FILL IN THE BLANK

 Abby's Treasures, Part 2.

     My block frames are ready!  The next step is to decide how to fill the center of the blocks.  Another Flying Geese unit fits perfectly between the corner squares.  That is a very easy decision, but it does leave two options.  The geese can point out toward the edge or in toward the center.  One arrangement gives the block a square-in-a-square look.  The other creates a star in the center.  Who doesn't love a star block?  The problem is, you can't see the star if the fabrics don't provide enough contrast.  Time to rethink the plan.

     To make this quilt really scrappy, the sashing between the blocks is going to include all of the main fabrics.  I have set one fabric aside, a diagonal green stripe, for binding. Three of the 24 prints are being used in the background along with the piece from Denim & Dirt.  That leaves 20 prints, most of which are on the darker side to be used in the blocks and sashing.  That's a pretty dark color pallet.  I need to work more light background into the design to lighten this quilt up and show off the pretty prints.

     Clipping the corners with a background print should do the trick.  It lightens up the block and allows the fabrics to shine.  It also means that the best position for the geese is pointing toward the outer edge.  Turning them around would make the background fabric the star points and after adding a darker center, it wouldn't look like a star.  Sometimes decisions are made for you in the design process.  One thing I do know, those clipped corners are accumulating!

     I sew these tiny triangles together along the longest side to create small half square triangles.  I'm not sure if I will use them in a project, but they make great thread bunnies as I am piecing.  I have been known to square them up and turn them into something useful.  Scroll down to the Saturday, April 11th post on this blog to see my Carpenters Star pillow made from corner clips.  Meanwhile I still have a 4" hole in the center of my block to fill....

     Decisions, decisions, decisions.  The original block design had a Four Patch in the center.  I wasn't happy with that because it looked like too many of the same size squares to me.  The scrappy fabric choice also presented a contrast problem.  I felt that I needed a more balanced design for the center unit.

     All of my units so far were based on a strip cut 2 1/2".  When I started I had cut several 2 1/2" strips from each of the 23 fat quarters (remember, one fabric was set aside for binding).  Assuming I would pair 2" finished squares with the 12" finished blocks as the sashing, I knew I would need LOTS of them.  For my second attempt at creating an interesting center unit, I made a simple Nine Patch block and used my 4 1/2" ruler to trim it on point.  Now we are getting somewhere!  That is definitely more interesting than a simple 4 Patch block.  But... all of the edges in that center square are on the bias.  

     A little bias, especially in the center of the block, never scared me.  However, I may be writing instructions for this project sometime in the future.  Consumers - meaning those of you reading this blog - tend to have an unrealistic fear of bias edges.  I could write the instructions to cut the pieces so that the edges of this unit were on the straight of grain, but that would wreak havoc with the direction of my stripe fabric.  Not to mention that the tiny side triangles measure about 1/2".  I'm not sure the design is worth the effort of cutting and piecing 1/2" triangles.  On to option #3.

     I constructed a second Nine Patch using my stacks of 2 1/2" squares.  To balance the color I repeated the triangle fabric in the center square.  The four corners match and the four side squares match, allowing me to use a stripe that would radiate or parallel the center square.  I trimmed that down using my 4 1/2" square ruler.  Future instructions will be easy to write using the actual measurements. 

     To be honest, there were several variations in all three of the options before I settled on the photos you see here.  Next to every new quilt pattern is a huge pile of fabric scraps that didn't work out, looked wrong, were the wrong size or scale, didn't match.... That explains why my trash bin looks like this:

    

      My blocks are almost complete!  I'm happy with the "light" areas that will soon be surrounded by dark.  The block centers are interesting without being difficult to piece.  There is enough organization of color to keep the quilt from looking scrambled.  I considered using the same fabric for all four of the outside corners, but the blocks have enough repetition.  Why not go scrap crazy with the sashing?  Stay tuned to see the sashing next week!

FOR MY NEXT TRICK...

      I have the pleasure of working with several fabric companies.  One of my favorites is the Jaftex corporation.  You may not know the corporate name, but you certainly know their brands, FreeSpirit, Henry Glass, Studio e, A.E. Nathan, 3 Wishes and Blank Textiles are all under the Jaftex umbrella.  As a designer, I like variety in my fabric selection and those labels offer everything from reproduction to ultra-modern prints.  When I was offered the opportunity to become a Brand Ambassador, my first reaction was to jump at the opportunity.  The downside was that you were required to work with only ONE of those companies for an entire year.  That posed a problem, as I said, I like variety.  I ended up agreeing to give it a try if I could work across their brands and mix things up a bit.  Shortly thereafter, my first package arrived.

     In the next 30 days I have to produce either one “large” or three “small” projects using the fabrics included in the package.  This is a little like being on the Food Channel program Chopped where you must use the ingredients in the basket.  The good news is, I am the only contestant and I have an entire month to finish the task.  I filmed an “unboxing” video and shared it in the Nine Patch A Day Group on Facebook  You are welcome to join that private group and watch it there.  

     Here is a photo of some of the fabrics I found in the package.  Half yard cuts of 24 pieces of the Abby’s Treasures fabric line by Missie Carpenter for Blank Quilting.  (You can read more about Missie by clicking the link) WHOO HOO!  I can work with this!  The package also included some light pieces not shown here and a huge piece of a what looks like aged muslin by Tana Mueller of Western Denim & Dirt to be used as background or backing.

     I thought it might be fun for you to follow the design process.  So here goes!

     The first thing I did was cut the fabrics in half on the fold to create fat quarters.  I may write instructions for this project in the future and I find it easier to track yardage by the fat quarter.   Next I sprayed all of the fabrics with sizing and iron them dry.  That is my method of pre-shrinking.  Working with the prints I realized that I had 6 different colors, blue, brown, green, red, orange and purple.  Twelve blocks, two from each color family is a sensible place to start.  The fabrics are also ALL blenders.  There is no feature print, like a larger scale floral, in the group.  This fabric line is perfect for a scrap quilt!  I chose these prints to be my main block borders.

     Next step, choose a block pattern.  It is always a good idea to start with a favorite.  Something not too simple, not too difficult.  For this project it must be interesting enough to include a variety of fabrics.  After all I have 24 different prints to work with.  I also have to choose carefully because SEVEN of the prints are stripes, both straight and diagonal.  One of the background fabrics is a diagonal stripe.  Time to cut that one up and find a pattern to make it work...  Wow!  That wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be.  Adding a cornerstone to this block keeps the diagonal stripe contained in a specific area.  Block pattern chosen!

     You probably wouldn't start making a block by making the outer edge first, but in the design process I approach the pattern in a different way.  When making a scrappy quilt I like to provide some consistency,  I feel you need a place for your eye to "rest" and appreciate the design.  By cutting these geese units and the squares from the same fabric they will form a frame around the center of the block where a variety of fabrics will be used.  What the center of the block will look like is yet to be determined.  Right now I have to get twelve frames made using 4 different background fabrics.

   BTW, did you notice that the "goose" is inserted between two rectangles and not made with clipped corners?  There is no center seam in those dark triangles, courtesy of the magic of the Quick Trim & Circle Ruler.  The triangles were cut from a 2 1/2" strip using a Quarter Square Triangle Ruler.  The rectangles were cut and the corners clipped with the Quick Trim & Circle Ruler.  Neat trick to cut down on seams!

#BlankQuilting, #Jaftex, #The Quilt Company

Is it me? Maybe it's me?

      It is possible that the person in charge of OLFA's social media may have lost their mind during quarantine. My first clue was that their Facebook post of September 29th, suggest using OLFA tools to cut a square diagonally twice to create perfect "half square triangles".  All Quilters know that cutting a square diagonally twice will yield 4 perfect QUARTER square triangles.  Ok, ok, maybe it was a typo? OLFA makes quality products, cutters, mats and rulers.  I know that from experience.  This assortment of their rotary cutters are waiting for me on my well used OLFA cutting mat at this very moment.  I'm a fan of their rotary cutters and mats.  It is their social media that seems to have gone off the rails.

     Earlier today the offer at the top of this post popped up in my Facebook news feed with the following text:

 "To celebrate the role that teachers play in our lives, now more than ever, we are celebrating the best way we know how: with a GIVEAWAY!".  

Excellent!  As the mother of a fifth grade teacher, I know that they can use all the help they can get right now in the actual classroom or the virtual classroom.

     What exactly is OLFA giving away to five lucky teachers?  Twenty-five KNIVES.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, a company that makes rulers, mats and cutting tools is offering to arm up to 25 students in 5 classrooms across our country.  In this day and age of clear backpacks, school security and school metal detectors, who in their right mind thought providing school kids with "beginner" knives was a good idea?  

Try to imagine a group of executives sitting around a conference table hashing out this promotion.

Exec #1: "October promo? Let's give something away to teachers."

Exec #2: "Great idea! How about a ruler? Our 1.5 by 12.5 ruler would be helpful in any classroom".

Exec #1: "No, make it something they probably don't have. Beginner Craft Knives will be fun for the kids".

     The funny thing is the 1.5 by 12.5 inch ruler they make is less expensive than the craft knife.  It would seem that they could give away many more rulers for the same cost. I would much prefer that kids learn to measure correctly and leave the cutting to scissors while in class.  

     To win the contest you have to answer the question "My classroom needs these because....".  I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see the answers from stressed out teachers everywhere.

Meanwhile, YOU should keep sewing!

Karen

Fun & Games Online

 I hope you enjoyed August!  It flew by here in a blink of an eye.  

     Sometime in mid July I had the idea to host a Facebook Virtual Hop called Our Favorite Things to showcase the quilt shops that attend Sewposium, (that's the event that I organize for shop owners).  The virtual hop went very well, although it was a full time job on my end, organizing the shops, posting the daily links, answering questions, answering questions, and then answering more questions. It is amazing how many people don't realize that words in blue are a clickable link.  I can't complain, you could fill a fleet of trucks with what I don't know about technology!  

     The success of that hop has lead to other, potentially brilliant ideas that will probably be even MORE time consuming, but what the heck - I enjoy sewing and I enjoy seeing you enjoy sewing, so why not give it a try?  You can join the fun in a few different ways and I would love to have all of you along for the ride.

     September 16th at 7:00pm eastern I will be LIVE on the We All Quilt Facebook page for a Sew-Along.  The September 16th LIVE is specifically dedicated to working on an unfinished project.

     There is nothing to buy, no need to register, just log on to Facebook on the 16th at 7pm and search for the We All Quilt page.  You can do that now and "follow" the page to get a reminder when we go live.  I will be "live" in my sewing room, working on a UFO.  My hope is that you will be watching from your sewing space and working on your very own UFO.  I like the idea that you will be able to comment with photos of what you are doing, ask questions, etc to keep the conversation going.  I will be LIVE for at least an hour, maybe more.  If you can't join us LIVE, then you can watch the recorded version on that same Facebook page anytime after the 16th.  This isn't a professional "hair and make-up" event, it will be just me doing what I normally do, and hopefully making some UFO progress.  You can probably expect some technical difficulty as I figure out how to work lights, camera and computer in unison!  If it goes well, I will consider making it a regular event.

     I have also been challenged by a fabric company Exec to find a way to encourage mask-makers to become quilters.  Tons of people have pulled a sewing machine out of the back of a closet to make masks for friends and family.  They are re-discovering the joy of sewing and creating fabric scraps in the process.  Let's find a way to put those scraps to work and share our love of quilting.  The plan for October is to host a Nine Patch a Day Project.  Commit to making one simple block each day for 31 days + a practice block and you will have all the pieced blocks you need for a throw sized quilt by the end of the month.  You might want to add setting squares or a border, but the idea is to sew a little (or a lot) each day and turn those scraps into something amazing.  

                                                             I need your help with this!

     The Nine Patch A Day page is live on Facebook.  Log on to Facebook and post a photo of your favorite Nine Patch quilt, a stack of fabrics you might use for the project or even a block or two.  Help those new quilters see the possibilities this one simple block can have!  More importantly, if you know someone that sews, but doesn't quilt, hook them up!  Tell them about the page and how they can join in the fun!  Mid September there will be official instructions posted, video lessons and if you post and comment, random fabric prizes will be awarded too!  Mark your calendar and join the FUN!

     This Covid thing can't last forever.  While it does, let's make the best of things an make plans to meet online.  See you soon on a screen near you!

Happy H Day!

     

     Most of you already know that although I now live in Florida, I'm a Pittsburgh girl at heart.  Today, July 19th 2020 I'm celebrating the 109th anniversary of the Pittsburgh "H".  Way, way, way back when the city was named, "Pittsburgh" was chosen to honor William Pitt.  However, the actual selection of the name was made by a Scotsman, General Forbes.  To his way of thinking it made sense to add the "h" to the end, as in Edinburgh.  

     The story doesn't end there.  In 1891, due to a paperwork snafus' official documents were recorded without the "h" at the end and Pittsburgh became Pittsburg.  From 1891 until 1911 the US government spelled the cities name one way and the city government spelled it another.  Finally 109 years ago on July 19th 1911 the US Geographic Board voted to reinstate the "h" and Pittsburgh got it's "h" back.  Let's party!

For this project you are going to need:

24 strips 2 1/2" by the width of the fabric, you can cut these yourself or use part of a jelly roll.

1/2 yard of background fabric or 6 strips 2 1/2".

3/4 yard of fabric for the inner border and binding.

2 1/4 yards of border fabric if you want a larger quilt."

     Begin by cutting all 24 of your strips into the segments shown below.  Keep the strips folded.  Working from left to right, remove the selvedge edge.  Cut 2 segments 6 1/2" long.  Cut the remainder of the strip into 2 1/2" squares.  Normally I would never ask you to cut across the fold, but for this project if you get just one more square from the strip you will have exactly what you need for the project.  If your strips were cut wonky, you might need to grab some fabric from your stash to make up the extra blocks for the pieced border.

     Now cut the 6 strips of background fabric into 96 background squares measuring 2 1/2".  There are 48 blocks in this quilt and you are going to need 2 background squares for each block.

     Each H block has 2 rectangles and 1 square cut from the same fabric.  By following the cutting diagram above you will be making 2 identical blocks from each strip.  The remaining 2 1/2" squares make the pieced border, set these aside.  Select 2 squares from each strip and stitch a background square to opposite sides.  Use a 1/4" seam allowance.  Don't make the mistake of sewing a background square to ALL of the 2 1/2" squares. 

     Now sew a 2 1/2" by 6 1/2" rectangle to each side of your pieced unit.  One H block complete!  Press the seams toward the darker fabric in the center section and toward the rectangles on the outer edge.  These blocks will measure 6 1/2" including seam allowance.  Make a total of 48.

     Once your blocks are complete, arrange them in 8 rows of 6 blocks each, alternating the direction of the H.  I prefer to sew 6 vertical columns of 8 blocks each.  That results in fewer long seams.  Standard instructions are usually written in horizontal rows, but I prefer columns.  Try it!  You might like it too.

     From the inner border and binding fabric cut 5 strips 1 1/2" for the inner border.  Stitch these together end-to-end to form one long strip.  My preference is to seam on a 45 degree angle, but these are very narrow strips so if you are more comfortable with straight cuts, those are fine too. 

     Now, measure the length of your quilt top and cut 2 strips to that size.  I'm not going to tell you how long to cut this strip.  You have to measure.  It's not because I don't know the answer, it's because your seam allowance may be slightly larger or smaller than mine so your strip length will differ.  ALWAYS cut your borders to fit YOUR quilt top.  Stitch these to the right and left side.  Press the seams toward the border strip.  Now measure the width, including the borders you just added.  Cut two more strips to that length and add them to the top and bottom.

     At this point you can simply add nice wide borders and be finished with this top.  BUT if you want you can use the remaining pieces from the 2 1/2" strips to piece another border.  Cut a strip or two from the inner border and binding fabric to add to the corners for interest.  Stitch the number of squares together needed for side borders, adding the left and right and then add the top and bottom.  You will need 25 squares for the left and right and 21 squares for the top and bottom.

Approximately 42" by 54"

          Now it's time for the big finish!  Adding a nice wide border not only enlarges your quilt it acts as a frame for your work.  I cut my border strips 8 1/2" wide.  That will make your finished quilt approximately 58" by 70".  The reason I cut them 8 1/2" wide is that my favorite long ruler from Creative Grids is 8 1/2" by 24 1/2".  You can cut yours any width you like.  

     There you have it, a little history on the Pittsburgh H and a free pattern to boot!  Although I illustrated this in 'burgh black and gold, it looks great in any color.  It is also a great pattern to use with scraps by making each piece a different fabric, you won't see the H.  Enjoy!

      

Clean Your Iron Day!

     It's Official.  

     Today has been dedicated to clean irons everywhere.  It doesn't matter what day you are reading this.  Take a few minutes to appreciate your iron and give it a good cleaning.  I have a wonderful Rowenta Steam system.  Yesterday I looked at it, I mean really looked at it, instead of just looking at the fabric I was ironing.  The poor thing should have sued me for neglect.  Not only did it need to be emptied, rinsed and have the sole plate cleaned, it needed a bath!  

     I use lots of spray sizing and the side and top of the iron were covered in overspray.  It was time to give one of my favorite tools a little tender loving care.  This particular iron has a huge water tank as well as a plug to clean out those scale flakes that accumulate.  It really is a fabulous iron.  If you are in the market for a new one, I suggest that you consider making an investment in this one.

     You will rarely hear me suggest a shopping trip to JoAnn Fabrics, but in the case of this iron, that is exactly where I purchase it.  But not until it was on sale.  Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas this model is deeply discounted, but they don't included it in the sale flier.  As a designer, I have wholesale accounts and can order items at cost.  This iron was cheaper on sale.  The regular price is $299.  I got mine for around $189 and it has been worth every penny.  This exact model is on sale at Sur LaTable.com right now for $199. 

     You will see some negative reviews for this model because the name of this iron is the "compact" steam system.  It is definitely not compact.  The water tank is large enough to hold 1.2L of water.  That's a lot of steam when you are pressing seams or preshrinking fabric.  The white button on the side allows you to empty the tank of any "gunk" that accumulates.  No extra filters are needed. 

     Over the last 18 months this iron has grown to be one of the notions in my sewing room that I don't want to live without.  It falls into the same category as my Koala Sewing Chair and my Stella Lights.  These are big budget items (Koala Chair, retail $399, Stella Light $189) that make working in my sewing room so enjoyable.  I've always believed that you can do anything if you have the right tools.  Although I could certainly make a quilt while sitting on a kitchen chair and pressing with a $19 iron, I'm worth the investment - and so are you! 

     Obviously I love my sewing machines and my longarm, but these three items make my sewing life more fun, so that I want to sew even more.  I invested in them after lots of research and chose wisely.  Now I'm letting all of you know how happy I am with them to hopefully take some of the risk out of your buying decisions.

     What are the items in your sewing room that you wouldn't want to live without?  Are there products that you would like to highly recommend to others?  Leave a comment here or post one on the Friends of The Quilt Company Facebook page.  If you aren't a member of our private page, send a friend request and I will be happy to approve you ASAP!  Happy Sewing!

Public Service Annoucement

     I've had a fabric bag for microwaving potatoes for years.   At first I was skeptical of the whole thing, but at the shop we sold thousands of kits to make them so I gave one a try.  Those bags work!  I've made several for family and friends and everyone loves them.  It really makes a difference in the texture of a baked potato that is cooked in a microwave.

     The bag is a bit damp after use, so I usually just let it dry out and pop it back in the drawer.  The next-to-the-last time I used it, dinner also included barbeque sauce.  Evidently some sauce ended up on the fabric potato bag that I didn't notice. The LAST time I used it that sauce got hot - really hot and caught the bag on fire!  I started those potatoes and walked back to my sewing room where I left my phone.  Luckily I didn't get distracted and returned to the kitchen to see my potatoes and bag in flames.

     I know there are stories about bags catching fire because metallic fabric was used or the wrong kind of batting was inside.  This was a well used bag.  It had zapped dozens and dozens of potatoes.  I can only assume that the sweet barbeque sauce was the culprit.  So this is my helpful hint in the form of a public service announcement:

WASH YOUR POTATO BAG

  If you don't have a potato bag, you should.  Below is a link to a video and printable instructions.  Just be sure to use cotton fabric (no metalic, cotton thread and cotton batting) and remember to wash the bag after use.  Guess what I am sewing today?

http://www.aqsblog.com/free-pattern-potato-bag-for-the-microwave