Project Quilting Challenge Entries are Up & More Tumbler Pictures

Here are some pictures of the finished, quilted, and waiting to be delivered tumbler quilt, tada!

My sweet husband brought his camera to church (unbeknown to me) and took these pictures out back.  Then after church, we took the quilt across the street to our new neighbors and their new baby. Unfortunately they appear to be out of town, so I will have to wait to give them the gift.

Project Quilting Entries are up and waiting for your vote.  Log Cabins this time, I guarantee it will be a hard choice again.  Here's the link.

Happy Sewing ♥

Friday Sampler Block #5 -Tumbler Block

What a fun and simple accuquilt die to work with!


My inspiration for choosing this block to work with this week was the birth of a baby in my neighborhood.  I wanted to make something quick, but special for the first time Mom and Dad and their new baby girl.

The tumbler block fit the ticket.  I haven't used this die before, and was pleased with how easily the blocks fit together for sewing with their notched corners.

I used the Breeze collection by Wendy Slotboom, some solid Kona cottons,  Lamour Love fabric by Sandy Gervais, and Peony Kona Crush for the backing.

All the examples I saw of finished quilts using this block had all four sides squared cut off  to make a standard rectangle.  I wanted to preserve the tumbler shape right out to the edge of the quilt, so I took a chance and cut the batting and backing to match, stitched it pillowcase style, and turned it right side out.  I think it turned out pretty well.

It hasn't been quilted yet.  I'm not sure what quilting design to go with.  Any suggestions?

Happy Sewing ♥

P.S. - I might use this tumbler shape for the borders of my sampler quilt.

Log Cabin Quilt

I love the Log Cabin block and all its variations, so was excited to see this weeks Project Quilting challenge.

This 36" x 36" quilt was designed in EQ using some fabrics from my stash which I scanned in.  It is simple and traditional, but I am enjoying getting to know how to use my new quilt software.

You can see this week's Project Quilting challenge here.
Sadly, this quilt will  only be on paper (at least for now) as I am working on a tumbler baby quilt for the new baby girl next door. 

Happy Sewing ♥

The First Day of Summer

Today is the longest day of the year, the day with the most light.  How lovely to have such long days to enjoy during a most enjoyable time of year, at least here in the Northeast.

Here are a few items from Etsy artisans showing some of my favorite things about summer:

~ Swimming ~

Grace Gallery - The Plunge

~ Gardening ~

TR Woodworks -Primitive Handmade Garden Tote in Barnwood.

~ and Quilting about Gardening ~

NH QuiltArts - The Garden Quilt

~ Picnics ~

 Art by Lynn - Savannah Celebration

~ the Beach ~

Polites - Clear Morning

~ and Hanging out with Friends and Family ~

Petette - Personalized Family Pillow

These are just a few of my favorite things about summer, what are yours?

Friday Sampler Block #4 - Blazing Star

I learned a lot doing this block.

This one was truly fun and challenging.  There are only 3 different triangles used, but it finishes into a surprisingly complex looking block.  It definitely felt as if I had accomplished something by the time one star was complete.  I am looking forward to making a table runner with several Blazing Star blocks sometime soon.

So here's what you'll need for 1 block:

Blazing Star Die #55051
(I regret that I won't be able to provide templates for this block due to copyright issues.  More on this later)

5 fabrics

• 1 light for background 
• 2 mediums 
• 2 darks

Fat quarters would work fine.

The most important part about putting together this block is in the cutting stage.  Pay close attention to which fabric is cut on each of the 3 size triangles, and whether the directions call for them to be cut right side up, wrong side up, or wrong sides together.  I highly recommend that you use fabrics which don't have a right and a wrong side, like kona cotton, or batiks.  This will eliminate one of the ways you can get into trouble.

For one block, you will need 4 triangles of each color for the star points, and eight background triangles.

Stitch one dark outer star triangle to background triangle, and one medium outer star triangle to a background triangle.  If you have cut them properly, the pieces will align and the top will be basically a straight line.  The background pieces are to the outside and the star triangles to the inside.  The star triangles will be sewn to each other after the next step.

After stitching, press toward the dark star triangle, and toward the background piece on the medium triangle unit.  This is so they will all be pressed in the same direction in the finished block.

Join the lighter of the inner star point triangles to the darker unit, and the darker inner star point triangle to the medium unit. Press toward the darker outer star/background unit on one, and toward the darker inner star point on the other.

Then join these two units, outer star points together. You will only need one pin in the seam where all four triangles meet.  Since you pressed the units in opposite directions, you will be able to lock the the seams and get a perfect match.  Sew all four units the same way.

Next join two of  the units.  Press so that the seams are all going in the same direction.  When you join the two halves together into the completed block, you should be able to open up the center seam by undoing a few stitches in the seam allowance.  Then you can press the whole star flat and it will lay nicely.

One of the things I learned was that this is not a traditional star block.  I searched my EQ7 program and couldn't find it.  So I drew it in the Easy Draw program; it turned out great!  Now I can resize the block, print out templates, and calculate yardage.  However, since it is a copyrighted block, I can't share the templates here.

I love the way this block turned out.  Although it pieces very easily, I rate it a 7 in difficulty because of the careful attention needed in cutting.

Happy Sewing ♥

P.S. I am not crazy about the orangey-red  in this block and might have to do it over with a different color choice for the sampler quilt.  Another thing I learned.

Considering Buying the Accuquilt Go or Accuquilt Studio Die Cutter?

If you are considering buying either the Accuquilt Go or the Accuquilt Studio, here's a simple and informative comparison chart made up by Ebony Love of LoveBugStudios:

http://lovebugstudios.blogspot.com/2010/03/accuquilt-studio-or-go.html

I wish I had this information before I purchased my Go.  I would have made the same choice, but it would have been a more informed choice!

:o)

Happy Sewing ♥

Oceanica

Presenting a new collection of fabrics from In the Beginning in my shop - Oceanica by Julie Paschkis. You can see it in my blog header as well.

There are a couple of free patterns to go along with their new line.  Here is one of them:

Thread Tamers are back in my shop as well.  I am giving a sample set as a gift with every order.

Happy Sewing ♥

P.S. - Don't forget to vote in this week's Project Quilting challenge.

EQ 7

My new toy!

I got my first Electric Quilt software a couple of days ago, and have been happily playing with it during any spare time.  So far I've watched the videos, and am on lesson 4 in the help section.  Above is my first sampler quilt design.

Although the program is powerful enough for the most experienced quilter,  it is beginner friendly too. I was delighted to discover that even someone as inexperienced as myself could export a quilt design file to my blog this easily.

EQ7 has opened a world of possibilities which I am excited to explore.

Happy Sewing ♥

Friday Sampler Block #3 - Depression Block

Accuquilt calls the block I am featuring this week the Depression Block.  It is an attractive block, but I don't really like the name.  Does anyone know another name for this block?

Makes a 12" block

You will need the following dies:
(A)  55002    4 7/8" Triangle 
(B)  55009    Half Square 3" Finished Triangle
(C)  55019    4 3/4" Square

Choose 4 fat quarters, 1 medium for the background color, 1 light, 1 medium for the large triangles, and one dark for the center (or any other combination you like).  You can use scraps for this block too, as long as you have enough of each fabric to cut the required number of shapes for each color.

Cut 1 from die (C) 4 3/4" Square.  You will be using this on point.
Cut 4 from die (A) 4 7/8" triangle
Cut 4 of your light fabric from die (B) Half Square 3" Finished Triangle
Also cut 16 of your background medium fabric from die (B)

If you are using a rotary cutter:
Cut 1 4 3/4" square from dark for center
Cut two 5 3/4" squares of medium fabric, cut on the diagonal to get four 4 7/8" triangles
Cut two 3 7/8 squares of light fabric, cut on the diagonal to get four 3" triangles
Also cut eight 3 7/8" squares of background medium fabric, cut on the diagonal to get sixteen 3" triangles.

Note: all seam allowances are 1/4 inch.

This is a simple block which looks great and finishes at a large 12".  It won't take many of these to make a quilt.  One block finishes into a placemat with some borders added.  You could also make a nice tote with a couple of blocks and some coordinating fabrics.  

So, lets get started....

Stitch 4 light B's to 4 medium B's

Press toward medium B

Stitch medium B to one short side of piece A.  Press toward A.  Stitch medium B to remaining short side of A, and again press toward A. Make three more triangle units the same way.

Stitch 1 light/medium B unit to each short side of one of the large triangle units you just made.  Press toward outside B's. Make a second one the same way.  You will have two triangle units left over.

Stitch 4 medium B's to all sides of Square C, pressing toward B's after each side is joined.

Stitch remaining triangle units to opposite sides of center unit. Press toward triangle units.

Stitch rows together,  locking and pinning opposing seams for a perfect match.

Here's the finished block.

 I've made a set of place mats with this block by adding two narrow and two wider borders.

I am liking the way my sampler blocks are coming along so far.  Before long, I will have enough for a quilt!  I have some other ideas in mind for the pre-cut blocks too, check back next week for those. 

Happy Sewing ♥

P.S. - If anyone would like to share their finished blocks,
I would be delighted to post a picture, or link, them on my blog.

Learning New Tricks

Do you think it is possible to change habit patterns, or do you believe the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"

I once worked in an office where they did major renovations to the layout of the building one summer.  It took me a long time to stop turning right, as I had been used to doing, and turn left instead to get to my office.  And that was when I was young.  If the adage holds true, it should be even harder to change as I grow older.

Recently I got my first speeding ticket.  I was cited for going 47 mph in a 30 mph zone along my daily route to work.  Granted I was going down a hill, in what is widely considered a speed trap in my neighborhood.  After more than 30 years of driving experience, you would think they would let me off easy because of my perfect driving record. 

Still, I don't want to be a lawbreaker, and I certainly don't want to pay another ticket, or go through the embarrassment of a siren pulling me over.  So I was determined to change my driving habits.  It took a number of times driving over that stretch of road and catching myself letting the car naturally accelerate on its own going down the hill as I had been doing for years.  But now, as I approach the hill, it triggers me to slow down, put my foot on the brake, and watch my speedometer.  I have successfully retrained my mind to take note, and practice a new habit.
 
I find it encouraging to know that it is possible to learn new behavior, no matter how many years I have been practicing a certain habit.

P.S. - I made a Nemo cake for my youngest granddaughter's birthday this past weekend.  The cute little fondant Nemos on the cupcakes were made by an Etsy seller KidsCakes.

Sampler Quilt #2 - Basket Block

This week's block is an 9" four basket block.  I have never made a basket block, so am excited to try my wings.  Here are the pieces you will need for one basket unit (1/4 of the block):

Choose 2-3 dark, and 2-3 light fabrics for each block.  2 dark fat quarters and 2  light should be plenty to make a four unit block.  After experimenting by cutting out all the backgrounds in a dark, and all the baskets in a light, I would recommend instead cutting half the backgrounds dark, half light, and the same with the basket shapes.  This high contrast will give your finished block lots of charm.  Juxapositioning dark and light, also brings out patterns between the basket shapes that you won't see if you use (for example) all dark backgrounds and light baskets.

If you are using the accuquilt, it is die #55048 Bountiful Baskets. Otherwise cut the following:

For Each Basket Unit

• Two 2" squares
• One 2 7/8" square cut on the diagonal into two half square triangles
• Two 4 1/2" squares cut on the diagonal into half square triangles (you will have one half square triangle  left for another basket unit)
• Handle of your choice, either 1"x 5" fabric cut on the bias, or rickrack

I will start by saying that I found the basket handle piece included with the die difficult to work with.  After a number of failed attempts, I abandoned this piece for another method which I will share a little later.  If you do decide to make a bias basket handle, I suggest that you buy this nice little clover tool:

It feeds adhesive and bias binding through at the same time.  This makes it easy to shape and iron your basket handle onto the background piece before you stitch it.  You will still have to stitch it carefully on both sides though, which is why I decided to use a simpler, and just as attractive (I think) rickrack handle.

So the first step, after cutting out your shapes and deciding on which style handle to use, is to attach the handle to the background fabric.

If you are using rickrack, as I did, cut a piece the length of the cardboard it comes on, or about 5 inches.  Fold the rickrack in half to find the middle, and then pin the middle about 1 inch below the upper point of the background triangle.  Starting at one bottom edge (about an inch in from the side), stitch along the middle of the rickrack, gently curving until you reach the middle pin.  Be sure the edge of the rickrack is at least 1/2 inch in from all edges of the background triangle so it doesn't get caught in the side seam when you get to that step.  When you reach the pin, remove it, and continue gently curving the rickrack until you reach the opposite edge, again stopping about an inch from the side.

Next stitch a basket triangle right sides together with the background triangle and handle you just stitched. Press toward basket.

Now join the two smaller basket triangles to a background square as shown below.  Be sure the triangles are facing opposite of each other. Press toward small triangles.

Stitch these side pieces to the basket triangle as shown below. Press toward side pieces.

The last piece to be joined is the bottom background triangle.  Press toward background piece.

Make 3 more baskets alternating dark and light backgrounds and baskets. And join the 4 units as shown.

The possibilities are endless as to what you could make with this block.  Besides this sampler quilt, you could make a table runner, place mats, wall hanging, or full sized bed quilt with these sweet and simple baskets.  I think a scrappy one would be especially nice, don't you?

With the exception of my initial problems making the handle, I found this block fun and easy to piece. 

Using a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most difficult, I rate this block a 3.

Happy Sewing ♥