December Block of the Month: New Album Quilt Block and Finishing Techniques for the 2019 Block of the Month Summer Picnic Quilt

2019 Block of the Month—December: “New Album” Quilt Block

In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the first of 12 blocks in the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series. Find the January through November Quilt Block Tutorials under Popular Blog Posts: 2019 Block of the Month. Join the New! Summer Picnic 2019 Block of the Month Series, anytime, by viewing the supply listing in the January 5th NZP Blog Posting.

Each month, we’re featuring one quilt block design. The quilt blocks are created using Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack* from Riley Blake Designs (*18″ x 22″ fabric rectangles) plus background, sashing, border, and binding fabrics. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create the December “New Album” Quilt Block (below).

Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner HERE. Make notes or pin swatches to remind you of the fabric placements.

2019 Block of the Month Afternoon Picnic December PDF

Choose the Fabrics

For the New! Summer Picnic 2019 FREE! Block of the Month Series, “New Album” December Quilt Block, select the following fabrics from your Nancy Zieman’s NEW! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack from Riley Blake Designs and a Nancy Zieman’s No-Hassle Triangle Gauge by Clover.

Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal, Afternoon Picnic Red Gingham and Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral.

December “New Album” Block

Instructions: (Each block is a 12″ finished square. Finished quilt measures approximately 44-1/2″ x 57-1/2″.)

 

If you haven’t already, it’s time to start cutting into your 3 yards of Cream Tonal fabric yardage (or a cream tonal fabric from your stash). Your Cream Tonal fat quarter will likely soon be depleted, and you’ll start cutting Cream Tonal block elements from the Cream Tonal 3 yd. fabric yardage – as listed in the Gather Your Supplies January 5th NZP Blog Posting.

 

Cut Fabric for Block

Using a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat:

Cut one 4-3/4″ square of Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal.
Cut four 3-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ rectangles of Afternoon Picnic Red Gingham.
Cut four 3-1/2″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Cream Floral.
Cut two 3-7/8″ squares of Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal.





Construct The Units

All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.

The step-by-step photos illustrate construction of the block.

Mark blocks using a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge and an Erasable Gel Pen .
Use a No-Hassle Triangles Gauge . The left side of the gauge is designated to create 1/2-square triangle blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge and move to size of the desired 1/2-square triangle.

 

Place No-Hassle Triangles Gauge on Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal squares, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center of gauge with an Erasable Gel Pen .



Cut squares apart along center markings with a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat.

Stitch Center Square

Place the straight edge of the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle on the right edge of Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal square, right sides together. Be sure to center the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle edge within the Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal square. Stitch.

Open and press seam allowances toward the triangle.

Place the straight edge of the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle on the left edge of Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal square, right sides together. Be sure to center the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle edge within the Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal square. Stitch.

Open and press seam allowances toward the triangle.

Place the straight edge of the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle on the top edge of Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal square. Be sure to center the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle edge within the Afternoon Picnic Red tonal square. Stitch.

Open and press seam allowances toward the triangle.

Place the straight edge of the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle on the top edge of Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal square. Be sure to center the Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal fabric triangle edge within the Afternoon Picnic Red Tonal square. Stitch.

Open and press seam allowances toward the triangle.

Trim away any small triangles, often called “Dog Ears,” using a pair of scissors or rotary cutter, ruler, and mat. Center block should measure approximately 6-1/2″ square.

Assemble Blocks

Layout block following diagram. Rotate squares as necessary.


Join Squares

Place square from top row left column onto middle column, right sides together. Stitch. Repeat with right column and center column.


Press seams open or to one side.


Place square from middle row left column onto middle column, right sides together. Stitch. Repeat with right column and center column.


Press seams open or to one side.


Place square from bottom row left column onto middle column, right sides together. Stitch. Repeat with right column and center column.


Press seams open or to one side.



Place top row onto middle row, right sides together, and stitch rows together.
Press seam open or to one side.

Place bottom row onto middle row, right sides together, and stitch rows together to create complete block.
Press seam open or to one side.

Assemble and Finish the Afternoon Picnic 2019 NZP Block of the Month Quilt

The 2019 NZP Fat Quarter Mystery is a mystery no more! Team Nancy Zieman designed this quilt titled, Summer Picnic. The entire NZP Team appreciates each and everyone of you who have tuned in each month, on the third Saturday, to see our new “Summer Picnic” block tutorial revealed!

The Nancy Zieman Blog readers, fans, and followers shared a few of their blocks each month with the NZP Team. With so many beautiful quilt blocks shared throughout 2019, we’d love to see your finished quilt top or quilt. When you have your quilt top ready, please email your pictures to info@ziemanproducitons.com.

If you’ve missed a block, no worries! You can always find block pattern tutorials from any of NZP’s Block of the Month programs, FREE and linked in the upper right-hand side bar.

2019 Block of the Month, “Summer Picnic”
Block Recap

 

Supplies for Finishing the 2019 Block of the Month Summer Picnic Quilt

1-1/2 yd. border and binding fabric. (Team Nancy Zieman is using 1-1/2 yards Cream Tonal from the Afternoon Picnic Fabric Collection. )
1 yd. sashing fabric. (Team Nancy Zieman is using 1 yard Blue Rose from the Afternoon Picnic Fabric Collection. )
3 yd. backing fabric.
1-2/3 yd. Pellon 96″ wide 80/20 Cotton Quilt Batting.
Matching all-purpose sewing thread.

Prepare Quilt Blocks

Square all blocks using a 12-1/2″ square ruler, rotary cutter, and cutting mat. Each of the 12 blocks should measure 12-1/2″ square. 

Prepare Sashing Strips

For sashing strips cut ten 2-1/2″ crosswise fabric strips from Afternoon Picnic Blue Rose.

Join sashing strips together at short ends, right sides together, with diagonal seams to reduce bulk; trim away excess fabric leaving 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seams one side or press open.



Using a ruler, rotary cutter and mat, cut eight strips 2-1/2″ x  12-1/2″.
For horizontal sashing strips cut five crosswise fabric strips 2-1/2″ x 40-1/2″.
For vertical sashing strips cut two 2-1/2″ x 58-1/2″.

 

 Prepare Border Strips

Cut six 5-1/4″ crosswise fabric strips from Afternoon Picnic Cream Tonal.



Join the sashing strips together at short ends, right sides together, with diagonal seams to reduce bulk; trim away excess fabric leaving 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seams one side or press open.



Using rotary cutter, ruler, and mat, cut borders …
For horizontal borders cut two 5-1/4″ x 49″ strips.
For vertical borders cut two 5-1/4″ x 68- 1/2″ strips.

Assemble and Complete the Quilt

      All seams allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated.

 Layout quilt blocks three wide and four tall, following diagram. Or, choose your own  3 x 4 quilt block layout! Rotate blocks as necessary.




Prepare block rows as shown.
Align Afternoon Picnic Blue Rose vertical sashing strips between blocks.




Working with one row at a time, join vertical sashing to blocks, right sides together.
Pin and stitch.
Press seams open or to one side.




Align horizontal sashing rows above, between and below block rows.





Working with one row at a time, join horizontal sashing to blocks, right sides together.
Pin and stitch.
Press seams open or to one side.



_


Align vertical sashing rows on long sides of quilt top.





Join vertical sashing to blocks, right sides together.
Pin and stitch.
Press seams open or to one side.





Align the border strips with the top and bottom of the quilt top.





Join horizontal borders to quilt top, right sides together.
Pin and stitch.
Press seams open or to one side.





Align the border strips with the sides of the quilt top.






Join horizontal borders to quilt top, right sides together.
Pin and stitch.
Press seams open or to one side.

Ta dah! Here is our finished quilt top, approximately 54″ wide by 68″ long. We look forward to sharing a photo, when the machine quilting is complete.

Bind quilts, table runners, and wall hangings with Nancy Zieman’s Absolute Easiest Way to Bind Quilts FREE! Sewing Tutorial.



Watch Nancy Zieman’s Easy Quilt Binding Tutorial Video and learn how to add a binding to your quilt, table runner, and/or wall hanging!


Watch No-Hassle Triangles Quilt Blocks (Part One and Part Two) on The Best of Sewing With Nancy online.

FREE! Peppermint Mug Rug Project Sheet by Team NZP

Celebrate the Holiday Season with Team NZP! “Follow” and “Like” the Stitch it! Sisters on Facebook during the month of December, and receive a FREE! Peppermint Mug Rug Pattern Printable PDF! Follow the Stitch it! Sisters on Facebook by clicking the “Like” button and “Follow” button at facebook.com/stitchitsisters.

Visit the NEW! NZP Online Shop for the latest tools, patterns, fabrics and more at shopnzp.com!

Visit shopnzp.com, or click the “ shop ” tab
at the top of the NZP blog, anytime!

 

7-Day Sale
Save 10%-30% Off Select Products and No-Hassle Napkin & Table Topper Bundle Box *plus FREE standard shipping*, through Wed. Dec. 25, 2019, at shopnzp.com

For a chance to win Nancy Zieman’s New! Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack please leave a comment below.Nancy Zieman Productions will give away one Afternoon Picnic Fat Quarter Pack  to one US resident in the 48 contiguous states. Winner must reply within 30 days to the official giveaway announcement email message – sent from Nancy Zieman Productions.

 

Happy Quilting!

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.

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