Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt: December Block of the Month

December WM NancyZieman

Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt: December Block of the Month

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

December WM NancyZieman

Introducing the December Block of the Month

Puss in the Corner* block is the FINAL Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt Block for 2017. 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!

If you missed any of the complete block tutorials, find the 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Block of the Month on the NZP blog. And, we’ll post the directions for finishing this quilt on December 30. Sign up for the Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC newsletter to have the directions delivered directly to your email inbox. Once your quilt top is finished OR your quilt is finished, we’d love to see a photo and possibly feature it on the NZP blog and social media sites. Email pictures to [email protected].

During this 12-month block of the month challenge, all blocks are made from one 24-piece fat quarter bundle and 2-1/4 yards of cream background fabric. We’re using the fat quarter bundle, Garnet, it’s Nancy’s 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 Puss in the Corner block, select the following fabrics from your Garnet fat-quarter bundle. If you’ve chosen another fabric collection, select two medium tones, one dark tone, and one light tone for a total of four fabrics.

December2018 BOM NancyZieman 1

Cut

  • Two 3-7/8″ squares for HSTs (light fabric)
  • Two 3-7/8″ squares for HSTs (dark fabric)
  • Four 3-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ rectangles (medium fabric)
  • One 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ rectangle (medium feature fabric)

Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

  • Layer two light 3-7/8″ squares on two dark 3-7/8″ squares, matching right sides.
  • Mark each block set diagonally from corner to corner, using a fabric marking pen and ruler.
  •  For greatest accuracy, use a No-Hassle Triangle Gauge. The left side of the gauge is designed to create the 3-1/2″ HST blocks used in the Puss in the Corner.

January 2017 Block of the Month by Nancy Zieman/Sewing WIth Nancy

  • Depress the button on the sliding portion of the gauge and move to the 3-1/2″ HST icon on the left side of the gauge.
  • Place gauge on the block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with a fine-point, fabric-marking pen.

NancyZieman MayBoM 7

Note From Team Nancy 

The advantage of using the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge is accuracy. It’s easy to double check that the block set fits within the confines of the gauge. If the block set extends beyond or is shorter, trim or cut another block.

 

Stitch Half-Square Triangle Block Sets

  • Attach a 1/4″ patchwork/quilting foot.
  • Set machine for a straight stitch, 2.0–2.5 mm in length.
  • Align foot along one side of the center marked line; stitch a scant 1/4″ from center marked line. Do not cut the threads.
  • Kiss the next block set to the stitched block and chain stitch from one block to the other.
June 2017 Nancy Zieman 11
  • Clip threads between chain stitched blocks. Rotate blocks 180-degrees. Align foot along second side of center marked line; stitch. Clip threads between chain stitched blocks.
June 2017 Nancy Zieman 12
  • With a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler, cut the blocks apart along centerline markings.

June 2017 Nancy Zieman 15

  • Press seam allowances toward the darker fabric.
  • Create a total of four HST units.

Create the Block

  • All seam allowances are 1/4″.
  • Arrange block pieces as shown:
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 2

  • Fold the right and left units onto the center pieces of each row, matching right sides. Pin.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 3

  • Stitch.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 4
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 7
  • Open the top and bottom rows.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 5
  • Press the top and bottom rows’ seam allowances towards the long rectangle.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 6
  • Open the middle row. Press the seam allowances towards the long rectangles.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 8

  • Arrange rows.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 9

  • Fold the top and bottom rows onto the center, matching right sides.
  • Interlock the seam intersections. Pin.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 10

  • Stitch.
December2018 BOM NancyZieman 11
  • Open and press.
December WM NancyZieman
The next stop on the 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt is the finishing details! Please feel free to finish the quilt any way you like, or join Team Nancy Zieman on Dec. 30th, as we reveal the final finishing steps for this beautiful quilt.
* Puss in the Corner Block, illustrated in Ladies Art Company, published in 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 Team Nancy Zieman by emailing them to [email protected].

During the 2015 Quilt Adventure and the 2016 Quilt Extravaganza, Nancy shared three virtual quilt designs made with the month’s single block. This year, she changed it up and shared 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. This quilt focuses on the contrasting light and dark halves of the Puss in the Corner block. Use HSTs as cornerstones in with high-contrast sashing to really compliment the simple design of the block.  Read more on finishing the quilt in Nancy’s book Fearless Quilting Finishes.
OnPoint TwoBlocks NancyZieman
  • Notice the subtle differences in these four color variations of the Puss in the Corner block.

O2 December NancyZieman
O3 December NancyZieman
O4 December NancyZieman
O5 December NancyZieman

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

If you missed any of the complete block tutorials, find the 2017 Fat Quarter Mystery Block of the Month on Nancy’s blog. And, we’ll post the directions for finishing this quilt on December 30. Sign up for the Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC newsletter to have the directions delivered directly to your email inbox. Once your quilt top is finished OR your quilt is finished, we’d love to see a picture and possibly feature it on our blog and social media sites. Email pictures to [email protected].


Farmhouse Florals by Nancy Zieman for Penny Rose Fabrics | Riley Blake

Get ready for the 2018 Block of the Month!

The new 2018 NZP Block of the Month program will feature Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Farmhouse Florals Collection by Penny Rose Fabrics. Here’s the inside scoop:

  •  2018 NZP Block of the Month kicks off in January 2018.
  • As always, there’s no cost to join and no need to formally sign up.
  • One block will be stitched in two colors each month.
  • 2018 NZP Block of the Month is Fat Quarter Friendly.
  • 2018 NZP Block of the Month Project lasts only six months.

Happy Sewing,

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC.

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC

Content in this feed is © copyright 2017 by Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC. and may not be republished without written permission. You’re welcome to forward the email to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as content on a blog or other website. The FTC requires us to tell you that Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC has provided products by other companies in the course of doing business. The FTC requires us to advise you to take this information into consideration when reading this posting.
Make sure you are subscribed to Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC. enews mailing list so you won’t miss a thing. Sign up here. Join Nancy Zieman and Friends on Facebook, plus a host of other social media channels. Connect With Nancy Zieman and Friends today!
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

2 Comments

  • Linda
    December 16, 2017

    Beautiful quilt Love the fabric and colors !!

  • Knella
    December 29, 2017

    I enjoyed making these blocks this year. The only thing that bothers me, and I followed the color choices diligently through the year, is I don’t have enough of the center square fabric left AND I have a couple fat quarters that haven’t been used! Wish they would have watched this more closely.

Post a Comment