August Quilt Block

It's a trip down to the seashore with a lighthouse to light your way! Welcome back to HGTV's Strolling the Block quilt block of the month. We're calling all hands on deck so let's get busy with this month's block.

Materials:

fabric selection - Use any desired fabrics. We selected 100-percent cottons in these prints:
- light blue fabric for sky background
- printed light brown fabric for sand (middle)
- muted blue (diamond shape) fabric for water (foreground )
- brown marble for dock piling (posts in water)
- light yellow/tan print fabric for house
- rust/brown/black/yellow speckle fabric for chimney and step
- rust marble fabric for door and dormer
- black/gray print fabric for window shutters
- multiple watercolor fabric for windows
- tone on tone beige star print and brick pattern for lighthouse
- black/gray print fabric for lighthouse windows; landing and triangle roof
- light yellow check fabric for the light of the lighthouse
translucent template plastic
Steam-A-Seam 2 double-sided fusible web
embroidery floss - black and variegated green/yellow
starfish charm for door
rotary cutter and mat
craft scissors

Steps:

Creating Templates

You can make templates from various materials, including pieces of heavy card stock, cardboard, freezer paper or template plastics. Some of these templates will be reused in future blocks so it's recommended that you use a translucent template plastic due to the durability factor. Keep in mind the finished fabric shape will be the mirror image of the template pattern.

1. Print out the template patterns (figures A and B). The new templates are in figure B. Note that the same template is used for all three pier-post pieces-- just flip the template for one of the posts. You'll re-use the house templates seen in all previous blocks so there's no need to re-print or re-cut figure A if you've kept those.

2. Place a piece of template plastic over the printed patterns and trace the outline of each using a permanent marking pen (ultra fine Sharpie works great).

3. Cut out and label each template piece. Some templates will be reused in months to come so plan to store them flat for future use.

Background

Does the background piece look familiar? It's similar to February and May--but it is slightly different in the sky and foreground (ocean) measurements. The finished background consists of three colors of fabric and measures 12-1/2 inches square (unfinished). It can be assembled using a fusible webbing technique or a machine-piecing technique. Decide on a method then follow the directions below. One helpful extra step is to make a template square measuring 12-1/2 inches, then mark or cut it into three sections as shown in figure C to provide a cutting guide and indicate the look of the raw background piece.

Fusing Method
1. If you wish to use fusible webbing to create the background piece, cut fabric pieces as indicated in figure D.

2. With right sides up, place a 12-1/2" x 1/4" strip of fusible webbing (or any desired fusible product) along the bottom portion of the sky section. Next, overlap the middle (sand) fabric 1/4 inch, making sure the fabric covers the fusible webbing. Fuse the fabrics together, using a pressing cloth to protect your iron from any exposed webbing. Follow the same process to fuse the final (ocean) section to the background piece.

3. Trim the finished background piece to a 12-1/2-inch square (figure E).

Machine-Piecing Method
1. If you wish to use a sewing machine to create the background piece, cut the fabrics as illustrated in (figure F).

2. Begin by placing the sky and sand fabrics right sides together, matching the raw edges across the bottom. Due to the diagonal cut, the sides of the background piece will be out of alignment but that's how it should look. With the sky fabric on the bottom, use a 1/4-inch seam to stitch the sky and sand pieces together. Press and trim away the excess fabric.

3. Add the 'water' fabric by placing it right sides together with the piece sewn in step 2, matching raw edges across the bottom sky/sand section and water fabric. Using a 1/4-inch seam allowance, stitch the water fabric to the middle fabric. Again, press and trim away the excess fabric. The background piece will still be lopsided at this point (figure G).

4. Trim the finished background piece to a 12-1/2-inch block (figure H).

Applique

A quick word about fusible web--follow the manufacturer's instructions for whichever type you decide to use. There's a wide variety of fusibles available on the market and you may want to experiment to find the right product for you.

For this project, we use a double-sided type of fusible because it allows us to reposition the pieces when desired. Double-sided fusible comes sandwiched between two pieces of paper. Here are a couple of ways to use it with this pattern.

Outline Method
This method is more time consuming in the beginning, but will eliminate stiffness in the applique, which makes for easier needlework later on. The secret? Start by transferring the template patterns onto fabric, then cutting them out. Next, use a 1/4- or 1/2-inch, double-sided fusible tape to outline the back side of the template fabric pieces, leaving the protective cover on the tape until you're ready to fuse (see step 5 in the Full Fuse Method).

Full Fuse Method
1. Cut the fusible into smaller, manageable pieces that will accommodate each template size, keeping the protective paper of the fusible intact.

2. Using a pencil, trace around each template onto one of the paper-covered sides of the fusible.

3. Peel away the opposite paper side of the fusible (the one without the tracing) and adhere it to the wrong side of the desired fabric.

4. Cutting along the traced lines, cut out both the fusible web and fabric for each pattern piece.

5. Next, position the pieces onto the background square. There's a lot of room to customize the block with this step. Plus, you don't have to fuse anything until you're sure you like the design. Here's how we did it:

- Position the house fabric on the background square (figure I). Tuck the chimney fabric (small side down) so it stands out behind the house.

- Position the door on the house. Our objective is to place everything slightly off kilter in order to give the block a bit of a folk art feel. To accomplish this, position the windows and dormer at a slight tilt (figure J). Position the shutters on top of the windows, matching the edges (figure K).

- Position the lighthouse components beside the house, tucking the pieces slightly behind the house. Building from the bottom up, place the lighthouse base first, then stack on pattern piece F (figure L), E, D, C (figure M), B, A and the top (figure N). Position the lighthouse windows on the F and D lighthouse components (figure O).

- Place the three pier posts with the bottom of the posts on the water fabric, overlapping onto the lighthouse and house (figure P).

- Once you're pleased with the design, follow the manufacturer's directions to press the pieces into place. Avoid fusing any pieces in the 1/4-inch perimeter of the block to allow for the addition of sashing.

Finishing

1. Finish the block by covering the raw edges of the applique pieces with blanket-stitching . To do this, use two-strands of black embroidery floss outlining the house, the lighthouse and the pier posts.

2. Stitch the center of a short length of thin raffia to the door. Tie a starfish charm onto the raffia (figure Q), stitching to secure.

3. For the fish net between the pier posts (figure R), you have two options--you can stitch on a purchased net, or do some hand embroidery work. The stitch used to make the fishing net is a very loose, detached buttonhole stitch. It was done using a variegated green-to-gold embroidery floss.

- Step 1 -- Working in between the first and second pier post, use a six-strand piece of embroidery floss to fashion a three-inch length chain stitch outlining the curve at the top of the net. Repeat between the second and third posts, completing the outline of the top of the net (figure S).

- Step 2 -- Create a flat loop of thread on the fabric and place the needle through the last stitch of the chain stitch. Come over the looped floss with the needle to create a loose buttonhole stitch. It's easier to place the fabric flat on a table when doing this stitch. Continue creating the loose buttonhole stitches until reaching the end of the chain stitch row (figure T).

- Step 3 -- Make a third row of stitches using the loose buttonhole stitch. Continue stitching rows, creating a net as short or long as desired.

Optional Challenges

Depending on your skill level, here are additional ideas for finishing the block :

Want a real challenge? Add a 1/4-inch to the template patterns and use a needle-turn method of applique.

Instead of using black floss for the blanket-stitching, consider color coordinating the floss to the fabric color.

If time is not on your side, don't despair. This block can easily be finished on a sewing machine. Depending on your machine's capabilities, employ a zigzag, satin , buttonhole or blanket stitch to finish the raw edges of the applique.

Be creative--use your imagination to make the block your own. We look forward to creating another block with you next month.

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Editor's Note:

Check out the June block instructions for border and sashing tips, plus visit the message board/chat area to see a transcript of a chat held in June with Strolling the Block's project designer, Jan Schmidt. The approximate size of the finished quilt will be 56" x 69".