Hands All Around block
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 3
Hands All Around block
My mom started a sampler quilt circa late 1980s using a Leisure Arts "Teach Yourself to Quilt" book. She completed all but 1 block out of 9, the last being a Hands All Around block. After she and I took a beginner quilt class together she showed me this project and I offered to finish it but every time I look at that last block, I put it right back into the bag!
Please help me find a way to piece the Hands All Around block easier than the instructions show. She had pieced the center part of the block but stopped before sewing the diamond shapes around the edges. This is a difficult block and I don't like the idea of sewing into corners.
Any ideas?
Please help me find a way to piece the Hands All Around block easier than the instructions show. She had pieced the center part of the block but stopped before sewing the diamond shapes around the edges. This is a difficult block and I don't like the idea of sewing into corners.
Any ideas?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ontario,canada
Posts: 474
http://earlywomenmasters.net/quilts/h/hands/index.html this one looked like you could use hst's for around the edges.
What a pretty block. How did she do her center?
What a pretty block. How did she do her center?
#3
it's such an honor to finish her quilt. i learned to quilt with Eleanor Burns patterns... they are so easy to follow. this is a link to a free pattern for this block [scroll to the last row]. hopefully this will be easy for you to follow. and welcome to the QB
http://www.quiltinaday.com/freepattern/
http://www.quiltinaday.com/freepattern/
#4
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 3
Wow, thanks for such quick responses!!
I have the instructions for the block, but don't want to construct it that way. Hhere's what is sewn together right now:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]499957[/ATTACH]
The squares have to be sewn into the points and I was hoping there would be an easier way to put it together. I really don't like sewing corners as they end up puckering and the fabric is too easy to stretch.
I have the instructions for the block, but don't want to construct it that way. Hhere's what is sewn together right now:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]499957[/ATTACH]
The squares have to be sewn into the points and I was hoping there would be an easier way to put it together. I really don't like sewing corners as they end up puckering and the fabric is too easy to stretch.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 11-23-2014 at 04:17 AM. Reason: remove copyright image
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 110
Why not make a different block. Something that might be special for your mom, like a "Florida" block or "Mother's delight" or"Grandmother's choice. It's fun to research quilt block names and find something that you are comfortable completing and that has special meaning for your mom. Save the "hands all around" block and when you fee confident to complete it, you can make a matching pillow. Good luck and we would love to see the quilt when you finish.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: The Deep South near Cajun Country, USA
Posts: 5,434
If you have enough of the fabric for the beige corner blocks, you could do them as HST's and make them a part of a row. The other thing would be to sew just up to the corners, keeping everything as straight as possible, then do a couple of hand stitches into the corners so that there isn't a space with no stitching. Ironically, our ancestors made some very difficult blocks look neat and pretty by the hand sewing method. Sewing with our electronic machines isn't always the best way to do things.
#9
Deconstruct the center seam in the 4 blocks that will require a square in a corner. Instead of doing a square with inset seams, instead, insert a half square piece into both halves of that block, then sew a straight line to sew the pieces together. Hope this makes sense.
#10
Deconstruct the center seam in the 4 pieces that will require a square in a corner. Instead of doing a square with inset seams, instead, insert a half square piece into both halves of that block, then sew a straight line to sew the pieces together. Hope this makes sense.
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