Fall is HERE! YAY! Wishing you all the joy this season brings!
Happy Fall Y’all!
Lori
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WIP Wednesday – Maple Leaf Quilt
Yesterday, I shared the Maple Leaf Quilt Block. This is the Maple Leaf quilt top I’ve been working on for quite awhile now. It’s one of those projects I started that got pushed aside for whatever reason. Probably something “New and Fresh” came along and I quickly abandoned this for the new project. If you’ve followed along with the blog, you know it happens! 😉
The funny (or maybe tragic would better describe it) thing is, I really only need to sew a few more blocks together (maybe 7?) and this quilt top would be DONE!
I feel like this quilt top should be finished BEFORE fall is over (I think technically that gives me until December 21st, right?!?)!!!! I’m determined now….I WILL complete this quilt top! Anyone believe me?
Happy Quilting!
Lori
Tutorial Tuesday – Maple Leaf Block
Fall is almost here! YAY! So…..I decided to share one of my favorite Nine Patch Blocks (if you’ve missed the tutorial, find it here ). It’s called the Maple Leaf Quilt Block. AND. It’s perfect for all your lovely fall colored fabrics! If you’re ready, let’s get started!
Maple Leaf Quilt Block (9″finished block):
Cutting (per block):
- background fabric – 2 3-1/2″ squares and 2 3-7/8″ squares (3-7/8″ squares will be for your half square triangles)
- leaf fabric – 3 3-1/2″ squares and 2 3-7/8″ squares (3-7/8″ squares will be for your half square triangles).
- stem fabric – 1/2″x5″ (If you prefer to hand applique your stem, you’ll need a 3/4″x5″ piece instead )
Directions:
Start by sewing your Half-Square Triangles (HST’s) placing one background fabric square (3-7/8″) and one leaf fabric square (3-7/8″) right sides together following the directions for half square triangles here ( I can’t stress enough how a Walking Foot helps with quilting. It has made a HUGE difference in my quilt making!!!). Press seams toward the dark fabric.
On one of your background (3-1/2″) fabric squares, machine applique your stem fabric (1/2″x5″) diagonally across the center of the square ( or if you prefer, hand applique the stem instead ).
Time to layout your block….
With right sides together and a 1/4″ seam begin sewing squares to create strips.
After the strips are sewn, sew the strips (right sides together and 1/4″ seams) together, matching intersections (Note: I press seams on the strips in opposite directions at the intersections to reduce the bulk….).
That’s it! One block down! Whoohoo!
Happy Quilting!
Lori
Tutorial Tuesday – Quick & Easy Fleece Blanket
It’s Fall Football season and we needed a new fleece blanket to snuggle under during the chilly evening games. I didn’t want to spend a lot of time to make this, so, I opted for fleece. This took me a little over an hour to complete. Sure, it involves a little sewing, but, it’s GOT to be quicker than those “no-sew cut all that fringe and tie it together” blankets! All that cutting must take FOREVER! 😉 If you’d like to make one for yourself, here’s how I went about it…..
I started by purchasing 1-1/2 yards of 2 pieces of fleece. This will make my blanket approx. 60″ wide by 54″ long.
I started by trimming off the selvage edge. Also, since I was working with a stripe and a plaid, I cut across the 60″ width using the edge of a stripe. If you’re not working with a stripe or plaid, you’ll want to use a ruler to get a straight line.
With WRONG sides together pin the two pieces of fleece together all the way around. Trim off any fabric to make your pieces equal.
It’s a good idea to test your stitching on a couple of scrap pieces of fleece to make sure our tension and stitch size are right (you can see I had some issues with my stitching at first….glad I did a little test! 😉 ).
Start stitching around your blanket (I find a Walking Foot VERY helpful, but you could also use any utility foot your machine has). I used a blanket stitch and kept my edges at 1/4″to keep my stitching on the fabric. This may vary for your machine and why testing on scraps is so helpful! (If your machine doesn’t do a blanket stitch, you could also do a number of other stitches, including a straight stitch. It’s fleece, it’s not going to ravel. YAY!)
Continue stitching around until you reach the point you started at. Trim all your threads and you’re DONE! WHOOHOO!
Now you’ve got a new blanket to snuggle under during the chilly fall/winter evenings! These would also make GREAT gifts too….because, that time of year is creeping up on us FAST!
Happy Sewing!
Lori
WIP Wednesday – #BeMyNeighbor
Recently my friend and I visited a local quilt store (read about it here). While we were there I was admiring a scrappy (does it seem like I have an obsession with scrappy lately?) quilt made of different house blocks (you can see that quilt here). The lady who worked in the shop informed my friend and I that the blocks for the quilt were on their website. The blocks are called “Be My Neighbor”. It’s not like I NEEDED another project. I’ve got plenty going on. BUT. I’ve always wanted to do a quilt of house blocks and I LOVED the scrappy look of this quilt!
So, let me introduce you to Block #1 of my scrappy #BeMyNeighbor quilt. It’s a BIG 18″ block. It was also a very fun block to make! The block patterns are here, In case you were thinking you ALSO might like to make a scrappy house block quilt. Because, who doesn’t need a house block quilt?
Happy Quilting!
Lori
Tutorial Tuesday – Nine Patch Quilt Block Basics
Since my last trip to the quilt store, I’ve been feeling inspired to do a little quilting. When I say little, I’m thinking potholders. Because, they’re basically just small quilts, right?!?! 😉
If you’ve never done any block piecing (or maybe you have, but a refresher is in order?), I’m going to walk you through a basic Nine Patch Block. Let’s get started…..
7-1/2″ Nine Patch Quilt Block (this block is the size needed for the potholder construction ):
Materials:
- 1/4 yard each light and dark 100% cotton fabric
- thread
Cutting list:
- 9 2-7/8″ squares/5 dark & 4 light (OR 5 light & 4 dark)
Instructions:
Wash fabrics in hot, soapy water (separately). To set the colors, soak in a white vinegar and salt solution for 20-30 minutes. Rinse until colors run clear. Dry and press. You’re now ready to cut your blocks.
I prefer to use a rotary cutter, ruler and cutting mat……but you can cut with scissors if you like. Measure a 2-7/8″ strip across your light & dark fabrics.
Cut 2-7/8″ squares from these strips.
With right sides together, sew a dark square to a light square using a 1/4″ stitch (a walking foot works great for this, as it feeds the fabrics in the same direction). Press seam allowance toward the dark fabric. Continue sewing squares together until you have 3 strips with 3 squares each….
Now, sew the 3 strips (right sides together using a 1/4″ seam) together. Make sure to match the pressed seam allowance together. It will look like this….
You’re now already to construct a potholder if you like. OR. Maybe you want to construct MORE blocks and save them up to create a quilt top? Decisions, decisions….
BUT. There’s MORE! I’m going to show you the EASIEST way I know to make Half-Square Triangles (also known as HST). These HSTs will finish out to the 2-7/8″ square size (so you can combine them with your squares for even MORE Nine Patch options!
Here’s how easy it is….
Prepare your fabrics the same as you did for your squares. Cut a light and dark fabric strip at 3-1/4″. Then cut 3-1/4″ squares from the strips. Draw a line diagonally from corner to corner with a pencil or disappearing ink pen (this will be your cutting line). Draw a 1/4″ line (stitching line) on each side of the diagonal line (if your machine has a 1/4″ guide bar you could use that if you prefer)
Stitch on your stitching lines.
Cut the (center) diagonal line.
Once again, press the seam allowance toward the dark fabric.
Trim the little “ears” from the seam allowance and true up the square.
If you search “Nine Patch Blocks” You will find lots of layouts and color combos. Here’s a couple I found….
Well….that’s the Nine Patch Block basics! Are you ready to “catch the quilt bug”?
Happy Quilting!
Loti
Scrappy Sunday – Bulky Yarn
I’m going to tell you a secret…..I’ve never been a fan of bulky yarn. The only real reason, is that every project I’ve done from bulky yarn has been a flop. So, it might not be the yarn as much as it is the project. A few months back, I read about this technique of making a marled (bulky) yarn from odds and ends of thinner yarns held together. Well, by the looks of the above basket of sock yarn, it was a technique I should give a try!
Holding 4 strands of sock yarn together, I cast-on a hat (no pattern…..yet….) onto size 13 needles. As one of the colors got low, I’d Russian Join a new color to that yarn. Are you ready? Here’s the end result….
I’m pretty happy with the finished hat! I can’t wait to try this again!
What fun ideas are you doing to use up your yarn scraps?
Happy Knitting!
Lori
