December Block of the Month

Hello, Ties that Bind members!  I'm a little late with this tutorial, life just got ahead of me this week.  Luckily, our block of the month is a simple one.  You probably don't need my help, but just in case ...

I don't know the name of the block, since it wasn't on the handout.  To me, it looks like a package.  (Maybe I'm just being influenced by all the Christmas decorations we're seeing everywhere.)

We start with a 10 in. cut square of red or pink (mine is red), and two black strips.  The black strips are both 1.5 in. wide.  One is 10 in. long, and one is 10.5 in. long.

Not a great picture, sorry, but you get the idea.

Now, lay your ruler on the 10 in. square, with the 4 in. line on the left.  Then cut.

We're going to sew the 1.5 x 10 in. black strip between the two pieces of red fabric.
Here it is, ready to sew ...

And here it is, sewn.  So far, super simple, am I right?

Now we're going to cut this piece again, but this time at the top instead of the side.  This cut will also be 4 in. wide.

This photo was taken at an odd angle, but you can see the ruler lined up with the edge, and cutting across the black strip.

Guess what happens next?  We get to sew the remaining black strip between these two cut pieces.

Here it is, laid out.  Only two seams here.

And that's it!  This block looks a little wobbly.  It was better after it was pressed.

The blocks will/should measure 10.5 in. unfinished, for a 10 in. finished block.  As it says on the instruction sheet, the recipient can square the blocks up easily, without worrying about cutting off any points, etc.

Wouldn't this be cute as a Christmas quilt?  Or maybe a birthday quilt for a child?  And it would work up so quickly!

Don't forget, our meeting is earlier this month, to keep from running into holiday festivities.  We are meeting at Little Switzerland on DECEMBER 12TH.  So you've got just over a week to make one or more of these blocks, if you choose.

Another reminder:  How is your Brown Bag Challenge gift coming along?  Those are due on Dec. 12th also.  (I can't believe I got mine done early this year.  It's a Christmas miracle.)

See you on the 12th!