Retro Tetro Quilt Along Week 8

I saw some very impressive spun seams last week! They’re just so satisfying, once you get the trick of them, and you’ll be glad you took the time when you get to quilting! This week, we’re making our final set of blocks.

Retro Tetro Quilt Along

Dates: September 15 through November 23
Duration: 10 weeks
Quilt Sizes: Mini, Crib, Throw, or Twin

How to Quilt Along

Share your progress on Instagram using #retrotetroqal. That’s where you’ll find the weekly photo prompts, livestreams, and more! Sign up here to be eligible for prizes, and get the weekly emails with tips for the coming week’s fun.

Join the Retro Tetro Quilt Along

Schedule

Week 1: Pick your fabrics, get your pattern, plan your coloring sheet
Week 2: Cut, label, and organize your pieces
Week 3: Make Large HSTs
Week 4: Make Block 2 (12 blocks)
Week 5: Make Small HSTs
Week 6: Make Block 3 (10 blocks)
Week 7: Make Blocks 4 (8 blocks)
Week 8: Make Block 5 (8 blocks)
Week 9: Sew blocks and strips into columns
Week 10: Finish quilt top

Step 1: Get organized

The most important part for this week is on page 12 of the pattern.

Find all your remaining small HSTs.

See the little mini layouts in the combo table? Lay your pieces right on top of the pattern, exactly the way they are in the tiny diagrams!

Step 2: Join each pair of HSTs

Make sure your HSTs are turned the correct way around for the block you’re making.

Join them in little horizontal rows.

Press seam allowances. Ideally, when you have the whole block together, everything will spin. But depending on how your HSTs were pressed, that might not work out. Don’t sweat it! Make a game-time decision an do whatever gives you the flattest result.

Step 3: Nest seams and join the two halves

In order to get crisp points in the middle, you can use your thumbnail to mark an indent where the diagonal seam comes into the center. You can barely see the shadow in this picture, but you can feel it and see it as you sew. The point where the indent meets the cross seam is where you need your needle to go in. Since your HSTs were trimmed properly, this should just work out by itself, but you can always use this method to be sure.

Step 4: Spin your seam allowances

Step 5: Label your blocks

You should have 8 HST 4-patch blocks. Check the Coloring Page to see which way is up. Label them and file them away with your finished blocks from the previous weeks. You should now have 56 finished blocks!

Step 6: Share!

Remember to share your progress on Instagram using #retrotetroqal.

Step 7: Work ahead (Optional)

If you want to work ahead, you can put blocks together into columns. Double check the assembly diagram! Don’t do the background strips yet. That’s for next week!

Giveaway!!

This week’s prize is 3 months free membership to the Meander Guild, an International (virtual) Quilt Guild hosted by Shannon Brinkley!

Meander was created by International speaker/teacher Shannon Brinkley. Shannon is the author of the book Scrappy Bits Applique as well as a quilt and fabric designer. A former elementary teacher, Shannon is able to break down all of the content so it is super simple to digest and quick to implement! She is known world-wide for her unique quilt-making style, and is excited to help you grow your own.

Win 3 free months to master color, grow your own unique style, all while trying out lots of fun, new techniques, alongside like-minded quilters from all over the world.

Shannon is currently running a free workshop on color and finding your personal style as a quilter! Check it out!

Head over to today’s Instagram post for the details! Best of luck!

We’re getting close to the point where you might be thinking about how you’ll finish your quilt. If you’re not up for quilting it yourself, we have a great offer for you from some fantastic quilters from the Longarm League! You can get free batting for your Retro Tetro quilt! Tops must be received by January 31, 2021 to qualify for the discount. For more details, visit https://www.longarmleague.com/retro-tetro-qal

Don’t forget to check out all our amazing sponsors!

Join the Retro Tetro Quilt Along

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