Bible Block: HILL and VALLEY

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Bible Blocks: Hill and Valley

The Israelite's travels through the desert should be drawing to a close as God instructs Moses to send a party of spies to check out Canaan - the promised land. Numbers 13:17-25 tells how Caleb, Joshua and ten others journeyed into the "hill country" to see what the land was like. In the Valley of Eschol, they find such fruitful land, it takes two of the men to carry a single cluster of grapes! But, when the spies return, all but Caleb and Joshua are more concerned with their fears than with the blessings promised by God. They report that the land is "flowing with milk and honey," but that the people who live there are powerful. Indeed, each time they retell the story in Numbers 13:26-33, the inhabitants of the land become larger and more fearsome. Caleb and Joshua insist that the Israelites will be able to overcome the people of Canaan, because "the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

As in the past, the Children of Israel lack the faith to trust in God, with predictable results. They whine and threaten to choose a new leader and go back to Egypt [Numbers 14:1-45.] God punishes them for their disobedience by forcing them to stay in the wilderness for a generation: long enough that the only survivors to enter the promised land are the faithful Caleb and Joshua.

Are we any more trusting than the Israelites? Is God offering us a special opportunity? an area of service? a mission field? Are we willing to step forward in faith, as individuals or as members of our churches? Or, do we see the trials ahead and make them into giants? Like the Israelites, God has promised us great blessings if we trust Him for our victory: "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." [1 John 5:4]

Step #1 Plan:

Here's a good chance to use up some of the bits and pieces you may have left over from other blocks. Whether you choose a truly "scrappy" version, or a more controlled look, this is a strong graphic block that reminds you of the wonderful hills and valleys the Lord promised the Israelites. Make sure there is a strong contrast between the e patches and the c and d hillside fabrics. This block offers lots of possibilities for secondary patterns: notice how different the two blocks in our sketches look!

Making 6 inch blocks? The 1/4 square triangles are truly "miniatures" if you make a block like the drawings. Consider making only 2 sections instead of 8 instead of miniaturizing the whole block: cut 1/4 the number of patches indicated.

The cutting directions in the chart below refer to the fabrics by the letters in the blank drawings.

Step #2 Cut

FABRIC # to cut 12"
6"

medium/dark
a
4 3 1/4" squares
2 1/4"

light/medium
b
4 4 3 1/4" squares
2 1/4"

medium/dark
c
8 2 7/8" squares 1 7/8"

medium/dark
d
4 2 1/2" squares 1 1/2"

light/dark
e
8 3 7/8" squares 2 3/8"

If you're in a hurry, or don't like a "scrappy look", you can cut strips for all the fabrics, then cross cut into squares.

Remember to use 1/4" seams to sew quilt blocks. Instructions for 12" blocks are in bold; 6" blocks in italics

Step #3 Sew "hourglass" units

Match an a and a b square, right sides together Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each lighter square. Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line.
Without breaking the thread, feed another pair of squares under the presser foot and continue sewing. When you have finished sewing all the squares, without breaking the thread, turn the string under the machine, and starting with the last squares, sew 1/4" away from the other side of the drawn line.
Cut along the drawn line, then clip threads, trim dogears and press all the half-square units with seams toward the darker fabric.
Mixing or matching the half-square units, place them wrong-sides together, with the "b" sides against the "a" sides, butting the seams together. Draw a diagonal line to make an X with the previous seam on the wrong side of a half-square unit.
Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line on one set, and without breaking the thread, feed another set under the presser foot and continue sewing. Continue chain sewing just as you did with the half-square units. Cut along the drawn line, and press the result "hourglass" units. Trim if necessary to 2 1/2" [1 1/2"]

Step #4- add side triangles

Cut the c patches in half on one diagonal to make a total of 16 triangles. Add a c triangle to each side of the hourglass units.(Pay close attention to the placement of light and dark triangles.) Press seams toward the outer triangles.
Cut the d squares in half on one diagonal to make a total of 8 triangles. Add the d triangle to the top of the sets [sewing the long side of the triangle to the top of the hourglass.This triangle will extend past the edge of the pieced units. Press seams up toward the top triangle. Trim excess, measuring 1/4" beyond the points where the triangles cross and lining up one of the markings on the ruler along the seam line of the hourglass units.

Step #5 Add "sky" triangles

Cut the e squares in half on one diagonal to make a total of 16 triangles. Matching the bottom edges, align the long edge of an e triangle with the edge of the "hill" sections you made in Step 4. Being careful not to stretch the bias edge of the e triangle, sew, trying to sew through the X where the seams match. Press toward the "sky" sections: the triangle will extend 1/4" past the tip of the "hill" section
Add the remaining triangles to the other sides: they should extend 1/4" past the tip of the "hills." Trim and square to 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" [2" x 3 1/2"]

Step #6 Assemble the block

It's time to play! The instructions below are for the layout shown at the top of the page: the two blocks above look very different, but they're actually variations on the same layout. Here's one other alternate layout:

We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with for your own blocks.

Sew two pairs of sections from Step #5, taking care to sew through the X where the sky segments intersect. Press seams toward the top.
Sew the pairs into a strip: it should measure 12 1/2" [6 1/2"]
Sew the remaining two pairs, pressing seams down. Sew the pairs into a strip.
Sew the two strips together, matching points and butting seams. Sew, being careful to sew through the X where the triangles meet.
Press and measure your completed block: it should be 12 1/2" [6 1/2"] square. Trust your ruler, and not your eyes: The vertical "arrow" effect of the hills makes this appear to be a rectangle, rather than a square!

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For individual personal use only: any other use requires express written consent from the author.

If you have comments or questions about these instructions, drop me a line: Kim Graham

FABRIC		# to cut	12"	6"
medium/dark	a	4	3 1/4" squares	2 1/4"
light/medium	b	4	4 3 1/4" squares	2 1/4"
medium/dark	c	8	2 7/8" squares	1 7/8"
medium/dark	d	4	2 1/2" squares	1 1/2"
light/dark	e	8	3 7/8" squares	2 3/8"