Saturday, August 29, 2015

August 2015 Block of the Month


Easy “Bug Jar” Quilt Block     from http://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/bug_jar_quilt.htm
This type of quilt block is often called a "bug jar," but you can fill it with anything you like. Photo Credit: © Janet Wickell


Fill your jar quilt blocks with bugs, of course, or consider candy, flowers, cookies... any pictorial fabric that suits your needs.
Finished block size: 12" x 12"
Use any background you like. Black is effective for many prints and can make the jar seem to pop out from the fabric, but another color might work better with your quilting fabrics.
12-inch Jar Quilt Block Cutting Chart
Jar Contents
·         one 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" square
Jar Cap
·         one 1-5/8" x 5-1/2" bar
Background
·         Block Top: one 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" bar
·         Block Bottom: one 1-1/4" x 12-1/2" bar
·         Block Sides: two 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" bars
·         Cap Sides: two 1-5/8" x 4" bars
·         Jar Corners: four 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" squares

The corners are sewn to the Bug Jar fabric with the same method we use for quick Snowball quilt blocks. Photo Credit: © Janet Wickell
Sew the Bug Jars
1.      Find your jar square.
2.      Draw a line from one corner to the opposite corner on the reverse side of each small background square.
3.      Align a square in each corner of the block as shown, right sides together. Take care to align raw edges as closely as possible. (See "A")
4.      Stitch a seam directly on each drawn line.
5.      Trim excess edges, leaving about 1/4" past the seam line. (See " B")
6.      Flip the corner patches right side up. Press the seam allowance towards the bug fabric. (See "C")

Assemble the Bug Jar quilt block. Photo Credit: © Janet Wickell
It's Time to Sew the Bug Jar Blocks
Use a 1/4" seam allowance to assemble the quilt block, placing units right sides together for sewing and matching raw edges carefully. Use straight pins to hold patches together if it helps you keep them aligned.
1.      Sew a background side bar to two opposite sides of the bug jar square. Press seam allowances towards the side bars.
2.      Stitch a background cap side to each side of the cap along short edges as shown in the middle row above. Pres seams allowances towards the darker fabric. If you strip pieced the unit, it is already assembled.


See the website http://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/bug_jar_quilt.htm 
for adding sashing to make it appear that the jars are on a shelf

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