Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style

Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style
© 2011 Yolanda V. Fundora
This block is based on the traditional Crossed Canoe Block but differs from traditional construction in
scale and fabric use and forms the center “medallion” body of quilt.
Before beginning to cut fabrics for this block, it is recommended that you read the section Working
Confidently with Paper Templates. This will greatly increase your enjoyment of the process. You will
come to the realization that straight-line paper templates work just as effectively as plastic ones.
Also read over the two sections titled Sewing the Pieces Together Accurately and Matching the
Points of the Blocks Accurately before you begin piecing. This will help immensely in getting your points
to match up nicely. Whatever you do, please don’t descend into despair if they don’t all match. The graphic
impact of this design is so strong that it will visually override the effects of a few misalignments.
Working Confidently with Straight-Edge Paper Templates
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ALIGN 1/4” OF RULER
WITH 1/4” MARK ON TEMPLATE
DO NOT
ALIGN RULER EDGE TO TEMPLATE EDGE.
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1. Separate all the template pieces.
2. Trim down to the correct size by placing the 1/4” line of your ruler
along the dashed lines (seam line) of the templates and cut along
the ruler edge. This will maintain your template’s 1/4” allowance as
accurate as humanly possible.
3. Place several pieces of repositionable or permanent double-sided
tape along the back of all your templates. This prevents the template from slipping around on the fabric when in use. If the adhesive
wears off through use, you simply add more. No slipping on fabric
while cutting.
4. Use an adequately large piece of scrap fabric as a holding pen
for templates to keep them from sticking to each while you are
using them and as eventual storage for them. Place templates on
the scrap fabric so they adhere to it and not to one another. When
you are through using your templates store the set by placing them
back on the fabric in a plastic bag so they do not damage each
other and can be used again for another project.
5. Place each paper template tape side down on the right side of the fabric you want to cut following
grain alignment instructions. Cut out fabric by aligning the 1/4” guide on your ruler along the dashed lines
indicating the 1/4 inch seam on the templates and running your rotary cutter along the ruler edge. This way
your template will always give you an accurate fabric cut even if the edge of the template gets ragged.
Note: Do not use your fabric cutters for paper. Paper will dull the blade very fast. If you foresee using a lot of paper templates,
keep a separate rotary cutter for the job. A smaller 18mm one works well for paper.
Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style by Yolanda V. Fundora © 2011 Y. Fundora / www.urban-amish.com • Page 1
ASSEMBLING CROSSED CANOE BLOCK (All seams are 1/4”)
1. Prepare all four template pieces as described in the Working Confidently
with Paper Templates section.
2. Each Block is made up of 4 sections. Each section is made up of pieces
cut from the four template shapes.
For sections 1 & 4 you will need:
Two “A” fabric pieces and Two “Ar” fabric pieces for the area shaded swedish
yellow.
Two “B” fabric pieces for the area shaded green.
Two “C” fabric pieces for the area shaded light yellow green.
For sections 2 & 3 you will need:
Two “A” fabric pieces and Two “Ar” fabric pieces for the area shaded
chocolate.
Two “B” fabric pieces for the area shaded light yellow green.
Two “C” fabric pieces for the area shaded green.
Fabric Formula for the Crossed canoes UrbanAmish style Block
Traditionally fabrics used in this block are simply blue for the dark areas and
white for the light. Variations consist using two colors with high value F
For our Crossed Canoes find two large scale focus fabrics prints of
contrasting values and/or hues for the larger areas indicated in chocolate
and in swedish yellow in the diagram. These areas correspond to templates A
and Ar.
The pinocchio and pug-nosed criss-crossed triangles would make a second
set of color and textural relationships. Again, the pair should contain a light
and a dark but this time the scales should be at the other end of the size
range: small prints or textures. For super extra credit one or both of these
fabrics should be a stripe.These areas correspond to template C
Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style by Yolanda V. Fundora © 2011 Y. Fundora / www.urban-amish.com • Page 2
Piecing the sections
The sections of the Crossed Canoes block will be assembled in the order shown in the the
diagram.
1. Assemble one section at a time.
2. Take the fabric piece cut from template A and place it right side up. Place
piece cut from template B and align as shown in diagram below, right side of
fabrics together. Align edges and dots that were transferred from templates.
Pin together carefully. Piece fabrics together. Press seam very carefully away
from long center triangle B.
3. Take the fabric piece cut from template Ar and align as shown in
diagram, right side of fabrics together. Align edges and dots that were
transferred from templates. Pin together carefully. Piece fabrics together.
Press seam very carefully away from long center triangle B.
4. Take the fabric piece cut from template C and align as shown in diagram,
right side of fabrics together. Align edges and dots that were transferred
from templates. Pin together carefully. Piece fabrics together. Press seam
very carefully toward long center triangle B.
5. Once you have pieced all four sections, sew together to make the block.
6. Place each paper template tape side down on the right side of the fabric
you want to cut following grain alignment instructions. Cut out fabric by
placing the 1/4” guide on your ruler along the dashed lines indicating the
quarter inch seam and running your rotary cutter along the ruler edge.
BEFORE removing the
paper template mark the
dots through the open
holes of the template
pieces. These dots will
help you align pieces for
sewing.
Meet Ms. Chicken. She supervises me closely and makes sure I follow
instructions to the letter. Squawks loudly when I goof off. In retaliation I often
threaten to replace her with a tomato or a strawberry... something quieter
with no moving mouth parts.
Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style by Yolanda V. Fundora © 2011 Y. Fundora / www.urban-amish.com • Page 3
Sewing the Pieces Together Accurately.
Stick a straight pin perpendicularly through the
point where the 1/4” seam line will intersect the
point on the top fabric. This point is marked by
dots on the templates. Place fabric pieces right
sides together using the pin as a guide, and insert
through the dot on the bottom piece of fabric.
Pull the straight pin all the way through, holding
the 2 fabrics tightly against one another to prevent
any movement of fabric. Remove the pin carefully
and reposition it at an angle. (I prefer to leave pins in and sew carefully over them for maximum
accuracy. However if this makes you too nervous just remove the pin right before it’s about to go
under the presser foot.) Pin the other dot in the same manner. Find the approximate center point
between the two dots and pin it together lining up the edges of the fabric. Continue pinning all along
the seam edge each time placing a pin exactly half way between two pins. This method distributes
the fabric evenly, especially important when fabrics have been cut along the bias as in some of the
template shapes.
Matching the Points of the Blocks Accurately.
Place the 2 blocks right-sides-together. Stick a straight pin perpendicularly through the spot where
the 1/4” seam lines should intersect.
Continue on through with the straight pin and stick it into the right-side of the other block at the
point where the 1/4” seamline intersects.
Pull the straight pin all the way through, holding the 2 blocks tightly against one another preventing
any movement of fabric, as you remove the pin and reposition it at an angle, so the blocks will lay flat
when pinned.
Depending upon where the bulk of seam allowances are, you may want to put 2 pins in place, one just
a little before the matched seam spot and another slightly after the matched seam spot. Leave pins in
and sew carefully over them. Pin along the remaining seam line to ensure no slippage using the same
method of pin distribution as described in Sewing the Pieces Together Accurately.
Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style by Yolanda V. Fundora © 2011 Y. Fundora / www.urban-amish.com • Page 4
Fabrics are from the Sketchbook Collection by Yolanda Fundora. Quilt designed by Yolanda, pieced by Kathleen Nitzsche and quilted by Dusty Farrell.
“We are at an unusual point in textile history where for the first time fabrics are
being developed specifically for use in quilts. There is a synergy possible that we
are just beginning to tap between the quilter and the fabric designer...
and all the hybrid creatures in between.”
Visit the Urban Amish blog at
http://urban-amish-yolandafundora.blogspot.com
for more UrbanAmish lessons and ideas.
See the latest fabric designs by Yolanda Fundora at www.urban-amish.com
Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style by Yolanda V. Fundora © 2011 Y. Fundora / www.urban-amish.com • Page 5
™
SCALE CHECK1”
If it does not check
your printer scale settings.
Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style by Yolanda V. Fundora © 2011 Y. Fundora / www.urban-amish.com • Page 6
Visit the Urban Amish blog at
http://urban-amish-yolandafundora.blogspot.com
Free ongoing UrbanAmish lessons and ideas.
See the latest fabric designs by Yolanda Fundora at
www.urban-amish.com
This square should
measure
SCALE CHECK-
This square should
measure
1”
If it does not check
your printer scale settings.
Crossed Canoes UrbanAmish Style by Yolanda V. Fundora © 2011 Y. Fundora / www.urban-amish.com • Page 7