Gracious Grove Sew Along -- Week 3
Well hello there to all my quilters sewing along!! This is Week 3 of Gracious Grove.
This is probably the easiest week so far. You only have ONE block to make! So if you are a little behind from the last 2 weeks, this will be a good week to catch up. I would love to hear from you about how it is going for you. Do you have any questions? Or can you share your successes?
This week we are doing Block 2. It’s a fun block because the construction is different than we have done so far. We will be using strip-sets to make this checkerboard style block. I love strip sets for two reasons. First, this way, we cut from sets—so that we can avoid cutting lots of tiny squares. And second, I find this method to be very accurate because we are ‘squaring up’ the cuts as we go. This way we know we are using units that are the correct sizes and haven’t be altered by sewing small seams and structure of adding one piece at a time.
To start, cut or gather the pieces that are listed at the top of page 4 under the heading, Block 2. The strips that I had you cut are longer than needed so that you will have plenty of room to square them up when you are ready to slice them into segments.
Strip Sets
Follow the diagrams with your fabrics arranged as shown in the pattern. Sew the strips together with a 1/4” seam. Press all seams away from the white background fabric. Make sure as you press the strips that you don’t stretch them into a rainbow shape—make sure you keep your seam lines straight.
Slice up the Strip Sets.
Sewing the slices together to make a 9-Patch block.
Next you slice the strip sets. The ends of the sets can get a little wonky, so slice off a little to make a nice straight and square cut to measure from. These units will be sewn together to make 9-patch blocks.
Block center laid out in three rows
add the White border strips
Lay out the elements of the block center in three rows. Make sure you have the pieces oriented correctly. Sew the rows together, and then just add the outside White strips to make your block 12 1/2” square.
See. I told you it was simple.
Next week we will do Block 3. It’s coming along!
Happy Sewing!
Jill
