Australian Homespun - February 2016_

Bluebird block

6

Lay the Bluebird appliqué design

from the Pattern Sheet over the

lightbox. Using the blue water-

erasable fabric marker, trace one

large and one small leaf onto the

right side of each of fabrics A and H,

leaving space between them for the

seam allowances. Trace one bird

body shape onto fabric N, one wing

shape onto fabric B, five berry shapes

onto fabric U (with space between

them) and one beak shape onto

Biscuit. Cut the shapes out by eye

a scant^11 ⁄ 4 in outside the traced lines.

7

Feed the bias strip cut in Step 5

in the wider end of the bias tape

maker and press the end as it

emerges from the narrow end, as

shown in Diagram 1.

8

Referring to Natalie’s Needleturn

Appliqué Tips, arrange the bias

strip for the branch and cut shorter

pieces from it for the leaf stems – their

ends should be covered by the branch

and leaves. Appliqué the branch and

stems in place.

9

Appliqué the bird components

and the four leaves followed by

the five berries.

10

Using Black Brown (3371),

backstitch the bird’s legs and

work a French knot for the eye.

11

Trim the completed appliqué

to measure 13^1 ⁄ 2 in high by

141 ⁄ 2 in wide with the design centred.

16-patch Square-in-a-

Square block

12

Referring to the photograph,

arrange the 16 squares of print

fabric cut in Step 2 in four rows of four.

Sew the squares in rows, pressing the

seams of odd rows to the left and even

rows to the right. Join the rows, nesting

the seams so they match perfectly.

Press. The unit should measure 8^1 ⁄ 2 in

square from raw edge to raw edge.

Cutting

1

From the solid off-white

fabric Y, cut:

• One square, 16in (Bluebird
  background)


• Four squares, 3^1 ⁄ 2 in (Square-
  in-a-Square)


• Eight squares, 4^1 ⁄ 2 in (Square-
  in-a-Square).

2

From each of fabrics D, E,

M and S, cut:

• Six squares, 2^1 ⁄ 2 in (Square-
  in-a-Square and sashing).

3

From fabric K, cut:

• Four rectangles, 3^1 ⁄ 2 x8^1 ⁄ 2 in
  (Square-in-a-Square).

4

From fabric G, cut:

• Two strips, 2^1 ⁄ 2 x14^1 ⁄ 2 in
  (sashing).

5

From fabric A, cut:

* One bias strip,^1 ⁄ 2 in wide by

about 16in long (Bluebird stems).

Diagram 1

Square-in-a-Square block

Diagram 2

BLOCK

OF THE

MONTH

Materials for Part 1:

Bluebird and

16-patch Square-

in-a-Square blocks

Q Fabrics A, B, H, N, U

and Biscuit (Bluebird

appliqué)

Q Fabrics D, E, G, K, M

and S (Square-in-a-

Square and sashing)

Q Fabric Y (both blocks)

Q DMC Stranded

Embroidery Cotton in

Black Brown (3371)

Q6mm (^1 ⁄ 4 in) bias tape

maker

Stitches used:

Backstitch, French knot

13

On the wrong side of the

off-white 4^1 ⁄ 2 in squares, rule

a diagonal line from corner to corner

with the blue marker.

14

Place a marked square, right

sides together, on top of a 3^1 ⁄ 2

x8^1 ⁄ 2 in K rectangle with the top and

left edges level and the marked line

running from the top right corner to

the bottom left. The off-white square

is longer than the K rectangle, so its

bottom edge will overhang the K

rectangle as shown in Diagram 2.

Sew on the marked line, trim the

seam to^1 ⁄ 4 in and press the off-white

fabric away from the spot print.

36 Homespun

HSP1702_p030-038 BOM Foxley Village PART1 PROJECT.indd 36 12/17/2015 11:32:30 AM