Blue So Blue [block for Boston] Tutorial

I have been thinking of making this block for a few years now. Back in 2011 I had the good fortune to be in NYC while there was a Sonia Delaunay exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. The show, Color Moves: Art and Fashion by Sonia Delaunay, was immensely inspiring. I thought they might have ask me to leave the museum for drooling on the exhibits. Fortunately that didn't happen -- but this did!

Blue So Blue Block

The original artwork that inspired this block was this  Pochoir print from the 1930s. I thought the best way to approach this design was to paper piece the smaller blocks. I don't have much experience with paper piecing, so it was a fun challenge!

Sonia Delaunay Pochoir print

When I saw the call for blocks for the Boston MQG Quilts for Boston project, I thought of this block and knew I had the perfect reason to make it! Here is the template and a quick tutorial for the block. Enjoy!

Print four for each finished block

Steps 1-4 (from left to right)

 1. Place the center blue [a] strip right side out on the back of your paper template. Place a white [b] strip over one side of the center blue strip. Stitch on the paper side (this takes some getting used to and feels a bit backwards at first). Trim off excess seam allowance. Flip your template over and press the white [b] strips out so the right side is facing up. Add the blue [a] strips to each side of the white strip the same way, stitch together, trim and press.
2. Add the second set of white [b] strips and the last blue [b] strips in the same manner.
3-4. Trim the unit to 6.5" square.

Steps 5-7 (from left to right)

5-7 Carefully tear off the paper in each section.
Voila! Now make three more and sew them together to form the block!

For a more detailed tutorial on how to paper piece check out this:
Paper Piecing Tutorial - Fresh Lemons Quilts

Originally I had added in the extra white sashing between the 6" blocks but then took it out so it would work for the 12" finished measurement for Quilts for Boston.

I am going to make a a whole quilt eventually using this block. It will be fun to collect blue fabrics and throw in a few prints here and there. I would love to finish it by summer for our PMQG NW meet up. Wish me luck!
--Michelle