Block 3 of Sew Let's QAL is released today! Read all the details of the QAL here. Don't forget to bookmark my quick links page for easy access to all of the designers' and hosts' blog posts! This block is designed by me! Rulers are such a key tool to quilting, I knew I just had to design a ruler for this quilt! Remember that all patterns for the QAL will be free until September 24, 2019 (the end of the QAL).
The block finishes at 12" square and is a great addition to this mystery QAL!
This block is deceptively difficult and I highly encourage you to take your time and read through all of my tips and tricks to have the most success assembling the block. I kept with my color scheme and opted to have blue purple lines on my ruler. The pattern, however, is written for black and grey lines.
Here are my top tips for constructing this block:
- There are lots of seams in this block and I would highly suggest starching your fabrics BEFORE you cut. If you starch fabric after you cut, the fabric tends to shrink and it will not be the correct size.
- I used a design board to lay out all of my strips before I brought them to the sewing machine. This ensures that I have the strips in the correct order prior to sewing. Check out my design board tutorial to make your own.
- It is IMPERATIVE that you check your seams after each strip you add. I don't really care if you call it a normal 1/4" seam or a scant 1/4" seam. All I care about is that your pieces are the correct size.
- To do the math, add the widths together and subtract 1/2" for the seam allowance and that's how wide the piece should be. For example, if you sew two 2-1/2" wide strips together, then the outcome should be 4-1/2" wide.
- Click on the images to expand.
- Here is an example of a seam that was too wide. You can see that my strip is NOT the correct size, it's too narrow. You can see the green cutting mat under the ruler on the right side.
- Conversely if your seam is too narrow, your strip will end up too wide.
- I made the strips a tad wider for you to square up before slicing each of the strips.
- Use a design board to lay out all the pieces of the ruler.
- I use Clover Fork Pins to pin every seam together to make sure that my block doesn't shift while sewing. I use fork pins because they are thin enough to sew without removing. Yes, I sew through my pins!
- YAY! Now you should be completed with the base block without the numbers.
- I use Heat 'N Bond Lite as my applique adhesive. Remember to trace the numbers twice for both directions of the ruler. Iron on the WRONG side of the ruler and use fabric scissors to cut them out. I like the Karen Buckley scissors because the serrated edge grips the fabric as it gives a clean cut.
- When aligning the numbers to the block, make sure that you leave a 1/4" seam allowance on the block. I used my rulers on the side of the block to give myself a reminder to not put the numbers too close to the edge.
- Ultimately I decided on a different number placement on my ruler to keep them even further from the edge, but you can place the numbers however you'd like!
- Use a zigzag or a blanket stitch around all of the raw edges. Go slow around the turns and you'll do great!
And you are finished!!! YAY! I can't wait to see everyone's ruler block!
In addition to fun prizes for this segment, I am giving participants a special 25% code off my entire shop! Use SEWLETSQAL during checkout in my shop for 25% off. This code will expire when Block 4 is released! (Please note: the coupon code will not work on Etsy, only on my shop via https://poweredbyquilting.com/shop/)
Remember, we are doing prizes by segment for this QAL rather than by each individual block. The current segment ends after Block 5 and the entry window will be open from 12am Eastern on May 7 to 11:59pm Eastern on May 20. There are 3 ways to enter, all of which require a photo of all finished blocks in the segment:
- If you are on Facebook: Join the Partners in Design, Where Friends and Fabric Meet Facebook Group, and post a photo of all the blocks in the segment to be entered to win.
- If you are on Instagram: Use the hashtag #SewLetsQAL on the photos of all the finished blocks in the segment to be entered to win.
- Each host will have a Linky Party on their last block of the segment for you to link up the photo of all finished blocks for that segment in order to be entered to win.
The prizes for this segment include:
- A newly released item from Omnigrid® (a Prym Company) -Large Folding Cutting Kit that includes an 18 x 24" mat, a 3" x 18" ruler and a 45 mm rotary cutter
- Timeless Treasures Tonga Treat Strip Jr. "Orchid" -20 pc 2 1/2" strip pack
- 2 Shabby Fabrics Vintage Blessings printed table runner patterns and a packet of Sunflower laser-cut appliqués (small.)
- And, a free PDF pattern from each of these “Partners in Design”
Thank you so much to all of our sponsors!
Don't forget to check out the other awesome hosts of the QAL for more tips and tricks on this block!
April @ JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Bobbi @ Snowy Days Quilting
Sherry @ Powered by Quilting <- That's me!
Abbie @ Sparkle On!
Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Sandy @ SandyStar Designs
Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing
Sandra @ Sandra Healy Designs
Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter
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