Curvetastic Quilt-Along Month 6

Apr 04, 2023

Size or dimensions: 46” x 60”

Skill level: Intermediate

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I love that we have been working through this quilt together for a half a year now! If you are just finding us now please jump right in! Check out Month 1, here! I (Amanda) would love to see your quilt come to life! If you aren’t already following me on Instagram please do @MyFabricHeart and give me a tag in your progress posts!

This month we get a bit of a break from a ton of curve piecing with all the X’s. However, we do piece our first half circle. Do not fear! You can do this for sure! This month’s block reminds me of the hours I spent playing tic tac toe with a friend during University Biology classes. He was so good at it and I rarely won. I like to blame it on the 8am class time and being half asleep but I may just be a horrible tic tac toe player.

You may notice that I’ve chosen to have both versions appliqué the middle circle of the O’s. Sometimes in life, the easy way is the best way and tackling a full circle when it is so little is a recipe for disaster and frustration. Remember, there are no rules in quilting and there are no right or wrong ways to do things.

Tools needed this month:

OLFA CMP-3 Rotary Circle Cutter
OLFA 45mm RTY-2/C Quick-Change Rotary Cutter, Aqua
OLFA RM-MG/NBL 24"X36 Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat, Navy
OLFA 5-Inch SCS-4 Precision Appliqué Scissors
OLFA QR-6S 6 1/2” Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler
OLFA QR-9S 9 1/2" Square Frosted Acrylic Ruler
Pins or clips
Washable Glue Stick

As always the appliqué version of this block is included below the pieced version. I have to say I LOVE how the appliqué version looks this month.

Pieced Curves

I’ve made a video on the pieced ‘O’ Block to help make sure my instructions don’t confuse you.

Cut:

(2) - 1” x 14” - Background
(2) - 1” x 15” - Background

‘O’ Block:

(8) 3”x5.5” - 2 Rectangles in 4 different colours
(8) 3”x5.5” - Background
(4) 2.5”x2.5” - Background

‘X’ Block

(20) 2.75” x 2.75” - Four per ‘X’ in 5 different colours
(40 ) 2.25” x 2.25” - Background
(20) 1.5” x 1.5” - Background

Using your OLFA Circle Cutter cut the following:

From ‘O’ Block 3”x5.5” colour rectangles:

(8) Inner Half Curves

Pivot point 1/4” from edge at the middle of the long side
Circle Cutter Setting 2.25”

2. From ‘O’ Block 3”x5.5” Background Rectangles:

(8) Outside Half Curves

Pivot point 1/4” from edge at the middle of the long side
Circle Cutter Setting 1.75”

3. From ‘O’ Block 2.5”x2.5”:

(4) Inside Full Curve

Pivot Point in middle of Square
Circle Cutter Setting 1”

Assembly:

‘O’ Blocks (make 4)

Piece an Outer Background Half Curve with an Inside Half Curve
Using OLFA Appliqué Scissors make small vertical snips into the seam allowance of the curve making sure not to cut the stitches

Press seam allowance to outside
Repeat with all Half Curves
Piece 2 Half Curves of each colour together to make a full circle
Center a Full Curve in the centre of each ‘O’ pieced above and appliqué in place using your favourite appliqué stitch

Trim each ‘O’ block to 5”x5”

2. X’ Blocks (make 5)

Draw a diagonal line on a 1.5” x 1.5” Background Square
Place on one corner of a coloured 2.75” x 2.75” Square
Stitch along the diagonal line
Trim seam allowance to 1/4” and press to the outside

Draw a diagonal line on (2) 2.25”x2.25” Background Squares
Place one on the right corner of the coloured square lining up 2 edges
Stitch along the diagonal line
Trim seam allowance to 1/4” and press to the outside

Repeat the last 4 steps with the second Background Square and place it on the Left Corner
Repeat with the other 7 Coloured 2.75” Squares
Group these units together by colour

Arrange so the coloured corners are pointing towards each other and stitch together in groups of 4. Pay close attention to where the background fabrics join.
Lay out ‘O’ and ‘X’ Blocks in the desired 3x3 layout and sew together

Add the 1” x 14” strips to the opposite sides of block
Press seams to the outside
Add the 1” x 15” strips to the two other sides of block
Press seams to the outside
Trim block to 14.5”x14.5”

Applique Version

Cut:

(2) - 1”x 14” Background
(2) - 1” x 15” Background

‘O’ Block

(4) 5”x5” - Background
5”x5” - 1 square in 4 different colours (4 Squares total)

‘X’ Block

(5) 5”x5” - Background
(2) 5”x0.75” - 2 each in 4 different colours (8 rectangles total)

Using your OLFA Circle Rotary Cutter cut the following:

From ‘O’ Block 5”x5” colour squares:

Find the middle point of the block which is the pivot point
Circle Cutter set to 2”
Cut out a full circle

Keep the inside curve
Adjust Circle Cutter to 1”
Use the centre pivot point again
Cut out another full circle.

Keep the outside curve which is your ‘O’

Assembly:

‘O’ Block

Centre ‘O’ on the 5”x5” background square

Using your favourite appliqué stitch secure the ‘O’ down
- Start with the outside edge and then the inside edge

2. ‘X’ Block

On each background square fold and lightly press on each diagonal
Find the middle of the long rectangles by folding in half with short edges touching and lightly pressing

Using these guidelines line up one of the rectangles on a background block on the diagonal and appliqué down

Then place the second rectangle of the same colour along the other diagonal and appliqué down

Lay out ‘O’ and ‘X’ Blocks in the desired 3x3 layout and sew together

Add the 1” x 14” strips to the opposite sides of block. Press seams to the outside.
Add the 1” x 15” strips to the two other sides of block. Press seams to the outside.
Trim block to 14.5”x14.5”