Close up
This block requires hand stitching.
This is a block combining smocked diamonds and puff gathering. Both fabric manipulations have been done in past blocks:
Block type: log cabin
Block size: 11 inches
Colour scheme: reds and neutrals
Texture/fabric manipulation: smocked diamonds and puff gathering
Quilt size: The finished quilt is 52 1/2 x 52 1/2.
Needs:
- A piece of fabric in red tones for the centre square.
- two 5 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles for the border
Stitch a diamond alternating each flower. For more details check Diamond smocking block.
Make enough diamonds to cover a 5 inch square.
Stretch the smocked piece on a padded surface and pin well.
Steam the piece with your iron.
After steaming let it dry.
This is the back of the smocking.
Making the puffs
Stitch around each flower or design element with at least 1/2 inch in diameter. For more details on puff gathering check Puff gathering block tutorial
Puffs are only done on alternate diamonds (see picture).
My choice of fabric is very busy and it is hard to see but if you look closely you will see that the puffs show up in a kind of grid pattern.
Stretch the piece on a padded surface and pin.
Steam with your iron.
Let it dry and then square it to 5 inch square.
The grid made by the puffs is more noticeable on this photo.
Cut two 5 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles and two 11 in x 3 1/2 in rectangles for the border.
Block 19, Smocked diamonds and puff gathering, is done! Phew!
Textured blocks tutorials
This is the 19th block in a series of 25 exploring texture in fabric.
Each block is made out of a centre 5 inch square featuring some fabric texture such as pin tucks, smocking, shirring and the like. Then a 3 1/2 wide border encloses each centre square.
The colour scheme is red and white/cream alternating reds and white/cream for the centre square and border.
Some of the textures show better on plain colours than on heavily patterned fabric.
See all Textured quilt sampler tutorials for this quilt.
Share your pictures
Are you making this quilt? Share your pictures on Flickr’s TeresaDownUnder group.
Sewn Up 
Teresa, I am extremely interested in fabric origami and manipulation; however your site does not let me print a copy of the instructions for me to carry with me to practice before attempting to make them into a quilt. I cannot drag my computer around with me. do you have a book of these blocks that I can purchase?? I am a hands on person. I recognize some of the sewing tricks in making these items and would like to be able to try them.please response to my email address . these would be for my personal use only and not for publishing or other unreasonable uses. thankx so much, love ya nancy banks
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