Donna introduced us to the exchange block for 2011 - the scrappy strip block.
- We can choose to make blocks with a white background and bright colored strips OR blocks with a tan background and country/thimbleberries strips (see examples in the photo).
- Each month we need to make EIGHT blocks - keep one for yourself and bring seven to quilt group each month to exchange
- We decided you DON'T need to trim the block for the exchange - bring them sewed and finished but untrimmed - (see the block in the lower right of the photo above) - each person will trim their blocks later
- We will exchange blocks March through December. In the 10 months of the exchange you will have 80 blocks to make a quilt.
For Each block you will need:
9 1/2 inch square background fabric (either white or tan)
2 1/2 inch square colored fabric (bright or country)
several strips of fabric (bright or country)
Constructing each block:
Draw a diagonal line (corner to corner) on the wrong side of the 2 1/2 inch square. Place 2/12 square on upper left corner of 9 1/2 square with right sides together. (see photo above for placement and sewing direction) Stitch on diagonal line. Press. Trim outer triangle 1/4 inch from seam. Turn up colored triangle to corner. Press.
On background square, draw diagonal line from upper right corner to lower left corner. This line is your guide for placing the first fabric strip AND the edge of your presser foot. Place first colored fabric strip right sides together on the background with the edge on the diagonal line. Sew the first seam 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric strip. Fold fabric strip down so right side is showing. Press.
Place second fabric strip on top of the first colored strip with right sides together and raw edges even. Sew 1/4 inch seam. Fold second fabric strip down and press.
Continue sewing fabric strips to background until the entire half of block is covered. Press.
Remember to make eight blocks each month! Keep one for yourself and bring seven to quilt group!
