The octopus is just so much fun to do. This block is a little more challenging but take your time, you will enjoy it! Also, you are in for a treat….Barb has done an octopus quilt too. Can you sing “in the octopuses garden with you”? I am right now!! Check out her full version of Awesome Ocean if you didn’t already. It is so much fun to see these coming together and have friends sew along. I am using Island Batik fabrics for this quilt and love the way they work together.
This is the most important thing to do! I make little labels before I cut my fabric, including Letter, Size and # of Pieces. For cutting your pieces remember:
1. Cut your fabrics for both pieces at the same time.
2. Double the amount of the background.
I put my pieces in order on the mini design board. It works like a charm and helps me be sure I have things lined up. Sew your “eye unit” together.
Then we begin adding pieces with angles. You will either draw lines OR do what I am doing, which is pre-trimming before I sew.
I interrupt my hints to bring you an infomercial. USE this tool! It makes sewing and trimming the folded corners a snap. I was like oh yeah, another tool but what the heck, I’ll try it. I am so glad I did; it is invaluable. Trust me. It is called the Simple Folded Corners Ruler*. You can use it two ways, for this pattern I used the “No Trim/Exact Measurement” method. There may be other tools that do this, but I am so impressed with how this speeds up everything. There is still time to add this to your quilting wish list.
Here is how you line it up to trim.
Here is the perfect corner – see what I mean! You may not want it, but I would never be without it when doing this again. Here ends the commercial.
NO matter how you choose to do this, I keep things lined up this way. Either for placing the squares on the fabric with lines drawn or trimming before you sew. I line up my book and fabric on my cutting space so I can see it all! It really helps me keep it in the same direction.
I take my time and make sure everything is going in the right direction. I sewed the left side and the right side separately. I could have paired them up but I know I would have confused things. Slow and steady wins this race.
I am really happy with how the octopodes look together. Notice, I used two fabrics to unite them. I sometimes think this is a fun thing to do with a group of blocks like this.
Please feel free to email me with questions! kathleen@kathleenmcmusing.com. There is a linky party for each block, please put your pictures in as you get them done. Block 1 is here.
It is not too late to join. All prior posts can be found here or use the Awesome Ocean tittle at the top to link to it.
1. Get the pattern from my amazon affiliate link*
or from the designer directly or in your local store.
2. Link up your finish – Llinky parties open for a year!
Here’s the calendar of dates, when blocks will be presented by me and a few friends!
| November 23, 2019 | Block 1 | Kelp | |
| December 7, 2019 | Block 2 | Octavian the Octopus | Barb |
| December 21, 2019 | Block 3 | Puffy the Puffer Fish | |
| January 4, 2020 | Block 4 | Angelica the Angel Fish | |
| January 18, 2020 | Block 5 | Chuckles the Clown Fish | |
| February 1, 2020 | Block 6 | Preppy the Whale | Rose |
| February 15, 202 | Block 7 | Tony the Turtle | |
| February 29, 2020 | Block 8 | Mr. Manatee | Wendy |
| March 14, 2020 | Block 9 | Sally the Seahorse | |
| March 28, 2020 | Top | ||
| April 25, 2020 | Parade of Quilts | ||
Special Notice – Guest Host/Blogger:
Thank Barb for this week’s guest blogging. If anyone else wants a week, you can see which ones are left!
Here’s the linky party!
Coming Up:
Awesome Ocean SAL Block 3– 12/21
Tutorial on Converting Picture to Mosaic in EQ8
Island Batik Challenge December
Linking Up:
Finished Or Not Friday
Friday Foto Fun
Midweek Makers
Those are just ‘sew’ cute Kathleen!!
They are really fun to work on too, and this is a nice easy pace.
Oh my goodness, I love your post, and you truly are organized…..I won’t tell you how I do mine….you would gasp….love it.
Yes, but you get a whole lot more done with a house full of people! However it is, it works for each of us!
Wow, that corner ruler looks awesome. I just keep shopping and shopping! LOL!! Thanks for the great tips.
Shopping is so much fun, but that ruler for that kind of pattern…priceless!
These are so cute!!!! My pattern arrived yesterday. I have some Christmas gifts I need to finish before I can dig in, so I’ll probably be catching up later this month. Thanks for all the tips!
I am so excited you are sewing along and I think you will have fun doing it! Catching up is easy. My advice is cut one (two blocks for baby size more for larger size) at a time, set aside and sew later. You’ll get caught up in no time!
I have to join the Quilt Along because I just love Chuckles. I am ordering my pattern. Thanks for the great post on the Corner ruler. I have the ruler, but have not been using it. I will get it out.
Did your mind go the Mary Tyler Moore character – Chuckles the Clown? Mine does. OH that ruler…pull it out right now and keep it handy. I already used it on another quilt pattern too!!!
Adorable!!! and I did not know that plural was Octopodes… Learned something!!!
It is always fun to learn something new (I had to look it up )
Aren’t those fun! Can’t wait to see the grand finish
I think it’s gonna be “awesome”!