INTRODUCTION TO PRESIDENT’S BLOCK CHALLENGE:
As the incoming President in 2021, I would like to introduce a new and exciting monthly challenge that I am bringing to guild members. Each month I will chose a traditional quilt block and color scheme for the President’s Block Challenge. If you want to participate in the challenge, all you need to do is to make at least one block and post your finished creation on the ACQ members Facebook page or Instagram using the #PresidentsBlockChallenge and #acqshowandtell
Each member posting their block will be entered into a drawing at the next month’s meeting. For example, December’s block will need to be posted by the Wednesday before January’s meeting. A drawing for the block winner will occur at the January meeting, and the winner will get a fat quarter bundle of the next month’s color scheme gifted by me.
To get everyone in the mood, I am kicking this off with a block this month. December’s block is the Nine Patch and the color scheme is Quilter’s Choice.
The Nine Patch is a popular pattern used by pioneer women. The earliest homesteaders had neither time nor fabric to spare. Most of the quilts they made were utility quilts, quickly sewn together for warmth.
The Nine Patch is one of the simplest and quickest quilts to sew, and because it was a good way to use up every small scrap of fabric available, it was used often.
On the prairie, sewing was an essential skill. Young girls learned to sew blocks before they learned to read. At an early age, often as young as three or four, girls were taught to piece simple blocks such as the Nine Patch. Many were very skilled at piecing a block by age five.
In order to create the Nine Patch, you will need 4 squares of one color and 5 squares of a contrasting color. For example, a 6.5 inch block will take 4- 2.5 inch squares of color 1 and 5- 2.5 inch squares of color 2.
Row 1 and 3 are comprised of color 2, color 1 and color 2. Row 2 is comprised of color 1, color 2, and color 1. Using a quarter inch seam, stitch together in rows. Always press to the dark side. This way the seams will nest.
Stitch rows 1, 2, and 3 together to make the completed Nine Patch.
