String Tutorial / Stash Report

Stash Report First:

• Used (as in Finished) this week: (13.25)
• Used To Date: (383.10)
• Purchased this week: 4
• Purchased Year To Date: 281.90
• Net Busted: (101.20)!!!!! 2010 Goal of 100 yards.

For more Stash Reports, visit Judy at "Patchwork Times".

Paper Foundation - String Tutorial

Tutorial for quilters who hate tearing all those little pieces of paper from string piecing. I no longer cringe when I see "using a paper foundation" in pattern instructions. Update: I cut my strings as I go, so the paper foundation is an important tool acting as the square ruler. I lay the string across the foundation and scissor trim before sewing.

Step 1: Cut your paper foundation to the desired size -- I keep a stash of 6.5" squares of newspaper on the side of my machine. You will not need to change the stitch length, you will not need a larger needle using this method.

Step 2: Sew the first two strings to the center of the paper foundation -- THIS WILL BE THE ONLY TIME YOU SEW THE STRINGS TO THE PAPER FOUNDATION.

Step 3: Line up the next string on the foundation, but before sewing --- fold back the paper. Continue sewing the strings on both side, lightly finger pressing (no iron needed until done) -- each time you fold back the foundation paper to sew another string, it will make the removal that much easier.

Step 4: When you are done, press with an iron to flaten.

Step 5: Trim from the back using the "one and only diagonal foundation stitch" to line up your ruler.

Step 6: Now remove the TWO pieces of paper and you are done.

Tutorial - Blocks starting with a "Half-Seam"

This simple block is used in my new pattern "Nicole's Journey", however this tutorial is available for those quilters who have never assembled a block using a "Half Seam". This tutorial will only highlight the details of the main block.



1. Layout a 6 1/2" x 9 1/2" rectangle unit around the 3 1/2" center square, to prepare for sewing.





2. Flip the 3 1/2" center square over to the left unit (as pictured below) - the sewing line has been drawn, WHICH IS ONLY HALF WAY ON DOWN THE 3 1/2" SQUARE.

3. Finger press the center square open and return to the block assembly to retrieve the 2nd unit.

4. Flip the 2nd unit up, on top of the 1st unit and sew all the way across (sewing line drawn in photo below).

5. Press open the 2nd unit and return to assembly to retrieve the 3rd unit.

6. Flip the 3rd unit over, on top of the block and sew all the way across (sewing line drawn in photo below).

7. Press open the 3rd unit and return to assembly to retrieve the 4th unit.

8. Flip the 4th unit over and sew all the way across (sewing line drawn in photo below).

9. Press open the 4th unit after sewing and all you have left is to sew the small open seam remaining.

10. Below is a picture of the completed block (finished 15" square), press and done!

The "Half-Seam" block is one of my favorite blocks. The rectangles surrounding a center square come together very quickly. Playing with many different pieced versions of a rectangle surrounding a center square, each evolve into unique looks.

This block has been used in "Nicole's Journey".

Saintly Borders - Mini Tutorial

Measure the dimension of your quilt after the 1st border would be added -- this finished top is 56 x 40, with 1st 2" border = 60 x 44, dimension = 208/40" (LOF) = 5.2, round up to 6 strips needed. Join ALL of the strips diagonally to make one long strip.

Fold the longest side of the quilt in half and lay on your cutting area, making sure the raw edges are in line. Starting from the raw edge (right side in this picture), lay the long border strip from right to left, fold the strip at the folded edge of the quilt, repeat for four layers.

Trim off the excess at the raw edge. While the two strips are still folded, I cut out a TINY little notch to identify the center of the borders.

Starting from the center, line the notched center and pin the center and edge, then pin between. Notice my pins are about 1" from the edge.

Start sewing, notice I don't remove the pins while sewing. I don't speed sew, don't like to stop and start ... just like continued easy pace. Is that lazy? Maybe.

Repeat the process for the next border. Measure dimensions after the 2nd border is added, divide by four, etc. Four layers, trim, pin and sew.

And Done! Although I quilt my own tops, this one is heading to Debbie at the Quilting Niche'. They have the cutest football stencils (ok, guys don't say "cute" in football). I want this Saintly creation to be an obvious football snuggle quilt.

Weekend Projects

I am quilting my HH top a little each day. It has been a long process, as I have been trying out different doodles. The center is covered with my panto's, however the 7" border has taken on a life of its own. I have decided to call her "Pottery Garden". For a full view of just the center section before sewing together, visit here.

The Blackberries are coming in daily - did you remember the blooms in a previous post?. Even though a couple of gallons have been picked, look at those still on the bush. Unbelievable. My MIL has already made a few batches of her famous dumplings - yummmm.

W-I-P Wednesday

I have been playing around with the blocks from the "Strip and Flip" samples. I have a scrappy heart, so I started digging through my HST's and headed to the "blank" design wall.

I have said it before, the minute the wall is open, I get in trouble.

For the next couple of weeks I will be quilting tops, so if these toys stay on the wall....well, lets just say I will stay focused on quilting tops. My incentive...my weekly stash report will start reducing. I only count fabric "used" when the project is finished. About the only thing finished lately, are the pillowcases.

"Strip and Flip" Tutorial

The "Strip and Flip" process is a fun way to bust those scraps. I have drawers of pre-cut strips: 1.5", 2.0", 2.5", 3.5", 4.5" and 6.5". When some of the drawers overflow, I begin to play.


The following strips are about 21-22" long, in widths of: 2.5", 2.5", 3.5", 2". I sort them trying to keep a contrast between the strips. I also use strips in lengths of 10.5-11". You can use the WIF, however I like to cut them down to avoid wavy seams - they happen to the best of us.

After sewing the sets together, press all seams in one direction. Now cut them in the SAME widths, same order: 2.5", 2.5", 3.5" and 2".

Now "FLIP" the 2nd and 4th within each strip set. Notice -- No seams to match!

More play: Mix them up between strip sets. Notice that one of the strip sets was a little short. Save the good ones to mix with other blocks that come up short! The finished block is 8.5".

Here is a finished quilt top in bright scraps. The blocks are sashed with 2" wide strips, the inner border is 2.5", outer border is 6.5". Finished quilt top: 57.5"x67.5".

I have also made tops with 5-strip blocks in various sizes....one of them on point. Have Fun!

Scrappy Half Hexagon Quilt Pattern

Disclaimer: I am NOT a professional quilt pattern writer. This is a very simple use of the EZ Tri Tool Ruler discovered playing with different fabric scraps.

Materials and Supplies Needed:

• 2 1/2" strips of various fabrics (scraps are the best)
• EZ Tri Tool Ruler ("EZ")
• Small numbered scraps of paper to label rows
• Design Board (floor, table, etc.)

Rotary Cutting Half/Hexagon ("HH") Pieces and Layout Instructions

• Stack six (6) layers of 2 1/2" strips (2 of each color). Using the EZ Ruler, line up the 2 1/2" line at the top of strips. First cut....cut both sides, then flip the ruler aways lining the 2 1/2" mark on the fabric strips.

• After cutting a dozen or so sets of HH, move them to the design area and start building your desired layout and size. I tend to work from the "hip", that is, play until I am happy. My preferred method...cut several HH, lay them out, cut several more, lay them out...etc. See these two examples: Kaffe and Brights
  

Assembly, Trimming, Borders

• After you are satisfied with the layout and size, pin a numbered label on the first HH of each row.
• One row at a time, sew each HH across, finger pressing the seams to the left on odd numbered rows, to the right on even numbered rows. As each row is finished, join it to the previous row(s) and press with the iron. I do NOT pin, the seams nestle as I sew...however it is your choice.
• Trim the sides after the top is assembled.

• Using your favorite method for measuring the borders, attach a 2 1/2" inner border and 6 1/2" outer border.

I have not finished the Bright HH, however here is the link to the finished Kaffe.