January Rainbow Scrap Challenge Blocks

A actually did even more sewing on Sunday.  As I was on a roll and the blue fabrics were still out I decided to make a start on the January blocks in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I"m making the 10 inch version.

I planned to just cut them out, but once that was done I kept going and got them all pieced.  Yippee!

As there were half square triangles involved I used the shortcut method for making eight at a time. However, some of my scraps weren't large enough to cut a six inch square and my chosen placements meant that some blocks only required either four or six small blocks.  I don't like using the method where you sew around the outside of a square and then cut diagonally across to make four block.  It means that you have bias edges and your pattern placement is out of alignment.  Here is how I do it.  It's probably quite common, but isn't a method I see in most tutorials.

I just mark out two blocks side by side, adding one inch to the finished size of the block.  For my finished blocks of 2 inches I cut my fabric 6 inches by 3 inches.  Unfortunately it isn't showing too clearly, but I marked a vertical line to divide the blocks and then drew zig zag diagonal lines.  Then I sewed a quarter of an inch either side of the zig zag, just zig zagging up and down the fabric.  It was all sewn in one go.  You can use this method to make as many blocks as you like.  Handy when you have a long strip of fabric.

Then just cut on the drawn lines to create your blocks.

I like to press the seams open on my blocks and then trim to the finished size with seam allowances, in this case 2 1/2 inches square.  

Do you see my nifty little rotating cutting board.  I won this some years ago from Spotlight.  I love it.  I also have the round rotating mat, but this one works so much better for me.  The mechanism is simply a hole in the base and a round bit stuck on the bottom of the cutting board that sits in the hole. Very low tech.  It rotates nice and freely and the size is so handy.

I decided that when I get a few finishes under my belt I would treat myself to the larger version of this, but I was able to snag one on special just before Christmas, so I now have to do some finishing to earn it.

Not only will it be useful for squaring up blocks, it is also rather handy to use as a mini design board.

Now for the finished blocks......

Ta da!

I'm so pleased with them.....but when I downloaded this photo I noticed something.........

Do you see it?  The top right hand corner of the top block is rotated incorrectly. Blast!!! How did I miss that at the time?  Time to get out the quick unpick and fix it up. That will be another day's worth of 10 minutes of stitching.

Now for a proper Ta Da!  That's better.  I can put the blue left overs away now and get out my next project.

I've linked up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge here at So Scrappy.  Details of the sampler blocks are here on the Academic Quilter.