Meet the Makers Quilt Along and Block #2

It's week 2 of the Meet the Makers Quilt Along! Are you following along and making the blocks? I made block # 2 using our Panda Love Collection. Do you see the wee Pandas? I did a little fussy-cutting to make that happen.

This block looks complicated but it's pretty easy to piece together. Last week, we tackled Half Square Triangles and this week's block has some too. This time, instead of using HST papers, I tried the method that Cindy demonstrated in the Block # 1 Video Tutorial. With a pencil, I marked the squares from 1 corner to opposite corner and then sewed 2 fabrics RST and 1/4" from the pencil line (on both sides). Then you cut on the pencil line, fold back the fabrics and press. It made 4 HST units seen below.

Next, I added a white square to the HST block and then a white rectangle below. To make the large triangle, I drew a pencil line on the wrong side of the grey fabric and then pinned it (RST) to the unit just created. I sewed a needle width away from the pencil line, then folded over the fabric and trimmed the square before cutting away the excess.

The hard part is done! The rest are squares pieced together.  But first: a little fussy-cutting. I like to make a template for my fussy cutting so that I can see the best way to feature my subject. I usually grab paper or cardboard from my recycling bin and cut the finished block size. Then I rough cut (with a utility knife) the window in the middle so I can see the motif. I traced around the outside edge of the square before trimming it.

Here is the top section of the block ready to piece together. Next I'll piece the bottom section together and then the middle block of 5 squares.

I'm getting closer: my project is now only 3 sections. I'll just piece them together and I'm done!!

I love my finished block. I'm going to complete all the blocks with my PANDA LOVE Collection before I decide what the blocks will become. I don't have time to make the large quilt but maybe I could manage a throw or play mat for my newest grandson. I think he'd love it!

Don't forget to follow along each week as Riley Blake Designs introduces a new block. The designers of RBD are all making blocks with their own collections so it's fun to see all the different variations. Here are some created by my designer friends:

Cindy Cloward shows you exactly how to do it in this weeks VIDEO TUTORIAL. There is more info and the cutting requirements on the Riley Blake Designs BLOG.

If you're wondering about our Panda Love Collection, it came out in the Spring so you can ask at your local quilt shop or find it online at  at FAT QUARTER SHOP or MISSOURI QUILT COMPANY or my SHOP

If you're making your own versions of the Meet the Makers Blocks, you can use the hashtags: #meetthemakersquilt #meetthemakers #RBDmakers . It's so fun seeing what everyone is creating with these fun blocks. See you next week for Block 3!