Today is my day to share a block with you for Kim’s Home Sweet Home Quilt-Along. Thanks to Kim for inviting me to participate. This is the 10th block in the QAL. Visit Kim’s site to see the other gorgeous blocks that have been designed and the Flickr group to see how others have made the blocks.

As part of the quilt-along, Kim sent me some questions to answer. Read my interview here.

My block is called A Home for the Birds and finishes at 12″ square. It is created with fusible web and a machine blanket stitch. You could use any appliqué method you like to complete the block.

Requirements:

• Download the pattern pieces
• 2 rectangles 5.75″ x 12.5″ for background (sky fabric)
• various fabric scraps for the birdhouses
• 8 – 2″ squares that will be pieced in between the background rectangles
• fusible web

Instructions:

Trace two copies of each of the pattern pieces onto your preferred fusible web. You’ll also need two rectangles of fusible for the birdhouse trunks that measure 4.5″ x 0.75″. Audition your scraps.

Fuse the fusible web to the background of your chosen fabrics following the manufacturer’s instructions. Cut out all of the pattern shapes. I used a rotary cutter for the straight lines.

Fold and finger press your background fabric, right sides together, along the long side. Use this fold line to position your birdhouse in the centre of your background rectangle.

Use a ruler to align your pieces straight.

Once you are happy with the arrangement, fuse the pieces in place.

I chose to use a short, but thick, blanket stitch in a contrasting colour.

Piece your 2″ squares into a strip using a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seams open with a dry iron. This strip should measure 2″ x 12.5″.

Layout your block to get the orientation correct. Stitch one background to the 2″ scrappy strip, press seam open. Then stitch and press the other side.

Completed block.

Be sure to visit Kim’s Home Sweet Home QAL page to see the other blocks. If you complete this block, please upload your version to the QAL Flickr group and also to the Quilting Gallery Flickr group or tag me in Facebook. I’d love to see your block.