Posts tagged: Piecing

Wednesday’s Wall — April 10

Aside from the baby quilt I finished earlier this week, I’ve spent most of my sewing time lately on the various samplers and block swaps I’m currently involved in. My sewing space is a mess, but my design wall is rather colorful at the moment.

The final swap for this round of my bi-monthly LQS block swap is a 6″ Ohio Star signature block for each member (10) and however many sets of three 6″ piano key blocks we want to use for our final layout. I’ve finished four of the signature blocks and 20 piano key blocks (out of 44 that I plan to make at this point). My other stars will use different fabrics from the four completed ones (seen in the blue/purple/green/orange piano key set), while the other piano keys will be made mostly of the same fabrics used in the previous swap blocks.

Rounding out the wall this week is another block for the Modern LQS sampler, and another for the SYWTQ Amish-esque block. Because we traveled over Easter weekend, I didn’t make it to the other sampler meeting, so I should have two to finish next month.

Wednesday’s Wall

Posted in Quilting

I’m currently working on three different sampler quilts (not to mention last year’s, which I still need to piece), and I oddly have the blocks up on the design wall for some reason (I’m usually good about putting them into their proper locations), so I took a (bad) photo.

One is with the Sew You Want to Quilt group, focusing on Amish blocks (I use the term loosely, based on research) in our own choice of colors. I have a few of those done, although I am still behind on one block from early February.

The other two are monthly Saturday Samplers (well, one is on Thursday nights) at the two closest LQSs. For those unfamiliar with the Saturday Sampler concept: you pay a registration fee ($10-15 seems standard) which covers a kit of the fabric for your first block at the first meeting. From there, if you continue to bring your completed block from the previous month to the next meeting, you continue to get the kit for the current month free of charge. If you can’t make it to the meeting, you typically have to purchase the missed month’s kit. Some shops give you a discount on the first kit you miss, some give you one free pass, some give you an incentive to finish the top before the next cycle starts, etc. Some give you all the individual pieces cut out, some give you strips and squares to cut and chain piece, some just give you chunks of fabric to cut everything out yourself. My two shops each have their own quirks, and sometimes the rules and procedures even change year to year.

Even though I’m not absolutely in love with the fabric choices and styles of either, I do greatly enjoy the social aspect—an hour each month to meet up with other local quilters, learn what the shops have to offer in the coming month, and see the creativity of everyone in what they bring to show and share.

I’m going to have to get creative with layouts for 12″ blocks though, that’s for sure!

Repro Swapping

Posted in Quilting

Proper photographs of the full block sets I made eluded me, but we’ve now swapped three full sets of Puss In The Corner/Uneven Nine Patch blocks in the LQS swapping group.

My January set had these fabrics:

These comprised my third set, which we swapped last weekend:

All told, we have 60 of these blocks, which will finish at 8″

We are also doing one final swap for this project in May—a mix of piano key blocks and Ohio Star signature blocks for a border.

Though it’s not a quilt I would have done on my own, I’ve really enjoyed playing with these fabrics, and love the scrappy result. Here are some of the finished blocks on the wall:

I haven’t decided on a final layout. The swapped blocks and upcoming border swap will allow for a twin-sized quilt on their own. I’m considering building out borders to make it a full-sized quilt, but we’ll see.

It will be a fun top to finish this summer!

Saturday Sampler Q4

Posted in Quilting

Here we are almost two-thirds of the way through Q1 of 2013, but I’ve finally finished my 2012 Saturday Sampler blocks. In my defense, I missed December’s meetup because of our trip to MO, so I didn’t get the block until the end of January.

To recap, this is a monthly block meetup at my LQS. Every year, they choose a theme for the 12 monthly blocks, and 2012’s was “Road Trip.” We meet up the last Sat. of the month, learn how to make the block, and are given precut strips to complete it with. They chose to do this one out of batiks. In April 2012, I showed you my first three Saturday Sampler blocks, in July the second set, and in Octber, the third set. Here are the final three.

In October, we traveled up to Connecticut…

…which was my first experience with flying geese. There are a few points lost in there, though.

In November, we went all the way down to the State of Georgia…

…I’m happy to report that no points or souls were stolen.

And to finish up the year, we traveled back up the east coast in December, landing on the Road to the White House…

…and I only had to unsew one section that I mistakenly chain pieced to the wrong row.

Although I don’t have a photo, I have the rest of my top fabrics (the black texture from P&B’s Downtown collection, a white batik, and a yellow batik) and a layout all planned out, now I need to get to work on it.

I mentioned in July that I have a label planned, but now I’m hesitant, because I’ve seen how the other labels I’ve printed at home have held up (or rather, how they haven’t). I need to make a Spoonflower order soon, though, so I may add that in. We’ll see.

No promises as to when you’ll see the finished quilt. Sometime this year, I hope.

I’m doing the Saturday Sampler again this year. I’m not sure that the theme has a name, but it is very different from 2012. Look for a quarterly report in April!

Finished Top

Posted in Quilting

The retreat last weekend was amazing—something I definitely plan on doing again. It was about 48 full hours of sewing, eating wonderful food, and a little bit of sleeping. I came home Sunday and promptly ended up with the Sinus Plague. So, after a day of work which I don’t much remember on Monday (after work, I was in bed at 6, with a slightly awake break for dinner around 8), and a day in bed yesterday, I feel almost human again.

In the mean time, I’m on a wicked crunch to finish quilting the Amish quilt by Monday morning-ish (so I can mail it), and to make a sampler block by Saturday at 11am.

I did quite a bit of quilting for the Amish quilt while on the retreat (and a bit of un-quilting, unfortunately), but when I needed a break, this is what I worked on (shh, it’s kind of a secret, and you’ll have to forgive my hasty photo):

I’m so happy that my notebook scribbles turned out to be a great quilt top. Now I just have to figure out how to quilt it. It’s going to have a Minky back, so I don’t want to do anything too dense. The ladies at the retreat with me suggested circles; I like that idea. But, there’s still time to ruminate considering the timeline I’m on for other things.

The best thing about that quilt is that I still have plenty more fabric to make something else. I do love it so.

When Inspiration Strikes

Posted in Quilting

Last week was a bit hectic (our Christmas decorations are still up!), so I didn’t yet start work on my own Tiramisu for the 30 Minutes a Day Sew Along. My plan was to work on it yesterday.

But a color scheme has been stuck in my head in anticipation of the Amish quilt project with SYWTQ. I bought the fabrics for it, or at least as close as I could get to them when shopping online. They came on Friday.

Kona Coral, Konal Regal, Kona Hibiscus, Kona Moss, and Free Spirit Citrine.

It’s not quite right. I think Kona Berry would be better than Hibiscus. Instead of Moss, I need something a smidgen brighter. The Coral could be a just a little lighter.

But they are close.

While I was waiting for my fabric to come, I spent time looking through the IQSCM Quilt Center for quilts with the keyword Amish.

I kept getting stuck on the quilts made of bars.

And when the fabric came, the image in my mind wouldn’t go away.

I spent time in my sewing room yesterday, trying to get started on Tiramisu, but decided I needed to get the new fabric put away. Then I thought I should cut it out. Then I decided I should piece it. The inspiration, it just wouldn’t stop talking to me.

So yesterday, instead of starting on work for the Tiramisu sew along, I pieced a quilt top.

Shakespearian Bars, an English Interpretation. 52″×58″

Now I just need to find more fabric for the SYWTQ project. And get started on that Tiramisu.

1+1=4: Top Four (Peculiar Weave)

Posted in Quilting

The premise of this week is simple: I’ll show you how to make four small cuddle quilts out of a single roll of 2.5″ strips and a yard of cuddle fabric or fleece. The final quilts measure 18″×24″, so these are meant for comfort more than sleeping under. Today, we’re making the final quilt top. If you’re just joining in, you may want to hop over to all posts tagged 1+1=4 or start from the beginning of the series.

This final top is something I call “Peculiar Weave”. Be very careful when cutting, as this top needs every millimeter of a 42″ strip. If your strips are less than 42″ long without selvage, you will need to make a second Top One or Top Two.

Cut each of the two remaining strip sets (A and B) into three 6.5″ segments (A6/B6) and nine 2.5″ segments.

Use six of the smaller segments from each to create nine-patches: two each, ABA (A3) and BAB (B3).

Use two more small segments from each to make an AB (A2) pair and a BA (B2) pair.

Create four rows:
A B6 A2 A6
B3 A6 B3
B A6 B2 B6
A3 B6 A3

Sew the four rows together in the above order. You’ll then have an 18.5″×24.5″ unfinished top.

Almost done! Stick around, and I’ll show you how to sew them into simple quilts.

1+1=4: 1 roll + 1 yard = 4 quilts for charity

Link up:
<a href="/tag/1-plus-1-equals-4/" rel="external" title="Learn how to create these quilts"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="/media/1plus1equals4-280x280.png" border="0" width="240" height="240" alt="1+1=4: 1 roll + 1 yard = 4 quilts for charity"></a>

This post is part of a series on making small cuddle quilts for charity. My finished quilts will be donations to the 2012/13 service project being sponsored by the Quilter’s Consortium of New York State. If you’re in a NY quilt guild that is a member of QCNYS, contact your consortium rep to learn how to donate (and tell your guild or club about this series!). If you are not a member of a participating guild, but would still like to donate send me an email and we can figure out how to get the quilts to the right place.

1+1=4: Top Three (Scrappy 9-Patch)

Posted in Quilting

The premise of this week is simple: I’ll show you how to make four small cuddle quilts out of a single roll of 2.5″ strips and a yard of cuddle fabric or fleece. The final quilts measure 18″×24″, so these are meant for comfort more than sleeping under. Today, we’re making the third quilt top. If you’re just joining in, you may want to hop over to all posts tagged 1+1=4 or start from the beginning of the series.

This top is made up of nine-patch blocks. The strip-piecing will allow us to piece these much faster than having to sew together individual squares.

Take the four strip sets leftover from Top One, and slice them into 2.5″ sections. You will have nine 2.5″×6.5″ pieces from each strip set.

For a very scrappy quilt, sew these rectangles into four rows of nine pieces, then sew the rows together to complete the top.

For a slightly less scrappy look, create nine-patches with matching strips on either side of a different, center strip. Piece the nine-patches into four rows of three blocks, then sew the rows together.

You’ll then have an 18.5″×24.5″ unfinished top.

If you started with 18 strips, you’ve now completed all of the tops. If you have 18 strips but would rather make Top Four instead of Top Three, see alternate cutting method for Top One.

Tomorrow, we’ll piece our final quilt top!

1+1=4: Top 2 (Rail-fence Blocks)

Posted in Quilting

The premise of this week is simple: I’ll show you how to make four small cuddle quilts out of a single roll of 2.5″ strips and a yard of cuddle fabric or fleece. The final quilts measure 18″×24″, so these are meant for comfort more than sleeping under. Today, we’re making the second quilt top. If you’re just joining in, you may want to hop over to all posts tagged 1+1=4 or start from the beginning of the series.

This top is made up of rail-fence blocks, which are simple to make (in fact, you’ve already made them—you just need to cut them apart).

Choose two of your strip sets. It doesn’t matter if they are light- or dark-dominant, as you’ll be rotating the pieces around. If you organized your sets into groups, this is group two.

Cut six 6.5″ squares from each strip set.

Calling one set of blocks A and the other B, piece the squares into four rows: two ABA (called R1) and two BAB (called R2). A blocks should have the inner seams horizontal, and the B block seams should be vertical. Press the seams open, or toward the B blocks.

Piece the rows together: R1, R2, R1, R2. Press the seams open, or all in one direction. You’ll then have an 18.5″×24.5″ unfinished top.

Half-way there! Tomorrow, we’re on to top three.

1+1=4: Top 1 (Simple Strips)

Posted in Quilting

The premise of this week is simple: I’ll show you how to make four small cuddle quilts out of a single roll of 2.5″ strips and a yard of cuddle fabric or fleece. The final quilts measure 18″×24″, so these are meant for comfort more than sleeping under. Today, we’re making the first quilt top. If you’re just joining in, you may want to hop over to all posts tagged 1+1=4 or start from the beginning of the series.

This is the simplest top of the four. In fact, you’re only going to have to sew three more seams!

Choose four of your strip sets. If you’re going scrappy, make sure that no strips that read the same will be sewn together. If you’re coordinating, you’ll need two dark- and two light-dominant strips. If you separated your sets into groups, this is group one.

Cut a rectangle 18.5″ long off of each strip set. Set the excess aside—you’ll be using it for another top.

Sew all four rectangles together to create a 18.5″×24.5″ top. Alternate light- and dark-dominant sets if you are coordinating.

Alternate cutting instructions: if you choose not to make top three, you can create this top out of only two strip sets, allowing you to use the other two for a second version of top two or four.

To make the top using only two strip sets, cut two 18.5″ sections off of each of the two strips, and sew them all together.

If you would prefer to make two versions of top one, you can use the alternate cutting instructions above, or cut a second set of rectangles from the four strip sets.

Tomorrow, we’re on to top two!