Something New & Different - Ravelry BOM Block 12 Tutorial

Today I'm hijacking the blog for something a little bit different - a tutorial for a fun quilt block! This block is for a BOM being conducted on Ravelry - feel free to give this a try if you are so inclined!


Hi Ravelry Quilters!

Welcome to the Nimble Thimbles / CCLQ blog - we're a group of avid quilters who document our meetings on this blog.  (Feel free to see what else we get up to...after we make BOM block 12, of course!)

Today I've created a tutorial for the final Ravelry BOM block.  This 12 inch finished block also happens to be a great candidate for using up leftover scraps or bonus half square triangles (HST) from previous BOM blocks or other quilting.  For a smaller block there is an option for a 6 inch finished block (I don't recommend downsizing the block components - instead you can leave off some parts. The small block is equally cute).

TADA! BOM Block 12

BOM block #12 -12 inch finished block

Please don't be scared off by the following long-winded tutorial...this block is easy and fun!

The original block inspiration came from a tutorial for a large floor pillow (Prism Jumbo Floor Pillow by Freshly Pieced). I have modified the block and the cutting instructions to give us a 12 inch finished block.

I hope you love this block as much as I do! Note: this is a good block for unifying the BOM blocks by repeating colors that appear in other blocks you've already completed.

For a 12 inch finished block (6 inch block instructions are further down):

Fabric:
Pick 12 "focus" fabrics plus a background fabric. (I've used a yellow background, but the original used white. Choose whatever color pleases you and works well with your fabrics). If you use 12 focus fabrics, each fabric will be repeated twice in the block.

I've chosen this method to avoid creating the 24 (!!!) waste triangles produced by the original tutorial instructions.  But please note that to make cutting easier my method also has some waste. Namely, we will be starting with all HSTs the same size and then will trim down half of them to smaller sizes.
(If you already have orphan HSTs in sizes that will work, this block is a great way to use them up. You are aiming to end up with 24 HSTs which will ultimately be trimmed to 3 different sizes.)

Cutting for 12 inch block:

Cut 12 4-inch squares from your background fabric. From the 12 focus fabrics cut 1  4-inch square from each fabric.  You now have a total of 24 4-inch squares.

Focus Fabrics

Cut squares in half diagonally

 Cut all squares in half diagonally.

Pair up a focus fabric triangle with a background triangle (right sides together). Pair all triangles this way and sew the pairs to create 24 HSTs.

Press seams toward the dark fabric.

Fabric and cutting for a smaller 6 1/2 inch block
If you prefer a 6 inch finished block you will leave off the 3rd (outer) round of HSTs. The smaller block requires only 6 fabrics plus a background fabric.  Cut 1 four inch square from each of your focus fabrics for a total for 6 squares and 6 4-inch squares of background fabric. Cut all in half diagonally and pair as directed above. You will end up with 12 HSTs.

Directions for both size blocks 
IMPORTANT: Before you do any trimming lay out your blocks to determine placement. Make sure all triangles are pointing in the same direction. (Mine point down and to the right. You can choose a direction that pleases you, but be consistent!).

Choose 4 center HSTs, 8 HSTs for the middle round (it will look confusing because they are not yet trimmed to size), and 12 HSTs for the outer round. (if doing the 6 inch block skip the outer round of 12 HST blocks).

finished block shown, the layout before trimming will look a lot messier

Take a picture of your layout! You will find it a helpful reference as you complete the rest of the steps.  It's also a helpful way to verify that you like your layout. Snap pictures of various layouts and choose the best one. Delete the options you rejected so you don't get mixed up later and refer to the wrong photo!

Sewing the Block

1)  Once your layout is finalized, take the center 4 HSTs and trim them to 1 1/2 inches square. To do so line up the 45 degree line on your ruler on the diagonal seam line of the HST as you trim up (see photo under step 2 for example).

Sew the 4 HSTs in 2 rows of 2 and then into a 4 patch. Make sure all triangles are in the correct orientation. The 4 patch should measure 2 1/2 inches unfinished.

Center 4 patch trimmed but not yet sewn

2) Next trim the 8 HSTs in the middle round (surrounding the 4 patch you just created) to 2 1/2 inches unfinished (again lining up the 45 degree line on the diagonal seam line).

example of ruler placement for trimming at 2 1/2 inch square

3) Lay the 8 HSTs and the 4 patch out in a nine patch formation with the 4 patch as the center block. Make sure all triangles are pointing the same direction.

4) Sew each row of blocks together and then join the rows.  At this point the block measures 6 1/2 inches square (unfinished).  NOTE: stop here if you are sewing the smaller block.

5) Find the center of each side of the nine patch you just created and make a little crease. You will use this mark to line up the blocks in the next round of HSTs.

6) Trim the 12 outer HSTs to 3 1/2 inches square. Lay them out surrounding your nine patch. Make sure all triangles point the same way and are in the correct spot.  Sew the top row of 4 HSTs together. Do the same for the bottom row. Set aside.

7) Take the 2 HSTs on the left side of the block and sew them together top to bottom NOT side by side.  Repeat for the 2 HSTs on the right side of the block.  Attach these units to each side of the center nine patch. Line up the seam of the 2 block unit to the center crease of the nine patch.

8) Attach the top and bottom rows by lining up the center of the 9 patch with the center of the top row of HSTs. Repeat for bottom row. (Picture below will help you visualize how the blocks line up) and you are done! Your block should measure 12 1/2 inches square (12 inches finished).

Any questions, contact Britt / Needleb!