Jen Kingwell Long Time Gone Sew Along - Bow Tie Square Blocks

 

Shop book and Jen Kingwell Notions 

https://www.sewjersey.com/search?q=jen+kingwell&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

Join in for community sew and tell: https://www.facebook.com/events/1146281102897975?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D

 

Bow Tie Block is the first block in the Long Time Gone Quilt Pattern by Jen Kingwell. This is a fun traditional block that can be made to look more or less scrappy depending upon your fabric selections. It’s quick and simple to cut and assemble and a great way to start your Long Time Gone Quilt adventure.

Jen calls for four background fabrics to be used in each of the two bowtie square blocks you'll be making. And four contrasting fabrics (printed). 

For my blocks I wanted to use just one background fabric for each block and followed Jen's advice for using four contrasting print. 

I originally started the Long Time Gone booklet in January of 2021 but ended up restarting it due to not liking my original bow tie blocks as I felt they didn't have enough contract. 

General Supply Info: 

  • I use a wool pressing mat, cordless iron and fabric starch 
  • Schmetz universal chrome needles or quilting piecing needles 75/11
  • Aurifil 40 wt Mako Cotton thread, is what I sew with, I typically always use white thread. 
  • Clover Clips
  • Sewing Pins
  • Design Wall or extra piece of batting

How to Make the Block 

While constructing this block I did not find any pattern mistake in the booklet (I will note mistakes on Jen's end as we continue).This block is made with a total of 24 cuts of fabric per block. 

 General Advice

  1. Tolerance level for mistakes, I noticed that some of my blocks are a touch smaller than Jen's finished block measurements. For me this is okay, as I will correct it later. You need to decide what level of mistakes you may be okay with. 
  2.  Press your seams often and do it only to one side. I know fully pressed open seams may look pretty, but they actually weaken your quilt top and can cause issues for the lomgarm quilter you may hire later. So please try to only press you seams in one direction. 
  3. You can pre iron your fabric prior to cutting your fabric and starch it in advance. This will improve the accuracy of each shape your cut. 
  4. When possible, chain sewing is a time saver and a thread saver.

Step 1 of the construction calls for piecing your smallest contrasting square on top of your background fabric. I found it easiest to sew straight lines by using a sewline fabric pen to make a diagonal stitch line on the wrong side of my fabric. and than place this smaller contrasting square over the top of my background squares. 

Step 2 trim the excess fabric off and press. 

Step 3 sew the remaining contrasting/printed fabric.

Step 4 complete the construction of the block following each step with pressing your seams to one side. 

 

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published