Safe Keeping Sew-along ~ Part One

Safe Keeping

Welcome to part one of our scrappy little runner sew-along.  Let's get right to work.

Cutting Instructions for Eccentric Star block

From light print 
cut (2) 2 1/4" squares for Half Square Triangles
cut (8) 1 1/2" squares 

From red print
cut (4) 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles

From black print
cut (2) 2 1/4" squares for Half Square Triangles
cut (4) 1 1/2" squares

Directions

1).  Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of (2) light print 2 1/4" squares.  Match each with 2 1/4" black square.  Sew 1/4" on both sides of diagonal line.  Cut apart, press to black.  Trim them to 1 1/2" square.

2). Using (4) 1 1/2" light print and (4) 1 1/2" black print squares, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all (8) squares.  Refer to the rectangle unit above the block in the photo above.  Sew a light print and a black print connector corner square to the red rectangle.  Press then trim.  Repeat to make (4) connector corner rectangle units measuring 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" unfinished.

3). Sew the remaining (4) 1 1/2" light print squares to the (4) Half Square Triangles as shown in photo; press to the light square.  Make (4) units measuring 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" unfinished.

4).  Sew a Half Square unit to a connector corner rectangle unit; press.  Make (4) units measuring 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" unfinished.  

5).  Arrange the units for the block as shown in photo above.  Sew together into rows; press for opposing seams.  Sew rows together; press.  Your block should measure 4 1/2" square.  

That was easy, right?  

We're well on our way.  I hope you enjoyed piecing this block as much as I did.  It's a variation of the classic Eccentric Star block.  I'm already looking forward to next week!  

The best way to get the instructions for the sew-along is to receive my blog posts via email.  Each time I post to my blog it will come to your email inbox!  Then, you can print the directions if you'd like.  

To do this, click here to go to my blog.  Scroll down until you see
the Follow by Email icon shown at the right.

Then, simply enter your email address and submit.  You will receive a verification email from FeedBurner.  You must verify your email with them by following the directions to click the link.  That's it!  Easy, peasy.  You'll be all set for next weeks post to come to your inbox.

How is everyone doing staying home?  I'm feeling cabin fever setting it...longing to go out to restaurants and be with friends.  It helps to take a drive...not a long drive, but even a short drive around the neighborhood.  It's not helping that we are having unseasonably COLD weather here in Chicagoland.  It snowed yesterday and we're expecting up to 6 inches of snow today.  Oh, com'on!!!  The snow is gone in 24 hours, but it's still cold enough to snow.  Not helping the cabin fever situation.

What is helping is that I've been very busy.

My fellow Marcus Fabrics designers and myself have been brain storming ideas on how to help the quilting community; quilters and shop owners alike.  We formed the new Marcus Designers Block Stars and our first project is Heroic Hearts.  Watch for our big announcement next week!  

Should you be in need of retail therapy, I just added bolts of fabric from my new Bess' Flower Garden to my website.

All new blues....all new light prints...

all new red prints.  You'll notice that many of the fabrics I used in my scrappy little runner are from Bess' Flower Garden!  I have fat quarter bundles of this collection as well.  

I also just received a shipment of bolts of the pretty neutral print from Rachel's Tribute.  I know many of you have been wanting this fabric.  Click here to order.  






And last but not least, I have a whole new crop of color bank bundles.  I know you love these bundles as much as I do.  

There are three new shirting bundles and one new neutral bundle.

I'm also cutting a new brown color bank and green color bank bundle....coming very soon!  You can browse all of my fabric bundles here.

That's all the news for today.  I'm already excited to share next weeks block with you.  It will be here before we know it.  

So stay safe and create at home.  I encourage you to follow me on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes posts that don't appear here on the blog.  

Be well, my friends....keep on stitching!