Seriously..I think it needs stitches.: National Espresso Day Quilt Block Tutorial

Today's quilt block for my National Days quilt is, to say the least... odd. But when I saw that today is National Espresso Day, I was intrigued to try to draw up a block for my quilt representing this day. I'm actually not much of a coffee drinker but my hub and brother are, so this block makes me think of them. This is my quilty take on an espresso machine. ⛾

I probably could've used darker browns, like in my drawing below, but I'm sticking to using scraps. For this block, I've used all scraps of Riley Blake basics and a couple of older Riley Blake fabric lines. I didn't have a lot of brown in my scrap bin to pick from. The espresso in my block doesn't look very strong. haha! It's fitting really, because I don't really like the taste of coffee... Unless it's whipped into some vanilla ice cream or mixed with chocolate. 🍫🤣⛾🍦

It's an 8" block, just like all of the others, and it was definitely a challenge to figure out. It contains only a couple of clip & flip corners, but it does involve some small piecing. But in the end, I really like it! It will make an interesting addition to my National Days scrap quilt!

Here's how I made it.

Fabric A (darker gray):
(1) 1" sq. (+)
(1) 1 x 1 1/2" (++)
(1) 1 x 2" (+++)
(2) 1 1/2 x 2" (#)
(1) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" (**)
(1) 2 x 4 1/2"
(1) 2 1/2 x 4 1/2"

Fabric B (black):
(6) 1 x 1 1/2" (++)
(3) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(2) 1 1/2 x 2 1/2" (**)
(1) 1 1/2 x 5"
(3) 2 x 2 1/2"
(1) 2 1/2" sq.

Fabric C (medium brown):
(1) 2 x 4"

Fabric D (lightest brown/tan):
(1) 1 1/2 x 4"

Fabric E (medium gray/silver):
(3) 1 1/2" sq. (*)

Fabric F (lighest gray/white):
(1) 1" sq. (+)
(3) 1 x 1 1/2" (++)
(2) 1 1/2" sq. (*)

Fabric G (white):
(1) 1 x 3"

Fabric H (darkest brown):
(1) 1 x 3"

Double Upper Corners

1. Place a square at the left end or left upper corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
2. Stitch from right upper to left lower corner.
3. Clip, flip & press.
4. Place a square at the right end or right upper corner of a rectangle or larger square, right sides together.
5. Stitch from left upper corner to right lower corner.
6. Clip, flip & press.

~Using (2) 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric B and a 2 x 4" rect. of Fabric C-long edge at the top, and the above method, make one double upper corner clip & flip unit.

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Assemble as shown in the diagram below. You will have one 8 1/2" (8" finished) espresso maker block. I can't believe I made an espresso machine quilt block.

I'm sure it won't be the last odd block to end up in my National Days quilt! That's part of the fun about it. The challenge of drawing random 8" blocks that would otherwise never end up in a quilt.

If you're interested in seeing the blocks progress, you can always find them organized on this page *here*, with their tutorial posts.

Thanks for popping in to read, and Happy National Espresso Day! ⛾⛾
(You can read more about its history *here*.)

xoxoxo