Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt: June Block of the Month
Introducing the June Block of the Month
Crazy House* block is the June Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt Block. Like all blocks in this year’s block of the month challenge, this block is 15″ (finished size) and is created using quick strip-piecing techniques. Simple!
During this 12-month block of the month challenge, all blocks will be made from one 24-piece fat quarter bundle and 2-1/4 yards of cream background fabric. We’re using the fat quarter bundle, Garnet, it’s my most recent fabric line from Penny Rose, a division of Riley Blake Designs. You’re definitely welcome to use another collection of fabric, or fabrics from your stash!
Choose the Fabrics
For the Crazy House block, select the following fabrics from your Garnet fat-quarter bundle. If you’ve chosen another fabric collection, select one medium tone, one dark tone, one light tone, and the background fabric, for a total of four fabrics.
Cut
- One 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ light square (pink)
- Eight 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ medium squares (paisley)
- Four 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ background squares (cream)
- Four 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ dark squares (garnet)
Subcut
- Layer the background and paisley strips, matching right sides.
- Cut four pairs of squares measuring 3-7/8″ x 3-7/8″.
Half Square Triangles (HSTs)
- Align block sets right sides together. A print is paired with a solid block.
- Mark each block set diagonally from corner to corner, using a fabric marking pen and ruler.
- For greatest accuracy, use a No-Hassle Triangle Gauge. The left side of the gauge is designed to create the 3-1/2″ HST blocks used in this month’s block.
- Depress the button on the sliding portion of the gauge and move to the 3-1/2″ HST icon on the left side of the gauge.
- Place gauge on the block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with a fine-point, fabric-marking pen.
The advantage of using the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge is accuracy. It’s easy to double check that the block set fits within the confines of the gauge. If the block set extends beyond or is shorter, trim or cut another block.
Stitch Half-Square Triangle Block Sets
- Attach a 1/4″ patchwork/quilting foot.
- Set machine for a straight stitch, 2.0–2.5 mm in length.
- Align foot along one side of the center marked line; stitch a scant 1/4″ from center marked line. Do not cut the threads.
- Kiss the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch from one block to the other.
- Clip threads between chain stitched blocks. Rotate blocks 180-degrees. Align foot along second side of center marked line; stitch.
- Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.
- With a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, cut the blocks apart along centerline markings.
- Press seam allowances toward the darker fabric.
- Create a total of eight HST units.
Create the Block
- All seam allowances are 1/4″.
- Arrange the large block as shown:
- Join pairs of blocks to create rows.
- Stitch one row at a time, starting with the top row.
- Row One:
- Row Two:
- Row Three:
- Row Four:
- Row Five:
- Press odd numbered row seam allowances in one direction and even numbered seam allowances in the opposite direction.
- Arrange the rows.
Share Your Success!
If you are on social sites, let all your friends know you are working on Nancy Zieman’s 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt by tagging your post with the hashtag: #NZBoM. Share your finished blocks with Nancy and her team by emailing them to [email protected].
During the 2015 Quilt Adventure and the 2016 Quilt Extravaganza, I shared three virtual quilt designs made with the month’s single block. This year, I’m changing it up and sharing block color variations of one block. Please note that the fabrics required for color-varied blocks will be slightly different than the original block of the month directions presented.
Take Your Block to the Next Level
- Visualize an entire quilt made from this block. Each block will measure 15″ square when sewn into a quilt. The first quilt presented is a the Crazy House block in a traditional on-point setting. Read more on finishing the quilt in my book Fearless Quilting Finishes.
- Notice the subtle differences in these four color variations of the Crazy House block.
Virtual concepts presented in this post are created using Electric Quilt 7 (EQ7) software, available at Nancy’s Notions.
Watch Fearless Quilting Finishes on Sewing With Nancy online.
If you missed any of the complete block tutorials, find the 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Block of the Month on my blog.
Watch for the July Block of the Month on Saturday, July 15th.
Bye for now,
Knella
Yay! I always LOVE seeing the Block of the Month come!
I just wish that the fabric we’re told to choose was the same as in the finished piece. Notice the dark red in the finished block is different from what they show to choose.
Nancy Zieman
Hi Knella,
Thanks for letting us know! We’ve updated the fabric photos to match the block. Please email us at [email protected] and we’ll send you three fat quarters.
Juanita Witcher
I missed the April block, is there any way to resend that block to me please and thanks.
Nancy Zieman
Thank you for asking, Juanita! You can find all the month’s blocks here: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/category/2017-block-of-the-month/
Julie Kill
love this block! I’m going to make a quilt with this one!
Łinda Rupe
I love this fabric collection! Iam reminded that when i was a child I asked my mother if i could have a garnet birthstone set rather than the ruby because the color was deeper, richer and prettier to me at the time. (I learned to appreciate rubies later.)
Sherry
Once again the fabrics shown on the first page (finished block) are not the same as the ones shown further into the block. It seems that you changed the dark red. It’s very confusing, but I have been using the one shown in the later pages rather than the one on the first page. Could someone please proof-read the instructions?
I love the fabric and the patterns and thank you very much for everything. I tend to cut first and look later so it would help if it could be corrected.
Nancy Zieman
Hi Sherry,
Thanks for letting us know! We’ve updated the fabric photos to match the block. Please email us at [email protected] and we’ll send you three fat quarters.
Carolyn Newsome
The color blocked 4-piece tote would be my choice. All my life (70+ years) I’ve purchased .25 yd of fabric. This would make a good use of at least 4 of them. I could even use a 5th one to make a sash.
I’m delighted to find Nancy’s blog. I’ve watched the PBS broadcast for many, many years. Thank you, Nancy.
Rita Nystrom
I’m having a ball doing the Block of the Month however, I believe there’s an error this month. Only need to cut one 3 7/8 x 18 ” strip of the two colors, not two.
Nancy Zieman
Hi Rita,
Great catch! Thanks for letting us know. We’ve updated the text to cut one each from two different fabrics. Email us at [email protected] and we’ll send you three fat quarters.
Linda Height
I’m having a great time doing this and I love this months block. Thanks Nancy
Claudia
Love it! I’m a new visitor to this website and I like the material here, I got inspired!
josee campion
I Nancy, i begin quilting and you are a nice teacher, you help me so much and it is so easy to falow your tuto. Tank’s