Tumbling block 19 sits in the bottom row on the left-hand side of the Diamonds are Forever quilt. I can’t quite believe we are on the last row of the quilt!
You can download the patterns for the three diamonds that make up the block, and this month there is one extra mid-toned block to make a half-section at the side of the quilt. Here are the light tone diamond, the mid tone diamond 1, the dark-tone diamond, and the extra mid tone diamond 2.
Just to remind you — the pdfs have NO seam allowances, but are to scale. Set your printer to print to the actual size. Do NOT use the ‘fit to page’ option as it will reduce the diamonds by half an inch or so. When you print them out, they should have 6-inch sides. I advise you to use Adobe Acrobat™ as a PDF reader (it’s free).
Tips For Tumbling block 19
When embellishing, feel free to follow what I have done, OR adapt my ideas to your liking. Embellish the blocks as you see fit and have fun and remember, there are no rules in Crazy Quilting!
As you stitch, keep beads away from the edge of the diamond and give yourself a generous seam allowance. When you piece the diamonds into blocks you will break your sewing machine needle if it hits anything hard [yes we’ve all done it!].
As usual, stitches mentioned in the article are linked to tutorials — usually in the stitch dictionary — so if you’re unsure, you can find instructions on how to do them.
When foundation piecing your diamonds, try to make sure that you don’t have a seam ending at one of the points of the diamond. When you come to piecing your diamonds into blocks, you don’t want to be dealing with bulky diamond tips or corners.
If you need a tutorial on curved piecing take a look at a tutorial written by Allison Aller. You can find Curved Foundation Piecing here
Tumbling block 19 Light-toned Diamond
The PDF for the Light toned Diamond is here.
I first covered the seam between patch 1 and 2 with a cotton lace. Using my stitchers templates, I traced off the scallops using a water-dissolvable pen. I then worked them in Stem stitch in cotton perle #8. To make them stand firm, I whipped them. At the base of each scallop, I worked a Fargo Rose. On each side of the rose, I added 3 straight stitches in cotton perle #8 and topped them with seed beads. Along the length of the lace, I spaced sequins secured with a seed bead.
From seam to embellishment
The small seam between patch 1 and 2 is actually a simple quick embellishment. First I worked a line of Herringbone stitches, which was laced with a white silk thread that is about the same thickness as cotton perle #3. Then, in between the ‘V’ of the Herringbone stitches I added 2 straight stitches in a buttonhole twist thread. In between those stitches, I added a Detached Chain stitch worked in a cotton yarn that has a gold blending thread twisted into it. It is about the same thickness as cotton perle #3. At the base of each of the detached chain stitches, I then added a gold bead.
I used another laced stitch on the seam between patches 5 and 6. This is two rows of Herringbone stitches worked back-to-back. I used the same thread that I used for the Detached Chain stitches in the seam embellishment above. So it is a tan-coloured cotton yarn, the same thickness as cotton perle #3, with a gold blending thread twisted through it. I then laced the Herringbone stitches with a fine cord. You can see how to lace Herringbone stitch here.
For this seam embellishment, I worked Alternating Buttonhole stitch at different levels, in a fine chainette thread. I then spaced the novelty heart beads in between the seed beads.
Tumbling block 19 Mid-toned Diamond
The PDF for the Mid toned Diamond is here.
I went a bit mad with Feather stitch here. I used a pale blue Rayon Ribbon floss before adding metal rice beads and flower shaped novelty beads.
The curved seam that runs across the middle of the diamond I embellished with Buttonhole stitch working it at different height levels. To this, I added some dark blue flower-shaped vintage novelty beads.
I covered the seam that runs along the side of patch 7 with Ric-rac. I then added Zig Zag Chain Stitch
Along the edge of patch 5, I worked a simple decoration made up of a line of Laced Detached Chain stitches. So here the lacing is a knitting yarn that has a metallic thread running through it.
I laced a foundation row of Herringbone stitches with a knitting yarn that has a metallic thread running through it. You can see how to lace Herringbone stitch here.
A wide cotton lace covers the edge of patch 6. I added a few small light blue flower motifs to lift it a bit.
Tumbling block 19 Dark-toned Diamond
The pdf for the Dark toned Diamond is here.
The dark-toned diamond only has 3 seams in it to embellish. The first and most noticeable seam consists of two wavey lines with a line of flower beads down the middle. Using my stitchers templates, I traced off the wavey lines with a water-dissolvable pen. I then worked them in Chain stitch using cotton perle #5. I then threaded a gold thread under the chain stitches.
The seam between patch 4 and patch 1 is decorated in a beaded Feather stitch. Likewise, you can bead many surface embroidery stitches by simply threading the beads on your working thread as you go.
For the seam along the edge of patch 3 I simply covered it with a commercial braid and added seed beads.
Tumbling block 19 Second Mid-toned Diamond
Since we are dealing with one-and-a-half tumbling blocks this month we have an extra diamond. The pdf for the Mid toned Diamond Tumbling block 19 is here. If you want to make a light triangle to fill in the space where half a light tone diamond would go feel free to do so. On my quilt, the area is the same plain burgundy fabric that I used on the border, but some people might want to continue the tumbling block pattern.
I had a bit of fun with this seam embellishment. For example, it started with a line of Buttonhole worked with every 4th stitch made longer. Then I added some flower lace motifs secured with vintage flower novelty beads.
I stitched some red ric-rac along the edge of patch 6. I then added seed beads and every second ‘hill’ I added 3 Detached Chain stitches worked in a black thread that has a metallic thread twisted into it.
The seam between patch 2 and patch 4 is a line of tied Herringbone stitches which you can find on page 145 of my book Creative stitches for Contemporary Embroidery. Along the top of the stitches, I added some star-shaped beads.
I used hand-dyed blue lace to cover the seam between patch 3 and 1. About every inch or so, I worked 3 Detached Chain stitches in a fan shape and added a red seed bead to the base. So here, the red button is vintage.
A commercial braid covers the seam that runs along the edge of patch 5 that I decorated with bugle beads. I worked small flower-like motifs comprised of two Bullion Knots, each wrapped in a Detached Chain stitch . Between the knot are two straight stitches that are topped with seed beads.
Where to share
If you are stitching along please share what you do in either of the Crazy Quilt Divas and/or Crazy Quilt International groups on Facebook.
The quilt is on the front of two of my books: The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design and my new book Crazy Quilting for Beginners Handy Pocket Guide. You do not need my books to join in on this stitch along, but I strongly recommend that you have at least the pocket guide, if not the full Visual Guide to Crazy Quilting Design.
Previous blocks in the series
Guidelines and general information about the series:
Tumbling Block 1;
Tumbling Block 2;
Tumbling Block 3;
Tumbling Block 4;
Tumbling Block 5;
Tumbling Block 6;
Tumbling Block 7;
Tumbling Block 8;
Tumbling Block 9:
Tumbling Block 10:
Tumbling Block 11:
Tumbling Block 12:
Tumbling Block 13:
Tumbling Block 14:
Tumbling Block 15:
Tumbling Block 16:
Tumbling Block 17:
Tumbling Block 18:
Tumbling Block 19:
Tumbling Block 20:
Tumbling Block 21:
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The next tumbling block in the series will be on August 15th. (I publish a block monthly, usually it’s the second Thursday of the month)
Have you seen my Stitchers Templates?
Create your own designs with Sharon’s easy-to-use stitchers templates. Combine shapes to create hundreds of patterns and designs to embroider. It is the ultimate mix-and-match fun for stitchers of all skill levels. I created them to be as versatile as possible. I include four multi-patterned templates in each set. You will find them easy to use, totally clear to help you position them on your work, and they are nice and compact to fit in your sewing box. Each set comes with an e-book filled with patterns and designs that you can create and use as a jumping-off spot for your own designs. They are available now in our shop here!
Happy stitching!
