Grandmother's Choice - Block 1

The first thing I did last Saturday after setting up my basement sewing area was to work on the 1st Grandmother's Choice block. Barbara Brackman reveals a block each Saturday and I am setting a personal goal of having my block done by the following week.

Here's my first block. It felt good to get back to working on kaleidoscope blocks and I am mostly pleased with this first one. I know that some will be better than others and that's OK. That's the way it rolls with sampler blocks. This one has 2 rather large pieces and those are always hardest to work with.

I thought I'd show you how I will wirk through these blocks. I start by drawing a full scale template of the block. Then I trace each piece onto template plastic and add seam allowances.

I start picking fabrics from the center out. For this block I cut 3 different centers before I settled on one. You can see markings on one of the plastic templates. That is how I position the plastic on the fabric to trace the edge of the shape. Each piece is cut out individually.

Here are the 5 fabrics that are represented in this block. You would never think to put these together in a quilt, would you? But they worked for this.

Oh it's good to be doing this again. But, I said that already didn't I?

Comments

[margaret]

Love it. I have a quilt with this type blocks on my someday bucket list (with about 30 other ideas!)

[Pip]

I loved this block when I saw it on the Flickr site, thanks for showing how you did it, more accurate than me, I usually iron a piece of freezer paper on the fabric and then cut with 1/4" extra, slightly hit and miss sometimes :)

[Becky in VA]

Your block is sure to inspire others!

[Freda Henderson]

I'm doing the Grandmother's Choice block too and I saw yours on Flickr. It is awesome. Thanks for the tutorial.

[Cheryl K.]

Although not all the blocks will be center-symmetrical like this one, I fully anticipate all of yours will be spectacular!

[Virtual Quilter]

Vicki, That is really blurring the lines between the pieces!

Judy B

[elle]

This is actually pretty cool, Vicki. I'm fileing the idea away!!!