Author: IMQG President

For our April block we’re making birds! Spring is coming—really it is! So we’ll be making these sweet little birds using a paper-pieced pattern that makes an 8″ finished block. The block is called Follow the Blue Bird but we’re making these scrappy so use whatever colors you like!

This block uses foundation paper piecing. If you’re unfamiliar with paper piecing (also called foundation piecing), here’s a tutorial that may help:

Follow Riley Blake’s paper-pieced bird block pattern to make your block(s) using the following guidelines:
— For the bird’s body and wing, use any color you like, solids or prints. Keep it scrappy!
— For the bird’s beak and legs, use yellow or orange, solid or print.
— For the background, use white low-volume.

As a reminder, these blocks will be turned in at the May meeting and the lotto is open only to current, paid members.

For our March block we’re making scrappy triangles! This is a good scrap buster and a really easy and flexible block.

The block uses a string quilt piecing technique—fabric strings (strips of various widths) are sewn together and then cut into the desired triangle shape. Add fabric to both sides, trim to 6.5” x 9”, and you’re done!

Follow Film in the Fridge’s tutorial to make your block(s) using the following guidelines:
— Make the center triangle as scrappy as possible, using modern fabrics of course.
— Use 4–6 strips for each triangle. The more variation the better!
— Background should be light or pale blue, using solids or reads-as-solid fabric.
— Use the measurements provided in the tutorial to create a 6.5” x 9” block.

As a reminder, these blocks will be turned in at the April meeting and the lotto is open only to current, paid members.

For our February block, we’re making Connemara flowers! Because these will be turned in at the March meeting, we’re going with an Irish theme for St. Patrick’s Day. Connemara is a beautiful area on the west coast of Ireland in County Galway.

This block uses standard piecing techniques (half square triangles, flying geese). It’s also well suited to the eight-at-a-time half square triangle technique and the four-at-a-time flying geese technique. As usual, please use modern fabric for this block. We’re looking for cheerful, bright spring colors!

Follow Quilting Daily’s tutorial to make your block using the following guidelines:
— The flower should be pink or yellow.  You can use different fabric for the petals and the center if you’d like but they should be the same color.  
— The leaves should be green. You can use two different green fabrics for the leaves if you’d like.
— Background should be white or a white-on-white print.

As a reminder, these blocks will be turned in at the March meeting and the lotto is open only to current, paid members.