Basket Blocks

Things are about to start getting busy around here before the end of the year, so I am working ahead as best I can.  Grabbing a half day here and there.  I have made a few more blocks for the Baskets Galore Block of the month.

This month it is a Grape Basket, and I am sorry to say, that it is another 5 patch block, so the cutting instructions are a bit hairy!  You can get the pattern HERE.

I was delighted to see the baskets that Lori at Humble Quilts has made.  It is always a treat to see what other people have made of your instructions....did I write it correctly? does it make sense? etc.  Please let me know if there is anything not quite right, and I will rework it.  I was surprised to see Lori describe the blocks as "Challenging".  I was so wanting to keep them simple!  I think they are easier to make by hand than by machine.  Mine are all done by hand.  I cut them out, and then sit and sew of a night time while (sort of) watching TV.  I made another one last night.

Do you want to see the blocks in advance, or are you happy to get a little surprise when they arrive?

If you are using template plastic, keep the templates you have made, as you will find that you can use some of the triangles, squares and rectangles again.  Also be sure to cut them so that the straight grain is along the outside of the blocks.  This is why in some instances i say to cut a square, then cut twice on the diagonal (for rotary cutting), so that the triangles long side is on the outer edge.  You will only use 2 of the 4 triangles this produces (as in the block above) , but it will give you a much nicer finish.

So, in the next 7 to 10 days, I will have the next Pom Pom Tree block ready, and part 2 of the centre of the Tiptoe Through the Tulips.  Thanks so much for the great support for this one.  I was really surprised by the interest.  All the other Block of the Month quilts are still there, so if you have missed anything in the past you can still get them.