Four days in a row, I am really on a roll! I'm enjoying being able to work on some quilting projects this week, though I did pick up a wedding dress to take in and a cocktail dress to hem this afternoon. At least you'll get some variety in my stitching!
Today I remembered that I was supposed to have finished a quilt block for my Guild's 2012 raffle quilt. The pattern I was given was a Cactus Basket. Another chance to practice those Y seams!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_-1h6gVLQ1yPwtDqz_bm04tEE8pPyiSMA85HNir6-jH5nbAz2Tvgdh1NnXtwV1tl9KT4WpmqHTNABgPfusMom-HckMPV3IXQZ2rmOloy_LaKe0S2zsZkg6Ihq1XEl_9vlE8_/s320-rw/103_2900.JPG)
The fabric on the right is our inspiration fabric, and the fabrics on the left are my palette for the pattern. The background was
pre-cut, but the rest of the pieces I had to supply the fabric and cut.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5ZVcS8-SAA3P3SHjQXJNrjT0waAn4J7Y2l_ybKG7snTI_zohbeYtvK_H8b56n2CbpJZmRrA6mYM5Grzlj_q8V_Xts-vOxUM7fgCJ6rvhb6zWovdMzgyy4Eqp9Sv0GJ4-VZQs/s320-rw/103_2901.JPG)
I switched out my pink fabric, and here are the pieces laid out. I wasn't too sure about the yellow "feet" on the basket, but decided to go with it anyway.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_bV-2UEQID0gDxAKrsnTJ0SyTJSwl2JI0cNS5L9G4UOfz_nAaPaWsLylrMZgZw-sxOrVj71G7lWe0MGrigaOQ6MYcsN69wdPEodZd-8D7BufyZhKF3UpBEw3q_MK9NSsIQT4/s320-rw/103_2902.JPG)
To piece diamonds together and have they line up, you need to match those 1/4 inch seam allowances and let those little dog ears hang off. Then you just stitch them edge to edge!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjo5JTLZKBgD3VD56wfBeBrHHtvrczZAiX_e05bzUfl-BzerVqbjvnLGj15ky_JvMBhlEhHAfOvMQ_FpqHC7CK2egREPLu-JTSidFQN0Unniq0UDLtrXgrhWqC6VFuZseBBg3/s320-rw/103_2904.JPG)
Once I get the two pairs sewn together (I press the seams toward the purple, being careful not to stretch my pieces) I pin through the 1/4 inch seam allowance and match them by spearing through each side. Then I sew edge to edge, and carefully press the four patch diamond unit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qElah1HxqHWj-lyuQEEIerE1n5y1iboKtVzJtlHBXEadEiaQ5nEnsvcosDf-Klndo0RkR3S7HiGRSe9VSEy-IB-qVeb-mcMJ_pCIccPdg1UhG_j74TUy4YgDyCBkcQsmTMMk/s320-rw/103_2905.JPG)
When these units are sewn together, I pin through the 1/4 inch mark on the inside corner, and sew them together being careful not to stitch into the seam allowance. I stitch all the way through the other end.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjklQ2KT2gGnS6ItHqRlRUzsWmPGMsaz6M1873GpvzdDxwlFjPIvz3WcdBOnpkCP4RR09ZhvFAFUNCLADvzp1N10riFbAGfn9T0zEoY_ffXBKWkZchOk2WhyphenhyphenetTSPHEVz35DB/s320-rw/103_2906.JPG)
I then pin the back ground piece to the inside corner just like with the bow tie block. Sew carefully from the corner to the outside point. I got my whole block sewn together, and when I finished it was really warped looking. I went back to find the measurements and discovered that the top corner square had been
mis-cut. I trimmed it to the right size, then re-sewed it and the block looks much better.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitzatCcTmJFAUhvby2RNj-ixTwNAVeTWjtni9xLNslXjnuariVMVCz4Zxk4J8eTtUXUmps3nY3edUf0ES1HQ-pFLY-svEvgKJ_kBvQKQ3_Bl4pxlayT2LHr9s11FfP1IfWlw8v/s320-rw/103_2907.JPG)
Ta-
dah! The colors don't show well here, but it's quite a pretty block, and I have two more days until the guild meeting. Good job for me, I usually am working on stuff at the last minute!
This was a pretty tricky block, and I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner quilter, but with a little practice it's not too difficult and pretty impressive looking. Can't wait to see how everyone
else's blocks came out!
Pamela
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