Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along: Part 1

NOTE:  If you are just now hearing about the Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along, and would like to find out more, click HERE.

Hello Friends, with your fabrics and supplies ready, get set, GO!  This is what I was able to accomplished for the Part 1 of Spring on Bleecker Street Sew-Along!

This block took me 2 hours to make.  But then, it might not take you as long because I am an extremely slow piecer!

A few things that helped me in making this block.  Please note that what I am in no way dogmatic about what I am sharing below.  Please feel free to use your tried and true tricks! :)

#1.  Starch — I am the starchy type when it comes to piecing.  I always stabilize my fabrics by press-starching them, especially when I know I will be cutting small pieces.  I actually don’t have a favorite brand.  So I am curious to know what brand of starch you use if you press-starch your fabrics.

#2.  In making the roof unit, I finger pressed my sew-and-flip piece first before trimming… and all that BEFORE I pressed my seam open with a hot iron.  Since I press-starch my fabric, I don’t use steam when I press.

When matching the roof units, I made sure the diagonal seams on both units are right on top of each other.  Then I place a pin diagonally matching the diagonal seams, before sewing the units together.

By doing that, I ended up with a nice looking eaves.

#3.  Since there’s not butting of seams, and due to the fact that the window unit being made with small pieces, I pressed open my seams for the window and door units.  That way I don’t lose any “fabric real estate” which happens when I press my seams to one side.

#4.  I was a little more careful than usual when sewing the 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ ground fabric square onto the green rectangles for the tree unit.  I pinned my square as shown so that it was kept nicely in place when I fed the pieces through the machine.

#5.  So, you are supposed to sew (2) 1 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ ground rectangles in step 9 on page 5 of the instructions.  The ground rectangles should be (2) 1″ x 8 1/2″.  The dimensions are correct in the cutting directions.

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And after 2 hours or so, you should have a nicely flat block! :)  Your block should measure approximately 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ raw edge to raw edge.

For those who are sewing along, you will have till March 13 to finish your block, and I do hope you will send me a picture of your block!

It was SO good to sew something for me and doesn’t really have a deadline.  But it’s time for me to go back to work on work-related things. :)

Feel free to share tips and tricks and thoughts you have on the block on this post.   Have FUN!