Seriously..I think it needs stitches.: California Quilt Block Tutorial

Have you ever wondered how to make a California quilt block? Probably not, huh. Same here! Until I started on this National Day scrap quilt journey. And guess what day today is?! You guessed it! It's National California Day!

California will always be home. It's where I was born and raised, and where I've always lived. BUT.. we do have plans to move to MO in a couple of years, which I'm kind of excited about! (see National Missouri Day block) My parents and brother live there now, and I have other family there, too. Plus, both sides of my family originated from there. My grandparents kind of did the whole Grapes of Wrath thing way back and loaded everything they had in the car and threw the kids on top and headed to California looking for work and a better life. Just kidding! The kids weren't really thrown on top. .. I don't think.. So we've always kind of had roots in the Ozarks, but I've never lived anywhere with four seasons, so I'm really looking forward to that (in addition to living closer to my parents). It'll be fun, too, to be closer to the East Coast, so we can drive and explore in that part of the U.S.! But California will still always have a piece of our hearts, and always be home in a way!

So, I say all that to say that I think it will be really fun to have both of these states represented in my scrap quilt! Who knows.. maybe there will be others before it's all done. States that represent fun memories or vacations.

Anyway! I digress. haha! Here is how California goes together in patchwork form, as always using SCANT quarter inch seams. It sure wasn't easy to configure, but hopefully it looks like the Golden State!

🌞🌊🌴

Fabric A (California):
(1) 2 1/2" sq.
(1) 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
(1) 2 1/2 x 4"
(1) 3 x 3 1/2"
(1) 3 1/2 x 4 1/2"

Fabric B (land):
(1) 1 x 3 1/2" (>>>)
(1) 2 1/2" sq.
(1) 5 x 5 1/2"

Fabric C (sea):
(1) 1" sq. (~)
(1) 1 x 2 1/2"
(2) 1 1/2" sq. (*)
(1) 1 1/2 x 3 1/2" (***)
(1) 1 1/2 x 4"
(1) 2 1/2" sq.

Left Lower Clip & Flip

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

~Using the above method, a 1" sq. of Fabric C, and a 2 1/2 x 4" rect. of Fabric A-long edge at the top, make one unit.

~Repeat using a 2 1/2" sq. of Fabric C and a 3 x 3 1/2" rect. of Fabric A-short edge at the top.

~Repeat using a 2 1/2" sq. of Fabric A and a 5 x 5 1/2" rect. of Fabric B-short edge at the top.

~Repeat using a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric C and a 3 1/2 x 4 1/2" rect. of Fabric A-long edge at the top.
--To the right edge of this unit, stitch 1 x 3 1/2" rect. of Fabric B.
--Place 2 1/2" sq. of Fabric B in the upper right corner of this same unit, right sides together. Stitch from corner to corner. Trim, flip & press.

~Stitch 1 x 2 1/2" rect. of Fabric C to the left edge of a 2 1/2 x 3 1/2" rect. of Fabric A. Then, long edge at the top, and strip of Fabric C at the left, place a 1 1/2" sq. of Fabric C in the left lower corner of this unit, right sides together. Stitch from corner to corner. Trim, flip and press.

~Assemble block as shown below. You will have one 8 1/2" unfinished (8" finished) California block.

Here's how my state of California turned out:

For this block, I really wish that the scraps I used had more contrast like the original block drawing. But.. scraps! Plus.. true confession: I tend to be a little contrastically challenged. haha! Until after the fact. :/ My friend Lisa just told me about some glasses, and I think I NEED them! Have you heard of these contrast glasses? I was googling and found them *HERE*. I'm trying to decide whether to try them or not. Have you tried them, or anything like them? I know you can take black and white photos and that helps show the contrast, but I never seem to do that.

In other news, my Sew Chatty fabric is ALMOST HERE! It's set to arrive at the Riley Blake warehouse on 2/28! And ship out to shops from there. I'm so excited! I never even dreamed this. From many evenings last year drawing little cartoons to this! It's just beyond. Melanie, @abitofscrapstuff, has been playing with it for the Riley Blake blog tour that's coming up for it in March. More exciting info on that, soon!

But for now, thanks for reading! Have a great weekend, and Happy Stitching!

xoxo

4 comments...:

sam said...

Oh Kelli, your fabric line looks so exciting and fun. Can't wait to see it. Thanks for the peek.

February 23, 2020 at 7:21 AM

Lori Smanski said...

Oh but this is wonderful. Thank you. Our daughter lives in CA and I think I will make her a pot holder for Christmas. I grew up in CA on a ranch and I will always be a CA girl. I have lived here for 39 years but this is where family is and I wouldn't change that one bit. I hope that all goes well moving to MO. I know what it is like to live close to family. WOOHOO. Change can be so good at times.

February 23, 2020 at 7:58 AM

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I'm looking forward to your fabric line.

February 25, 2020 at 6:41 PM

Rani said...

Thanks for the block! I was born in Northern California, grew up in Kansas, lived in Detroit for 4 years after college, and finally moved back to California (Los Angeles) when I was 26. I've now lived in California over half my life. A college town in the Midwest was a great place to grow up but I'm so glad I live back in California again. Enjoy the Midwest and the seasons!

March 4, 2020 at 10:47 PM