Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Wicked Halloween Block

My offering for the Wicked Blog Hop is a pieced block, a make-it-your-own block, in this case done in Halloween fabrics, but it could easily be done in Christmas fabrics, or novelty fabrics, or just any color combination.  And since you draw it yourself, you can work with your own dimensions and make the block truly your own.
 

This block is something that I sketched out several years ago after seeing it on an episode of Simply Quilts.  I have it noted as Imagine block, Episode 630, Agnete Kay, One Block, Many Quilts.  I don't know if this quilt block appears in that book or if that was just the book of hers that was out at the time.

I'd like to show you the steps to go through to create your own block.

Start with a piece of paper suitable for paper piecing.  I use onion skin paper that comes from an art supply store.  It's easy to draw on and stitch through, and it's easy to remove after sewing.  Draw a square the dimensions of your finished block.  On each side, make a mark the same dimension in from the corner, a total of eight marks.  I used 3-1/2" for mine.

 
Connect those marks on the diagonals.  You will end up with four diagonal lines, and your center square in a square will be revealed.

 
Draw a horizontal and vertical line at the center point of the sides, leaving the center square unmarked.  You will have short lines perpendicular to all four sides.


Pick a dimension (I used 1") and draw a line on either side of the horizontal and vertical lines you just drew.  You will be adding eight lines, in the outer triangle area only.

 
Now connect those lines you just drew on a diagonal at each corner of the square block.  Your lines will be parallel to the first diagonal lines you drew. 

 
This is the point where the original block ends.  I chose to add four more diagonal lines in each corner, connecting the corners between the original diagonal lines you drew.

 
Now you have your block drawn.  How to construct it?  Paper piecing, of course!  First mark the piecing order and fabric colors for each spot. 


Next you will cut your block into seven different pieces and do your paper piecing.  Make sure you extend both the fabric and the stitching at least 1/4" out from the paper foundation, to allow for the seam allowance to join the pieces.


Next trim each section 1/4" past the paper foundation of each section.  Line the foundation paper up with the 1/4" marks on your ruler and trim.



Finally, sew the individual sections together and remove the paper backing, and ENJOY!

(NOTE:  My pictures are upside down, or sideways, except for the first one of the block itself.  I'm sure glad that one came out right!  You might have to stand on your head to get a good view of the other pics.  Fortunately, most of them you can't tell whether they're upside down or not, until you get to the ones with the writing on them.  I have searched for an answer to this dilemna and have found nothing useful.  Does anyone have any tips for a new blogger?  I would sure appreciate it!)

You'll notice that I actually have two pieces of purple fabric that I sew right next to each other, in the center of the triangles on all four sides.  I could have used one piece of fabric there rather than using two pieces. 

Another option would be to have used two different fabrics for the purple "arcs" -- maybe purple "arcs" on opposite sides and green "arcs" for the remaining two opposite sides.

I have put this block into EQ7 and colored it a couple different ways.  This one uses a small sashing with cornerstones, and all four "arcs" are done in the same color.


This one has sashing that is a bit thicker and uses different fabrics for the opposite "arcs" in each block.  Notice how there is more movement as the two colors twist and turn past each other?


I hope you have found this tutorial interesting and that you will try the process to see what you come up with.  What do you think happens if you start with a rectangle instead of a square?

Happy wanderings to the other stops on today's blog hop!  Please visit each of them.  I would love it if you became a "follower" and checked back often!  Have a wicked day!



 

70 comments:

  1. Oh my that quilt block is stunningly Wicked! I love it and thanks for the tutorial!

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  2. Love your design and thank you for sharing your tutorial. Judith, Texas

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  3. Wicked quilt! Thank you for the tutorial! Another one to try out....oooh and we are only on day three! Waily, waily, waily!

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  4. Great block - love the tutorial too. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Great design! I don't have EQ but I'm going to put it on my Christmas list!
    Thanks!

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  6. Great block. Thank you for sharing with us today.

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  7. Really cute block. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. A wonderful block!! Thanks for sharing
    Britt-Inger in Sweden

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  9. Great Block! And a very good tutorial. Thank You for sharing.

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  10. Great block -- my head is spinning with new ideas!

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  11. HI Christa....a wonderful blocks...thanks for being here

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  12. Without your tutorial I would have walked away from this block thinking EEEK.. Y Seams.. NO WAY.. But with you breaking it down it looks much more do-able.

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  13. You make it look so easy--thanks for the tutorial. Your skeleton block is so WICKED!

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  14. that turned out great Christa.....thanks for sharing

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  15. What a great way to feature wicked fabric. Thank you for the tutorial!

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  16. I love the way that block goes together and especially the first quilt from EQ7 that you showed. blessings, marlene

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  17. Love the fabric choices you made, wickedly pretty block!

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  18. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial. Love your quilt

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  19. I really like the block you made! Or a least I did until I saw "Paper piece"!!! I have trouble with that. It is a beautful block and I think it would look good with a rectangle in the center too! great job!
    hulseybg@gmail.com

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  20. Thanks for a great tutorial! I love your block!

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  21. Very interesting to see the construction process. Love your quilt!

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  22. Thanks for sharing your tutorial , interesting process and block .

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  23. Wicked! Your tut made it seem simple.

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  24. Great job, Christa! What a nice block and tutorial!
    I'm a new follower!

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  25. Hello Crista!

    Thank you for sharing with us your creativity and talents! This blog hop is alot of fun.

    I was born and raised in good old Michigan (52 years) and then made the move to New Hampshire in 2006. Michigan will always be my home state even though New Hampshire is wonderful.

    I am a happy new follower of yours!

    Cheers!

    Patsy

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  26. Wicked block! I love paper piecing but have yet to try my hand at my own pattern. Thanks for the tut!

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  27. Welcome to blogland...and a great tutorial on your first blog hop...WOW! Good job...luv the fussy cut center...I will have to try the paper pieced block...and stitch it into a Christmas bag or a pillow. Thanks for sharing in the fun and wicked blog hop, have a wonderful and wicked Wednesday!!

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  28. Your first Hop, please do not let it be your last. You did a wonderful job. Love "Mr. Bones" and thank you for the great tutorial! Your are Wicked fun!

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  29. Thanks for your block...GREAT JOB! Keep blogging...keep tute-ing...keep your WICKED WAYS about you! Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures!

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  30. well now, that was quite entertaining. Love the block and I'm not a fan of paper piecing, but this makes me want to have a go at it. Thanks for the clear instructions and for being in the hop.

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  31. Rosemary B here: fabulous block! I love the skeleton in the middle, lovely colors! Thanks for sharing your tutorial and creativity today

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  32. Thanks for the tut; that's quite a process but the end product was fantastic!

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  33. Christa-I never thought of using that old onion skin typing paper that I probably still have for paper piecing and designing. I'm sure it works great if you don't goof as I sometimes do! Your quilt are stunning. Thanks for sharing.

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  34. What a great block...love the fussy cut skeleton....thanks for the tutorial!

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  35. Very nice job and a great tutorial. Thanks for sharing both.

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  36. That is a great block and tutorial. Thank you for sharing.

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  37. I really like this block pattern. Thanks for the great tutorial!

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  38. Super block and I like your design, thanks for showing and sharing!

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  39. Your block are fantastic.Thanks for the great tutorial and sharing!

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  40. Super idea and tutorial! Thanks for sharing! YOur color choices are fantastic!

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  41. Hi!!! Very cute block!!! Thanks for the tutorial!!! Thanks for the fun!!!

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  42. Thanks for the tutorial!! Love your block - especially the colour choices!!

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  43. The wicked square looks GREAT! The toturial rocks - I can't wait to try it!

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  44. Thanks so much for the great tutorial. lots of fun. thanks for being part of the hop.

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  45. Great tutorial! Thanks for participating in the Wicked hop!

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  46. Thanks for the tutorial. Ohh the possibilities!

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  47. Love this!! Thanks for the tute!!!

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  48. I like your block and tutorial. It makes interesting patterns in a quilt. Thanks.

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  49. What a great block, I love the skeleton and thank you for the tutorial.

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  50. Thanks for sharing this fun block. I definitely need to try this one!

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  51. book marking this tut to try out later.
    thanks for sharing
    in stitches

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  52. Your quilt is so pretty, thank you for the great tutorial, well written!

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  53. Great block and quilt.
    Thank you for sharing

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  54. Love the quilts you've drawn out. Thanks for the tute. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.

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  55. Great block and great tutorial!!! I love it!!!
    Greetings from Germany
    Nicole

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  56. Love your block, what a unique design. The block is colorful and eye catching. Great job, I must make one. Thanks for sharing.

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  57. Very unique. Great tut. I love the fabrics that you chose.

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  58. That is a fabulous design for a quilt. Great job on your block.

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  59. Wow that's intense! I love it! Thanks for sharing!

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  60. Wow! That's great! Thanks for sharing and for the tutorial!

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  61. What a great block! Thanks for sharing it with us!!!

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  62. Cool block! I love the fussy cut center and appreciate the tutorial you shared. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  63. Great block! Thanks for the instructions. Yours look beautiful.

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  64. Fabulous block -- it makes for a very eye-interesting quilt!! And nice tutorial, too!! :)

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