Southern Cross Quilters is an online quilt group for Australians and New Zealanders and expats of those countries.
Currently hosted at YahooGroups, SCQuilters has existed since 1994 and has about 2200 members.

To join the group, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scquilters and read the instructions. Don't forget to tell us your affiliation with Australia or New Zealand and provide us with your location and postcode.

27 October 2013

Cobblestones swap

SCQuilters has run many swaps over the almost twenty-year lifetime of the group. One popular and long running swap was the Cobblestones block swap, which ran from 2004 until 2009. It was originally run by Anne Semmens, until the end of April, 2006 and then by Stephanie Driel until December 2009.

Here are the initial instructions:
A set will contain 6 pairs - a pair consists of 1 positive and 1 negative block of the same 2 fabrics. A maximum of 3 sets can be sent, but must contain different fabrics in each set. Blocks will be swapped in pairs so that each participant will receive an equal number of light and dark blocks.

For ease of explanation, the following is based on using 2 FQ's to make your Cobblestone Blocks, but it is not necessary to have the same fabric for all 6 pairs in a single set.
FQ's usually measure 19" x 21"-22" and can be cut into 7, 2 1/2" x 21"-22" (You need 20 ½" for the blocks, but cut the full width of your FQ to save you making a skinny seam!)
2 FQ's in light/dark or in contrasting colours will make 14 blocks. 7 positive and 7 negative. One pair for you to keep, and 6 pairs to swap.

From EACH of your light and dark fabrics, cut strips 2 1/2" x (at least) 21" long.
Sub cut each strip into 2, 6 ½" x 2 ½" rectangles and 3, 2 ½" squares.
Block assembly - Positive Block
Top row - 6 ½" dark rectangle
Middle row - 2 ½" dark square, 2 ½" light square, 2 ½" dark square
Bottom row - 6 ½" dark rectangle
Negative Block
The reverse of the above - dark square in the middle surrounded by the light fabric.
Blocks must measure 6 ½" square unfinished.

The light and dark Cobblestones blocks look like this:



Over the next few weeks, we're hoping to show you some of the many quilts that SCQuilters made from these blocks.

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