Sew Along: BLOCK 3 Sewing North to Alaska by Featherweight
Last time, we sewed our second set of four blocks. You should now have a total of eight blocks sewn and set aside. I don't know about you, but a little pile of blocks always makes me feel accomplished! So, let's keep our momentum going and begin Block 3 with another set of four. This block is laid out just like Block 1, but this time we swap pieces to bring in an additional color. If you are just joining us, order a kit below and sew along with us!
Click the images below and select your quilt kit in Blue or Holiday (while supplies last). And, BONUS! All the fabric pieces are pre-cut by laser - perfect and beautiful. Pieces don't fray, they're uniform and we can sew right away!
Order an Alaska Quilt Kit in your color preference (Blue or Holiday) and join us!
Each block is essentially made four times (with center block exception) with varying changes in fabric placement, so please feel free to work ahead if you want to construct all the same style blocks, all in one chain-piece sitting. I will caution you, however. All four of us who were sewing this quilt erred in missing our fabric color placement at one point in time or another. (The Alex Anderson wooden seam ripper 4-in-1 tool was our best friend on multiple occasions!) Learn from our mistakes, though, and note that it is very easy to swap placement, prints, and orientation and these blocks can be quite the brain game! With this quilt being dependent upon all of these things for design accuracy, it is important to scrutinize your block construction extensively. If you have a friend sewing along with you, be block-checking buddies! Or ask your husband, friend, or neighbor to be a second set of eyes. We loved it when one of us saved the other from any "un-sewing". LET'S BEGIN!
BLOCK 3
Helpful Notions for Sewing these blocks:
- Aurifil 50wt thread - Dove Grey or Light Sand works perfectly to blend with all fabric colors.
- Glass Head Ultra Fine Pins
- Sewline Pencil
- Alex Anderson's Wooden 4-in-1 sewing tool
Additional Tools We Use:
- Sue Daley 16-inch Round Rotating Cutting Mat
- Rotary Cutter
- Scissors for trimming and snipping threads
- Seam Square
- Seam Guide (or Quarter Inch Foot of Choice)
- Quick Press Seam Roller
- Portable Iron
- Pressing Fleece (Wool or Alpaca)
- Template Set (Acrylic) for Alaska Quilt (optional - only necessary if cutting from your own fabrics)
For Block 3, the construction will be similar to Block 1, except the larger pink corner triangle has changed positions and we now have a larger green triangle in the former pink triangle spot.
The arrows on Edyta's pattern will show you how the pieces are sewn together and the direction with which the seams are pressed. Following the pressing guidelines will be very helpful for nesting seams, matching points and easier block assembly. Remember, the larger triangle seams will all be pressed in the same direction, all the way around the block...like a kaleidoscope or merry-go-round!
The video below is about 27 minutes long and addresses sewing all the block styles for the entire quilt. For Block 3, however, and working with the precut laser-cut pieces, you will only need to re-watch it from timestamps 4:34 through 15:05, just like for Block 1. Scrolling below the video, you can also follow along with some additional sewing tips on aiming for accuracy.
Sew pieces D (small corner triangle) to pieces C. You can mark them according to Edyta's instruction using the little plastic templates included with the kit.
The Featherweight Accurate Seam Guide helps keep the seam edges exactly in line with one another.
Chain-piecing is a great technique for working through the block sets.
Make sure to align the center points precisely.
When the center seams match up perfectly, the quarter inch seam will end at the farthest tip.... notice the 1/4" distance between the top edge of the fabric and the tip?
Following the pressing guideline arrows allows for this nicely nested seam. See how the two sections will join together with the seams facing opposite directions? Pressing the large triangle seams all the same direction, as Edyta instructs, allows for the seams to nest when sewn together like this.
Nested seams perfectly aligned.
Use the Alex Anderson's 4-in-1 Wooden Sewing Tool
to "quick press" the seams.
PRO TIP: To achieve flat centers where all the points come together, use a seam ripper to take out just the few stitches and little bits of thread that extend in the seam allowance. Being a Kaleidoscope block, you will need to take out both the angled and vertical stitches on both sides of the seam allowance. This will open up the seam and allow them to be pressed open and the block to lay flat.
Block 3 is now complete... sew three more and you'll have a new set of four blocks finished!
