Welcome to China!  If you missed the meeting last night you missed learning that our ever-important toilet paper was invented in China.  However, only Emperors were able to own and use it.  Sure glad that has changed!

So our Block of the Month is the Chinese Lantern.  You will make this block in June and bring it to the July meeting.  I really enjoyed making this block and think several of these blocks together in a quilt would be adorable.

Our palette for this block will consist of a medium batik for the bulk of the lantern, a darker, coordinating batik for the two stripes in the middle.  A pale or neutral (batik or solid) for the four corners and black (batik or solid) for the top and bottom of the lantern.

Cutting instructions

Neutral:    4 pieces cut 2 x 3 1/2″

4 pieces cut 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″

Black:         2 pieces cut 6 1/2″ x 2″

Medium Batik:    1 piece cut 12 1/2″ x 2 1/2″

2 pieces cut 12 1/2″ x 3 1/2″

Dark Batik:            2 pieces cut 12 1/2″ x 1″

Next sew the white rectangles to each side of the black rectangles

 

On each neutral square, draw a pencil line diagonally.

Place the squares on each side of both medium batik (3 1/2″) rectangles.  Be sure the drawn lines are going in opposite directions.

Sew ON the line and trim off the excess fabric.

Assemble the center pieces together as shown below.

Add the top and bottom and you will be finished!

I hope you enjoy this block as much as I did!