Maren is the final Bee Block of the Bee year and April's NYC Mod Guild Queen Bee. Her fabric selection is Treasure - Patience from the Wish Collection by Valori Wells for Free Spirit. A yummy raspberry pink solid. She's chosen a Single Irish Chain block for us to make.
If you'd like to have a go at making the block yourself, here's my photo tutorial
Single Irish Chain Block Tute
Single Irish Chain Block Tute
Cut 4 of 2.5" x 4.5" rectangles (shown floral)
4 of 2.5" x 8.5" rectangles (shown floral)
1 of 4.5" square (shown solid)
8 of 2.5" squares (shown solid)
4 of 2.5" x 8.5" rectangles (shown floral)
1 of 4.5" square (shown solid)
8 of 2.5" squares (shown solid)
Layout design as shown below
Sew each of the centre rows and the two outer columns of squares together using a scant 1/4" seam. Follow me in the photos below, noting how I've separated the pieces and moving on with me through each image, joining the seams as shown. Wait to press your seams - we'll talk about that when we're further ahead with the sewing.
Let's start with the centre section.
Now, those side columns.
As you can see above, the 3 sections are coming together, so let's look at the back to see how I've pressed each seam. I've alternated the direction of each row so I can nest my seams together in the next stage and create perfect seam joints - you can read more about pressing seams in my Pros + Cons of Pressing Open Or To The Side post. If you need help to nest your seams, you can learn how to do it here in my How To Nest Seams tute.
Now, back to the sewing. Again, use a scant 1/4" seam to join the rows of the centre section, as shown in the photos below.
Time to check the direction of those pressed seams.
Then, join the side columns to the centre section.
And here's your finished block with perfect seam joints.
Unfinished size 12.5" square/Finished size 12" square.
And a final look at the back seams.
And the last look at that block. In this photo below, you can see the 3D effect that we've given the block just by the direction we pressed the seams - the centre block is the highest, and the outermost perimeter blocks are the lowest. Maren's colour choices have made this more evident with a strong, warm raspberry that comes towards you while the cooler grey floral sits well back.
TIP: You can use this visual receding and advancing achieved through colour and seam pressing in all blocks to create different effects in your quilt design.
As always, you can check out all the blocks that our Bee makes for Maren on my Quilty - Single Irish Chain Block Pinterest Board - I'll add more pins as each person in the Bee posts photos of their finished blocks, and you can see my NYC Mod Quilt Guild Post here too.
Single Irish Chain Block Tute
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