A Block for Kaaren

My quilting bud, MB in MI, directed me to this blog -  http://allie-oopssweethappylife.blogspot.com/2011/06/quilt-for-kaaren-painted-quilt.html and here - http://allie-oopssweethappylife.blogspot.com/2011/06/updates-on-kaarens-quilts.html where Allie requested a block for a fellow blogger named Kaaren of The Painted Quilt.  Kaaren is having health issues and the hope is that these blocks when assembled into a quilt will bring her some cheer and well wishes.  It's so easy to do - here's what I did (the directions are all on Allie's first blog mentioned above).

One 6.5" beige square and four 3.5" red squares.  I washed the fabric first and checked the red for bleeding.  This is a very important step as you all know!

The four squares are marked on the diagonal on the back and then sewn to the corners of the beige square.  You can only do 2 at a time, opposite corners, press and trim.  Then do the other 2 corners.  Just like making a snowball block but with larger corner squares.  Voila - a square in a square!

You obviously noticed that I wrote my name and my city in the center of the block.  I will add a little quotation or cheery message also.  The "trick" to writing on fabric is to attach a piece of freezer paper to the back side of the block.  Before I ironed it on, I drew 2 dark lines to help me keep my writing straight.

I also found that using a Sharpie (ultra fine point) is easier for me than a Micron pen.



The triangles that you trimmed can now be re-purposed into half-square triangle units.  Mine came out 2.5" unfinished.  They were oversized but I trimmed them down to perfect 2.5" squares.

The entire process (minus the fabric washing and picture taking) took about 30 minutes.  I hope that you can find the time to add a little smile to our friend Kaaren.  The deadline is July 15 and the mailing address can be obtained by emailing Allie (refer to Allie's blog - the first one listed above).

Hope that where ever you are, you are enjoying the day!