January 2019 Block of the Month: Nancy’s Spool

January 2019 Block of the Month: Nancy’s Spool

Afternoon Picnic—Summer Picnic

2019 Block of the Month January: Nancy’s Spool

Introducing the first of 12 blocks for the New! Afternoon Picnic—Summer Picnic, Nancy’s Spool. This block is originally featured in Nancy Zieman’s own book, No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks along with Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangle Gauge by Clover. Team Nancy Zieman thinks this is a great start to the new year and new block of the month!

Dreamy thoughts of warm summer afternoons are the inspiration for Nancy Zieman’s gorgeous NEW! fabric collection. Pretty pale prints honor delicate blooming flowers that arrive only in the warm sunny days of summer. A sprinkling of flower petals adorns soft floral coordinates. Tonal prints read as solids yet showcase floral elegance. Subtle placement of a few white dots brings playfulness while black floral prints add drama. The addition of gingham prints are the perfect compliment and add a playfulness to this sweet floral collection. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon picnic on a warm sunny day while surrounded by the beauty and splendor of summer’s delicate blooms.

Each month, we will feature one block design. The blocks are created using Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack  from Riley Blake Designs (*18″ x 22″ fabric rectangles) plus border fabrics. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create January’s block, Nancy’s Spool.

Earlier this month, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the New! 2019 Summer Picnic Block of the Month Series. Join the New! Summer Picnic 2019 Block of the Month Series, anytime, by viewing the supply listing in the January 5th NZP Blog Posting.

Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner HERE. Make notes or pin swatches to remind you of the fabric placements.

2019 Block of the Month Afternoon Picnic January PDF

Choose the Fabrics

For the Afternoon Picnic—Summer Picnic, Nancy’s Spool block, select the following fabrics from your Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack from Riley Blake Designs and a Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangle Gauge by Clover.

Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal, Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral, Afternoon Picnic Blue Gingham and Afternoon Picnic Red Flower

Nancy’s Spool

Instructions: (Each block is a 12″ finished square. Finished quilt measures approximately 44-1/2″ x 57-1/2″)

1. Create a modified 16-patch block with two different sizes of finished 1/2-square triangle fabric combinations: 3-1/2″ and 6-1/2″.

Cut Fabric for Block

•  Cut four 3-7/8″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral

• Cut two 3-7/8″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Blue Gingham

• Cut one 3-7/8″ square of Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal
• Cut one 3-7/8″ square of Afternoon Picnic Red Flower

• Cut one 6-7/8″ square of Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal
• Cut one 6-7/8″ square of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral

 Construct The Units

All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.

The step-by-step photos illustrate construction of the block.

Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

• Make two 3-7/8″ block sets of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Blue Gingham
•  Create four 1/2-square triangle blocks of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Blue Gingham

• Make one 3-7/8″ block set of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal
• Create two 1/2-square triangle blocks of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal

• Make one 3-7/8″ block set of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Red Flower
• Create two 1/2-square triangle blocks of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Red Flower

• Make one 6-7/8″ block set of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal
• Create two 1/2-square triangle blocks of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral and Afternoon Picnic Blue Tonal

• 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.
• 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 for the 3-7/8″ squares. Depress the button on the sliding portion of the gauge and move to the 6-1/2″ HST icon on the left side of the gauge for the 6-7/8″ square.
• 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 Blocks

• Attach a 1/4″ Patchwork/Quilting Foot to your machine.
• 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 ten HST units.

 Construct The Blocks

Arrange the Blocks

2. Lay out Nancy’s Spool block as follows rotate squares as necessary.

3. Join squares to form a block.

• Place the 3-1/2″ squares from upper right and lower left column, right sides together.
• Chain stitch from one block set to the next. Clip threads between blocks.

• Stitch squares, right sides together

• Press seams open, or press seams to alternate sides.

• Stitch columns together

• Press seam to one side.

The No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks book shows exactly how to create this block and 11 others. For best results, use the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge.

Watch No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks (Part One and Part Two) on Sewing With Nancy online.

For a chance to be the random winner of a Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack, please leave a comment below.

The randomly selected winner of a copy of the book Sew Simple with Rectangles & Squares from Nancy’s Notions, is Jacqueline Samford.

Her comment is: You know, I could use plastic bins for organizing….but since when does plastic have personality?
We are colorists! We choose the look and feel of fabric because it feeds our need to create something of real value.
These fabric bin ideas are inspiring us to do what we love! Great ideas!

Happy Sewing,

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC.

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