Fall into a Quilt Along: Harvest Basket
Welcome back to Fall into a Quilt Along! If you're just joining us, you can find everything you need to know right here. I also have a handy quilt along page that I'm keeping updated with all of the links as we go.
Block 2 is a sweet little harvest basket designed by April Adams of JANDA Bend Quilts. Click here for her blog post with the pattern. All Fall into a Quilt Along patterns are guaranteed to be free until November 13, 2018.
Tips for Success
Seam Allowance
My first tip is to test your seam allowance before you start. While a couple parts of this block will be trimmed down, you need an accurate seam when you're sewing the strips together, or your basket will be too short!
To test your seam allowance, cut two 2" squares and sew them together. Press to one side, and measure the resulting rectangle. The rectangle should be 3 1/2" long. If your rectangle is shorter, you need a narrower seam allowance. If your rectangle is longer, you need a wider seam allowance. Adjust your seam and try again. Once the rectangle is exactly 3 1/2" long, you're good to go.
Trimming the Sections
This is what the top of your basket will look like before you trim:
I found my 12 1/2" square ruler super helpful for trimming the pieces in this block. To trim the top of the basket, I made sure there was 1/4" above the point of the handle. If you're using a 12 1/2" square ruler, go ahead and center it horizontally, as well. I trimmed the top and both sides of the handle before moving the ruler. If you have a rotating mat handy, this would be a great time to pull it out!
Once the top and sides were trimmed, all that was left was to trim the bottom.
Success!
The center woven portion of the basket will also need to be trimmed to size. Once again, I used my 12 1/2" square ruler for this. I centered it on the piece, making sure it was nice and straight. Then I cut off both ends without picking up my ruler.
Stitch and Flip
Stitch and flip corners are super versatile for making all sorts of blocks. The secret is to draw a line diagonally across the corner square, and stitch just outside of the drawn line. The line you drew isn't the stitching line - it's actually where the fabric needs to fold! By stitching just outside of the line, you give yourself the extra fabric you need to reach all the way to the corner when you flip it over.
Just to be safe, I always test to make sure my corner is covered before I cut away the excess fabric.
Pressing
April has good pressing instructions in her pattern, but I know it sometimes helps to be able to see it. Here's a peek at the back of my block:
This is a lovely block that goes together nicely. I can't wait to see yours!
An Armload of Baskets
We have 7 hosts all striving to make Fall into a Quilt Along the best it can possibly be. Each of us has made our own version of the harvest basket and provided tips and tricks on our blogs. Be sure to check out all of the posts below to be inspired!
Abbie Danahy at Sparkle On
April Adams at JANDA Bend Quilts
Bobbi Bridgeman at Snowy Days Quilting <--- That's me!
Jennifer Fulton at Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Sherry Shish at Powered by Quilting
Vanda Chittenden at Quilting with Vanda
Prizes
Everyone 18 and older has a chance to win a prize! To be entered in the drawing, simply share your finished hedgehog block by 11:59 pm Eastern time on June 11, 2018. You can share on Instagram with the hashtag #fallintoaqal, in the Partners in Design Facebook group, or in the linky party on April's post.
Our prize sponsors this week are April Adams at JANDA Bend Quilts and Dritz. April donated the Braid in a Day pattern by Eleanor Burns. Dritz donated an Omnigrid mesh project pouch.
At the end of the quilt along, we will have a grand prize drawing for anyone that has made a complete quilt top with all 12 blocks. No need to have it quilted for the drawing. To be eligible to win, finished quilt tops must be posted by 11:59 pm Eastern time on November 12, 2018.
I'm linking up with:
Main Crush Monday
Chameleon's Colors
Wednesday Wait Loss