Quilting Under the Rainbow Bee - September block tutorial

My block for the this bee is a foundation pieced pineapple block.


This tutorial is in two parts:  1)  general tips   2) step by step instructions

PART 1 - GENERAL TIPS

• setup your cutting mat, ruler, cutter, iron surface and board within reach of the machine to save you getting up and down
• use an open toe foot for a clear view of lines
• set your stitch length to 1.5
• use pins
• use cream or light grey thread both top and bobbin
• guesstimate the strip size, add an inch then trim before you sew (its easier)
• line up fabric first to ensure it covers the pattern with seam allowance
• pin vertical to the seam, and use multiple pins for longer strips
• start and finish one or two stitches either side of the line
• check tension is correct after first stitched line by pulling back on the fabric - if bobbin thread pops through easily, adjust accordingly
• don't throw away any scraps
• try to avoid unpicking - that 1.5 stitch length is unfriendly
• if you do need to unpick, do it from the fabric side
• folding gets easier, as you find its already creased once you've done the first one or two rounds
• for the outside strips, check they go past the edge of the paper, not just the outside seam line

PART 2 - INSTRUCTIONS

Requirements:

• foundation template (I have written the colour guideline onto the template for you)
• several 2" strips of fabric in various shades/patterns of cream
• several 2" strips of fabric in red, brown, blue, green (see foundation template for your block colours)
• 3" red square for centre
• 4, 7" x 3.5" squares (or 6" square cut on the diagonal) one for each colour nominated on your foundation template

Step 1

• Place the red square in the centre of the unprinted side of the foundation template (for this piece only, the fabric is face up)

• hold it up to the light to ensure it extends beyond the square by at least 1/4"

• pin in place

• Turn the paper over and stitch around the 4 sides of the centre square

• With paper printed side up, fold the paper back on the lines and trim the seam to 1/4"

                                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Step 2

• With fabric side up, lay a short cream strip face down along one edge of the red square (so fabrics are right side together)
• Pin in place
• Stitch along the line
• Press fabric open

    

• With paper printed side up, fold the paper back along the outside of the triangle line, trim seam to 1/4"
• Repeat for opposite side

    

• Continue for all four sides of red square     

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Step 4 

• With fabric side up, lay a colour strip (check foundation template for right colour)
• Pin in place
• Stitch along the line (make sure you are exactly on the line, especially over the point in the centre)
• Press fabric open

• With paper printed side up, fold the paper back along the outside of the angled line, trim seam to 1/4"
• Repeat for opposite angled line
• Repeat for top of strip

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Step 5

• Continue Step 4 alternating between light/cream and colour strips 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Step 6

• When finished, stitch around the outside of the block, just outside of the border line of the block, using a stitch length of 3
• Trim fabric to exact paper size (DO NOT cut any paper off)
• Leave paper on
• Finished!

   

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------