30's repro alphabet, top completed (setting directions)

30's repro alphabet
93 by 70 inches

I made two alphabet quilts using the Moda Spell it with Fabric pattern.
Here is a link to the free booklet:
https://www.fatquartershop.com/moda-spell-it-with-fabric-quilt-free-pdf-pattern

I made lots of changes in construction. Their directions are for using 2 1/2 inch strips. Because I used scraps and yardage I was able to simplify many of the letters. For example, their Z uses 13 pieces. I made it with 5.
I think I started with 4 yards of the green and very little was left at the end.
I don't remember the manufacturer or the color name. It is a fabulous green!

Here are my directions for this 30's repro set. I earlier put up directions for the modern set.
All the squares used for the setting sashings, cornerstones, and 16-patch border were from my bins--none needed to be cut for this set. And many remain for future endeavors. 

Make the letters. They will measure 8 1/2 by 10 1/2 inches, to finish 8 by 10.

Make four scrap blocks for the corners
Cut 80 squares 2 1/2 inches
Sew into rows of 4
Sew five rows into blocks that will be 4 by 5, 20 squares. They will measure 8 1/2 by 10 1/2 inches, to finish 8 by 10

Sashing
I used about 640 scrap squares for the sashings and about 184 more for the corner stones. These numbers may be way off, I just used them from my bin of 30's repro scrap squares.

Hint with sashing: cut the solids along the length of grain--long part of sashing parallel to the selvage--the stability of length of grain is always helpful with sashing.

Theoretically, you could make the same look for the sashing by bordering each block with the solid then making sashings with just the 1 inch finished squares. However, these would be very fragile and unstable, so I instead sandwiched them between two solid sashings.

sashing (A is pictured)

Sashing A
The vertical sashes
Make 36 of this size
Cut two 1 1/2 by 10 1/2 inch solid for each sashing, so 72 total
Cut ten 1/12 inch squares of prints, so 360 total
Sew prints into a row. Press in one direction
Sew solid on each side of the squares. Press towards the solid

Sashing B
The horizontal sashes
Make 35 of this size
Cut two 1 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch solid for each sashing, so 70
Cut eight 1/12 inch squares of prints, so 280 total
Sew prints into a row. Press in one direction
Sew solid on each side of the squares. Press towards the solid

cornerstones

Cornerstones made with 184 scrap 1 1/2 inch cut squares, 120 green squares and a few 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch rectangles.

Scraps:
1 1/2 inch squares

Solid:
1 1/2 inch squares
1 1/2 by 3 1/2 inch rectangles
1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch rectangles

Cornerstone A
The interior cornerstones
Make 20

Cornerstone B
The edge cornerstones (except for the corners)
Make 18

Cornerstone C
The actual corners!
Make 4 
They can be all made the same or, like I did, with the long green kept in the horizontal position

Assembly
Sew Sashing A onto the left side of all blocks and also to the right side of the blocks that will be on the right side of the quilt (that will be two of the scrap square blocks and the letters H, M, R, W.
Sew the rows. 
Press blocks towards the sashings.

Lay out rows and remaining sashings and corners.
The corners are constructed in a way that the outside will be of the solid fabric. 
Press cornerstones towards the sashings.

Sashing can be simplified with a 3 1/2 inch cut solid, or if you like the pieced one but don't want to bother with all the tiny squares, replace that center section with a print or another solid cut 1 1/2 by 8 1/2 and 1 1/2 by 10 1/2. The cornerstones can be simple squares cut 3 1/2 inches too instead of 9-patches.

At this point the top measures 81 by 58 inches finished (81 1/2 by 58 1/2 by measuring)

Borders
I made borders out of  about 816 2 inch cut squares sewn into 16-patches. (and 16 rectangles 2 by 2 1/2 inches cut for the centers of the top and bottom borders, see note below.) Again, my numbers may be off.

For the side borders:
Thirteen and a half 16-patches for each side

For the top and bottom borders:
Five and a half 16-patches, a center unit, Five and a half more 16 patches for each.

To make the math correct, make a half-16 patch with patches cut 2 by 2 1/2 inches, one each for top and bottom borders. These were placed in the center of the top and bottom borders. I think they melt into the other 16-patches well.

Press all borders towards the sashings
Finish with stay stitching the edge to keep intact until quilting.

Note the larger patches in the center position

Final quilt top comes to 93 by 70 inches.

Letters are adapted from Moda's Spell it with Fabric pattern.
Setting is my design.
Use my setting at your pleasure.

62 to 63--a calendar quilt in the time of covid--top completed

62 to 63, A calendar quilt in the time of Covid
88 by 76 inches

Block finishes 4 inches
366 pieced blocks, 52 plain blocks
Set 19 blocks across and 22 rows

I started this on my birthday in 2020 and finished it in time for my next. 
Here is where I started it:
https://kleinmeisjequilts.blogspot.com/2020/08/calendar-quilt-year-in-life-62-to-63.html
There are 366 pieced squares--one for each birthday and every day in between and adding a plain block between each Saturday and Sunday.
I rotated every other block so there are only corners to match. Saturday and Sunday are horizontal blocks.

Block cutting
Solid: two rectangles 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches; two rectangles 1 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches
Print: one 2 1/2 inch square
Press all seams away from the center square

Plain blocks
Solid: one 4 1/2 inch square

Hints:
Cut and piece a stack of blocks occasionally instead of making yourself work on it every day
I made a row at a time, then added it to the mothership, pressing each row towards the top.
Sometimes I made a partial row and added it leaving room to sew on the rest of the row later
To protect the fragile edge during a year of work I stay-stitched the top row right away, and would stay-stitch the sides every 3-4 rows.

Some of the fabrics have very special meaning to me. Fabrics from my mother and grandmothers. Fabrics from friends. The choices for each day were commemorating events/birthdays/etc. Or simply that I really liked the fabric.
There is a special section with a vial for the day I scheduled my vaccines, and two different syringe fabrics for my vaccination days.
There is Ruth Bader Ginsburg fabric, Anthony Fauci fabric, chaos fabric for January 6th. There are tractors and corn commemorating planting and harvest. 
It was a constant in this year of troubles. I am glad to have made it.

My design, use at your pleasure.