Block 20 ~ Key West Beauty!

Block 20 is ready and it is a beauty!  Really, it is Key West Beauty!

Key West Beauty, appeared in the Ladies Art Company in 1922.  This block is mostly paper pieced, even to this day, but I figured out a way to make it with tools!  You will use your Corner Beam, V Block and Tucker Trimmer.  All can be found in my online shop; Sew on the Go

Block 20 ~ Key West Beauty ~ Fabric Selection 1

Key West, FL had become extremely popular for the Atlanta/Jacksonville elite in the 1920s.  Train service from Jacksonville to Key West begin in 1912 and was $2.60 round trip.  By 1922, the year of this block, that fare had jumped to $40.68!  Hopefully, this block was just as popular!

Block 20 ~ Key West Beauty ~ Fabric Selection 2

This week, I went with Analogous color plan for my Fabric Selection 1. Since my Aqua Green (7) has so many fabulous colors, I wanted a calm combination, so I elected Spring Green (4) and Cerulean Blue (10).

Fabric Selection 1

Then for my 2nd Fabric Selection, I went with a Split Combination color plan.  I started with the Yellow (1), since I hadn't used that fabric in any of my blocks to date, and ended up pulling a multi colored print with Blue (11), Blue-Violet (12) and Violet (13) to go with my dark red-violet (14).

Fabric Selection 2

I love how both of these came out!

This week, the hardest part is going to be those Dual Colored V Block units!  We've made the V Block unit numerous times, so just stay organized and you will be fine.  Here are a few tips on how to make them!

1. You are going to cut your center triangles the same as you have previously, with your Studio 180 Design V Block.  You will need 8 Center Triangles.

2. Next you are going to gather both your Dark and your Light Side Triangle Strips. 

3.  Remember to fold the both strips, if you press these, you can stack them to cut.  Remember to use the BOLD line.

4. Go ahead and rotate the V Block, 180 degrees.  Trim. 

 5. Repeat until you have 4 sets of both your light and your dark Side Triangles.

 6. Now lay them out, placing your light left with your dark right side triangle for 4 V Blocks, and then your dark left with your light right side triangle for 4 V Blocks.  Sew on the left side triangles of both sets.

 7. Make sure to lay out your V Block units before stitching on the right side.  You will want to make sure not  to match your side triangles, naturally you will want to, but that isn't the way they go for this pattern.  We want dual-colored V Blocks.

 8. Then you are going to use your V Block Ruler, and line with the proper  FINISHED size unit (sizes in the download).  Trim 2 sides.

9. Rotate 180 degrees, line up with the proper size, and trim those last two sides.

9. Tada!  You have dual-colored V Block units!

Last but not least, you will want to lay out the block, check it twice (3 times is better). :)  Then sew!

Pressing the seams open is going to be your best bet here.  I can not stress how much a Pressing Stick can help you with that middle seam. 

Okay, I think you are ready!  Go download this week's Block:  Download Block 20

Have fun with this one, channel Key West colors!

Keep Stitching,
Michelle