2011 Block of the Month
General Directions


JANUARY: BUT THAT’S NOT A STRAIGHT SEAM!
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SUPPLIES:

  • basic OTM sewing kit.
  • at least 6 but up to 12 fabric pieces no smaller than a 7” square; preferably fabrics that look good together and a combination you find pleasing.
  • paper scissors.
  • a marking device such as pencil, chalk marker, or fine permanent marker; this will be used to mark the cutting lines on the wrong side of the fabric, so will not show on the right side.
  • highly recommended: a 6 1/2” square ruler. I also like a 12 1/2” ruler but other rulers also work well to square off blocks.


FEBRUARY: YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAT?
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SUPPLIES:

  1. Two sets (A and B) of two fabrics each (that means a total of 4 fabrics), which can be more or less contrasting, and enough fabric to cut two 9 patch sets (A and B) using generously cut 2 ¾” squares. NOTE: It would be a good idea to maybe make a few extra 9 patches (always as pairs of A and B sets) as there is a definite possibility to make a fatal error that would then not allow you to complete the block.
  2. Make the two sets of 9 patches. You will have two 9 patches with the A color scheme and two 9 patches with the B color scheme, for a total of four 9 patches (see NOTE above).
  3. The basic OTM sewing kit with your favorite thread; small iron and ironing pad although the guild does supplies irons and ironing tables.
  4. A cutting mat that will allow you to square up a 12 ½” square.
  5. If you use Billie Lauder’s method to make you 9 patches, use four 8 ¼” squares.


MARCH: ARE WE GOING NORTH OR SOUTH?
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SUPPLIES: in addition to the basic OTM sewing kit

  1. Two 9” squares of color A. This will be the background.
  2. Two 7 ½” squares of color B. This will be a central motif.


APRIL 2011 BOM: THREE DIMENSIONS
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SUPPLIES:

  1. OTM basic sewing kit.
  2. Four 10” squares of fabric (or more), that preferably read as solid, i.e. no big pattern, no bold geometric. These will end in four 6” to 6 ½” finished squares. To make a 12” square out of these, you may need fabric for narrow sashing to put the 4 squares together.
  3. A few pieces of contrasting fabric, various colors.
  4. Either a long narrow ruler, or long fat straight knitting needle, or piece of dowel, or bias making metal/plastic bars …


MAY 2011 BOM: SCRAP REDUCTION

SUPPLIES

  1. OTM sewing kit.
  2. One fabric (A) at least 10”x6”. This could be white/light beige or, if you have a specific color scheme for your BOMs, then use your “background” fabric. If you like risk taking, you could also use black or any strong primary color.
  3. Assorted scraps and leftover fabrics.


JUNE 2011 BOM: IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SQUARE.
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SUPPLIES

  1. OTM sewing kit.
  2. Fabric scraps no smaller than 4" square.
  3. One 12 ½" square or four 6 ½" squares of background fabric.
  4. One coat hanger, the cheap wire kind.
  5. A few clothespins.


JULY 2011 BOM: SO SMART!
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SUPPLIES

  1. OTM sewing kit.
  2. At least four different fabrics, but can have more. All fabrics roughly cut to 7 1/2" – 7 3/4" square and very HEAVILY starched using your favorite product. Fabric should feel at least like cardstock if not like light cardboard.
  3. A rotary cutter mat that you will not mind making permanent marks on. I use the back of a mat. Mat should be no smaller than 12" square.
  4. Fine line permanent marker.


AUGUST 2011 BOM: TWO FOR ONE
Pic 1 (without netting) Pic 2 (with netting)

SUPPLIES

  1. OTM sewing kit with one pair of very sharp fabric scissors, small to medium, not your biggest cutting shears!
  2. Two sets of fabric, A and B, with good contrast. Contrast can be either color (black – white; blue – yellow) or value (dark – light).
  3. Cut two 7" squares of fabric A and four 7" squares of fabric B.


SEPTEMBER 2011 BOM: THAT'S A SPIRAL?

SUPPLIES

  1. OTM sewing kit
  2. You will need two sets of fabric: set A and set B. Set A and set B should be from different color families. For example for my block I used brown for set A (my background fabric) and blue for set B.
  3. For set A fabric you will need only one fabric cut as follows:
    - one 3 ½" square
    - three 2 ½" WOF strips
  4. For the set B fabric you will need seven (7) different fabrics in the same color family, going from light (B one) to dark (B seven) or if you prefer from dark (B one) to light (B seven). These seven fabrics should be cut as follows:
    - B one: two strips each 2 ½" x 3"
    - B two: two strips each 2 ½" x 4"
    - B three: two strips each 2 ½" x 5"
    - B four: two strips each 2 ½" x 6"
    - B five: two strips each 2 ½" x 8"
    - B six: two strips each 2 ½" x 9"
    - B seven: two strips each 2 ½" x 11 ½"
  5. The measurements above are generous and will allow for trimming down to size.


OCTOBER 2011 BOM: PEEKING THROUGH

SUPPLIES:

  1. OTM sewing kit
  2. You will need two sets of fabric: A and B. Fabric A and B should be from different color families.
  3. From fabric A, cut four 5" squares. If your fabric A has a distinctive pattern, fussy cutting may be appropriate.
  4. The fabric B set should consist of two fabrics: one lighter than the other: B1 and B2
  5. For each B fabric cut two strips measuring 2 ¼" x 11 ½". Position your strip so that the 11 ½" edge is parallel to the selvage, i.e. cut your strips on the length of grain.


NOVEMBER 2011 BOM: DON'T THROW THAT AWAY! SUPPLIES

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  1. :OTM sewing kit.
  2. Four pieces of your "background" fabric or of a "neutral" fabric (any fabric of a pleasant color that fits in your color scheme and that reads as solid), cut each piece 10" x 3".


DECEMBER 2011 BOM: THE SANDIAS MAYBE? SUPPLIES:

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  1. OTM sewing kit
  2. Fabric A: 2 pieces, each measuring 8 ¼" x 7"
  3. Fabric B: 2 pieces, each measuring 8 ¼" x 7"
NOTE: Nancy, who tested all my BOMs, felt that 8 ½" x 7" worked better for her.