September Block Party

Last month no one turned in blocks.  This month one person turned in blocks.  I am going to give Block Party until the end of the year, but if it keeps up like this, I'm just going to drop it. :/

Meanwhile, here's the block I did for the guild for this month!  I'm very much cribbing from my old work this time, as I copied it from the block party I did for the Orange County Quilt Guild in October of 2016.

9 1/2” Framed Pumpkin

For each block, cut:

• Four 1 1/2” squares, two 1 1/2” x 3” strips, two 1 1/2” x 6 1/2” strips, and two 2” x 9 1/2” strips, all of black fabric
• One 1 1/2” square, of either green or brown fabric
• One 6 1/2” square, of orange fabric or Halloween novelty fabric

To make the block:

Using the stitch-and-flip method, sew the four black squares diagonally to the corners of the orange square, making a Snowball block. Trim excess fabric 1/4” from the seamline and press the triangles outward , making a 6 1/2” square.

Sew the 1 1/2” x 3” strips to either side of the 1 1/2” green or brown square. Attach this strip to one side of the orange-and-black octagon.

Sew one 1 1/2” x 6 1/2” black strip atop the pieced “stem” strip, and the other on the bottom of the pumpkin. Sew the remaining two strips (2” x 9 1/2”) to the sides of the pumpkin block. Press. Finished block should measure 9 1/2” square.

Bonus difficulty level!

If you wish to challenge yourself, try piecing the 6 1/2” orange square! Use a Nine-Patch made of 2 1/2” squares, strip piece the pumpkin with 1 1/2” strips, or build “made fabric” using crumb piecing.