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FMQ Lesson #7 // Skill Builder BOM

This post is part of a series of posts for the Skill Builder BOM (Block of the Month). To learn more about the block of the month or to see a list of all posts click here. How did you do with piecing curves? As usual I really enjoyed quilting these blocks after a few weeks of tension issues I think I finally got things back in order.

Candyland Block

candyland-adl candyland-detail

candyland-drawing

For the Candyland block I decided to take the wood grain quilting from last month and  make it a more fluid, liquid, quilting pattern. To quilt your block in the same way…

  • Begin by first stitching in the ditch around the block/border.
  • While you still have your background color thread in your machine, stitch in the ditch around the outside of the colored curves.
  • Now you can begin filling in the background space with wavy lines echoing the colored curves. Just like the wood grain we learned last month for the Broken Arrow block, you can create little swirls and knots, but make them much rounder and more fluid.
  • After you have filled the background around the wavy curves, add wavy lines to the borders.
  • Bury the threads and trim the block down to 14.5”.

Saturn Block

saturn-ad  

saturn-drawing

When I quilted the Saturn block, I first extended the lines through the circle out off the edge of the block and then brought back one of my all time favorite patterns—the pebbles. Since there are so many meteors and fragments in deep space I felt the pebbles would be well suited. To quilt your block in the same way…

  • Start by stitching in the ditch between the borders and block around all four sides.
  • Stitch in the ditch around the entire circle. The seams around the circle are very thick, so quilt slowly.
  • Use a ruler and chalk pencil to mark flange lines continuing off into the background.
  • Begin quilting on your chalk line from the edge of the block inward to the edge of the circle and then back out to the edge of the block (do not quilt on the actually flanges). Repeat this for all of the lines.
  • Fill all the empty background space and borders with pebble quilting in various sizes. Remember that the seams around the circle are bulky, so quilt slowly.
  • Bury the threads and trim block down to 14.5”.

Lesson Download

pdf-lesson-7

I hope you are having a wonderful time with the Skill Builder BOM, thank you again for spending time with me on this journey!
Alyssa
Alyssa Williams

Alyssa Williams

Creator of Pile O' Fabric

Alyssa Lichner is a graphic designer turned avid sewist. She writes modern quilting tutorials and shares techniques and inspiration on her blog, Pile O’ Fabric. Alyssa has a passion for exploring different techniques and applying them to modern designs. She is thankful to have the opportunity to share these techniques, through her tutorials, patterns, and classes with quilters around the world. She always encourages her readers and students to challenge themselves to try new things and to approach quilting with a fearless attitude.

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