Wednesday, February 8, 2012
'New' News
The 2012 ChrIstmas QuIlt Along wIll be startIng thIs Saturday - Feb. 11 and wIll be held each month on the 2nd Saturday of that month. Sue at QuIlt Times Is over-see'er, but thIs year Is a lIttle dIfferent as each month wIll be hosted by a dIfferent blogger:
February: Hazel at Hazel's Quilts
March: Joanna at Needle, Thread, Happiness
April: Lesley at The Cuddle Quilter
May: Lynn at Sew'n Wild Oaks
June: Paulette at Sweet P Quilting & Creations
July: Sharon at Vroomans Quilts
August: Cathi at Shakerwood Quilts
September: Maureen at A Quilt Complex
October: Elizabeth at Sand and Sunshine
November: Janet at Caribou Crossing Chronicles
December: Sue at Quilt Times
A Mystery QuIlt Is being offered and I belIeve some of the Gals are goIng to have some other offerIngs as well. Hope to see you Saturday.
Clover & VIolet will hostIng another QuIlt and StItch along project startIng February 22. New button on the sIde wIll take you to the sIte.
TRAVELING STASH
Seems all the boxes are travelIng to new homes:
Box 1 Is headed to Darlene at Quilting NaNa
Box 2 Is headed to Toni at HoosierToni
Box 3 Is headed to My Sister Made Me Do It
And I hope you are not too dog tIred by the end of February - It's Leap Year! And somethIng excIting Is comIng!
SewIngly Yours,
Sharon
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Sarah's Block Tutorial
Sarah of Confessions of a Fabric Addict issued this block challenge. Using the ideas from 'Cut The Scraps!', written by Joan Ford and published by The Taunton Press; she recommends cutting your scraps into 5", 3.5", and 2" squares to aid in organization of your scraps. And with the entry, you give permission for Sarah's ministry group to use your block for their lovely and generous work in donation quilts.
SARAH'S BLOCK
This is my initial layout and test block - the tutorial will be using other fabrics. I used 4 fabrics - one being my focus fabric. Dimensions: two - 2" squares of cordinating fabric (number 1), one - 2" square of another cordinating fabric (number 2), one - 3.5" square and one 2" x 6.5" strip of solid, and one - 5" square of focus fabric. You will have a 6.5" x 8" final block - yes you can work a quilt with an 'odd' size block!
TUTORIAL
When doing a number of blocks and rather than cutting individual small pieces - it is quicker and more accurate to build strips and then sub-cut. Start with your "strip section" - cut from your coordinating fabric (referred to as number 1) 2" WOF (width of fabric) and from your solid a 6.5" WOF. Sew these together and press to the solid (this will aid in the block assembly) Sub-cut this strip into 2" wide strips. Yield - 20 pieces.
Now for those 'twosies' - Cut a 2" WOF of coordinating fabric (number 1) and cut a 2" WOF of other coordinating fabric (number 2). Sew these together and press to the number 2 coordinating fabric - the brown in my photo. Sub-cut into 2" sections - yield is 20 pieces.
Next I cut two stips of my solid (yellow dot used) - cut 3.5" WOF and then I laid them on top each other and sub-cut into 3.5" squares. Yield is 12 per strip or total 24 pieces.
Now we need our focus fabric - I cut three strips 5" WOF - you can cut all three laid on top, or two or singly - sub-cut into 5" squares. Yield is eight pieces per strip or total 24 pieces. *TIP* now lay all your units out (stack like units on top each other) like in my layout photo, you will not (hopefully) make an error in the following piecing.
Let's start assembling - Sew your 2 patch pieces to your 3.5" squares; being sure that your coordinating number 2 fabric is the same on all pieces. **note where my brown square is on all those sections chained thru the machine**
Press to the 3.5" square. Check you measurements and trim if necessary. They should be 3.5" x 5". Set those aside in your layout area. *Remember, this helps to be sure you are working your pieces in the correct direction*
We're almost there. Next we will add these newly sewn units to the 5" focus squares. Pay attention to where that 2-patch lays so they are all the same. Again, I just chain them thru the machine.
Press toward the 5" square and you can check your measurements - you should now have a 5" x 8" block.
We are heading to the finish line! Now it's time to sew that strip on. *TIP* keep the strip on the top when piecing so the machine is feeding the larger fabric section evenly thru the feed dogs** The nice thing is, the only seam you have to match are the two 2" corner squares! Again, I am a chain piecer - feed those thru your machine.
Press to the strip. Your blocks should finish out 6.5" x 8".
Here are four blocks together. One row with the larger square facing up and the second row with them facing down. The thing to remember when working with an odd size block like this, you will need more to go across (rows) then down (columns).
This shows you the extra patterns you get with this block thru out the quilt top. This flimsy and extra fabrics are already residing with Sarah as part of my donation to her wonderful group. And since this block was designed for Sarah, I am calling it 'Sarah's Block'.
If you make a quilt from this pattern, please link back to this post for credit - enjoy it. And if you have any questions or problems, please feel free to e-mail me.
Please visit Sarah and see all the blocks submitted, leave her a comment, and drop in on the contributors and leave them a little love.
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Harbinger of Spring
It's so hard to think that it is still Winter when it has been so warm, lite of snow and the yard is filled with Robins. And they vie with the possom and the skunk for the few wiggly worms in the mud of lawn and drive. I love being able to get more walking in, checking the flower beds to see what is starting to peek thru the 'covers'. But I'll keep those tender shoots under their blankets of leaves and bark - because I know Mother Nature can still throw a tantrum. And Robin Redbreast, we'll give you tender treats as you find your favorite spot in the old grape vines and bare apple trees. (and scold those furries for teasing you so)
DESIGN WALL
I just love the pattern chosen for the next Schnibbles - i.s.t.h. And pulled the fabric quickly as I knew exactly how I wanted to do this. Howard Marcus 'Collecions for a Cause - Comfort' just sings 'traditional' to me for this little quilt - with some 'Chocolat' by 3-Sisters and my favorite muslin. I already have bits of it hanging on the wall and mantel - working it as leader/enders. I will link up with Judy at Patchwork Times. I can't wait to see what everyone else has on their walls.
FIRST QUILT-2012
I had done a lot of house cleaning and the extra table was taken down because my grandsons came to visit over the weekend - needed a clear 'playzone' for all those cars and trucks. So when the table went back up, I was determined to get some quilts finished. So the Picnic Quilt was tackled first. Since I used a flannel back, I stayed with a simple stretched 'wiggle line' and used up some scrap binding (pieced a bunch together). Done - first large (50" square) quilt for the year and will be one of my donation quilts.
This quilt top was made during the Sew Scraps Along - and look - I was the Grand Prize Winner!! When my goodies arrive, I will surely share. Thank you Jodi and all the lovely people who helped with tutorials, inspiration, and sponsoring.
FOR FUN
More little houses. They are starting to look alike as I am still playing out of the same scrap bag. Think I need to use that bag for some string blocks and get some fresh scraps (and I do have plenty of them) for more house building.
More ornaments stitched. I think there are enough in that box now to pull out some Christmas fabric scraps and start making these into completed ornies. Now to find my ribbon!
OH WEIGH ME
I still have to get a scale - but I know the pounds are dropping as I have had many ask me 'are you losing weight'? And, I bought some new jeans - a size smaller! I'm trying hard to eat scheduled meals - finding it most important to start the day with a healthy breakfast. Adding more protein in my diet - I really like greens and fish - eating a lot of fish!And maybe with the 'spring-like' feel, have been on a salad kick. Can't wait for those fresh salad fixin's from the garden. To add to this week, more walking. And the nice weather has helped me get outside for that. I have set time limits at the sewing machine - set that timer and get up and move. The ironing is set up across the room so I have to get up and move. And pushing that vacumm does put up a sweat more than my pedal machine.
CLOSING THOUGHT
(poems for the class room)
Robin sits in the apple tree
Singing sweetly down to me.
She tells me of her cozy nest
In the tree she likes the best.
She tells me that her robin mate
And she herself can hardly wait --
They have four blue eggs, you see,
That soon will be their family.
They'll live together in their cozy nest
In the tree that they love best.
Happy in her apple tree,
Robin sings her news to me!
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Get Your Phil On
Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its Burrow on this day then spring will come early. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat Back into its Burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks. I wonder what Punxsutawney Phil at Gobblers Knob will predict for us today?
SWAPS
Some lovely spool Blocks arrived from Bobbie at Itsallaboutme. I was getting a little heavy on Blues, so these wonderful Blocks will be a welcome addition for variety. Just love the Brown textured spool.
These lovely extras came in a very special Box from Jinnie over at Lots of Fabric2. She was paired as my sender (I sent to someone different) in Cheryll's Initial Valentines Swap. Lookie see........
My pretty Valentine!! Oh, my initial done so special and Beads - yum - special threads, special stitches - so many things I love. AND it fits so lovely on my Ackfeld hanger. Oh, I know - the Easter Bunnies, my grandson loves to play with them, but they do add to the whole thing. Thank you Jinnie for such a wonderful Valentines.
GIVING AND GIFTING
I was completely floored with this lovely Bundle - Sentimental Studios' 'Summer Breeze II'!! This was sent to me as a thank you - from my SIL - for helping her with her first quilt. There was also a Bundle of various muslins (I love muslin). I told her I would only accept it if she promised to come share it and work on a project along side me. So our Summer Breeze projects are being plotted. Thank you Jeri!!
TRAVELING STASH
Box #1 - Annie is ready to move on the stash - comments open until Tues. Feb 5th midnight
Box #2 - currently Being shipped to Toni at Hoosiertoni
Box #3 - Barbara is also ready to move her Box - comments open until Fri. Feb 3 5pm
** just click on Annie's or Barbara's name and it will take you right to their post on the stash **
CLOSING THOUGHT
Question for Phil:
Will you, Won't you, See your shadow?
Will it, Won't it, Really matter?
Do you, Don't you, Grin to see
People Take you Seriously?
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon
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