Here it is, block 1 from the Civil War Tribute quilt! And don’t you just love the fabrics?

  So, like I said in my earlier post, precision is key with these blocks. The first block has 4 identical sections that revolve around a center square. Nothing too complicated. But, cutting and seams need to be accurate for this block to work- ask me how I know! I took this one apart and reworked it to make it right. After this first block, I think the rest should work pretty well. It takes a little bit of a learning curve to work with a new designer/pattern to see how it all fits, and what works and what doesn’t.

But, there is a partial seam construction on this one.

When adding the first section to the center block, only sew 1/2-way down the center block. After adding the other sections, rotating clockwise as you add, this will start to make sense.

Now, you can finish the first seam.

Nice block, but it still needs the corners to make it square.

 What I’m about to show, is for me, a life saver when constructing a block with heavy seam intersections.  If you machine quilt your own quilts, you’ll understand how difficult heavy intersections can be to quilt. But, they’re also a challenge when putting together. First, I lightly press the seam to set the stitches. This is done with the seam still closed. The next step is blasphemy to some in the quilting world, but it works for me, and I’ve never had any repercussions from doing this. I use a pressing ham, and press the heavy seam open. That’s right, open!

Using the pressing ham gives me a crisp open seam that doesn’t show ridges from the seam fabric. The next step, is to place the block face up on my pressing grid, and steam. I know, many of you are aghast at this. But, with the grid, I can also block the fabric nice and square if  I steam. Then I spray with the best new product I’ve found in a long time, Mary Ellen’s Best Press clear starch. This gives your block stability, and I actually use it on all of my seams while working. I’m a bit of a fanatic about good pressing!

After the square is pressed and blocked, if any of the intersections still feel heavy, I steam the troubled spot, and press with a wonderful little tailoring tool- a clapper. Press the clapper down, with some force, over the intersection until the fabric cools. Once cool, remove the clapper, and your seam will be nice and flat.

I’ve heard of using a hammer to pound the seams, but that sounds a little scary to me. I think the pounding could actually cut the threads of the fabric if you’re not careful. The clapper just works from pressure and a good steaming.

And, once again, here is the final block. Though it isn’t pictured  here, block one is made twice, once as a 12 inch block, then as an 18 inch block.

Did I also mention yesterday was our first snow of the season? It was the perfect day to stay inside and sew.

Gets me right into the holiday spirit!

Now, on to block 2…