This sweet quilt block was the February block lotto a number of years ago and was very popular. With so many new guild members it seems worth repeating, plus, isn’t February a love note kind of month?!
The following instructions are a merger of a couple of patterns. In some of the samples a text—or directional fabric—was selected but this is not essential.
We’ve included step by step instructions with photos, and once you get going, Love Note sews up very quickly.
Fabric + Cutting
Envelope body: Cut a 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ square and a 7 1/2” X 4 1/2″ Rectangle
Envelope flap trim: cut 2 strips 1″ x 5 1/2″ from a fabric or print that is the same or matches the envelope body, usually a solid in similar tones
Flap/envelope lining: cut a 5″ x 5″ square
Background: cut a 5 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ square in a tone-on-tone, low-volume print (‘white on black’, or ‘black on white’ fabric).
Tips for cutting directional fabric
Before cutting your fabric, if using even a subtle directional fabric for the Body, Lining or Background consider the following:
• cut the square pieces on the bias
• when instructed to cut the squares diagonally, pay close attention to the resulting direction of the pattern when incorporated into the block. See diagrams for clarity.
Assembly Instructions
1. Sew the 1 x 5 1/2″ strips to the top edges of the lining 5″ square (if using a text fabric be sure the text is the correct direction, see photos). Press. Trim excess flap fabric even with edge of lining fabric. See Diagram A.
2. Cut the 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” square of Body fabric in half diagonally. Sew each triangle to the 2 outer bottom edges of the Lining fabric. Press. Trim excess fabric on bottom of lining fabric. See Diagram B.
3. Sew the Body fabric rectangle to the lower edge of the block. Press seam away from the lining. See Diagram C.
4. Cut square of Background fabric in half diagonally. Sew triangles to upper edges of the flap by matching first at the lower edge of flap. The right background piece overlaps the left background piece. There will be extra at the top. Press. See Diagram D.
5. On your finished block, trim excess length allowing 1/2” overlap of background above the tip of the flap (1/4” seam allowance). See Diagram E.
Block should measure 7 1/2” X 9 1/2” block, which allows for a 1/4” seam allowance on all sides.
Hope these instructions are helpful! Once you make the first one, others sew up quickly, and you can have fun with colour and pattern combinations—and they look great as a grouping with some sashing in between. Makes a great quilt or wall hanging, like this one…
