African Ladies coming Your Way.

 This will be a bit long and photo heavy.
 Sorry I am so late with this months blocks but life rather got in the way these last few weeks.
I had quite a few different ideas for my block before I settled on this one and I have fallen in love with it. It is not a block I had made before but can see more quilts with this block in them coming up.
I saw a quilt made with these blocks in the book Material Obsession, so I know how I will put them together.
I fell in love with Africa when I visited Kenya (twice) to go on safari. I am a lover of animals in their natural world and to see them in the wild is amazing. The African women I fell in love with- their happy smiling faces, friendly and oh so colourful. Many years ago I joined an African Fat Quarter club so have had these stored away and never used so here is my opportunity.

The Block is called the Double Ohio Star and I have already made a few up- I am going to set them on point but they are made up as a straight setting square so don't worry!

I am sending you the centre square, the cutout black fabric and a coloured fabric that I would like to be the 'star fabric'. 

WHAT I ASK IS could you each add the second fabric from your stash. Bright would be good and anything that blends in?This way it will personalise the blocks for me as 'yours' rather than all mine.

It will mean you need to cut eight, three and a half inch squares of the fabric you choose.

So how to sew the block-

This is what you start with-
one 6 1/2 inch centre fabric
four rectangles 6 1/2 by 3 1/2 black fabric
eight 3 1/2 inch squares of two different coloured fabrics.

Take one black rectangle and two squares of the fabric from your stash. Draw a diagonal line on the squares. Line up one square with one end of the rectangle and sew along the line.

Cut off the outside triangles of both fabrics.

Fold the triangle back into place and press the seam towards the black fabric.

Repeat the process on the other side of the rectangle with the second square.

Repeat with all four rectangles.

Now take two of the 3 1/2 squares that I sent and repeat the above process in the opposite direction.

Sew a black 3 1/2 inch square to the end of two of the completed units

Sew the other two units to the top and bottom of the centre square

then add the units with the cornerstones to the sides of the centre block.

This is what it will look like finished- not perfect seams so don't be a perfectionist.

Then turned On Point-

 

I hope that makes sense but please let me know if you cannot understand.

Kate- please hand sew if you wish to.

Viv-will send you a centre so you can use orange!!!
Will put the ladies in the post this week. Can't wait to see what 'Our Tribe' will look like.