Fabri-Quilt Block Design Blog Hop: My Block, PlusBalls

I'm participating in the Fabri-Quilt Block design blog hop. Fabri-Quilt and Inspired by Fabric generously donated six fat eights to the blog hop participants for use in their new block designs. Special thanks to our blog hop hosts/facilitators; check out their posts and the links to their participants.
Monday, August 31st – Hosted by Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl
Tuesday, September 1st – Hosted by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs
Wednesday, September 2nd – Hosted by Stephanie of Late Night Quilter
Thursday, September 3rd – Hosted by Terri Ann of Childlike Fascination

As an added bonus, the blocks created for this blog hop will be used to make three quilts for charity. Win-win-win!

Speaking of winning, visit the hosts above for chances to win your own Fabri-Quilt fabric bundle.

Today is my day to introduce my block and tutorial, so let's get to it.

Presenting (drum roll) ...

PlusBalls

A modern variation on the traditional combination of snowball and nine-patch,

using the hugely popular Plus motif. 

Skill level: easy.  

Each participant was given a fat-eighth fabric bundle from Fabri-Quilt of six solid colors in the Watermelon Summer palette. The fabrics provided in this summery grouping are Chartreuse, Turquoise, Coral, Light Aqua, Lapis Blue, and White.

 

Fabri-Quilt Watermelon Summer Palette

 

Please visit my fellow bloggers and check out their block designs as well.

Today's featured bloggers:

• Host – Stephanie @Late Night Quilter
  Hannah @Modern Magnolia Studio
  Cindy @Stitchin At Home
  Abby @Hashtag Quilt
  Lisa @Sunlight in Winter Quilts
  Carrie @Chopping Block Quilts
  Brianna @The Iron and Needle
  Tish @Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland
  Jan @The Colorful Fabriholic
  Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly
  Beth @Cooking Up Quilts
  Leanne @Devoted Quilter
  Liz @LizzyClips Design
  Kim @Leland Ave Studios

  Kitty @Night Quilter

 

PlusBalls Block Tutorial

© 2015 Jan Ochterbeck

 

Finished block size 12”.    All seams 1/4".    Skill level: Easy.
Pre-wash all fabrics with like colors before using.

Cutting, for each block:

White:

·        Cut 2 (two) 6-1/2” squares

Aqua:

·        Cut 16 (sixteen) 2-1/2” squares

Color #1: (illustrated in green)

·        Cut 2 (two) 2-1/2” squares

·        Cut 1 (one) 2-1/2” x 6-1/2” piece

Color #2: (illustrated in blue)

·        Cut 2 (two) 2-1/2” squares

·        Cut 1 (one) 2-1/2” x 6-1/2” piece

Block Assembly:

·        Snowball Quadrants:

o   Mark 8 aqua squares on the diagonal.

o   Position aqua squares at the corners of each White 6-1/2” square with the marked diagonals as shown. Sew on the diagonal lines.

 

o   Press the aqua corners outward.

o   Fold back the corners and trim away excess leaving ¼” seam allowance.  Note: Pressing before trimming improves accuracy and helps to assure that your 6-1/2” square remains square because you can align the folded corners with the original corners of the white square.

 

o   Press the corners back out.

 

 

·        Plus Quadrants:

 

o   Lay out colored and aqua patches as shown.

 

o   Sew patches into rows.

 

o   Press top and bottom row toward center, toward the color.

 

o   Sew rows together.

 

o   Press rows toward center.

·        Block:

o   Arrange Plus and Snowball quadrants as shown.

 

o   Sew top row together and bottom row together.

o   Press each row toward the Plus.

 

o   Sew rows together.

 

o   Spin seam allowances at center and press seams toward Snowballs.*

 

o   Trim away any threads or seam allowances that show through the white

* To spin seam allowances, unpick one or two stitches and press the seams in opposite directions so that you can see a tiny four-patch at the seam intersection.

If anyone would like a printable PDF of the tutorial, please leave a comment.

 

Suggested colorways and quilt layouts using the PlusBalls Block:

Simple layout, no borders:

Alternating blocks in Summer and Spring colorways;

5 x 6 block layout; 60" x 72"  throw size

Modern fun block layout with additional half-blocks and borders:

Shown with piecing seams, left, and without visible seams as finished top would appear, right. 

          

Layout is 4-1/2 blocks wide x 5-1/2 blocks high;

Pieced inner border; solid outer border. 

62” x 74” throw size.

 

The following colorways are the same modern fun layout as above:

Summer Colorway

 

Spring Colorway

 

Modern Christmas Colorway

 

Modern Quilt of Valor Colorway

 

Come back Friday, Sept. 4 for a tutorial on piecing the fun modern quilt layout.

 

Be sure to visit the other bloggers whose block designs are featured today.

Host – Stephanie @Late Night Quilter

Hannah @Modern Magnolia Studio

Cindy @Stitchin At Home

Abby @Hashtag Quilt

Lisa @Sunlight in Winter Quilts

Carrie @Chopping Block Quilts

Eleanor @Cat Approved Quilting

Brianna @The Iron and Needle

Tish @Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland

Jan @The Colorful Fabriholic (you are here)

Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly

Beth @Cooking Up Quilts

Leanne @Devoted Quilter

Liz @LizzyClips Design

Kim @Leland Ave Studios

Kitty @Night Quilter