Split 4 Patch Charity Blocks

After making pot holders (and gleefully starting to use them), I set my machine back up and started quilting Frost Filigree. I was able to get one corner of the background quilting complete (only 3 corners to go before I start quilting the red piecing areas). Then, last Wednesday, Cynthia shared her next block drive for Many Hands and Many Hearts: the Split 4 Patch Block.

Split 4 Patch Charity Blocks – Fabric Pull

Minutes later, I was combing through my stash to see what fabric I had that might work for the blocks. I don’t have a lot of prints in my stash, and most of my prints are blenders. I was happy to find 3 prints that should work well as the focal novelty print for this block drive, though.

Split 4 Patch Charity Blocks – Fabric Cut and Ready to Piece

I opted to pair the prints with my remaining Libs Elliot Phosphor Electric prints (that are super subtle blenders) that I used for my Star Pulse quilt that I made during last year’s quilt along. I also had a deep purple crossweave that paired well with two of the prints. Before I knew it, I had prepped enough pieces to make 24 blocks.

Split 4 Patch Charity Blocks – Starting to Piece

Only a few minutes later, I had removed the walking foot from my machine and started piecing the blocks.

Split 4 Patch Charity Blocks – Chain Piecing Progress

I spent most of Thursday chain piecing the blocks (and cooking our Thanksgiving dinner – lasagna and homemade rolls). Due to the fact that the blocks start as 4 Patch blocks and then get cut apart to be reassembled, I would work on two blocks at a time so that I wouldn’t get the pieces scrambled.

In Cynthia’s instructions, she cuts from the sides of the 4 Patch blocks first and from the top and bottom of the blocks second. Because I am fussy about keeping directional prints oriented the same way, I found that by cutting from the top and bottom of the 4 Patch blocks first and the sides second, I could keep the directional prints oriented in the same direction.

Split 4 Patch Charity Blocks

I was able to get all of the blocks finished and shipped to Cynthia over the weekend. Today is Giving Tuesday; if you had not previously seen Cynthia’s call for blocks, maybe me sharing about them today will inspire you to contribute Cynthia’s block drive. It’s a great way to give back using fabric you have on hand in your stash.

Split 4 Patch Charity Blocks – Securing Border Seams

After piecing the blocks, I sewed an ⅛” seam across all of the border seams at the edge of my blocks to secure the seams. That way, Cynthia can handle these blocks without fear of seams unraveling.