Category: Quilting

How to Fold Fat Quarters

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I found a new way to fold fat quarters. It’s my new favorite way. On a whim I purchased 30 fat quarters from New River Fiber Co. in Blacksburg, VA, USA. They were all Denyse Schmidt fabric. I loved how they were folded.

This tutorial shows you how you can fold your fat quarters in this very efficient way.
Once folded, each one measures about 6 inches by 2.5 inches.
top view

234That’s it. Easy.

Tips for Needle Turn Applique

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I am a newborn when it comes to needle turn applique. That is why I’m taking a block of the month course at Quilting Adventures to learn all the ways to needle turn applique.

In my first two months, I have learned some valuable tips from our wonderful teacher, Phoebe.

The needle matters

I first tried using Clover Black Gold Needle No. 9 and they were too short, and although the needles pierce smoothly through the fabric they didn’t turn the fabric smoothly. When I switched to John James Gold’n Glide Applique Size 11, I got great results.

Marking with a pencil works fine

This BOM is Carolyn Friedlander’s Collection quilt pattern and she bastes each piece then needle turns the fabric. Phoebe uses a pencil instead of basting and it works great. It is probably faster this way too.

Thread should match the applique piece or a shade lighter

I’m using 100 weight thread because I have a large assortment of WonderFil, but it its really thin and I worry the pieces might come off. So I might change to 50 or 60 weight Aurifil or 60 weight  Mettler.  I might try silk thread. I have a collection of YLI Silk Thread. I’m still learning.

Enjoy the process

I am using mostly scraps for my pieces and I’ve enjoyed picking out each little bit and slowly stitching them to the background.

IMG_7842

 

Eastern Shore: a New Block Blog Hop pattern

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Introducing “Eastern Shore”, a 12.5″ by 12.5″ unfinished block, created for the New Block Blog Hop, sponsored by Paintbrush Studio, and hosted today by my quilty friend, Cheryl Brickey, of Meadow Mist Designs.

Paintbrush Studio (formerly Fabri-Quilt) has a new line of solids, called Painter’s Palette. And each blog hopper received six fat quarters of these colors: White, Peach, Coral, Bordeaux, Midnight and Daydream, to create a New Block for the 2016 Paintbrush Studio New Block Blog Hop. The hosts chose these colors, called Ocean Sunrise Palette.

They’re about 40 quilt bloggers who are participating. Today, these quilt bloggers are introducing their blocks. They’re all free patterns.

I live in Virginia, and one part of the coast is called the “Eastern Shore.” Do you see the sun rising over the east coast of Virginia, USA?

Eastern Shore

This is a traditional block. It’s usually in two colors such as red and white. I created this Eastern Shore block pattern (click on link to get the pdf) to show you how to make it, using four of the colors: Peach, White, Bordeaux and Coral, from the Ocean Sunrise palette. Let’s get started with the cutting instructions.

But first, two important tips.

CUT ALONG THE SELVAGE

Why? The selvage side doesn’t stretch as much as fabric cut crosswise. As you sew the selvage-side strips, they will continue to be straight. The crosswise strips tend to bow and you’ll get curves instead of straight strips.

CUT THE LONGER STRIPS FIRST

Why? It’s more efficient. Once you finish cutting the longer strips, you can go back and cut the smaller ones, then the 1.5″ squares.

You’ll notice from the diagram that each strip is 1″ longer as you move up the block. In the diagram, I made the “White” strips in a light gray to make them easier to see.

Eastern Shore cutting instructions

The color key and exact cutting instructions should help:

Eastern Shore Assembly color key cutting start here

ASSEMBLY

CHAIN PIECE EACH STRIP TO THE 1.5″ SQUARE

That means the 1.5″ Bordeaux square is sewn to the 3.5″ by 1.5″ White strip. The 1.5″ Coral square is sewn to the 4.5″ by 1.5″ Bordeaux strip and so on. Follow the diagram. The 1.5″ square is sewn to the strip to its right.

Eastern Shore chaing piecing

PRESS SEAMS OPEN

This will help you get nice straight seams.

SEW SINGLE STRIPS TO THE LEFT OF THE FIRST BLOCK

The 3.5″ square is first. Sew the 3.5″ White strip to the left side of the 3.5″ Peach square. Use a scant 1/4 inch seam.

SEW THE PIECED STRIP TO THE TOP OF THAT BLOCK.

You should match the seams. You should now have a 4.5″ block.

SEW THE NEXT STRIP TO THE LEFT OF THE BLOCK.

The next strip is the 4.5″ by 1.5″ Bordeaux strip. Then sew the Coral/Bordeaux strip on top.

Eastern Shore Assembly second row

 

There are nine single strips and nine pieced strips. Keep sewing the single strips to the left then add the pieced strip to the top until you have a 12.5″ inch block.

Some photos of the process:

This block is versatile just like a Log Cabin block.

Eastern Shore block

I made some additional blocks, using the Midnight and Daydream colors. It’s fun to experiment with the layout.

Let me know which one you like the most.

(Or I could make 30 more blocks and put them together as shown. That would be fantastic).

Wanda