can check out  my other blog at  Rosemaryyoungs.wordpress.com
if you want to see what I did with some of orphan blocks last year.

 Blocks will be posted every month, when  they are posted, the block  diagram will be posted, the actual size of templates along with the foundation pieced sections. I will be working along with you on the blocks as we go.

How will this work?  What will the basic design be?  When will blocks be posted? I'm sure you have many questions that I'm hoping I will answer here. 

If you are going to journey along with us for the entire project,  your quilt will finish to 98 in.² and that does not include a final border.  It is a mystery so you will have to use your imagination with the diagrams. 

The above section is an example of what could be placed  in that section of border .

The quilt will be set up in somewhat of a medallion style, we will start with the center block  and we will work our way out after the center block, there might be a couple of  borders of half square triangles  or solid small borders so that it definitely will appear as a center medallion .

There will be instructions on how to use the blocks I provide  and there will be instructions on how to use your own orphan blocks  in your stash.  Starts sorting your blocks out by sizes if you have orphan blocks, if not  you  will have fun piecing together different blocks 

Tomorrow  or possibly later today the instructions for the center block will be posted.  I will be posting all instructions here,  if you have any questions at all, you can e-mail me or post a comment here.  Please feel free to post this  on your blog, Facebook or anywhere else to share with other quilters.

 Happy Stitching,

 Rosemary