August Simply Solids Blocks.

For my month as Queen Bee of the Amaranth group for Simply Solids, I have put together a block on EQ7 made up of 4 different paper piecing blocks.  Now, before anyone cries into their Frosties, there is no need to fret if you're a paper piecing virgins novice, it's a really simple one.

Like I said, simple, but hopefully pretty effective.  I made my tester blocks as 5 inches each, but would like to increase this slightly to 7 inches, as I want to make them feel like bigger explosions of colour.  So, here are the guidelines for making them:

Block size unfinished: 14.5 inches ( 4 x 7.5 inch blocks together)
Block size finished:  14 inches
Number of blocks: 4 x 7.5 inches
Seams: I don't usually do open seams for paper pieced blocks, but there are a LOT of seams coming together in the centres, and i really had to wrestle with them, I think open seams as you go would be easiest for when you are putting them together :O)

Colours:  At least 8 or 9 different colours if possible for variety.  Generally bright colours, and if you could please include a few white strips in there (so 2 or 3 white strips over the 4 individual blocks in total), so the eye has somewhere to rest that would be great, and even a few light greys or blues if you wanted too, just a nice contrast.  One thing, no brown please, black is fine, as is navy blue (i've included it), but no brown, pretty please with a cherry on top!

If you want to put the same colour on the edge piece of 2 different blocks, that's fine, and actually it can create some interesting shapes, so I would encourage you to do it at least once :o)

I have included quite a few different blocks for variety (emailing out to my bee friends before the end of the month), and can you please choose at least 3 different individual blocks as I want it to look as random as possible, and not too symmetrical, and try not to just choose the first 4 :o)

Right, well as I am no expert on Foundation piecing, i am going to link up to a few tutorials and YouTube  video's.  And of course, if you're struggling or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask:

http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingthree.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkY8sZpHFy4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uaW26igygE

Thx
Ange x


p.s I promise I will be back with a Fat Quarterly Retreat round up, it's just taken me a few days to bounce back from such a fab weekend! :o)