Welcome to September!
Pre-orders for the 2020 planner have begun, and we are on our final few blocks before we start assembling our quilt tops!
If you’re sewing along with us and want to enter to win prizes each month, post your finished blocks to Instagram or in our Facebook group (between September 15th and September 30th) with the #QP2019sewalong hashtag.
Each month, we post tips and tricks to help you with your blocks. To keep up with the Tips and Tricks, visit our 2019 Block of the Month Landing Page here. You might want to make it one of your Favorites on your computer so it’s easy to find. You can also find it on QuiltersPlanner.com under the Patterns and BOMs tab.
Which Block Should I Sew in September?
The block for September is Outer Ring Block 2. Instructions for this block are on page 20 of the QP magazine.
Snowflake Layout: Make two.
Pyramid Layout: Make three.
Tips for making Outer Ring Block 2:
Since this month’s block is made from just HST and fabric squares, we thought it would be a good idea to review everything we’ve learned so far about making perfect HST units.
There are a couple of good ways to mark your HST fabrics for sewing.
You could mark your lighter fabric with a diagonal line from on corner to another and sew ¼” away on each side of that line
Or you can use a marking ruler to make a mark ¼” from the center on each side and sew directly on that line.
Try them both out and choose the one that works best for you!
Over the last several months, we’ve shared a few different ways to trim up your HST units so they’re the perfect size for your block. Let’s review those.
One way to trim your HST is by using a square ruler with a diagonal line. Line up your HST seam with the diagonal line. Before cutting anything, check that the sides of your HST that are under the ruler reach at least to your desired final measurement, in this case, 2.5″ (Figure 1). Trim up two sides of the HST (Figure 2). Turn the HST so the trimmed sides are now under the ruler. Line the edges up to the desired measurement. The diagonal line on the ruler should line up with the seam (Figure 3). Trim the last two sides (Figure 4). Remember to always check before cutting that your HST unit lines up with both the vertical and horizontal measurement lines as well as the diagonal line. And one more thing of note: even if you only have the tiniest bit to trim off, please do so! Having them perfectly square will make a big difference down the road.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
A second option for trimming HST units is to sew and cut apart your HST units as instructed in the pattern. BEFORE PRESSING, place a Triangle Square Up ruler over the unopened HST unit.
Our instructions ask us to trim our HST to 2½”, so we will place the 2½” line of the ruler over the SEAM LINE of our HST. Make sure you are measuring from the seam line and not the fabric’s edge.
Trim off the excess fabric, and press open, being very careful not to push too hard and distort your HST unit. Trim off the ‘dog ears’ on your unit.
The third option for trimming HST units that we shared this year (and our favorite method!) is using a BlocLoc ruler. Watch our video below for a quick tutorial.
One last tip: If you have tried all our suggestions for HST units and are still finding that they are a just a little too small when you go to trim them, try cutting your squares bigger than the pattern calls for and trimming the resulting HST units to the proper size after sewing. There is a bit more fabric waste using this method, but if it helps you to get your final block the right size, a little fabric waste might be worth it to you.
Guidelines to enter your sewn blocks into our monthly challenge (and win prizes on Instagram and Facebook)
- Between the 1st and the 7th day of each month, you’ll find the pattern for that month’s block and select your fabrics.
- Between the 8th and the 14th, you’ll get your fabrics prepped and cut.
- Between the 15th and the end of the month, sew up your block and post it to Instagram (please use the #qp2019sewalong hashtag) or to the Facebook group (using the same #qp2019sewalong hashtag).
As always, feel free to contact us on Instagram or on our Facebook group if you need any help or have questions about the block!
