2016 Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop

Sep 13, 2016

Hello and Welcome to the 2016 Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop! My name is Amista Baker and I've got a quick great looking block for you thats perfect for fussy cuts with a step-by-step photo tutorial! On down in the post you can see this block used in a quilt to see how versatile it is!

Here's a little description of the blog hop and some more info from Yvonne / Quilting Jetgirl:

Cloud9 is generously sponsoring this New Block Blog Hop featuring their Organic Cirrus Solids. The blog hop hosts, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, and Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, have curated the “Berry Harvest” bundle, and Cloud9 is supplying each participant with a fat quarter bundle. Blocks made for the hop will be collected and made into quilts for donation.

My block is named "Mazarin" after the lesser known diamond cut. I designed it myself after sketching some ideas on graph paper. Three or four designs in I came up with this block and I totally fell in love with it! The thing i love the most? It's nearly waste-free. Myself and my pattern testers did very very little trimming to these blocks, making the block extremely effective at using up as much of the fabric as necessary with little to no waste!

I am always looking for that perfect block that allows you to use fussy cuts or prints you really want to showcase in the middle. This block does exactly that! I has a generous 6" center thats perfect for those prints you cant bear to cut up or really want to show off. Most of the outer corners are an easy "exploding" block technique, that if you have tried before you will totally fall in love with!

I had a few pattern testers as well, after the tutorial keep reading to see their beautiful quilts! ;)

On to the tutorial...

I’ll be constructing this block using organic Cloud9 Cirrus Solids in Sky, Amazon, Lilac, Iris, and Shadow. I will refer to the blocks by color name, shown in the photo below. Basic sewing / quilting supplies required.

Top to Bottom: cloud9 Cirrus Solids in Lilac, Amazon, Shadow, Iris, Sky

Fabric Requirements: *for one block

6” square center block in “Iris”
6” square overlay block in “Amazon”
7.75” square overlay block in “Sky”
4 - 2” square blocks in “Lilac”
2 - 1.75” x 10” strips in “Shadow”
2 - 1.75” x 12.5” stripes in “Shadow”

Finished block: 12 1/2" square

You can download and save the free PDF block instructions here.

and you can also purchase the quilt pattern from My Shop or Craftsy for this block with detailed instructions, fabric requirement lists, and cutting requirements to make a 54" x 54" quilt.

Feel free to use this blank coloring block for designing your blocks! Click to download.

Block Construction:

Lay your 6x6” Iris block down and put (1) 2” square Lilac block in each corner. Sew a diagonal line across all (4) Lilac blocks as shown below.

Trim off excess fabric while leaving a ¼” seam on each corner. Press seams open.

Take your 6x6” Amazon block and mark lines diagonally from each corner. Using a ruler and a rotary cutter, cut on the marked lines approx 3-4 inches from the center, allowing the triangle pieces to open up (but not all the way!)

Place ontop of your previously made block (using Lilac and Iris) and pin in place.

Sew a ¼” seam around entire block.

Using small, very sharp scissors, finish cutting the lines we previously drew. Cut all the way to the seam you have sewn but DO NOT cut through the seam.

Open the flaps, flip the block over and press seams toward one side so they lie flat. Do not press them open.

Take your 7 3/4” square Sky block and mark lines diagonally from each corner. Using a ruler and a rotary cutter, cut on the marked lines approx 3-4 inches from the center, allowing the triangle pieces to open up (but not all the way! - just like we did in last step.)

Place ontop of your previously made block and pin in place.

Sew a ¼” seam around entire block. (This will look familiar, it repeats steps 2 & 3. Refer back to those photos if you need more help)

Using small, very sharp scissors, finish cutting the lines we previously drew. Cut all the way to the seam you have sewn but DO NOT cut through the seam.

Open the flaps, flip the block over and press seams toward one side so they lie flat.

6. Take your two 10” x 1 ¾” Shadow strips and sew one to the top and one to the bottom of your block with a ¼” seam. Press open.

Then, use your two 12 ½” x 1 ¾” Shadow strips and sew one to the left side and one to the right side of your block with a ¼” seam. Press open and you’re finished!

Interested in instructions for a quilt top?

I've written a detailed quilt pattern for this block as well. It includes tips and tricks, fabric requirements and cutting instructions for a 54" x 54" quilt top (with borders included). I take all of the guess work out of it for you!

Although the block itself is free, the quilt pattern comes at a small fee for those who don't wish to do all the math and planning themselves! Plus, it also has step-by-step photos :)

You can purchase it from My Shop or Craftsy.

Checkout the quilts my testers made...

Aren't these beautiful? I had some amazing pattern testers. They made gorgeous quilts in a short amount of time and provided me with great photos. Thank you so much Sarai, Whitney, and Alicia! You ladies were a lifesaver :)

Photo Credit: Alicia Benn - www.bequilting.com/blog - @bequilting

Photo Credit: Sarai Schuk- @sarai_hobbies

Photo Credit: Whitney - @whitsknitsnstitches

That's all for now!

Thanks for joining us! I hope you like my block, and remember if you use my tutorial please use #mazarinquiltblock or #mazarinquilt if you make an entire quilt from it. I would LOVE to see your creations!

Remember, you can download and save the free block instructions.
or purchase the full quilt instructions from My Shop or Craftsy.