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.
