Take Ten: January

It’s fitting that my first post of the new year is a new block for the new blog block challenge, wouldn’t you say? Welcome to the first installment of Take Ten! If you recall from my Take Ten introduction post, this is a pretty chill block challenge where I’ll share how I’m using my 10″ squares to make a quilt top on the first Friday of each month. The challenge is open to whoever wants to join me- just post using the hashtag #taketenblockchallenge or even send me an email! We will encourage each other as we work through our 10″ fabric precut stash. For this month, I’m using Minki Kim’s Hidden Cottage line for Riley Blake Designs.

No worries if following a blog post as a pattern is difficult – I have a PDF download for this block at the end of the post! Directions for cutting background fabric with yardage are also included in the PDF.

I’m calling January’s block “Cabin Fever,” because it resembles a log cabin block with a furrow down the diagonal, with the print/background flipped. We lived through Covid lockdowns 😉 so I think we can all relate to this block! It’s not an uncommon block; there are variations of this design all throughout quilting history.

Refer to the guide above for cutting the precut squares. With this block, you can cut the print and background at the same time, if you’re using 10″ background squares as well. Each block uses one print square and one background square, with some leftover scraps you can save for another project.

After you make the cuts, set aside (2) print 2″ squares, (2) 2″ background squares, as well as (1) 3.5″ print square and (1) 3.5″ background square.

Mark the wrong side diagonal of the remaining 2″ background squares. Place them RST with the print squares and sew along the diagonal. Trim, leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance, and press towards the print fabric.

Round up those pieces you set aside earlier to arrange all the pieces into the block layout and sew the 2″ HSTs and 2″ pieces into 4-patch units, pressing towards solid 2″ squares. Double check to make sure the HSTs you’ve made are pointing in the correct direction- ask me how many blocks I chain pieced with half of them pointing the wrong way. It was highly frustrating 🙂 Laying out the block will help keep your oriented!

Once you have the 4-patch units made, sew the columns together, and press towards unpieced units.

Finally, piece the columns together. The seams should nest nicely! Press the final seams open. The block will measure 9 1/2″square, and finish at 9″ square. This means, if you use your whole 10″ stacker and sew 7 rows of 6 blocks, your final quilt top will be 54″ x 63″.

When you have finished blocks, rotating each block as you go will get some fun layouts. This layout I’m doing has each block alternating it’s turned direction, so prints are always butting against background.

I actually ran out of the background fabric I used for this quilt before I had all my blocks finished, so I have a friend bringing more when they visit in 2 weeks! We offer a guest room; they bring me fabric. It’s a win-win in addition to seeing friends 😉 I do have half my blocks done, though and they make me happy when I look over at them!

This is the final layout; I can add a small border to get the throw size top a little larger, or I can leave it as is- I’ll probably leave it since background fabric is precious here. This is one of my favorite blocks for the year, mostly because it’s fast and has such a fun effect with the blocks rotated.

Click the button above to download the PDF pattern for January’s Take Ten quilt block!

I mocked up this block layout in Ally’s Garden, coming soon with Riley Blake Designs, and isn’t it so cute? I think I am gravitating toward this color scheme… not only is my own quilt in this same family of colors, but my Emma quilt is as well! I can’t seem to get enough.

Will you try this block? And… do you think I can finish the full quilt top before February’s block is posted? Keep up with my progress on Instagram! @hellomellydesigns