March's Blocks! It's Laundry Day and Pie!

This month's blocks remind me of my grandma. I have such fond memories of visiting grandma and  grandpa on the farm. Remember the smell of pie just out of the oven? Love the smell of something baking. I remember helping grandma make pies for dessert. Apple pie, banana cream pie were two of our favorites to make on the farm. That summer I had graduated to being able to help in the kitchen, I felt pretty grown up rolling out pie crust. (I was about 15-16 years old) Grandma was pretty used to making these huge meals to feed all the guys, especially during harvest. My dinners pale compared to the feasts that grandma used to cook, not just once, but three times a day. There was always a dessert to enjoy after the meal with a big glass of milk, or cup of coffee.

I just had to have a block with grandma's clothesline... Who doesn't remember visiting grandma and crawling into bed with newly washed sheets. Remember how great they smelled, all fresh and outdoorsy. No fabric softener sheet can replicate that. I know, I've tried! The only way to get that true springtime fresh is from a set of sheets that were hung outside to dry on the clothesline.

This year's BOM is a very traditional design using 1930's fabrics. These fabrics remind me so much of grandma and her cotton dresses. I hope that you have fun with this pattern. March's pattern has everything you need to complete these two blocks. You will get the directions on how to make the Dresden plate block. Feel free to make all 12 Dresden circles if you would like. The left over fabric from the Dresden Blades will be used for the applique designs. Remember the blocks are set on point. The supply list can be found on my website along with this month's directions. March's directions are only FREE this month, then after that they will be found on my Etsy site for a small fee. You can also find the directions in my Craftsy Shop too. So let's get started....

HINT: I have been throwing all of my scraps as I cut 'plates' into this little bin on my cutting table.

Why? It's been very useful for some of my applique pieces. But also, we will use some of these towards the end of the quilt....

Using the blade template cut 1 blade for each fabric.

16 different fabrics total for each block.

You will make 12 blocks all together for this quilt.

Fold the blade in half lengthwise, right sides together and sew a quarter inch seam along the short straight edge (Top edge). This will form the 'point' when you turn it right side out.

Here I have all my blades pressed for one block.

Sew your blades together in pairs, right sides together. Continue to sew blades together along the long side until you form a 16 section plate.

I love the scrappiness of this 'plate'.

I ironed the circle in half, then in half again. And one more time so that I have 'markers' for lining up my circle with my plate section.

I line the seam up with the folded marking and ease my circle and plate section together.

I hold it all together with pins. A lot of pins...

I sew the two together with a 1/4" seam.

The center is the perfect spot for an applique!
HINT: The circle will 'lay down smoother if--- iron the Dresden plate from the back side and iron the circle seam out towards the points.  Then press the front side of the Dresden block.
I don't know what it is, but the block will iron out so much better when done this way.

I have all my pieces traced onto my heat n bond.

If you center your Dresden plate over the pattern placement sheet, you can see the lines thru the white material. It makes it so nice to line up where to iron on the pieces.

All of my pieces are ironed on and ready to be blanket stitched.

I set my machine for a 2.5 length and 2.5 width for my blanket stitch.

'Wash Day'

'Pie'

I have not appliqued my Dresden plates onto my 12 1/2" white squares yet.

Patterns can be found on the Quilt Doodle website and on Craftsy (Not until the 1st of the month):

Fat Quarter bundles of 16 fat quarters are available in my Etsy store to get you started.

Tag me on Instagram with your photos #quiltdoodledesignsBOM2017 #quiltdoodledesigns @quiltdoodles
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's pies and clotheslines.

If you have a blog please help promote it and post my button on your sidebar!

Thank you!!!

My favorite picture of grandma and I, taken in front of her flower garden.

          Let’s have some quilty fun!

Cindy

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