Gardener's Delight by Rochelle Martin This issue of Ruby has the fourth block of Gardener's Delight which is the Holly Sprigs block.
Materials The yardage for the quilt is in the May/June issue of Ruby. For this block you will need: • • • •
11" square of tan tonal fabric fabric from ½ yard green tonal (holly leaves, ½ of heart shapes) 1-1 ½" wide x 10" light green tonal strip (½ of heart shapes) fabric from red fat quarter for holly berries
10 ½" unfinished
A block diagram of the Holly Sprigs block has been included to help you place your shapes on the fabric 11" tan tonal square. It's helpful to use a light box to see the lines of the block diagram through your fabric square or you can make a tracing from the diagram and use it as an overlay on top of your fabric block.
Instructions 1. Using the templates, prepare your berry, leaf and stem shapes in the appliqué method you are using. The shapes have been reversed for fusible and freezer paper hand and machine methods. 2. Fold the tan tonal square in half and finger press a vertical crease (figure 1).
Open the block and finger press a horizontal crease. Use these lines to center your block design on the 11" tan tonal square.
3. Tape the Holly Sprigs design sheets (left and right) together along the dotted reference lines. 4. Using the block design as your guide, position and appliqué the four prepared stems in the method you are using. Use matching or contrasting thread finish the appliqué edges in a machine short zigzag or blanket stitch. 5. Sew together into a panel one 1 ½" wide x 10" strip of green tonal and one 1 ½" wide x 10" light green strip (figure 2). Press the seam open. 6. Cut out four M heart shapes using the M template. Position the seamed M heart shapes and appliqué over the center stem ends. 7. Position three red berries on each stem and appliqué to the block. 8. Position one green leaf on each stem and appliqué to the block. 9. Press the block face down on a towel to remove stitching distortion and trim the block to 10 ½". 32