house and tree pieced patchwork blocks

This tutorial has been written especially for Sumea who personally requested it and who I could not refuse for she is one of the nicest, brightest  people in the whole world!

The house above was designed and pieced by me from my own pattern.  You can use the method below to fashion any picture you might want to make out of fabric.

 

First get a sheet of paper and draw a simply shaped picture using straight lines only.  The above picture is for a pieced house similar to the one at the top of this page.  I would draw with a ruler and keep your edges very straight indeed!!.  Number every shape and make a copy of your picture for reference, this will be invaluable later. 

Very carefully cut out each of the componants  ie. every numbered shape.

 

Next you will need to make a patten for each piece.  You can make your patterns from paper, card or template plastic.  Above shows a paper pattern (right) from the original cut out (left).  Simply draw around your cut-out piece with a dotted line then measure a 6mm/quarter inch seam allowance all around and cut out your pattern shape.  Number each piece as you go.

Pin the pattern pieces to fabrics of your choice, scraps are good and cut them out.  Lay your pieces out in the correct position ready for sewing. 

Now start thinking of how it's easiest to piece your design together, the above house is made up of four rows, the chimney and sky, the roof and sky, the house front and the ground.  The first pieces I've joined are the windows to the pieces above and below them. 

 

Next I will make all the vertical joins of the house front then piece the roof and sky, the chimney and sky and lastly join the four horizontal rows together. 

 

Voila! a house you could live in, if you were made of fabric.

 

Now trees, the above were some blocks I made recently.  I made them free-hand without cutting any patterns, just making it up as I went along!

For a beginner I would always recommend making a pattern, else you might throw your entire stash and sewing machine onto the back of any passing bin lorry.

 

A pattern might look like the one above, I've used the dotted lines so you can see the tree more clearly.  Follow the steps as above for the house only in this case,

join the four corners of the tree first ie. pieces 3 and 4 together, 8 and 9 together etc.

next make up the four horizontal rows of the tree ie. piece 3+4, 5, 6, 7 and piece 8+9 for horizontal row one.  When you've patched the tree top add the side pieces ie. 2 and 10

Join pieces 29 and 32 together.  Add pieces 28 then 31.

Join your three horizontal rows together.

Here's another tree pattern for your perusal. 

 

Some blocks I have done more recently below!!

 

I hope the above was sort of understandable, if you found this tutorial helpful or have used it please let me know!!! 

 

Comments

[sumea]

Thank you so much :o)
I can't wait to have a go at this. Need to get hold of some plain fabric, have got loads of patterned. Once I start I will keep you informed of my progress.
x
Sumea

[yahaira]

ooo I can't wait to try this!

[Kelly]

Great instructions! I still haven't done my second tree block for Shanna, I keep changing my mind. I was just googling for inspiration and your blocks were the first thing to come up! :-)