Bali Blog Hop: Day 2

It's Day 2 of our Bali Blog Hop! We're back with another inspiring tutorial for using these rich, gorgeous Bali prints! Today Stephanie from Stitched Together Studios shares her wonky version of the classic Jacob's Ladder block. Enjoy!

I love batiks … all colors, all designs, every single thing about them, so I was thrilled to open up my fabric package and find the Rio and Dolce collections! I think they blend together beautifully (as do most batiks) so I chose to mix them up and use them together.

I immediately thought of the Jacob’s Ladder block – quick and easy, and it creates so many cool secondary patterns depending on how you put it all together! I whipped out my rulers and rotary cutter, and in just a few minutes I had this on my design wall:

Pretty, but lacking a little something …. There is RIO in these blocks for goodness sakes, land of the samba, Carnival, Copacabana Beach, and the upcoming Summer Olympics! I could do better. 


Enter “A Escada de Jaco” (loose translation in Portuguese, the official language of Brazil)

Fabric Requirements

(1) each 3-1/2” square from (10) batiks

(10) 3-1/2” squares of white

(2) each 5” squares from (2) batiks

(2) 5” squares of white, crosscut once into (4) half square triangles.

Four Patch Units (make 5): Sew 3-1/2” batik and white squares together in pairs, then sew the pairs together into 4 patch units. Using your 4-1/2” ruler trim block at a fun wonky angle.

   

Half Square Triangle Units (make 4): Lay (1) white half square triangle right sides together at an angle on top of (1) 5” batik square, then sew along the angled line. Trim batik fabric, then press with seam allowance towards batik. Again, use your 4-1/2” ruler to trim square at a fun wonky angle.

To complete your block, lay out your four patch units making one diagonal white line and one diagonal batik line, then add in your half square triangle units with the white towards the center. Sew your units together into rows, then sew your rows together – and there you have it … “A Escada de Jaco.”

                  

The finished block: Brazilian pizzazz!

Thanks, Stephanie! 

Inspired by her block for this tutorial, Stephanie used the rest of her fat quarters and about a yard of white solid to create 6 Escada de Jaco blocks. She framed them with a 1" white border and a 5" improvisationally pieced border to create a 36" x 48" quilt top. So bright and beautiful! She'll be donating this to Quilted EMbrace, a group dedicated to "covering our seniors with a hug, one quilt at a time." (Click here to learn more about Quilted EMbrace.)

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 if you've ever made a wonky block. Giveaway is open through Sunday, May 15th 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