May 2021 NZP Block of the Month: Swamp Angel
Introducing the fifth of 12 FREE! Quilt Block Tutorials in our NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series! The “Swamp Angel” Block. Earlier this year, Team NZP introduced our NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series. Visit our January 2 Blog Posting to review the Basic Supplies & Tools Listing.
Our NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series is a great way to finish a quilt in manageable monthly installments. One block at a time is an easy approach to creating a quilt. Whether you’re a beginner quilter or seasoned quilter, Team NZP’s block of the month series is a great opportunity to get stitching in the new year. In 2021, The NZP Team is honored to continue Nancy Zieman’s Block of the Month series with our first Christmas-themed quilt titled, Merry Christmas All Year Round Quilt! We’ll be sharing a quilt block tutorial on the third Saturday of each month, and we’ll be keeping the finished quilt design a mystery until later in December 2021!
All blocks will feature fabrics from the NEW! Merry Little Christmas Fat Quarter Bundle, along with our New! Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP and Nancy’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge by Clover. Follow along as we share step-by-step how to create the April Ohio Star Quilt Block!
May Swamp Angel Quilt Block
Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner, make notes, and/or pin cut block elements to the planner to remind you of the fabric placements.
2021 Block of the Month Merry Christmas All Year Round May: Swamp Angel Quilt Block
This block is 15-1/2″ square; 15″ finished square – when sewn into finished quilt. Finished quilt will include the Merry Little Christmas Fabric Panel and will measure approximately 80″ x 97″ (or 70″ x 87″ – your choice).
This month we’re featuring one block design. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create the May Swamp Angel Quilt Block!
For the Merry Christmas All Year Round Quilt: May Swamp Angel Quilt Block, select the following three fat quarter fabrics from the NEW! Merry Little Christmas Quarter Bundle along with the New! Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP.
Merry Little Christmas Candy Green, Merry Little Christmas Main Red, and Merry Little Christmas Trees Cream.
Prepare your fabrics! Pre-shrink fabrics by steaming and pressing. Then, stabilize fabrics for the sewing process by pressing and starching fabrics with Quilter’s Starch Savvy.
Cut Fabrics May Swamp Angel Quilt Block
- Cut one 5-1/2″ square from Merry Little Christmas Candy Green.
- Cut two 5-7/8″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Candy Green.
- Cut two 5-7/8″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Trees Cream
- Cut two 6-1/4″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Trees Cream.
- Cut two 6-1/4″ squares from Merry Little Christmas Main Red.
- Using the New! Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP, cut block squares above.
Construct Block
All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.
Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)
Create four 1/2-square triangle blocks:
- Align 5-7/8″ squares cut from Merry Little Christmas Candy Green and Merry Little Christmas Trees Cream, right sides together. Pin.
- Mark blocks using a Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge, and Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- The left side of the Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge is designated to create 1/2-square triangle quilt blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge, and move to 5-7/8″ half-square triangle setting.
Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
- With squares right sides together. Place Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge on block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center die cut openings on gauge, with Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- Repeat steps, marking two 5-7/8″ square block sets.
Stitch Blocks
- Insert a new Size 75 Schmetz Quilting Needle and attach 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot to sewing machine.
- Align 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot along one side of center mark, stitch.
- “Kiss” the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch (stitching continually) from one block to the next.
- Rotate blocks 180 degrees, stitch along the other side of center marked lines.
- Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.
- Cut blocks apart along center marked lines with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.
- Press seams flat.
- Open blocks and press seams open or press towards darker fabric – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
Create four 1/2-square triangle blocks:
- Align 6-1/4″ squares cut from Merry Little Christmas Main Red and Merry Little Christmas Trees Cream, right sides together. Pin.
- Mark blocks using a Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge, and Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- The left side of the Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge is designated to create 1/2-square triangle quilt blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge, and move to 6-1/4″ half-square triangle setting.
Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
- With squares right sides together. Place Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge on block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center die cut openings on gauge, with Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- Repeat steps, marking two 6-1/4″ square block sets.
Stitch Blocks
- Insert a new Size 75 Schmetz Quilting Needle and attach 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot to sewing machine.
- Align 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot along one side of center mark, stitch.
- “Kiss” the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch (stitching continually) from one block to the next.
- Rotate blocks 180 degrees, stitch along the other side of center marked lines.
- Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.
- Cut blocks apart along center marked lines with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.
- Press seams flat.
- Open blocks and press seams open or press towards darker fabric – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
Quarter Square Triangles (QSTs)
- Meet right sides of fabric 1/2-square triangle blocks, with print opposing sides, as you match centers.
- Create 1/4-square triangle blocks from two 1/2-square triangle blocks (HST).
- Align HST made from Merry Little Christmas Main Red and Merry Little Christmas Trees Cream, right sides together. Pin.
- Mark blocks using a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge, and Clover’s White Marking Pen or a Frixion Marking Pen.
- The right side of the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge is designated to create 1/4-square triangle quilt blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge, and move to 5-1/2″ quarter-square triangle setting.
- Align 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot along one side of center marked line, stitch.
- “Kiss” the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch (stitching continually) from one block to the next.
- Rotate blocks 180 degrees, stitch along the other side of center marked lines.
- Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.
- Cut blocks apart along center marked lines with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.
- Press seams flat.
- Open blocks and press seams open – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
Construct Block
- Layout quarter-square triangle blocks, half-square triangle blocks and solid 5-1/2″ block, following diagram. Rotate blocks as necessary.
Join Squares
- Place blocks from left column onto middle column, right sides together, in pairs. Pin.
- Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between.
- Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set the seams.
- Place block sets from right column onto middle column, right sides together, in pairs. Pin.
- Chain stitch from one square set to the next. Clip threads between.
- Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set seams.
- Place top row onto middle row, right sides together. Pin.
- Stitch.
- Press seam flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set seam.
- Place bottom row onto middle row, right sides together. Pin.
- Stitch.
- Press seam flat, then press open or to one side – using a Tailor’s Clapper to set seam.
Our Merry Christmas All Year Round Quilt: May Swamp Angel Quilt Block is complete!
Watch Stitch it! Sisters No-Hassle Triangles in Quilts Program 118 with Deanna Springer
For a chance to be the random winner of a Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack with S!S button & sticker, please leave a comment below sharing your thoughts about the NEW! 2021 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series.
Nancy Zieman Productions will give away one Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack to one US resident in the 48 contiguous states. Winner must reply within 30 days to the official giveaway announcement email message – sent from Nancy Zieman Productions.
Happy Quilting!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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Cynthia
I love the name of the May Block: Swamp Angel. The blocks are easy enough for a novice, but very traditional, so they can be appreciated by the most experienced quilter as well. Looking forward to seeing the whole completed Mystery Quilt.
Ann West
I always look forward to the special Block of the Month programs from the Nancy Zieman blog. Enjoy working on these blocks as so many other quilters are doing. Keep up the good work.
ShirleyC
I love this block, and the colors together!
Gina Milano
Thanks for another great block … it is amazing the variety of blocks made with half square triangles and hour glass blocks! Clear and precise instructions, too. Thanks for continuing Nancy’s sewing traditions …
Dixie
Love the block and how easy to make .Look forward to the next month one.
Mary Silverman
Such cute fabric!
Clovis
Like the pop of red in the block.
Diane L Putzer
It’s a fun block to add to the BOM collection!
Susan
Think the concept of BOM is great as it allows one to try different patterns. Love the fabrics chosen for this series.