How to create a Maple Leaf block.

Choose your favorite leaf-like fabric and something subtle for the backgound.

Fat quarters work well for leaf prints.  Depending on how many blocks you're making, will determine how much background fabric you'll need.  I bought 2 yards, but wish I had bought 3.

Starch, iron, and straighten grain on fabric.

From LEAF print cut a 3" strip and a 3-1/2" strip.

From the background, cut a 3" strip, a 3-1/2" strip, and a 7-1/2" strip WOF.

For one block, cut the following:

BACKGROUND FABRIC
1 - 3" square
1 - 3-1/2" x 7-1/2" rectangle
1 - 3-1/2" square

LEAF FABRIC
2 - 3-1/2" squares
1 - 3" square
1 - 3 x 6-1/2" rectangle

BROWN STEM FABRIC
1 - 1" x 5" rectangle

 Cut the 3-1/2" square background print in half along the diagonal.  Sew to each side of the brown stem and trim down to 3-3/8".

Let me repeat that . . . 3-3/8".  You'll see why in a bit.

 Place 2 - 3-1/2" squares (with drawn diagonal line on back and right sides together) on to the background rectangle.

 Sew 1/4" on each side of the line.

 Cut apart, press open, and trim to 3" square.

 Assemble pieces in each vertical row, then combine all 3 rows.  I'm sure you know how to nest your seams  . . . right?

Notice the center and right hand units are slightly longer etc..  This makes it easier to trim the block square.

After trimming, your square will be a different size than my square.

Why do squares come out different sizes?  We all work in different lighting conditions and see 1/4" seams in different ways.  We also use different brands of rulers.  Have you ever noticed how some rulers have thin lines and some have thick lines?  This affects how we see our finished blocks.

For those of you who took a class designed by Mary Ellen Hopkins, you'll recall this is known as PPM's.  . . . Personal Private Measurements.

And if you create blocks with room to trim, you'll always come out with the right size.  Well okay, almost always.

.If you make a maple leaf quilt, do post it on your blog and let me know.  Dolly is excited about cooler weather coming . . .can you tell.  She's listening for that first leaf falling.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Fall is coming . . .

So what could be better than a maple leaf quilt?

I'll share the measurements for making the 7-1/2" block later in the week.  If you're dreaming of cooler temperatures and Fall, then no doubt you'll want to get started soon.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Just a bit of progress.

 The horizontal rows have been assembled.  Whew, those star blocks took a long time . . . but only because I was extremely particular on which blue went where.  Which of course, meant I had to assemble more.  In fact, I'm still assembling.  Pieces and parts are everywhere.  Evidently this means there's going to be a wall hanging too.  Glory bee, the fun never ends.

The stack of border units awaits starching.  Because these pieces go on the very outer edge of the quilt, I'm starching for stability.

Dolly and I are both looking forward to getting this top done.  Other projects are waiting to be cut out.  Especially the Fall quilts.  We're counting down the days until first frost.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Moving on to PLAN B for the 25-patch blocks.

The 25-patch blocks have a wide range of fabric going back, ummm . . .  37 years.

 For the alternate blocks, black/navy . . .

 Tone on tone . . .

 And some blue stripes were chosen.

 The tricky part was coming up with a block that measured 7-7/8th inches.

So I began with 4 light rectangles (2-1/2" x 4"), 4 light squares (2-1/2"), and 8 blue squares (2-1/4") folded in half diagonally.

 Sewing along the fold to create each star point, trimming, then assembling.

All the while, care is taken with careful placement of stripes in the background print.

 The center consists of one blue square (3") and 2 red/burgundy squares (3") cut in half.

 When assembled it's trimmed down to 4".  Then the star is put together.

Using the slightly wider light pieces allow space enough to trim down just a tad.  If I don't decide to make this top bigger, I'll stop at 71 squares.  So I'm more than half way there.

It's a slow process, as I'm starching fabrics as I go.

Meanwhile there's a pup who is slowly getting better at being in the AC room.  Dolly does not like being in a room with a closed door.  No doubt trauma from puppyhood before she was rescued, but she's getting better, especially if bribed with a chewy bone.  

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Sharing the heartache, sending prayers.

This morning, we woke up to yet another news headline of senseless tragedy and heartache of our neighbors across the pond.

202 wounded
52 of the wounded are in critical condition
25 of the wounded are on life support
84 dead
10 of those killed were children/teenagers

Please know that our hearts are crying along with yours.

San and Dolly