December 2023 NZP Block of the Month: Blocks Plus Assemble & Finish!

Our NEW! 2023 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series is a great way to finish a quilt in manageable monthly installments. One block at a time is an easy approach to creating a quilt. Plus our BoM23 is fat quarter friendly. Whether you’re a beginner quilter or seasoned quilter, our block of the month series is a great opportunity to get stitching in the new year. Team NZP is honored to continue Nancy Zieman’s Block of the Month program with our free monthly block sewing tutorials! We’ll be keeping the finished quilt design a mystery until later in December 2023! Hint: This year’s quilt is not a block sampler and will not have borders!   This year, you may choose from two different Fat Quarter Bundle Colorways by our friends at Benartex: Choose Hugs & Kisses Fat Quarter Bundle includes twenty-one 18″ x 21″ fabric rectangles –  Or, choose All American Gnomes Fat Quarter Bundle includes twenty 18″ x 21″ fabric rectangles.

Gather Your Fabrics and Supplies

All blocks will feature fabrics from one Hugs & Kisses Fat Quarter Bundle or All American Gnomes Fat Quarter Bundle! Finished quilt measures approximately 72″ x 72″. For this quilt project, you will need:

One Hugs & Kisses Fat Quarter Bundle or  All American Gnomes Fat Quarter Bundle ! Our Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP No-Hassle Triangles Gauge by Nancy Zieman for Clover 3-1/2 yd. White Block Background Fabric (options listed below)1 yd. Binding Fabric (options listed below)4-1/2 yd. White Quilt Backing FabricBasic Supplies and Tools Listed Below

2023 NZP Mystery Block of the Month

The Hugs & Kisses Fat Quarter Bundle or All American Gnomes Fat Quarter Bundle by Benartex offers two beautiful colorways to choose from! Each Fat Quarter Pack  includes twenty 18″ x 21″ 100% cotton designer fabrics. Choosing just one collection may be the most difficult part of our BoM23!

Join the 2023 Nancy Zieman Productions Mystery Block of the Month!

Our NEW! 2023 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series will feature Hugs & Kisses Fat Quarter Bundle or All American Gnomes Fat Quarter Bundle! Here’s the inside scoop:

2023 NZP Mystery Block of the Month Series kicked off Saturday, January 21, 2023.As always, there’s no cost to join and no need to formally sign up.Block designs will be announced the Third Saturday each month.2023 NZP Block of the Month is fat quarter friendly.2023 NZP Block of the Month project lasts 12 months.Sharpen Your Tools

Well, not really, but do make certain that you have a sharp blade in your rotary cutter, and gather your No-Hassle Triangles Ruler, rotary cutting mat and pressing notions. The main tools for our 2023 Block of the Month are our Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP and the No-Hassle Triangles Gauge by Nancy Zieman for Clover. You may have already guessed the blocks will be made with a few triangles! Great News! Half-Square and Quarter-Square Triangles are easy to create with our Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler and No-Hassle Triangles Gauge!

Basic Supplies for NEW! 2023 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series!

You’re the designer, choose between TWO Fat Qtr. Packs, then choose coordinating Block Background Fabric, and Binding Fabric by our friends at Benartex:

One  Hugs & Kisses Fat Quarter Bundle  or  All American Gnomes Fat Quarter Bundle ! Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP No-Hassle Triangles Gauge by Nancy Zieman for Clover 3-1/2 yd. White Block Background Fabric, choose one: Hugs & Kisses Shimmery Marble White(for Hugs& Kisses colorway), White Stars Tone On Tone Fabric(for All American Gnomes colorway) or for either colorway: Day and Night Paisley White, or Day and Night Dot Waves White, or Day and Night Geo Bloom White Fabric by the Yard, or a coordinating white solid or white tone on tone fabric from your stash.1 yd. Binding Fabric, “Hugs & Kisses” choose one: A Coordinating Hugs and Kisses Fabric by the yard, such as: Hugs & Kisses XOXO Hearts Black Fabric by the Yard or Hugs & Kisses XOXO Hearts Red Fabric by the Yard.  Or 1 yd. Binding “All American Gnomes” Fabric: A Coordinating All American Gnomes Fabric by the yard, such as: Fireworks Celebration Blue Fabric by the Yard or Star Spangled Fabric Navy Blue by the yard.4-1/2 yd. White Backing Fabric Queen Size Pellon Nature’s Touch 80/20 Cotton Quilt Batting Size 75 Schmetz Quilting Needles Clover’s Quilting Pins June Tailor’s Starch Savvy Tailor’s Clapper Frixion Marking Pen 45 mm Rotary Cutter and Cutting Mat 1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot Optional:  Clover’s Ultimate Quilt ‘N Stitch Presser Foot  for quiltingOptional:  Clover’s Fine White Marking Pen Optional:  Quilt Basting Spray Optional:  Clover’s NEW! Wonder Pins Silk Finish Cotton Quilting Thread for piecingIron

Get Started Today!

Prepare for the NEW! 2023 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series by gathering and organizing your supplies. Organize your sewing space, and as soon as you have your fabrics, press & starch all Fat Quarters. Did you follow along with one or more of our previous NZP Block of the Month Series? If you finished part of all of the quilt blocks or the entire project, please share photos. We’d love to see and share them! Email your finished BoM quilt or quilt top photos to info@ziemanproductions.com. Find all the Supplies for NEW! 2023 Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series at Nancy Zieman Productions at ShopNZP.com! You’re the designer, choose one colorway from the Fat Quarter Pack options above with coordinating Block Background Fabric, and Border and Binding Fabric by Benartex, above!

 

 

All blocks will feature fabrics from the Hugs & Kisses Fat Quarter Bundle or All American Gnomes Fat Quarter Bundle along with our Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP and Nancy’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge by Clover. Follow along as we share step-by-step how to create the December Quilt Blocks.

December Quilt Blocks

 

Keep your fabric choices sorted using this handy Fabric Planner diagram. Download the planner(s), make notes, and/or pin cut block elements to the planner to remind you of the fabric placements. December 2023 NZP Block of the Month Planner(s)

 

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Prepare your fabrics! Pre-shrink fabrics by steaming and pressing. Then, stabilize fabrics for the sewing process by pressing and starching fabrics with Quilter’s Starch Savvy.

December 2023 NZP Block of the Month Quilt Blocks

This block is 12-1/2″ square; 12″ finished square. Approx. Finished Quilt Size 72″ x 72″ This month we’re featuring Two block designs. Follow along as we demonstrate how to create the December Quilt Blocks.

     This month we’re illustrating the All American Gnomes Colorway ! See below for the Hugs & Kisses Colorway! Cut Fabrics for Two December Quilt BlocksAll American Gnomes:Cut Three 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Americana Butterflies Navy Blue Fabric.Cut Four  3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Star Spangled Navy Blue Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares Fireworks Celebration Navy Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from All American Gnomes Words Blue Fabric.Cut Three 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from American Gnomes Liberty Tossed Navy Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Liberty Hearts Navy Blue Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from American Trellis Royal Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from American Trellis Medium Blue Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from All American Gnomes Gnometown USA Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Americana Butterflies Red Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from American Trellis Red Fabric.Cut Six 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from All American Gnomes Words White Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from American Gnomes Patriotic Gnomes Fabric.Cut Five 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from American Gnomes Liberty Tossed White Fabric.Cut Three 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares Fireworks Celebration White Fabric.Cut Three 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Americana Butterflies White Fabric.Cut Five 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Star Spangled White Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares Liberty Hearts White Fabric.Cut Twelve 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from

Using the  Exclusive No-Hassle Triangles Ruler by Team NZP, cut fabric strips and subcut into squares above as needed.

Construct Blocks

All seam allowances are scant 1/4″ unless otherwise stated. Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)

Create 1/2-square triangle blocks from White Stars Tone on Tone and All American Gnomes Words Blue fabrics.Align 3-7/8″ squares right sides together. Pin

Mark blocks using a  Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge , and  Clover’s White Marking Pen  or a  Frixion Marking Pen. The left side of the  Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge  is designated to create 1/2-square triangle quilt blocks. Depress button on sliding portion of the gauge, and move to 3-7/8″ half-square triangle setting.

With squares right sides together. Place  Clover’s No-Hassle Triangles Gauge  on block set, corner to corner. Match corner marks of gauge with corner of block sets. Mark fabric through center die cut openings on gauge, with  Clover’s White Marking Pen  or a  Frixion Marking Pen. Repeat steps, marking all 3-7/8″ square block sets.

Stitch BlocksInsert a new  Size 75 Schmetz Quilting Needle  and attach  1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot  to sewing machine.Align  1/4″ Quilting Presser Foot  along one side of center mark, stitch.

Rotate blocks 180 degrees, stitch along the other side of center marked lines.

 

Cut block apart along center marked lines with a  rotary cutter, ruler, and mat .

Press seams flat.Open blocks and press seams open or press towards darker fabric – using a  Tailor’s Clapper  to set the seams.

Construct Blocks

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

Layout squares  as show below. Rotate blocks as needed.

Join ColumnsPlace first column to second column right sides together.  Pin. Stitch.Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a  Tailor’s Clapper  to set the seams.

Place first column set to second column set right sides together.  Pin. Stitch.Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a  Tailor’s Clapper  to set the seams.Join RowsPlace top row to second row right sides together.  Pin. Stitch.Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a  Tailor’s Clapper  to set the seams.Place third row to second row right sides together.  Pin. Stitch.Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a  Tailor’s Clapper  to set the seams.Place fourth row to third row right sides together.  Pin. Stitch.Press seams flat, then press open or to one side – using a  Tailor’s Clapper  to set the seams.Block A

Repeat steps above stitching the December Block B.Block B

The December All American Gnomes Quilt Blocks Are Complete!

       Be sure to label each block upon completion. This will help with assembly below!

Cut Fabrics for Two December Quilt BlocksHugs & Kisses:Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Square from Hugs & Kisses XOXO Hearts Black Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Square from Hugs & Kisses Hugs & Kisses Candy Black Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Latte Black Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Heart to Heart Black Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses XOXO Hearts Red Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Shimmery Marble Dark Pink Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Square from Hugs & Kisses Hugs & Kisses Candy Red Fabric.Cut Six 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Shimmery Marble Pink Fabric.Cut Two 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Cupid’s Love Pink Fabric.Cut Six 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses So Sweet White Fabric.Cut Nine 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses XOXO Hearts White Fabric.Cut Ten 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Heart to Heart White Fabric.Cut Five 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Candy White Fabric.Cut Twelve 3-1/2″ x 3-1/2″ Squares from Hugs & Kisses Shimmery Marble White Fabric

Repeat steps above stitching December Blocks.Block A

Block B

The December Hugs & Kisses Quilt Blocks Are Complete!

       Be sure to label each block upon completion. This will help with assembly below!

Assemble and Finish

Finished quilt measures approximately 72″ x 72″.