Saturday, October 13, 2012

Doin' the Pine Burr

I've become a little obsessed with making Pine Burr blocks.




This is my first.  I thought I'd make only one.






But then I couldn't stop!






I've made one each evening for the last four nights.  






Talk about a stash buster!  Each one has at least 144 three inch squares.






It all started with this quilt at the Bold Expressions show.

Did you know that the Pine Burr is the official state quilt of Alabama?






Em's mom, Marian, sent me this wonderful box of 1970's fabrics cut in 3" squares.  And Mary sent some lovely small scale gingham.  What's a girl to do?



Want to make one yourself?   

You can go here, for instructions from Loretta Pettway Bennett of Gee's Bend, Alabama.  

 Geesh, I discovered these instructions AFTER I made the blocks!


Or you can just wing it like I did.  My method is below.



  First you need a ton of 3" squares and a 12.5"square of muslin or other fabric.



Put a square of in the middle.  The color should match your middle "burrs."






Fold 4 - 6 squares diagonally twice and iron them.  Then pin them on.  






Sew a ring of stitching.  This could be done by hand too.






Then do another ring.  I lined mine up just so they would just cover the raw edges of the prior ring.

I think of the raw edges as the little triangles' "privates."





Keep goin'.  You get the picture.






It took 8 rings to cover the square.  You could do yours thicker and it may take more.  








If you end up with not enough to cover the fabric on one side, just add some more triangles.  You can see I had to do this at the top of this one.  








Then you fill in the corners.







You end up with this.






Get out your 12.5" ruler and cut off the extra.  Wa-la!






Betcha can't make just one!

If you do make one--or more--you can post them on the "Inspired by African American Quilts" Flickr group!









47 comments:

Steffi´s Candy Quilts said...

I love those strong 70s colors, and the blocks are just cool. I think that they would make a quite heavy quilt, right? But a wallhanging could be very nice with this three-dimensional effect.
Do you have a plan for yours?

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Wow wow wow, another amazing piece of eye candy over here! What a great way to use up the stash. I love the colours you have chosen yet again, you are a colour master! xo

Marit said...

These are amazing! Love your colorful creations! This block is a party, so cheerful. Thank you for showing us the how to!
; )

Rachaeldaisy said...

I made a pine burr block a while ago..,I'm not sure where it is now.. But it was no where near as wonderful and as lively as yours!! This is going to be another one of your super wonderful creations!!

apiecefullife said...

Wow. I love it. Thanks for giving the instructions. Will it make a really heavy quilt? No need for batting?

Mayleen said...

I love it too! Thought it would be a great way to use up some of my stash fabrics. Just wish I had time to make it.

Vesuviusmama said...

Well, I know what I'm ding today, then! Thanks for the inspiration! How do you plan to finish this?

Sujata Shah said...

These blocks are gorgeous!
I feel like a kid in a candy store :)

Annie said...

I might just have to try this..thanks for your clear instructions. They look terrific!

Julia Wood said...

Okay, you've gotten me hooked. I'm going to try this today - oh, and I've lived in Alabama my entire life! How did I not know that this was our official state quilt?

Vicki W said...

Ooh, I love this! If you see me making one on my blog please leave me a comment that I do not have time for this!

Paulette said...

That is so cool! I've never seen this block before. Thanks for the tutorial. All of those fabrics look wonderful in this block!

beth said...

You are AMAZING!

Rosa said...

That`s is gorgeous and love your stunning fabrics.Thanks for the tutorial!!

smazoochie said...

Joyfully gorgeously fun!!! The must weigh a ton!

Nancy said...

Your vintage scraps are perfect in this type of block. What fun. Thanks for sharing them.

Ann Champion said...

I've only seen this block done as a one of..as a wall hanging or pot holder. I love the effect of multiple blocks. Seems like it would get pretty bulky sewing them block to block..will you be using sashing?
I agree with the others..you are a color combining master!

Deborah said...

I rarely see something this unique and beautiful. Your fabric combo is incredible.

Kim said...

Oh how beautiful, I do remember making a smaller version of these in the 80's and leaving them in a embroidery hoop, hanging them in my kids room as "art".
So Nifty!

Happy Sewing

Mary Keasler said...

Just look at you go. You must be having the time of your life with these blocks. It is so exciting to see your interpretation and your colors. Bravo!!!!!!

Kathy said...

Thanks for the instructions and inspiration! I've been having "scrap attacks". Too many scraps which are distracting me from clear thinking. This may be the solution.... or one of them at least! Love your bright color combos.

MariQuilts said...

Wow....I'm speechless!!

Tonya Ricucci said...

Fantastic!!!! these are so much fun! love it, and I've never even been a particular fan of this block.

Maree said...

You have me sorely tempted - dont think I will be able to resist trying this. I keep telling myself not to start anything else but am always finding inspiration on line.

Miki Willa said...

I used to make these years ago. Who knew they would be in fashion again. I don't think we called them Pine Burr, but I am not sure. I wonder if I still have a block or two hiding somewhere. Hmmm. Yours are beautiful, and they will make a really warm quilt.

Quilteuse Forever said...

Quelle découverte, j'adore tes blocs!
You have an incredible sense of colors. And thanks for this "easy-to-follow" tuto, I may try one -or two...- blocks!

meli B said...

That is the most hilarious block. Crazy and so different and once it is up and running, quite brilliant.
It would be a wild but seriously heavy quilt but could also make for some fabulous cushion covers. The 4 look great together.

Barb said...

These are so fun!
I don't think I've even seen one.
Your blocks are great and fun to look at.
It s a good obsession!

Anne said...

OMG ... I've never seen this block before and it is aptly named! Gorgeous colour choices.

Ailsa (Cape Pincushion) said...

Thanks for sharing, so beautiful and has lovely texture and movement to it. I've seen Christmas baubles made like this by pinning ribbon folded in triangles around a Styrofoam ball but never a quilt like this. Very delicious!

Vesuviusmama said...

As it turns out, I CAN make just one! I don't know how you do it! I blogged about my experience today. I'll just enjoy looking at your blocks for a while...

Ada Plouvier-Kopitopoulou said...

This is the first time I see these kind of blocks. They look great. Love the colour combinations.

One Minnesota Quilter said...

My grandmother made a pillow out of a block like this years ago and I still have it. Your blocks are so colorful and fabulous.

I hope you will share how you plan to finish them into a quilt - I am curious to know. I think I would like to make a quilt like this. This looks fun. Thanks for sharing your technique.

Judy

fiberchick said...

These blocks are just amazing! I've admired this quilt for awhile but did not know how to start. Thank you so much for the link. Is it crazily heavy???

Grazia said...

Thank you so much, they're perfect!
Grazia

Bonnie Hull said...

Cool...think I'll try it with duct tape...xo

Pauline said...

This is the most fascinating quilt I've seen in a long, long time. It's now on my "bucket list!" I'm wondering just how heavy a full grown quilt would be? Would appreciate an answer as I see others have the same concern.

Sharon said...

Oh man, you are just incredible! I would never try this block - it looks pretty tedious. But you got the squares, and what fabulous colors you're using! Way to go! Are you stopping at 4, or going all the way? Love the fabrics you're using - it does look so "Nifty"! What fun!

Debbie said...

Love your Pine Burr quilt, LeeAnn! Several years ago, I made one Pine Burr block and that was enough for me. What I'd like to know is, how much does that thing weigh! :)

Jenny M said...

Your Pine Burr blocks look wonderful...they remind me of the exciting colours you see at a carnival.

Teodo said...

Thanks, thanks it's fantastic.
ciao linda

Unknown said...

Holy Smokes!! That is some quilt! I bet there are yards and yards of fabrics. Gorgeous though. I am assuming there is not going to be any batting in this quilt as it would be super heavy?

Miriam said...

Wow!!! What a riot of glorious colour!!! I have never seen this block before. Thank you for a great tutorial.

Theodora quilts said...

OhLeaAnn !! what have you been doing I can't believe you ,how do you find these projects and get the energy to do them to completion ,first I would like to thank you for stopping by my last post the Thess. quilt con and not visiting so often ,since then I have been working like crazy in my shop to make space for my quilt table to be installed and we just finished last week . I am burned out my friends came down from Thess. to help and now they are exhibiting in Sparta ,I am slowly trying to get organized in the shop since my sewing room at home has been cleared and packed up even my sewing machine ,I have brought it to the shop. hope all is well with you as always. theodora

Lisa Lisa said...

Wow! This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing your tutorial :)

Kris from Duke Says Sew What said...

I just found your blog and I love it! This looks very fun to make. I'll have to try it. Thanks for the instructions!

Anne said...

These are popular in Sri Lanka where I have just holidayed. They resemble the lotus flower which is the national flower and is also revered by devotees of the main religion, Buddhism. I saw them used as offerings at temples (new and ancient examples) and as mats on the floors, both in circular form.