Welcome to the first day of this new block blog hop! Be sure to check out all the other block tutorials (there will be more than 70 released over the next few days). I always love this challenge and was happy to be asked by @quiltingjetgirl @latenightquilter and @meadowmistdesigns to participate again this year.
It is hard to believe September is already here! Life has gotten crazy with back to school in our house and both my husband and myself work outside the home. Currently we both have some big life decisions to make. This led to the inspiration behind my block for this hop that I’ve named Crossroads.
It did make me laugh to look at my block for the last Blog Hop. Apparently I do a lot of my thinking in the car! I hope you enjoy this block. You can use it in various ways. I again challenged myself to use all of the colours.
The Cloud 9 Fabric Cirrus solids are gorgeous in their depth of colour and feel. If you like to work with a stiffer fabric I suggest using starch when you press the fabric before making your cuts. I did not, but my Block would have benefited from it.
This block is both simple and complex! The simple part is that you first make 4 half-square triangles (HSTs) – two at once – so it’s super fast!
I’ve divided this 12.5″ unfinished block into 4 – 6.5″ blocks that come together to make it. Once you have pressed your four main fabrics simply cut out of each a 7″ square which will give 6.5″ HSTs if you are a super precise piecer. I left myself plenty of wiggle room by cutting out 7.5″ squares and then trimming down.
I love my Fons & Porter HST ruler!
You simply draw lines on either side of it (I love my Frixxon for this!) and then sew on the lines.
If you do not have one just draw a line in the middle and sew lines on each side 1/4″ away from the centre line.
Next you cut them through the middle, press (I prefer to press open) and then square up to 6.5″. I always place the diagonal line on my ruler across the diagonal seam when doing this.
Trim off the access. I actually save these scraps for my small studies – yes I’m THAT crazy fabric scrap lady!
Now you need to cut out your crossroads. I simply made myself a template. You need 8 of these triangles. Cut the triangles at 1.5″ on one end and 3/8″ at the other end. The straight edge is 6.5″ long. I used my ruler to line up the first one. See diagram.
To sew these to your HSTs you will line up using the 1″ Mark.
I find this easier than paper piecing and less fabric wasting but some of you may prefer to do this one by paper piecing and one certainly could easily do it that way.
Now you can add the other triangle crossroad.
Now you can sew two 6.5″ blocks together. Ensure you have the HSTs rotated correctly for how you want your block to look. I usually layout all my cut pieces at the start to avoid mix-up! (Which sometimes still occur..)
Finish the other two 6.5″ blocks in the same fashion and sew together to create the other half of the 12.5″ block.
With this block you want to ensure you press well as there is a lot of bulk in the middle seam. You can even “hammer” it – I used a Pelligrino bottle to give it a good smack!
The last step is sewing the two halves together. I lined up the seams of the triangles, the crossroads, as well as pinned a lot. When I reached the middle bulk while sewing it together I slowed my sewing and did a couple of stitches just using straight up and down a couple of times with my foot pedal.
My points could definitely be sharper in this block but I am happy with the overall effect and from a distance it even appears as though you are looking down a road.
It would be a great block to use even just two colours in all of the HSTs or even just using a solid 6.5″ piece and adding the crossroads to them. I hope this sparks someone to create and experiment as that is what this is all about. I like the organic look to this one but if you prefer a precise block you can draw out a paper pieced 6.5″ block using my measuremets above then multiply x four. Most importantly just have fun!
I hope if you are ever at a crossroads in your life you can look at it as an opportunity to grow – just as this block was for myself.
Be sure to check out all the other block tutorials!
I need to also post a picture of our newest family member that created an extra challenge in completing this block as she just arrived in our home three days ago! Meet River Upitis:
Our last name Upitis is Latvian for Little River. Here she is in her usual pose asking me to not sew! 8 weeks old and we think so cute and of course extremely smart!
Thanks for stopping by!
K
Great name for a great block. You are right, it looks just like looking sown a long road. River is so sweet, how do you sew when she looks at you with those eyes?
Thank you and I am not getting much sewing done 😁
Hi – just visiting from the Blog Hop today. Love your finished block – it really does look like a long stretch of road! Oh my what a gorgeous puppy you have …….. we’re looking at the moment.
Hope you enjoyed the Hop! So many great blocks and so different! What kind of dog are you thinking of? River is scary smart and velcro puppy. Like a baby she likes to be held when she sleeps. She has our hearts!
Very creative!! Looking down a long straight road – and using the blue on the top it is like the sky is reflecting the road!
Thank you Anne 😊
Fabulous block. Wow!
Thank you for your comments and I hope you’ve enjoyed the blocks on the Hop!
Talk about painting with fabric! Nicely done.
Thank you 😘
Very interesting!-a lot of thought put into this block! Thank you
Thanks for stopping by and taking a look and leaving a comment 😘
This is an fabulous block. I like how you made the template with the first piece you cut out.
I like little tricks to speed up the process without sacrificing quality as I don’t have a lot of time to sew each day! Thanks for stopping by!
You have created a beautiful block and the name is perfect for it. Love you puppy.
Thank you Jennifer 😘
Well done. It looks nice and very doable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop in and I hope to see some people try it!
I also like how this looks like streaks of sunlight from a sunrise or a sunset with the purples on the bottom and blues on top. Thank you so much for joining the hop!
Thanks for having me again Yvonne! It’s always fun and I can’t wait to see the quilts when they are done!
Great block! I love the depth and perspective you created!
Thx Kim!
I really like your block. Simple with a twist. And I love the name. I think all of us can relate to the name and the choices we face while at a crossroads.
Thank you Melva- I hope it was relatable and hope to see a few out there 😘
Cute puppy! The block is great too and I was all set to say how I thought it such a great visual representation of a crossroads but then I saw the puppy! What can I say? Show me a puppy and everything else goes out the window, lol.
She does that too me too 😂 so hard to sew or go to work!!
I can see a variety of fun settings for this block, both for setting identical blocks as well as making variations in color across the blocks. Very versatile!
Thank you Sarah! 😘
You designed a great block and provided some great advice. There’s so much you can do with both!
😚 thank you 😊
This one is cool and I’m at a crossroads myself so this was nice to see. It really does look like looking down a road. Kudos!
I hope your crossroads has a happy road ahead 😊 and thank you for your comments 😘
I love this block! Great name for it too 🙂 It really does look like a perspective drawing of a road.
Thank you Leanne it was a fun Hop to be a part of and I love these fabrics!
Great job! I really like the depth of this block.
Thank you 😊 I’m glad it came across that way
Lovely Block! It really does look like a road going off into the distance. Great Job!
Thank you!
What a gorgeous block. I love the perspective effect.
Thank you Jennifer!
Crossroads is a nice design. I like the vanishing points.
Thank you Dena – it will be interesting to see it in other colour ways too
I like this and could see several different ways of putting several blocks together. I especially like how you use the Pellegrino bottle to “smack” it! Cute.
Thank you Carrie! Glad you enjoyed it.
Fantastic block! It’s like looking across a vast horizon. And yes, starching is key with this fabric! Learned that one the hard way as well. 😉
Sometimes starch is your best friend! 😘
Great job on your block.
Thank you Anja!
Cool block, and love the tip about the Fons and Porter HST ruler. I will look for that one. Just love your puppy River – she is so cute! My puppy is now 1.5 yrs but is still an absolute handful – she has chewed up a lot of sewing supplies! But we love her!! Congrats on a cool block.
I looooove that ruler! And yes I can see the potential for sewing destruction – it’s a lot of work keeping all eyes on her!! And fabric and thread are so tempting!
Love your block!
😘
So pretty! And such a cute new family member too 🙂
Thank you Shannon!
Great book. Love that it’s not paper pieced. River is a cutie!
I have a “thing” about paper piecing 😂 I can do it but I always feel it takes an extra amount of time and I anyways seem to use more fabric doing it – I am pretty stingy with my fabric 😁
Beautiful block and I really love the meaning behind your block. I think a cross road in life can be a wonderful opportunity. River is the cutest! I would probably have to stop sewing and cuddle that little bug too 🙂
Thank you Tish- I always have fun doing this Hop as there are so many creative people in our community. I love the challenge and I seem to always quilt with intention (ie there is always an underlying meaning to me) – it’s a form of meditation for me for sure!
Another different block-all gorgeous
It’s amazing how many different blocks people created given the same parameters isn’t it?!
Wonderful block! Happy hopping!
It was a great hop! Hope you enjoyed it too!
Very nice design! Love that illusion of depth.
Thank you – I was hoping others would get the effect as well!
Looks to be a challenging block at least for me anyways. But I love it. River Upitis is the cutest little puppy there is! Isn’t she sweet!
Thank you 😘
This is a great block! I hope to try it soon 🙂 I might have to do a lot of colouring before I decide which colours to use….
Oh please let me know if you try it I’d love to see!!
Complex block but you made it easy to make with your clear directions. It looks like it would be such fun! Hard to get anything done though, with those cute puppy eyes staring at you. Good job!
Thank you 😊 and the puppy loves to snuggle and like a baby will want you to hold her when she wants to sleep! It’s funny!
Very nice block! Designing sure is hard. I know I have a new appreciation for pattern designers now after designing my first block for this hop. I just heard of hammering earlier in the week. Haven’t used that method yet but have been assured it helps to flatten seams. I see you have an Oliso iron. Do you like it? Karen
Hi Karen thank you! And yes I do love my Oliso it was hard to get used to at first as I kept trying to stand it on end out of habit!
Great block! I like how the colors radiate from the middle.
Thank you Cheryl 😊