Tag Archives: quilting

I haven’t posted in ages!

20 Monday Nov 2017

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I know I have been missing in action this blog for some time. I have had mixed feelings about it. I love the conversations we get to have but I’m not so happy with the feeling that sometimes I have no audience at all and I’m talking to myself. I did start a quilt-along but I left it hanging because it appeared I was the only one doing it. 🙂

Anyway a comment came for approval today and so I logged back in and thought I’d do a post showing you some of things I’ve worked on in the interim. I hope you like them.

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Emperor’s Jewels QAYG Quilt-Along Block 5

12 Thursday Nov 2015

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 A nice easy block. 

Block 5 Requirements

One strip 12.5″ X 2.5″

Two strips of different fabrics 12.5″ X 1.5″

Three 1.5″ squares

Freezer paper.

Method

Sew the two thinner strips together then see the wider one on the end. Take three 1″ squares of freezer paper and, using the techniques we’ve used previously, applique the 1.5″ fabric squares onto the wider strip at regular intervals. Then you’re done!

The Emperor’s Jewels QAYG, Quilt-Along Block 4

10 Tuesday Nov 2015

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Blocks 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be sewn together BEFORE we sandwich and quilt them. It’s still a manageable unit and makes the construction simpler.

Block 4 requirements

One 12.5″ square of background fabric

Four 4.5″ squares of feature fabric

One 4″ square of fabric for the centre of the block

One 2″ diameter circle (finished size).

Strips of linear or border fabric. Length will depend on pattern matching.

Freezer paper

Method

Cut a 3.5″ square of Freezer paper and cover it with the 4″ square of fabric the way we did in Block 2. Then using the same technique, appliquĂ© the square to the centre of the background fabric, cut the excess background fabric off and remove the freezer paper.

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Then cover a 2″ diameter Perfect Circle with your fabric, attach it to the centre of the central square and appliquĂ© it as we did in Block 1. Then remove the excess square fabric from the back and remove the perfect circle.

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Now cut four 4″ squares out of freezer paper. Then cut a 2″ square out of the 4″ in one corner. Do this to all four.

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Take your 4.5″ squares of fabric and fold over the seam allowance onto the sticky side of the freezer paper and we have done before. When you get to the centre of the cut-out, put a slit in the fabric to allow it fold over.

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Place these corner pieces 1.5″ in from the edges of the background one at a time. Iron to the background, appliquĂ© and then remove the freezer paper and repeat with the others.

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The next step involves the strips. How wide you make them is up to you and to the pattern on the fabric you choose. I chose to make the finished, appliquĂ©d strips 7/8″. Draw out your large corner piece and then draw in the size strips you think will work. (Ignore the fact I’ve written 5/8″ they’re actually 7/8″.) 🙂

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If you’re happy with the relative proportions then cut out the centre piece and use it as a template to cut out 4 freezer paper patterns.

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The next thing is to join our strips at right angles. I find the best way is to fold the end of one strip at 45degrees. Play around until you know where best to place it to achieve the pattern match and then spread a little Elmer’s Glue on the underneath and position it on top of the other strip, iron the glue set, then open it it out and sew the seam line.

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Now, take your right angle fabric and iron the seam allowances down onto the freezer paper patterns as you did for the corner pieces.

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Trim the ends to size.

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Now attach these pieces to the centre of the corner pieces. You can choose to make two or four of these. I chose to make two and place them on opposite corners. Use a ruler to get the positioning right, iron them down, appliqué and remove the freezer paper..

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My finished Block 4

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Emperor’s Jewels QAYG Quilt-Along Construction of first unit

07 Saturday Nov 2015

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We can now sew the first three blocks together. First take blocks 2 and 3. Fold and pin back the backing and batting from the seam edge. Pin the two sides together and sew a 1/4″ seam. This can be done either by hand or machine.

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Press the seam – if you used basting spray then use a pressing cloth to prevent the glue burning onto the iron.

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Lay one pice of batting back towards the seam and trim it as close to the folded backing as you can. IMPORTANT: First check that the batting on the other piece will reach all the way across. If it doesn’t then trim so they meet.image image image

Then fold the other piece of batting across to meet the first one. If it’s too big then trim it.

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Fold one of the backing fabrics across to meet the fold of the other backing fabric.

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Then fold the other backing fabric across. Cut the excess fabric, leaving enough to turn 1/4″ under and then sew the seam down using an applique style stitch. It’s important to note that for the quilt to not “flop around” at the seams, that the front seam, the meeting place of the batting and the back seam are all staggered and not one on top of the other.

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Press the blocks.

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Using the same technique, sew block 1 to the bottom of the other two blocks.

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This makes up the bottom left hand corner of our quilt.

Emperor’s Jewels QAYG Quilt-Along Block 3

06 Friday Nov 2015

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Block requirements

For Block 3 of the quilt-along you will need some freezer paper and the following pieces of fabric:


Background: (Painter’s canvas pink shown)

Two pieces 1.5″ X 12.5″

Four pieces 1.5″ X 10.5″

Four pieces 1.5″ X 2.5″

Two pieces 1.5″ X 4.5″

Other fabric:

Four pieces 2.5″ X 4.5″ (patterned fabric shown)

Four pieces 2.5″ square (patterned fabric shown)

One 2.5″ square. (Black and gold fabric shown)

One 4.5″ square (Fuchsia fabric shown)

Step One

Cut a 2″ square of freezer paper and fold and press the edges of the 2.5″ square of fabric over the edges. (For method see Block 2). Then press the square to the centre of the 4.5″ square.

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Applique the centre square down.

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Cut the backing fabric inside the stitching and then pull out the freezer paper and press the block.

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Pin and sew the 1.5″ x 4.5″ strips to opposite sides of the square.

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Then pin and sew the 2.5″ x 4.5″ strips to the other side of the strips just sewn.

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Press the seams towards the centre of the 1.5″ strips as this will make them pop.

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Pin and sew two of the 1.5″ x 10.5″ strips to the top and bottom of this piece and press the seam towards the thin strip.

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You have now completed the middle row of the block.

For the top and bottom rows, do the following. Sew a 1.5″ x 2.5″ strip to one side of a 2.5″ square.

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Then sew a 2.5″ x 4.5″ strip to the thin strip.

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Sew another thin strip to the other side.image

Finally, sew another 2.5″ square to the end.image

Once again press the seams in towards the narrow strip.image

Sew the top and bottom strips onto the middle strip.

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Sew the last two 1.5″ x 10.5″ strips to either side of the block.

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Now sew the 1.5″ x 12.5″ strips to the top and bottom of the block.

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Quilting

Sandwich the quilt as we did for Block 1. Then quilt as you prefer.

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Construction

Next time we’ll be sewing the first three blocks together.

The Emperor’s Jewels QAYG Quilt-Along – Block 2

30 Friday Oct 2015

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I’ve decided to try to post a few blocks as quickly as I can so you can get a feel for whether you’d like jump in and join me. Block 1 is a horizontal block. Block 2 is vertical, so bear this in mind when making your fabric choices. Part of block 1 will be in contact with block 2.

So for this block you’ll need a piece of background fabric 12.5″ X 8.5″ and three pieces slightly larger than 3″ square (you’ll see what I mean later) and a further three pieces slightly larger than 1.5″ square. You’ll also need some batting, some background fabric, some freezer paper and 12wt thread. With regards to the backing – the back will be very “patchworky” so I’d use a variety of fabrics.

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Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than 3″ square and a piece of freezer paper 3″ square. Place the freezer paper on the wrong side of the fabric shiny side up. (This is contrary to most techniques but there is method in my madness. All will be revealed.)

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Fold one seam allowance over onto the freezer paper and carefully iron it. Make sure not to let the iron touch the bare freezer paper.

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The fabric sticks to the freezer paper and stays in place. Do the same with all the other seam allowances.

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Do the same to the other two squares of fabric. Take the background fabric fold it in half so it measures 6.25 X 8.5″ and lightly press the crease. Then open it out and fold one edge into the centre create and lightly press the new crease.

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Repeat the last step with the other end of the fabric, then open it out, fold in half the other way and lightly press the crease. Your fabric should then look like the piece below.

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Take one of your 3″ squares and centre on the background fabric, using the creases as guides as to where the corners should be.

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Use the hot iron to press the square to the background. This will lightly attach the freezer paper to the backround. Gently turn it over and set the freezer paper more securely by pressing the back of the fabric. Do the same with the other two squares, using the other creases to centre the squares. The outer squares should overlap the centre one, as shown

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Applique the outer squares first and then the centre one. Then flip the block over and cut out the black fabric inside the stitching and gently pull out the freezer paper as shown below.

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Next cut out three 1.5″ squares of freezer paper and repeat the earlier process on your smaller squares of fabric and press them onto the middle of the larger squares.

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Applique them and then cut the back away and remove the freezer paper.

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Then sandwich the block as per block 1 and draw a line 1/4″ outside the large squares and quilt with 12 wt thread. Draw a second line and quilt it and then you’re done with block two.

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Would you like to join QAYG mystery quilt-along?

29 Thursday Oct 2015

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I’m making a Quilt As You Go 48″ square quilt. I’ve designed it and I’ve started the first section. If you want to join me, I’d be delighted. Please be aware this is a totally amateur project so don’t commit your most favourite fabrics to it. {All care no responsibility :)} I’m calling it the Emperor’s Jewels. I’m using saturated reds from purple to pink, through reds to orangey browns and blacks. It’ll be scrappy. I’ll give you the fabric requirements for each block as we go.

Hand or machine – your choice

I’m choosing to hand-piece, hand-applique and hand-quilt this quilt but feel free to do any or all of it by machine.

Here’s block 1

You’ll need five 4.5″ pieces of fabric for backgrounds and five 4″ pieces to make the circles.

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I used a 3.25″ diameter Perfect Circle using the starch and foil method here to make my circle. However I left the plastic in and stuck it to the centre of the fabric square using Elmer’s Schoolhouse Glue, setting it with an iron from the back.

Then I appliquĂ©d the circle to the centre of the block. Then I flipped it over and cut a small hole in the back and  cut around .25″ from the stitching, pulled out the circle of background fabric and the plastic and pressed it.

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Then I stitched the five blocks together.

To make the quilt sandwich you’ll need a piece of backing fabric and a piece of batting 21.25″ x 5.5″. I used spray baste to baste the sandwich but you can use pins if you prefer. Then I drew a couple of concentric circles around the medallions with a pencil. I also drew in the 1/4″ seam allowance. Then I used 12wt thread to quilt the circles.

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Don’t cut any of the excess backing and batting yet just leave it as is and I’ll see you at the next block.

Show me your blocks

I though what I’d do is post a picture of my completed block in a post titled with the block number on the Sewjournal FaceBook page. Then you can just upload your block photos in the comments section underneath and we can see them all in one place. What do you think? Are you in?

Steam Punk decision, well sort of.

01 Tuesday Sep 2015

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Thank you for all your comments on the steam punk quilt. I think I’ve come up with a decision. I had made 29 blocks so I decided to make one more to round it up to 30. See below.

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My plan is to intersperse these blocks with the improv blocks I showed on my Facebook page a while back. You can see them in photo below.

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I’m not planning the same layout however, as they are only 6″ finished size whereas the steam punks are 9″ finished. So I plan to add borders made of the same mixed fabrics that I used as the backgrounds for the steam punk blocks. What do you think?

Decision making agony!

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

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I’ve finished the Steam Punk blocks but I still can’t decide what to do with them. I had a play on the floor but I’m not really enamoured of the results. Take a look. I even tried using them as a sort of border so I could create a medallion for the centre.

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Here are some more designs I played with on paper – slightly easier due to not having to deal with a four-legged, shameless camera hog.
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Any ideas?

My first 2014 project

04 Tuesday Feb 2014

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I’ve finished the coverlet I started in January. It’s all bound, washed, ironed and I’m using it and it feels so soft and lovely.

Here are a few photos.

P1070131 P1070132 P1070135Now I’m working on some foundation paper pieced stars from Don’t Call Me Betsy’s 2013 and 2014 Lucky Star Club. Here’s where I’m up to so far. I’ve done two quarters of the practice star.

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Fabric challenge update

All the fabric for the coverlet came from my stash and scraps and all the fabric for this first star also. I didn’t buy any fabric in January at all. So far in February I’ve bought 1.6m of an Echino extra wide bird print that was only $16.80 per metre. I’ll tally up at the end of the month and donate 50% of my spend to charity as I promised.