Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt: April Block of the Month

AprilBoM Nancy Zieman WM

Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt: April Block of the Month

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AprilBoM Nancy Zieman WM

Introducing the April Block of the Month:

The Album Quilt* quilt block is the April Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt Block. Like all blocks in this year’s block of the month challenge, this block is 15″ (finished size) and is created using quick strip-piecing techniques. Simple!

During this 12-month block of the month challenge, all blocks will be made from one 24-piece fat quarter bundle and 2-1/4 yards of cream background fabric, not including backing or binding. We’re using the fat quarter bundle, Garnet, it’s my most recent fabric line from Penny Rose, a division of Riley Blake Designs. You’re definitely welcome to use another collection of fabric or fabrics from your stash!

Garnet CakeStand Nancy Zieman

Choose the Fabrics

For the Album Quilt block, select the following fabrics from your Garnet fat-quarter bundle. If you’ve chosen another fabric collection, select two darker tones, one medium tone, and the background fabric, for a total of four fabrics

AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 1

Solid Units

  • Cut nine 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ squares from dark fabric.
AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 2

Unit Two: Roman Candle Blocks (Stripes)

From the medium fat quarter and background fabric, cut the following:

  • Cut four 1-1/2″ crosswise strips (CWS) from medium fabric.
  • Cut two 1-1/2″ CWS from background fabric.
AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 6
  • Arrange the strips into two groups, as shown below:
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  • Join a light and medium strip from each grouping; chain piece.

AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 7

  • Snip the chain stitching. Open and press both pairs.
  • Add the remaining dark and light strips to each of the pressed pairs.
  • Open; press seam allowances toward the darker fabric.

AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 8

  • Subcut the strip sets into twelve 3-1/2″ sections.

AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 9

Unit Three: Nine-Patch Blocks

  • Cut two 1-1/2″ CWS from background fabric.
  • Cut two 1-1/2″ CWS from dark fabric.
  • Nancy Zieman Block of Month 2017Subcut CWS and create a strip set for the center of the 9-patch block:
    • Cut two 1-1/2″ x 12″ dark fabric strips .
    • Cut one 1-1/2″ x 12″ background fabric strip.
    • Arrange the strips as shown. Stitch strips together; press seam allowances toward darker fabric.
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    • Subcut the strip sets into four 1-1/2″ sections.

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  • Subcut the remaining CWS to create the strip sets for the top and lower sections of the 9-patch block:
    • Cut one 1-1/2″ x 15″ strip from dark fabric .
    • Cut two 1-1/2″ x 15″ strips from background fabric.
    • Arrange the strips as shown below. Stitch strips together. Press seam allowances toward the darker fabric.

AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 14

  • Subcut the strip set into eight 1-1/2″ sections.
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  • Arrange the 9-patch blocks with the lighter fabrics at each corner.

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  • Join the top two rows, locking seam allowances.
  • Open; add the remaining row.

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  • Open; press.
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  • Make a total of four 9-patch blocks, measuring 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.

Create Block

  • Arrange the large block as shown:

AprilBoM Nancy Zieman 20

  • Rows one, three, and five are identical.
  • Press seam allowances for these rows to the right.

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  • Rows two and four are also identical.
  • Press seam allowances for these rows to the left.

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  • Sew rows together.
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  • Lock the opposing seam allowances.

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  • Open and press.
AprilBoM Nancy Zieman WM

The fourth block in the 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt is solved!
* Album Block, illustrated in The Ladies Art Co, 1898. 

Share Your Success!

If you are on social sites, let all your friends know you are working on Nancy Zieman’s 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt by tagging your post with the hashtag: #NZBoM. Share your finished blocks with Nancy and her team by emailing them to [email protected].

During the 2015 Quilt Adventure and the 2016 Quilt Extravaganza, I shared three virtual quilt designs made with the month’s single block. This year, I’m changing it up and sharing block color variations of one block.  Please note that the fabrics required for color-varied blocks will be slightly different than the original block of the month directions presented.

Take your Block to the Next Level

  • Visualize an entire quilt made from this block. Each block will measure 15″ square when sewn into a quilt. The blocks shown below are set on point and a 1″ (finished) sashing strip frames each block. The entire quilt is then framed with a 1″ (finished) border and a 3″ (finished) border. Read more on finishing the quilt in my book Fearless Quilting Finishes.

AprilBoM TraditionalQuilt NancyZieman

  • Notice the subtle differences in these four color variations of the Album Quilt block.

AprilBoM2 NancyZieman

AprilBoM3 NancyZieman 

. .
AprilBoM4 NancyZieman
AprilBoM5 NancyZieman 
Virtual concepts presented in this post are created using Electric Quilt 7 (EQ7) software, available at Nancy’s Notions.

Watch Fearless Quilting Finishes on Sewing With Nancy online.

If you missed any of the complete block tutorials, find the 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Block of the Month on my blog.

Watch for the May Block of the Month on Saturday, May 20th.

Bye for now,
Nancy Zieman The Blog

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15 Comments

  • Lisa Robles
    April 15, 2017

    Want to quilt on a budget scarred to cut.

  • Noreen
    April 15, 2017

    You make quilting look so easy!

  • Starla
    April 15, 2017

    Beautiful!

  • Clovis
    April 15, 2017

    Thanks, Nancy.

  • Dorothea Maxey
    April 15, 2017

    Nancy, thank you so much for giving all a wonderful quilting experience, I am making each block in 2 different color schemes. these blocks are all beautiful and fun to make. My father when doing carpenter work used that phrase, measure twice, cut once. It is so true.!

  • Erin M
    April 15, 2017

    I always enjoy reading Nancy’s blogs. She has so many creative ideas and her instructions are always clear. Thank you, Nancy, for all you have given to many of us over the years. You are my inspiration!

  • Sue Proffitt
    April 15, 2017

    The fabric selection really makes this block stand out. The directions show this is a simple block to assemble.

  • Valerie Thompson
    April 15, 2017

    What size of quilt will the block of the month end up being? I just love the blocks so far but I haven’t started to make it yet and I want to make my husband and I a bed quilt (queen) for our bed. Thank you for the ideas and inspiration

  • Carol l
    April 16, 2017

    Love reading ur blogs, always have. However I dont appreciate printing it out entirely. Just lookig to print each months pattern.

  • Jeanette Schultz
    May 8, 2017

    Your so helpful because you tell the exact size, length, and take time to help the amateur like me. Thanks so much.

  • Knella
    May 19, 2017

    Can hardly WAIT for May’s block!!!

  • Melanie Jackson
    June 21, 2017

    Dear Nancy: Could you please let me know the measurements for Block #4’s Take it to the next level?

    Sincerely,

    Melanie Jackson

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