Decadence Stitch-Along - Month 4 - Lucy Boston - Block 8 June 15 2019 1 Comment

It's the fourth month of our Decadence Stitch-Along presented by Red Thread Studio. And, it's one of my all time favorite EPP blocks to do...the Lucy Boston. This pattern, generally known as the Lucy Boston, is actually the Patchwork of the Crosses, a quilt made by a woman named Lucy Boston (1892-1990) when she was in her sixties. The block can be made with different size Honeycombs. The picture below is an example of two blocks I made, one with 1" Honeycombs compared to one with 1/2" Honeycombs, with the same fabrics.  I have also used 3/4" Honeycombs, which are a delightful size. And I have made the block with numerous additional rounds of Honeycombs changing the appearance. Remember this block pattern after your quilt is finished. It's a fun block to make rather quickly; and with each new block, you can raid your stash just playing with your fabrics. This is also a good way to use your fussy cutting skills.

We are using Helen Stubbings' In the Round Block #8, which I have altered somewhat. Looking at the front page picture of your pattern, notice the four grey corners between the two pink Octagon shapes. The pattern shows a little grey animal face topped with two diamonds of another grey print. I have combined these three pieces into one single Honeycomb for design purposes. When using your iron-on interface, simply line up the three pieces (one square and two diamonds) against each other to form the Honeycomb shape. 

Before I venture into the placement of fabrics, I wanted to share with you a tip which came about from a recent question. When sewing EPP with card stock, it is easy to control your needle by leaning it on the edge of the card stock. However, when sewing with the interface, without something to lean on, it is very easy to pick up too many threads of fabric. Below are pictures of how I hold my pieces, so that I can rest my needle on my thumb, thereby controlling the depth of my stitches. I also like to make my stitches very small and tight. It is best to use 60wt, 80wt or 100wt, the finer the thread, the more invisible your stitches! 

Ready to start, here we go...

FABRICS USED IN THIS MONTH'S ROUND ARE:

• Black with Large Floral
• Cream with Drawn Flowers
• Twin Peacocks on Black
• Turquoise with Birds
• Background Fabric

ILLUSTRATION:

Below is a picture of the illustration shown on page two of your pattern broken down into a few sections. You start by sewing together the center cross. As we progress, you will see that I like to sew all my Honeycombs into their predetermined sets of two before joining them to the whole. Also notice the blackened Honeycomb, which is where I made the change to the pattern by joining a Square and two Diamonds together. (Why is it that I can keep my hands steady when I'm stitching, but when I start to write or draw, my lines are whacky?!)

 FABRIC CHOICES AND FUSSY CUTS:

1) The center is comprised of four Honeycombs, cut from the Black with Large Floral fabric. You will want this center to use all red sections of the fabric to emphasis the cross. Sew two Honeycombs into a set and repeat with the other two.Then sew these sets together matching the center seams.

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE. 

2) The next four Honeycombs are cut from the Turquoise with Birds fabric. Find the section of the fabric with a pretty fern with a background sky. Each will be different. Sew these into the four concave sections of the cross.

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE.

3) Sew eight Honeycombs cut from the Cream with Drawn Flowers fabric. These are random cuts, although I avoided large plain areas. Sew them into sets of two. Sew the first four sets around the red star points. Sew the next four sets in the corners surrounding the turquoise ferns. Then join each set to its neighbor.

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE. 

NOTE: Here is where a standard Lucy Boston block would end. The original pattern has a sashing of Honeycombs with Squares. Or you can simply appliqué these blocks to a background fabric for a stunning finish. 

4) Make nine one inch Squares from the Twin Peacocks on Black fabric, cut from the bushy tree. Sew these in the concave areas of the cream Honeycombs, three to each side, with the top of the tree pointing away from the center. DO NOT SEW ONE IN EACH CORNER AS THE ORIGINAL PATTERN SHOWS. 

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE.

5) Cut four Honeycombs from the Black with Large Floral fabric. As shown in the pictures below, do NOT try to make these solid red. Vary each cut to include other areas of the fabric along with the red; however, the red area should dominate these Honeycombs. These four Honeycombs are sewn into the four corners of your block. 

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE.

6) Fussy cut eight Honeycombs from the Twin Peacocks on Black fabric as shown below. Four will be cut facing right and four will be cut facing left. Notice that the tree is cut in half and when the right and left pieces are joined, you once again have the whole tree. It is important to note that your fabric has some rows of peacocks with more black area above the head than others. Use the areas with more black area above the head so that there is no white showing at the top. Join these in sets of two with one facing right and one facing left, creating the tree in the center. Sew these to the sides of your block with each set between the three on-point squares. 

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE.

7) The four one inch Octagons are cut from the mostly red areas of the Black with Large Floral fabric. As shown in the pictures below, do NOT try to make these solid red. Vary each cut to include other areas of the fabric along with the red; however, the red area should dominate these Octagons. Sew these Octagons to the right and left of the peacock Honeycomb sets along each side of the block and join them to their neighbors. 

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE.

8) Make twelve Squares from the Peacocks on Black fabric, cut from the bushy tree. These are exactly the same as you made in item 4 above. Sew three to each side between the concave areas of the Octagons and Honeycombs. The top of the tree points away from the center.

YOU WILL NEED TO LOCATE THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL NEED TO IRON THE INTERFACE TO THIS SPOT ON THE BACK OF THE FABRIC.

YOU WILL CUT WITH A SEAM ALLOWANCE APPROXIMATELY 1/4" BEYOND THE INTERFACE.

9) Lastly, appliqué your completed block to the center of an 18 inch square of background fabric. The square will later be trimmed to 17-1/2 inches.

NOW, OUR JUNE BLOCK #8 ROUND IS FINISHED. This, the Lucy Boston block, is so much fun to fussy cut. Spin through my Instagram feed @cheshire_cat_quilts to see many variations of the Lucy Boston. I have made many Valentine Lucy's in pink, red and white, with 3/4" Honeycombs. I have made mostly Black Halloween Lucy's with additional rounds. And, you will find various random Lucy's fussy cut just for fun. 

Don't forget to post your progress on Facebook and/or Instagram with #DecadenceSAL, to be entered into monthly drawings for some great prizes from Red Thread Studio.....And, feel free to ask any questions.