April Color Challenge

Happy Easter for those that celebrate!  In my household we enjoy today as a family celebration, and an excuse to eat a lot of ham and chocolate, although not at the same time.
The color for April is orange!  I always think that orange isn’t one of my favorite colors, but I do use it pretty heavily.  I love it paired with purple, and I have quite a bit in my stash.
Before I get to my circle play block, I wanted to share these adorable carrot treat sacks.  One of my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors, Karen, shared them recently, and I was smitten.  (Thanks, Karen!)  I didn’t use Island Batik to make mine this time, as I’m still in hoarder mode with my stash.  Instead I used scraps from my orange and green bins.  The pattern is by Stitched by Crystal and is available on the Make it Love it website.  Aren’t they adorable?  They take about 15 minutes to make.  I’m tempted to make a huge pile of them.
Okay.  Back to business.  For April’s Circle Play block I am back to foundation piecing.  I have so many ideas for different liner patterns in these circles, and I’m enjoying them so much.  I’ll try to do something different for May, I promise.  But for now – look at how great this one looks.

When gathering my scraps for this I tried to separate them into three color values.  The camera is telling me I wasn’t super successful, but I think it still looks good.  I was going for darker in the center, with lighter on the edges.
Tools needed
6 1/2″ circle template from Betty Crocker Ass
Scrap paper
Orange fabric scraps
White background fabric
Step 1 – Trace 4 center arc sections onto scrap paper and cut out.
Step 2 – Mark your paper with the following lines.
I begin by marking a line from the corner to the center of the arc.  I then make a dot 1/4″ from the arc – this will keep my point from getting cut off in the seam allowance.  Using a ruler, I mark 2″ and 3 1/2″ from the corner.  Then I draw lines from the 1/4″ point to the edges.
Step 3 – Gather your scraps
Scrap dive!  Go for a range of values.
Step 4 – Cut strips
Dark:  8 strips 2″ x 7″
Medium:  8 strips 2″ x 7″
Light: 8 strips 3 1/2″ x 6″
Step 5 – Take two dark strips, and line them up along the center line of your pattern piece, with a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Stitch through your paper.    Fold the paper back and trim your seam allowance to 1/4″.

Step 6 – Press open

Step 7 – Take a medium strip and line it up along the next stitching line.  Trim your seam allowance to 1/4″, and press open.

Step 8 – Add another medium strip to the other side of your dark strips.  Follow the same steps – stitch, trim and press open.

Steps 9 – Add a light orange strip to the side section, trimming and pressing open.

Step 10 – Add a light orange strip to the last section, trimming and pressing open.

Step 11 – Flip your block over and trim, using your Part A template.


Step 12 – Remove paper from the back of your blocks, being careful not to stretch your fabric out of shape.   A tiny bit of leftover paper is okay.  If you are a little uptight, like me, these pointy tweezers are great at getting every last bit out.  (Affiliate link.)

Step 13 – Cut 4 pieces of your background fabric using Template B.

Step 14 – Attach your background to your arc, pinning carefully and stitching slowly.  Press towards the background.

Step 15 – Attach your blocks into pairs, then combine the two halves.  Press.

Isn’t it lovely?  I am so happy with how it turned out.

Here are all 4 of my blocks so far.  It is so much fun to see a design come together.
I intentionally skipped over photographing some steps in this process.  If you are new to paper piecing check out my January tutorial.  I do a much better job explaining how ot paper piece.

Previous monthly patterns:
Red – January
Blue – February
Yellow – March

You can find more free patterns from some of my fellow bloggers.  Be sure to check them out.

Jen – Patterns by Jen <—Our Hostess
Sherry – Powered by Quilting
Suzy – Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Jen – A Dream and a Stitch
Nancy – Masterpiece Quilting
Dione – Clever Chameleon Quilting
Joanne – Quilts by Joann

This month is sponsored by Island Batik.  They are awarding one participant a fat eighth bundle of Pumpkin Patch.  I’ve been playing with Island Batiks for a few months now, and can I just say – make an orange thing and enter.  This fabric is awesome.   You have until the end of the month to make a block.  You can use my block, one from one of my fellow bloggers, or anything, as long as it is in orange fabric.