Piecing the Block of the Month Quilt

I am so excited to be writing these last instructions for you to finally put all your blocks together! I am truly thankful to those who have been with me over the last year and I thank you for your comments and kind remarks! As much as you have enjoyed putting together this quilt, I have enjoyed creating it for you!

The quilt is pieced together in sections as shown below. All strips are cut from the background fabric (A-C-Black). If you did not want to piece the blocks together for the whole quilt, each of the 4 major sections would make a nice project.

Please keep in mind that I know you have made every effort to piece accurately, but your blocks may still be slightly different in size. Measure all your blocks and square them to the size indicated:

Block 1           12 ½” X 24 ½”

Block 2           12 ½” X 12 ½” each (you have 3)

Block 3           12 ½” X 24 ½” each section (you have 2)

Block 4           12 ½” X 36 ½”

Block 5           12 ½” X 12 ½” each (you have 3)

Block 6           24 ½” X 24 ½”

Block 7           12 ½” X 24 ½”

Block 8           24 ½” X 24 ½”

Block 9           18 ½” X 18 ½”

Block 10         18 ½” X 18 ½”

Block 11         24 ½” X 24 ½”

Block 12         12 ½” X 12 ½”

SECTION 1: Blocks 4, 6, and 7

38” X 38”

The numbers indicate which blocks are being pieced together

Cut 3 strips 2” wide by WOF

Cut 2 of these strips 38”

Cut 24 1/2” and 12 1/2” pieces from the other strip

Seam the 2” x 24 1/2” strip between Blocks 6 and 7

Seam the 2” x 12 1/2” strip to the bottom of Block 4

Seam the two large sections to each side of one of the 38” strips.

This will create a 38” X 38” section.

If piecing the entire quilt, continue by seaming the other 2” x 38” strip to the side of the Block 4 section.

This section will now be 39 1/2” x 38”.

SECTION 2: Blocks 3, 5, and 11

38” X 38”

Cut a strip 1 1/4” wide by WOF

Cut 2 strips 12 1/2” from strip

Cut 2 Strips 2” wide by WOF

Cut 24 1/2” from one strip

Cut 38” from the other strip

Seam the 1 1/4” x 12 ½” strips between the Block 5 blocks.

Seam Block 11 to one side of the 2” x 24 1/2”Strip, and one of the Block 3 blocks to the other side.

Seam the Block 5 section to one side of the 2” x 38” strip and the Blocks 11 and 3 section to the other side of the 38” strip. Section 2 will be 38” x 38”.

SECTION 3: Blocks 2, 3, and 12

26” X 38”

Cut 3 strips 2” X WOF.

Cut 2 strips 12 1/2” from one strip.

Cut 2 38” strips from the other strips.

Seam Block 12 to the bottom of one of the Block 2 pieces.

Seam a 121/2” strip between the Section just sewn and another Block 2 as shown.

Seam the other 12 1/2” strip between the remaining Block 2 and a Block 3 as shown.

Seam a 38” strip between the two block sections just sewn. At this point the piece measures 26” X 38”.

If piecing the entire quilt, continue by adding the second 2” (see note above about the 2”) strip to the other side of the section as shown. Section 3 will now be 27 1/2” x 38”.

SECTION 4: Blocks 1, 8, 9, and 10

38” X 44”

Cut 4 strips 2” by WOF.

Cut a 18 1/2” strip

Cut a 24 1/2” strip

Cut 2 strips 38”

Seam the 18 1/2” strip between Blocks 9 and 10.

Seam the 24 1/2” strip between Blocks 1 and 8.

Seam a 38” strip between the two pieced sections. The piece will now measure

44” x 38”.

If piecing the entire quilt, continue by piecing the other 38” strip to the left side of the section. Section 4 now measures 45 1/2” x 38”.

One of the challenges when putting together a quilt of different size blocks is that they must all fit together.

Because of the different sized blocks it is sometimes necessary to add spacers.

Creating a Spacer

Cut 12 pieces from left over fabrics

3” X 5”

Cut 2 pieces from left over background fabric

4” X 5”

Seam 3” pieces together along the 5” side for a 5” X 30 1/2” strip.  Add a 4” background piece to each end of the strip.

Putting it together

Seam Sections 1 and 2 for the top half of the quilt. Sections 1 & 2 now measure 77” x 38”.

Seam sections 3 and 4 with the spacer between them for the bottom half of the quilt.

Sections 3 and 4 now measure 77 x 38”.

Cut 2 strips 2” X WOF

Join together end to end with a mitered seam. Cut seamed strip to 77”.

Seam the top and bottom halves together with the 77” strip. The quilt should now measure 77” X 77”.

Adding Borders

Cut 8 strips 2 1/2” X WOF

Make four border strips by seaming 2 strips end to end with a mitered seam.

Measure the sides of quilt and cut two strips that length. Seam to each side of the quilt.

Measure the width of the quilt and cut the other two strips that length. Seam to the top and bottom of the quilt. The quilt will be approximately 81” X 81”

Backing

You will need 5 yards of backing for your quilt.

I like a little color on the back of my quilts, so feel free to use the left over fabrics to create a strip down one side of the backing. It adds a hit of color and uses up those leftovers! Quilt the quilt as desired using any of the techniques from the previous quilting lessons in my blog posts.

Hope you had as much fun as I did making the BERNINA Block Party Quilt!

Block 1: Antique Mosaic Block

Block 2: Block 2, Shoofly Block

Block 3: Square in a Square Block

Block 4: Magic Circle

Block 5: Card Basket Variation Block

Block 6: Ohio Star Variation Block

Block 7: Maple Star Block

Block 8: Grecian Square Block

Block 9: Union Square Block

Block 10: A Girl’s Favorite

Block 11: Embroidered Block