This is the 4th block in the series offered by the National Museum of the American Indian. It's named Ellam Yua and was designed by Nikki Corbett. Did you miss the first three? Here is a link to get you started: Quilt Along for NMAI Here are my first 3 blocks: June: Bison pattern by Lauren Good Day July: Kanani O Ka Home pattern by Cissy Serrao: Hawaiian August pattern designed by Emma Alcazar Now for the 4th block designed by Nikki Corbett (and sewn by me, of course). First, the fabrics I pulled and my threads: And the special symbol at the top of the water. I used fusible webbing and a sewing machine stitch: Top of my Ellam Yua block I used fusible interfacing for the waves at the bottom of the block so I could trim away the background to reduce bulk: And here is the finished block (designed by Nikki Corbett, sewn by me): My Ellam Yua block Now, these 4 blocks get stitched together using 1" (finished) strips. We now wait for the border directions to be released October 1! Go...

There will be 4 blocks. Here are the first 3. Scroll down to see my approach to Emma's block #3.  NMAI - Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian asked several quilters who are Indigenous Americans to provide quilt blocks that emphasize various time periods. The Quilt Along runs from June through October. Click that link and you can sign up for each block (even the past ones) and also be notified by email of the ones coming (includes a border). I shared the first by Lauren Good Day. The Bison. Her pattern was for 5 bison on a 10" block. I decided to make just one. Block #1 Block #2 was designed by Cissy Serao and is Hawaiian: Block #2 by Cissy Serao My Hawaiian block: My machine stitched block Block #3 was designed by Emma Alcazar: Block #3 by Emma Alcazar These are 45 degree diamonds. The block background size is 10" finished. I was able to follow Emma's directions to sew 2" strips together and then recut into 45 degree diamonds, but first needed to visualize...