Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Bali Blog Hop: Day 3

Welcome back! We hope you're feeling inspired by all the fun ways we're showing how to use our vibrant Balis! Today's block has several variations--we're confident there's a version for everyone to love! 

Because we just can't admire them too much, another look at the bundles we're working with this week:


Six prints from the Dolce Balis

Six prints from the Rio Balis

These fabrics aren't available in quilt shops yet, but you can win a bundle of Rio and Dolce Balis to play with! (Today and each day of our blog hop...six chances!) You'll see how at the bottom of this post. 

The block(s):
We call them Diagonal Bullseyes. 

These 12" square finished blocks are stitched on a foundation and can be made using straight or wonky piecing techniques. We'll show you how to make the wonky block; the more traditional straight-pieced block uses the same method--just be sure to align your raw edges before sewing rather than angling the strips! 

Materials: 
1/3 yard white solid
Rio and/or Dolce fat quarters

Cutting:
White solid:
Four 6-1/2" white squares (for foundation)
Four or five 1" x 42" strips

Bali fat quarters:
A variety of 18" strips, ranging in width from 1-1/2" to 2-1/4"

Making the Block:
Step 1: Layer a colored strip and a white strip right sides together diagonally across a 6-1/2" square. Sew using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press open. 

Step 2: Add a white strip to the opposite side of the colored strip. As you add strips, angle them along the raw edge of the existing strip to create a wonky look. After adding an angled strip, you'll need to trim so the seam allowance is only 1/4". This eliminates both bulk and the potential for shadowing of the darker fabric through the white. If you have an "Add a Quarter Inch" ruler (typically for paper piecing), you can use it here, as we did. Otherwise, a regular ruler works fine. Trim the seam allowances of the two strips to 1/4" past the seam. *Important!! Fold the foundation square out of the way before trimming the strip.* After trimming, press strips open.

Here's another example of adding an angled strip for a wonky look. Try to angle strips at least 1/4" so they actually look wonky. Otherwise, it will just look like you didn't piece terribly straight. We're aiming for purposely wonky!


Here the red strip is trimmed so the seam allowance doesn't show beyond the white strip. 


Step 3: Continue adding strips in both directions from the center strip, alternating between colored strips and white strips. Trim seam allowances each time and press strips open. The gray strip below has been added on an angle but the seam allowance still needs to be trimmed. 

Gray strip flipped and pressed open:

Step 4: When you're finished, the white square will be completely covered with strips, like this. (As you add strips, you can trim excess length from beyond the white square.)

Step 5: Flip it over and trim to 6-1/2" square. 

Here's a finished quarter block:

Step 6: Repeat to make three additional quarter blocks. 


Step 7: Sew the quarter blocks together in pairs, noting orientation of the stripes, and then join the pairs to complete the block. Press the seams open to reduce bulk. 

If wonky isn't your thing, here's an example of the same technique used with straight piecing. Just make sure your strips have raw edges aligned rather than angled before sewing. No trimming of seam allowances necessary! If you like the way the thin white strips look, you can add them in here as well; simply alternate them with the colored strips. 

Although we only show two, there are at least four possible variations to this block--wonky with white strips, wonky without white strips, straight pieced with white strips, and straight pieced without white strips. And if you want an even more uniform look, consider using the same width strips in each position of the quarter block--when you assemble the quarter blocks, the strips will line up perfectly. So many choices! 

For a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the Dolce and Rio fabrics we're featuring in this blog hop, make sure you're following us, either through a blog reader or by email (both options in the right-hand sidebar). Leave a comment below letting us know that you are, and also telling us whether you like the Dolce or Rio collection better. Giveaway is open through Monday, May 16th at 11:59 pm EST.


Click here to see the entire Rio collection.
Click here to see the entire Dolce collection. 


Stop back each day this week to catch all of the tutorials!
Monday: Chris @ made by ChrissieD
Tuesday: Stephanie @ Stitched Together Studios
Wednesday: Benartex Blog Design Team
Thursday: Kirsten @ KD Quilts
Friday: Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts
Saturday: Debby @ Debby Kratovil Quilts
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103 comments:

  1. I follow via Bloglovin. I like the Dolce fabrics best!

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  2. I follow with BL. I love strip quilts, so much fun, and so free to make.

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  3. I follow your blog. I am in favor of the Dolce collection.

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  4. I follow your blog. I am in favor of the Dolce collection.

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  5. I follow /w bloglovin - I love the Rio!

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  6. I follow with feedly. I love Dolce.

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  7. I follow with Bloglovin' --and I like Dolce best- but I love them both.

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  8. I follow on Bloglovin and I like the Rio collection best.

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  9. I follow on Bloglovin and I like the Dolce collection better.

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  10. I like Rio and follow on bloglovin.

    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  11. I got you on bloglovin.....and there both nice but i think Rio grab my eye first.... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  12. I love the Dolce collection a bit more than the Rio- they're both great! I follow on Feedly

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  13. I follow via email. Both collections are gorgeous, but if I can only choose one, it would be Rio. I love the way Rio looks with the white strips. Thank you for the great block patterns, this would be great for my scraps.

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  14. I like the Rio Balis best. Following on Bloglovin and e-mail. crystalbluern at tds dot net

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  15. the Dolce collection is my choice. Love the blog hop.

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  16. Following on Bloglovin'. The Rio collection is my favorite. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  17. I like the Dolce the best--but both are beautiful!
    bjkaup(at)(huntel)(dot)(net)

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  18. Forgot to say--follow you on Bloglovin!
    bjkaup(at)(huntel)(dot)(net)

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  19. I follow you via bloglovin, and love the bright colors of Rio

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  20. I follow you via e-mail. I love the wonky blocks! Though both are beautiful. I am leaning more towards the Dolce collection.

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  21. I follow you on bloglovin' as jenbarnard. I prefer the Rio collection.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  22. I follow on bloglovin and email!!! I love the Dolce collection - great colours!!!

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  23. I follow with Bloglovin. My pick would be Dolce but it was a hard decision!

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  24. I follow by email and GFC. I like the Rio collection best, just love the colors.

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  25. I follow the blog .I like the dolce collection by an inch - hard choice. I would buy some from both

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  26. I follow by email. Both collections are great but I absolutely love the colours in the Dolce collection!

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  27. I follow by email and like the Rio collection better.

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  28. I am a loyal follower via e-mail. I love the bright colors of the Rio bundle. :)
    craftyccain@gmail.com

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  29. I follow by email. I like Dolce the best. Thanks!

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  30. I have been following with email and GFC. I like the Rio bundle better.

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  31. I follow you by email. Love to make the block with grey as the neutral (I am laundry challenged for white!)

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  32. I follow you by email and look forward to each post. I love both collections, but if I can only have one I'll take the Dolce. Thanks for a great giveaway!

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  33. I get your emails and I love the Rio fabric. Thanks.

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  34. i love your blocks. i will have to try the even stips with white in between. I really like the Rio Balis.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  35. I follow by email! It truly is a hard decision to make, both bundles are fabulous. But, I will have to go with Rio Balis.

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  36. Dolce is my favourite although a hard choice between the two. I follow by blog lovin
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

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  37. I like the bright colors of Rio, and follow you by email. basaran.family at rogers.com

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  38. I follow by email.
    Dmac5958ataoldotcom

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  39. I also follow along by email. I would have to say that I am drawn more to the Dolce Balis, but, is there suck a thing as a bad batik?

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  40. I get your posts by email. I like the Dolce balis best but they're both really pretty. Great block! Love it with the white strips.

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  41. I follow Bloglovin. The deep colors are beautiful in the Balis! bunny2u@hotmail.com

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  42. Love the Dolce Bali's best! :) I follow you thru Email, & Bloglovin... Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! :D

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  43. I like the Dolce! bunny2u@hotmail.com

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  44. I like the Rio Balis. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
    kakingsbury at verizon dot net

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  45. I follow you via email notification.
    kakingsbury at verizon dot net

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  46. Following on Bloglovin' and I love the Dolce collection. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  47. Love both styles of fabric, but I like the Rio best, love the brights!

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  48. I follow by email. My favorite of these two is the Dolce set.

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  49. I follow by email. I love the vibrant colors of the Rio collection.

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  50. I like the bright colors in the Rio collection. I follow you by email. Enjoyed the tutorial as well.

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  51. I also follow by email, I'm in love with Rio, especially with the white!

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  52. I'm following by email and Bloglovin. I love both the Dolce and Rio bundles. So different, yet both so pretty! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
    Sandy N
    explabgirl@yahoo.com

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  53. Fabulous blocks and tuto.Following by email.Rio is my best favorite though both are yummiest.

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  54. I follow via email. I prefer the Dolce colors.

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  55. I follow by email and like the Rio colors best.

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  56. Loving the loving the Dolce Balls collection. Great to see two different versions of these blocks.

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  57. I am following via email, Bloglovin, and IG.

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  58. I follow you via Feedly and if I should be so lucky I could easily find a home for the Dolce bundle. Thank you for the opportunity to win.

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  59. Those RIO colors are so lively! They look like they're having their own party...

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  60. Those RIO colors are so lively! They look like they're having their own party...

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  61. Great blocks! Both lines are super but I'm liking Dolce done in the blocks today.

    Thanks for a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com


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  62. I'm a follower via email.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  63. Love the brightness of the Rio. I follow both by email and Bloglovin.

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  64. I love the deep colors in Dolce! I follow you on Bloglovin. Thanks for the chance to win this beautiful fabric!

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  65. Dolce would be my favorite of the two, but I do love all Bali fabric. I follow via Google Friends Connect.

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  66. I like the black and white print from Rio, but Dolce has my colors! I follow via email.

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  67. I follow by email and oh to choose. It is a hard choice but Rio is calling to me. Thanks for the opportunity. bettyharden at charter dot net

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  68. I follow through Bloglovin and I love the Dolce fabric. Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  69. I follow you through Bloglovin and I LOVE the Rio collection. Thanks for the chance to win!
    Sandy A
    scotty4me39 (at) yahoo:dot:com

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  70. I am following you via Bloglovin. I love the Dolce Balis collection!!

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  71. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.netMay 11, 2016 at 11:39 PM

    I follow by email. They are both pretty, but I guess my 1st choice in the Dolce Balis collection.

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  72. I follow by email.
    I like both collections but I'm drawn towards the cooler colors in the Dolci Balis.

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  73. I follow /w bloglovin and email - I love the Dolci Balis.
    akk_nana@yahoo.com

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  74. I'm a follower via Bloglovin'. My favorite is the Dolce collection. Thanks.

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  75. Loving RIO. Thank you for Diagonal Bulleye's...I'm sure a novice like me can create those. Batiks are still building in my stash...Rio has my favorite warms and I'm looking ahead to their release.
    Following Sew in Love w/Fabrics by email.

    schimmel(dot)db(at)gmail(dot)com

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  76. I am following vi bloglovin'. Very hard to choose!!! I think I would first buy Rio!

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  77. I'm following on Bloglovin! It's hard to pick a favorite but I have to go with Dolce. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  78. I follow on Bloglovin and I like the Rio collection best. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  79. Both are beautiful, but I am drawn to the Rio collection. I follow your blog via email.

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  80. Both are awesome, but I love the dolce just a bit more. I got balis in my preview pack, and they would go so well..

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  81. Both are awesome, but I love the dolce just a bit more. I got balis in my preview pack, and they would go so well..

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  82. I get notice of your blog in my e-mail. thanks for the opportunity.

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    Replies
    1. p s i like the straight pieced without the white. I might use the white as a sashing between the straight pieced blocks

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  83. Both are so pretty, but I favor the dolce. thanks for the chance to own some of this great looking fabric
    sewfabrics at outlook.com

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  84. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  85. I follow thru email and bloglovin.

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  86. I follow by email. Both are beautiful but I like the Rio colors the best.

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  87. I follow you via Feedly. And I like the Rio collection better!

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  88. I follow you via Feedly. And I like the Rio collection better!

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  89. I follow via email, as well as thru Bloglovin'. I like the Rio Collection better.

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  90. I follow thru BlogLovin'. I like the way the Dolce group play together best! thanks for giveaway. pjrquilter(at)msn(dot)com

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  91. I follow you by email.I prefer thr Rio collection. Love those colors! cknapp3626(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  92. Like both collections, but think I like Rio a little more. Thanks for sharing. Diane O

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  93. Like both collections, but think I like Rio a little more. Thanks for sharing. Diane O

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