Welcome to my 2024 Block of the Week sew along! If you are a new reader, I have done these sew alongs in years past. My last one was in 2022. Over the next nine weeks, I will be sharing a pattern for a pieced traditional block along with some information and tips. When all the blocks are done, you can either piece it into a sampler wall hanging, add borders for a lap quilt or make multiples of the blocks and make a larger sampler quilt. Your choice! So let’s get started on block 1.
Block of the Week
Here is block 1:
The name of this block is Garden Path. For the pattern, click here: 2024 BOW Block 1.
I had a difficult time finding any history for this block. I do know that it is classified as an equal nine-patch block because there are 9 equal pieced sections that make up the block.
When you download the pattern, I do have a simpler piecing process for the block, but I wanted to show you the above to demonstrate that nine-patch blocks encompass many different types of blocks.
Notice the diamond shape in the middle. This is a fun element to play with. You can either make it subtle by keeping the color scheme of your fabrics closer in shade and tone, or you can make it stand out by using a bold color for that part. Here’s the two examples:
See how in the block on the right, the diamond doesn’t stand out as much as in the colors I used for my block.
Finally, you can have some fun by just using a lot of different fabrics:
Notice how I still kept the pieces that make up the diamond in the center the same color family even if I use different fabric scraps. I still want that diamond design to come through.
Tips of the Week
This block requires accurate piecing to so seams line up and create the design. Because of this, I will review my tips on piecing and aligning seams. For this block, you want crisp, sharp points where they flying geese from the center meet the other geese unit in the outer section:
And then you want to align seams when piecing the block so the sections create the diamond center:
Now I will admit sometimes if you look closely, even my seams don’t line up perfectly. But if you follow the steps I show below, with practice, you will get close to perfect!
- Sharp Points
Tip #1: Measure the seams of your flying geese as you go when you are piecing them to make sure the top of the point is 1/4″ from the edge of the unit. Trust me, it saves you from headaches later!
Tip #2: When you are joining a piece with points, like the flying geese, to another piece, stitch them together with the geese unit on top. This way you can make sure your stitching doesn’t cut off that point.
Tip #3: As you are stitching, watch the point to make sure the stitching line passes just above the point. This guarantees the point will not be cut off when you press open the unit. See the photos below and where my pointer is:
In the photos below, you will see how the finished seam passes above the point and how the point is not cut off when the unit is flipped over and pressed open (photo on right):
Follow these tips and your points should never disappear into the seam allowance.
- Aligning Seams
The below example is of a Jacob’s Ladder block I was piecing. It’s important that the diagonal units of the block align to create the flow of the design, just like in our block this week.
As you can see above, these sections of the block have diagonal seams that need to align so they appear to create on long diagonal seam.
Start by lining up seams of the block units and pinning before pinning other areas. First, I line up the raw edges of the units that need the seams to align. Then I peel down the top unit to work on aligning the seams. Once seams are aligned to my liking, I pin the units in place so the alignment doesn’t shift while stitching. After aligning and pinning seams for this block, then I pin in other areas as needed.
Once the stitched block units are pressed open, you can see how the diagonal sections line up so the diagonal line of the design flows evenly from one unit to the other.
Perform these seam alignment steps for as many seams as there are in the blocks you are joining. A challenging design could have many seams and points to align at the same time, so it’s a good idea to practice this skill.
So that’s it for this week! I hope you enjoy making this block. If you do… make several! Leave a comment or ask a question below and be entered into a drawing for a fat quarter pack.
The drawing will take place a week after this sew along ends.
Until next week,
Happy Quilting!
Deanne
Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and your beautiful ideas.
You’re welcome!
5🌟 thank you, so very grateful you are out there willing to contribute to our quilting and sewing skills – I will greatly enjoy learning with you.
You’re welcome!
Thanks for all the helpful information.
You’re welcome!
I truly enjoy your tips and appreciate the effort you put into your use of illustrations of how the color placement affects the visual impact of the block and that scrappy will work with some planning. Thank you.
You’re welcome! Scrappy is one of my favorite things to do.
Thank you for the hints. Piecing accurately with small blocks has always been a challenge for me and good to get some tips
You’re welcome!
Thanks for offering another Block of the Week sew along. I’ve completed the ones from the past and am ready for a new one!
I hope you enjoy it!
Your sewalongs are always so great…not just for the patterns but your timely piecing and ironing tips. They really help us make a nice block. I hope you know how much your blog is appreciated. Blessings from West Virginia!
Thanks!
I love your sew alongs! I have far away friends that I sometimes do these with and it’s fun seeing what every has created.
Enjoy!
How many blocks will there be and how many different fabrics will we need for this. It sounds fun. Thank you.
There will be a total of 9 blocks. Each block has at least two colors. None of them take more than a fat eighth for each color.
Hints were very helpful thank you so much
You’re welcome!
Pretty block, hope my corners meet!! Thanks for the tips!
I hope the tips help you too!
Great tips, love the block! Thanks so much!
You’re welcome!
Great tips and reminders as always. I appreciate the time and effort you take to help us be better quilters !
You’re welcome!
Thank you for always being willing to share your knowledge and time with us! I’m looking forward to another terrific block of the month!
Enjoy!
My first block of the week with you. Gonna’ buckle down and keep up. Thanks for all the info in your blogs. Love reading and reinforcing good skills!
You’re welcome!
I was so glad I got to hear you speak last night. I am going to get the 2024 Block of the Month patterns and start the block of the week. Your tips are very helpful and very well illustrated. Take care.
So glad you enjoyed my lecture/trunk show! Welcome to the 2024 BOM. I hope you’ll enjoy making them.
Beautiful!😍
Beautiful! Thanks for the great tips!
This will be a fun project. Great tips & especially illustrations.
Thank you for your tips and this block of the week project. I hope I can keep up with making it and I am going to make it scrappy.
This is my first time following a sew along with you. I love all the tips you give with the pattern!
I appreciate your teaching posts. Being accurate by intention seems to make the difference in making a perfect block. Thanks for all of your tips.