Block 11 THQA 2012

Since this is the last whole block of the Quilt Along, and we started with a variation of a Variable Star, I thought we would end with one. This is a plain Variable Star.

For one 7" block you will need -

Print A (mine is brown) this is the "background" of the star -

                                1 - 4+3/4" square - for the Fast Flying Geese
                                4 - 2+1/4" squares - for the corners of the block

Print B (mine is orange) -

                                4 - 2+5/8" squares - for the Fast Flying Geese (these will be the star points)

Print C (mine is green) -

                                1 - 4" square - for the centre of the block

Remember measure accurately, sew scant 1/4" seams, press seams in opposite directions....

Start by making four Flying Geese with the large print A square, and all four Print B squares (all the instructions can be found here).

When sewing the scant 1/4" seams I have to sew quite a bit smaller with my new 1/4" sewing foot for the seam to be accurate.

These four units should be trimmed to 2+1/4" x 4".

The four Flying Geese, along with the small print A squares and the Print C square will go together like the above photo. Sewn together like a regular Nine-Patch,

sewing the units into rows and then the rows together.

Trim the finished block to 7+1/2" square.

My other blocks -

For this one I added a Pinwheel centre.

I made the Pinwheel with Easy Half Square Triangles (HST) using 2+3/4" squares - two squares each, from two different fabrics. Trim the Half Square Triangles to 2+1/4" before sewing the Pinwheel. All the instructions for the HST can be found here.

The Pinwheel should be trimmed to 4".

Have fun with this Variable Star - any 4" block will work for the centre.

 All three blocks together.

all 33 blocks!

We are now finished with all the whole blocks, next week there will be instructions for the half blocks.

Have a great day and thanks for quilting along!❤

November Free Motion Quilting Challenge

I had fun with this month's Sew Cal Gal Free Motion Quilting Challenge.

The expert this month is Sarah Vedeler, and the challenge was creating swirls. I tried different sizes and the variation.

This was the last square of my sample quilt, and since it was a 8" x 16" I decided to add a feather with some swirls too. I used 50Wt thread for quilting the feather and echo, and then 100Wt thread for the background swirls and lines.

Another great challenge and it was fun to try something new. Thanks Sew Cal Gal and Sarah Vedeler!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!❤

I have recently been getting messages on Blogger, when I am uploading pictures, about having used all my photo storage space, and that I would have to buy more space - and then the next time I have no problems uploading pictures. Does any one else get that message? Or know anything about that. I don't want to have to start paying to have a blog.

Block 10 THQA 2012

This week's block is called Improved Four Patch (from EQ7).

                                     

For one 7" block you will need - 

Print A (mine is the red "tree" print) -

                        2 - 4+3/8" squares, cut in half on the diagonal

Print B (mine is the green striped) -

                        2 - 3" squares

Print C (mine is the orange dots) -

                        4 - 1+3/4" squares

Print D (mine is the red striped) -

                        4 - 1+3/4" squares

Remember measure and cut carefully, scant 1/4" seams, press the seams in opposite directions....

Start by making two Four-Patches with the Print C and D squares.

I spiralled the centre seams to reduce bulk.

These two Four-Patches should measure 3".

Using the Print B squares make a larger "Four-Patch" with the first two Four-Patches.

Once again I opened up the centre seams.

This piece should measure 5+1/2".

The Print A triangles are added next.

To make stitching triangles to squares easier I use one of these handy-dandy point trimmers (there are many on the market, and I have seen templates in magazines to make your own).

I do find it much easier to line up the triangles for sewing, and there are no little "dog ears" to trim off later.

I sewed opposite sides first and pressed the seams to the triangles, then added the last two triangles.

Trim the finished block to 7+1/2" (finished size 7").

 Here are my other two blocks -

All together - 

Thanks for posting your blocks on Flickr.

Have a great day and thanks for quilting along!❤

Stupendous Stitching

 I bought the Craftsy Stupendous Stitching class and loved it! This is the project I made from the class -

This one is made from a whole fat quarter of beautiful Batik fabric. I had the FQ for a while and didn't know what to do with it because of the unusual colour layout, but it worked perfectly for this project. It is 19" x 20".

It is so nice to be able to finally use all those decorative stitches on my sewing machine (although nothing was stopping me before!).

I like that there is a combination of machine and hand stitching. I also added beads.

I talked more about the class and gave the link for the class discount here.

We woke up this morning to a very frosty, foggy day. This is last weekends snow and I think it is here to stay for the winter.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!❤

November Small Quilt

 I finished the November Small Quilt of the Month.

This is 'Little Amish Nine Patch Quilt' from the book "American Doll Quilts" by Kathleen Tracy (A Sentimental Quilter).

I tried out quilting with white thread, because I thought it would look more traditional. I used 100WT Invisafil thread. I marked the two circles and the cross hatch lines for the feathered wreathes. The border is a stencil. There is continuous curves quilted in all the little 1" squares.
It is fun to try out different ideas with little quilts, but I think I will stick with matching thread for quilting - all I see are the white stitches on this quilt, and not the quilt itself.

I used cotton batting, and it has a nice crinkled look after washing in the above photo. This is also closer to the actual colour of the quilt. The quilt is about 16" square

 Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!❤

Block 9 THQA 2012

This week's block is a Single Irish Chain (all the blocks for the quilt along are from EQ7).

For one 7" block you will need - 

Print A (mine is the green striped) -

                          1 - 2+7/8" square - for the centre
                          4 - 1+5/8" squares

Print B (mine is dark green) -


                          4 - 1+5/8" squares

Print C (mine is red) -  

                         4 - 1+5/8" x 2+7/8" rectangles

Print D (mine is the orange dots) - 

                         4 - 1+5/8" x 5+1/8" rectangles

Note - someone sent my an email saying that she had trouble making the blocks big enough with my measurements, so please be very careful with cutting and sewing the scant 1/4" seam. 
All the measurements are from EQ7 and they do tend to round to the nearest 1/8", so they could be off. I didn't have problems with this block (although some of my other blocks are smaller, but I assumed it was my fault).

All the pieces will be laid out like the above photo.

Remember all the basics - press seams in opposite directions, scant 1/4" seams etc. Here is a great link about why we use scant 1/4" seams in quilting, which I received from Raewyn (lovetostitch) - thanks Raewyn.

Start by making the centre, sewing it like a regular nine patch.

Making rows,

 and sewing the rows together.

Next add the outer round, sewing it like a regular nine patch.

Trim the block to 7+1/2".

For this block I used the same fabric for the Print C+D rectangles.

For this one I used the same fabric for all the Print A+B squares.

All three blocks together.

Thanks for posting your blocks on the Flickr site - they are so great to see!

Have a great day and thanks for quilting along! ❤