Border Stripes - December

Size:  5-1/2" x 11" Finished (Make 16)
December 2004 Quilt Block of the Month Free from BlockCentral.com
(If you have trouble printing this page, try this .pdf file.)

Notes:

• This block is paper-pieced and is the mirror image of the November blocks.
• The paper-piecing pattern can be found here.  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to open the PDF file.  
• The pattern must be printed on legal size paper (8-1/2" x 14").  Not sure where to find legal size paper?  Try Wal-Mart or any office supply store.
• Make sure that you've got "Print as Image" checked and "Legal Size" selected on your print screen.  Once you've printed it out, be sure to check that it printed to the correct size. (5.5" x 11" on the outer solid lines or 6" x 11.5" on the dashed lines.)

Cutting Instructions (for all sixteen paper-pieced blocks):

*See Fabric Requirement Chart for fabric key.

Sewing Instructions:

Step 1:  Make (or print out)16 copies of the paper foundation pattern. Click here for the paper foundation pattern in .pdf format.  Cut around each foundation about 1/8” from the outer edge of the dotted lines.

Step 2:  Layer a Fabric 6 (cream) 3-1/2" x 14” rectangle on a Fabric 2 (light green) 3-1/2" x 14” rectangle, right sides together.  Place the top edge of the layered rectangles about 1/4” above the line between section 1 and section 2 on the wrong side of the paper foundation.  Pin in place on the printed side of the paper foundation.  Using a very short stitch length setting, machine stitch on the line between section 1 and section 2.  (You will sew on the printed side of the paper foundation.  The fabric will be UNDER the paper.)  Flip the Fabric 6 (cream) rectangle over to cover the seam and press with a warm, dry iron.

Step 3:  Fold the paper foundation along the line between section 2 and section 3.  Trim the Fabric 6 (cream) rectangle to 1/4” above the folded paper.  Unfold the paper foundation and layer a Fabric 4 (gold) 3-1/2" x 8" rectangle on the Fabric 6 (cream) rectangle, right sides together.  Pin in place.  Machine stitch along the line between section 2 & 3.  Flip Fabric 4 (gold) over to cover the seam and press. 

Step 4:  Fold the paper foundation along the line between section 1 and section 4.  Trim the Fabric 2 (light green) rectangle to 1/4” above the folded paper.  Unfold the paper foundation and layer a Fabric 3 (red) rectangle on the Fabric 2 (light green) rectangle, right sides together.  Pin in place and machine stitch along the line between section 1 and section 4.  Flip the Fabric 3 (red) rectangle over to cover the seam and press. 

Step 5:  Trim the excess fabric and paper away by cutting along the dotted edge of the paper foundation. (I like to use a straight edge (acrylic ruler) and rotary cutter with an old rotary cutting blade for this task.)

Step 6:  Repeat Steps 2 through 5 fifteen more times for a total of sixteen Border Stripe blocks blocks.  Leave the paper foundations in place for now.  They will be removed in a later step.

Assembling the Outer Border:

Step 1:  Using your November and December blocks, arrange them into two rows as shown below:

(Side Borders)

Step 2:  Using your October blocks, and the remaining November and December blocks, arrange them into two rows as shown below:

(Top & Bottom Borders)

Step 3:  Sew the side borders to the left and ride sides of your quilt top.

Step 4:  Sew the top and bottom borders to the top and bottom of the quilt.

Step 5:  Remove the paper foundations from the November and December blocks.

Congratulations!  You have finished piecing the "Many Designs of Friendship" quilt!  You may now quilt as desired.  

Binding:  For your binding, you'll need to cut eleven 2-1/2" strips from your binding fabric.  Sew the strips together end to end, pressing the seams open.  Fold your binding strip in half with wrong sides together, matching one long side with the other long side.  Press with a warm, dry iron.  Bind the quilt, using your favorite method.

Thank you all for making this such a fun block of the month series!  I would love to see photographs of your finished tops.  Just send them to me and I'll put them on a special page for everyone to enjoy!  ~Kim