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Block of the Week – Block 9

Here we are! The last block in my 2021 BOW. These 9 weeks have gone fast. I hope you have enjoyed making the first 8 blocks and you will like this one too. If you are just finding this BOW project, you can access the previous block instructions and blog posts by clicking on each week: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6 , Week 7, Week 8. This weeks tip of the week will actually be many mini tips for quilters based on some of the things I like to do to make my quilting experience relaxing and fun. Hopefully you will find a tip or two helpful to you too! As with the last 8 weeks, there will be a drawing for one of my patterns. The winner will be chosen from the comments and questions you leave below. So now that all that is out of the way, lets see the last block!

Block 9 – Bloom

Find the PDF instructions for the block here: 2021 BOW Block 9.

This block has a lot of elements in it that previous blocks in this series had, so you should be able to make this one using the knowledge you have gained making the others. So now onto the time saving tips for quilters.

Time Saving Tips for Quilters

Tip #1 – Always Buy Extra

My quilt patterns use the assumption of 40″ usable width of fabric (as I discussed in last week’s post), but some patterns may not. If you are not sure if the pattern you are buying allows for selvage, cutting errors or pre-washing fabric (if you do that), always buy a bit more than recommended. I usually ad about 1/8 of a yard to what is needed. I don’t pre-wash my fabric, but I have made cutting errors… a lot! You do not want to get to the end of your piece of fabric and still have pieces you need cut from it.

Tip #2 – Test Blocks

One of the things I recommend as a time saver is to read through the pattern you are planning to work on and create a “test” block out of scrap fabric. This is a great way to find out if you understand the instructions! It’s also a way to “audition” color choices.

Here’s one of my test blocks:

After the test block has served it’s purpose in helping me understand the pattern and make color choices, what can I do with it?  I decided to take these blocks and rummage through my scrap stash to make mini quilts for friends and family! Here’s a candle mat I made from the test block:

This is a great way to make a gift for the non-quilter in your life. They will love their little gift and you will not let a scrap of fabric go to waste!

Tip #3 – Label Cut Pieces

This may seem like a no brainer but to keep yourself organized, you should label the pieces you cut and organize them in stacks based on which part of the quilt they construct. This is especially helpful if you cut all the pieces for your project in the beginning. I like to get all the cutting done at once and it allows me to make sure I have enough fabric. If I cut in stages, by the time I figure out I’m short of fabric, it may be sold out!

Above is an example of a project cut out and ready to go. Each stack represents a group of blocks made from the same color prints. This keeps me organized and I avoid picking up the wrong piece and stitching it into a unit. The less “unsewing” I have to do, the better!

Tip #4 – Stitch Ripping

Speaking of “unsewing”, I have a tip on ripping out stitches in a way to hopefully avoid damaging your fabric. Here’s how I do it:

I cut a stitch every 4 or 5 stitches in the middle of the seam and then gently pull apart the pieces.

The seam comes apart fairly easy and then all you have to do is finish cutting the threads on each end of the unit.

Tip #5 – Backstitching

This may seem like a simple tip, but you’d be surprised how many people skip it. Back stitch to lock your stitched seam at the beginning and end of a seam. 

The unit on the left has back stitching at the beginning and end of the seam. The one on the right does not. The next photo shows how the seam can easily separate, which can cause your quilt to come apart at the seams … literally!

The unit that has the back stitching is nice and secure, even with seams pressed open.

Backstitching can be done whether you are just stitching one unit at a time or you are stitching a chain of units. It only takes a brief second to backstitch at the beginning and end of each unit in a chain.

So that’s it! Those are some of my favorite tips to share. I hope you learned something. Share a tip with me in the comments below and your name will be entered into a drawing for my pattern, Twinkling Log Cabin.

This is one of my older scrappy quilt patterns, but it’s still one of my favorites! The drawing will be on Monday, June 14th. That is also the day that I will reveal the wall hanging I made from these blocks and share those instructions. **We have a winner! Congrats, Gail S.!**

So, until next week,

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

2021 Block of the Week – Block 6

Welcome back to my 2021 Block of the Week. We are already at block #6! If you are new to this series, you can find the posts for the previous blocks here: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 and Week 5. Like the other weeks, there will be a drawing from the blog post commenters for one of my patterns. Your name will also be entered into the grand prize drawing at the end of the series (grand prize information in the week 1 post).

Block 6 – Rolling Star

I like the block for this week because of the way the light tan background illuminates the star portion of the block. You can also improvise and change the tan to a black print and change the colors for the star pieces to bright colors. There are many fun options.

Click here for block assembly instructions: 2021 BOW Block 6.

Here are some of the ways to make this block look different. First, change the tan fabric to black:

Next, add in another color instead of the tan print on the outside, then shift colors around. If you alternate the two block color combos below, that would make a striking quilt!

The key is to have fun! Now onto the quilting tip of the week. Achieving crisp points which will be very helpful for this block with lots of points.

Crisp Points

We have all done this. You’re piecing a quilt with a lot of stars or flying geese units. When you’re all done, your points are cut off!

Notice the point on the left is cut off compared to the point on the right. This is one of the things that dogs a lot of quilters. I find that many times this is due to impatience (rushing through chain piecing) and not being being aware of where your points are in relation to the seam you are stitching. So, here I will share some tips to avoid blocks with cut off points. I am using flying geese units in my example, but the concept will apply to any unit with points.

When you flip over a flying geese unit like shown below and you will see a point created by the seams of the unit.   

Paying attention to where this point is while you are stitching is an important key for getting crisp points.

Notice, in the photo below, I have pinned the pieces so they won’t shift. As I am stitching I keep an eye on the point. I want to keep my stitching above it. Hopefully, if I made my geese unit correctly, the top of the point is 1/4″ from the edge of the unit.

I am using a pin to show you where the point is as I am stitching.

In the  photo below you can see my needle is going to pass the stitching above the point but still be an accurate 1/4″ seam (see where I am pointing with the pin). You want the stitching to stay above but not too far. If your stitching touches the very tippy top of the point, that is still OK. The photo on the far right shows my seam done, passing right over the point.

When I turn the piece over to the right side, you can see that the point is nice and crisp!

Like I said earlier, the key to getting these crisp points is to make sure when you piece your units that have points, the unit has the correct seam allowance. 1/4″ from point tip to edge of the unit:

In some blocks, you may need to join two units with points. Here’s a few tips on doing that and keeping the points crisp. Once again, I will use flying geese units in the example.

When pinning the units together, you want to start by lining up the points of each unit and pinning there. Here is how I line up the points. I lay the units right sides together and then pull the top unit down to get the point lined up with the point of the unit below. I slowly inch the top piece back, eyeing the point the whole time.

Pin the center first to keep the points from shifting and then pin the rest of the unit before stitching.

Follow the stitching instructions I shared above, stitch the unit keeping your seam above the point. Since you took such care in aligning the points, the stitching should be above the point on the back unit to.

You can see in the photos of each side below where the stitching line passes above the point:

And after pressing the unit open once stitched, flip it over to the right side and see that the points are matched!

So those are my tips on how to achieve crisp points. It may take some practice, but you will get there! Hopefully you will not have to use your seam ripper too much.

That’s it for this week. Leave your comments or questions below and you will be entered into a drawing for my pattern, Twilight Desert. This pattern will give you a lot of practice on achieving crisp points!

The drawing for this pattern will be on Monday, May 24th. Good luck and see you next week! **We have a winner… Congrats, Carla!**

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

2021 Block of the Week – Block 4

Welcome back to my 2021 BOW! Are you having fun yet? Have you decided to take some of these blocks and make a small wall hanging or table runner? I hope so! As I said when we began, when the series ends I will have a layout for a sampler using these blocks. But they are fun stand alone blocks to create other quilts! If you are just joining the fun, here are links to the previous blog posts for the first 3 blocks: Week1, Week2, and Week3. As with the other weeks, I will have some quilting technique tips. This week, I will cover seam alignment when piecing a block. So let’s get started with Block 4!

Block #4 – Mountain Pass

For instructions to make this block, click here: 2021 BOW Block 4.

Now let’s get into this week’s quilting technique tip. I hope this will help you to complete this block or just provide a refresher for those of you who are experienced quilters.

Aligning Seams

Many quilt patterns and their designs depend on seam alignment to make the design flow. If you do not match seams when piecing a block, the design can suffer. Same thing goes for joining blocks. Here’s an example of one of my patterns that shows the importance of seam alignment, my quilt pattern, Follow the Stars:

 

Here’s a few close-up photos (below) of one of the blocks and where the blocks meet in the quilt that demonstrates how seam alignment is important in the design.

Within the block (photo on left), you want the black corner squares to line up and meet right at the points of the squares to create the flow.  In the photo on the right, when joining the blocks, you want the black squares of each block to align with the sashing to create the overall “criss crossing” design in the quilt.

So here are the steps I follow in aligning seams. The examples below are from a Jacob’s Ladder table runner pattern, called Fiesta, I designed. Here’s one of the table runners in the pattern. Looking closely, you can see how important it is to line up the seams of these blocks carefully to create the flow of the whole pattern.

The Jacob’s Ladder block that makes up this table runner has a seam that needs to match up so the four-patch units in the block are aligned correctly and then when the blocks are pieced together, the middle seams of each block need to align. Here’s how I make sure seams align when piecing blocks together:

The two blocks on the left are the ones I am stitching together. I lay one block on top of the other and then I peel back the top one so I can align the seams. I try to bend it back where the 1/4″ seam line will be to make sure the seams are aligned. Once I am satisfied, I will pin the unit there first so my seam alignment does not move when I pin other parts of the block. When I am done, the seams are matched perfectly on the front (photo below). Pinning is definitely and important part of seam alignment!

As you can see, part of the runner design depends on the corners of the squares meeting accurately and I accomplished that by carefully aligning the seams and pinning them in place before stitching.

Hopefully this brief tutorial on seam alignment will help you with this block and other projects you may be working on. I like to think we learn something new every day! It never hurts either to brush up on your skills even if you are an experienced quilter.

Leave me a comment on this tutorial and you will be entered into a drawing for my pattern, Oh My Scraps!. You will also be entered into the grand prize drawing that will take place at the end of this series. Sorry, drawing is open only for US residents.

Oh My Scraps! Quilt Pattern

The drawing for this pattern will be on Monday, May 10th. **We have a winner! Congrats, Darrell!**

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

2021 Block of the Week – Block 3

Welcome back to my 2021 Block of the Week project. If you are just joining in, find the previous posts here: Week 1 and Week 2.This week’s block is a cute little basket block. You can make several of these and make a fun mini wall hanging! This week’s tip is a review on accurate 1/4″ seam allowances since this block requires accurate seams for everything to fit perfectly to make the 6 1/2″ block. At the end of this post, I share with you a video showing how I assembled the inner basket part of the block, joining triangles to squares. So let’s get started!

Block #3 – Posey Basket

For instructions to make this block, click here: 2021 BOW Block 3.

Now onto this week’s quilting technique tips that I hope will help you to complete this block or just provide a refresher for those of you who are experienced quilters.

Accurate 1/4″ Seams

Why is the 1/4″ seam allowance so important? Because most quilt patterns are written to include a 1/4″ seam in the measurements of the pieces cut out for the pattern, unless otherwise indicated. So, if you do not piece with an accurate 1/4″ seam allowance, your 1 1/2 x 2 1/2″ flying geese unit, for example, might measure something quite different. This will then lead to your block units not measuring accurately, causing you problems assembling them and the quilt top.

It’s best to test out whether your machine is stitching a 1/4″ seam using scrap fabric. even if your machine comes with a 1/4″ quilting foot like mine: 

Thickness of thread and needle position (if your machine allows you to move it) can also make your seam more or less than 1/4”. So, here’s how to test your seam allowance:

First, stitch two scrap strips together using the your 1/4” foot as the guide (or if you don’t have one, the marks on the machine throat plate) and then measure the seam.

My seam measures up! But if your seam doesn’t, my tip to help to achieve a 1/4” seam is to mark a 1/4” line on your machine’s throat plate.

Some newer machines already have a mark etched in the throat plate that guides you to a 1/4” seam if you line up the edge of your fabric with it while stitching. You can test the accuracy of this marking like you did above. Notice, in the photo below, the etched line on my machine (arrow pointing to it). That’s the mark on the machine throat plate I was talking about. I use a tape measure and make sure the needle is at “0” and, as you can see, the 1/4″ mark of the throat plate falls even with the tape measure 1/4″ mark.

If you do not have this marking on your throat plate or you do not want to depend on that, use a piece of masking or painter’s tape to mark the 1/4″. Then you line up the edge of the piece you are stitching with the left edge of the tape. The photo below shows the tape marking on my throat plate. That’s it! Time to stitch those accurate 1/4″ seams!

Mini Tutorial – Joining Triangles and Squares

OK… now it’s time for my mini tutorial that demonstrates how you join triangles and squares together.

I hope this video was helpful!

Share a comment on this post and you will be entered into a drawing for my pattern, Posey Patch. Sorry, drawing is open only for US residents.

You will also be entered into the drawing for the grand prize at the end of this Block of the Week series. The drawing for this pattern will be on Monday, May 3rd. **We have a winner! Congrats, Lois Oberg!**

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

2021 Block of the Week Begins!

Hi everyone! Since we enjoyed the block of the week so much in 2020, I decided to run another series starting today. I plan on presenting a new block each week for the next 9 weeks and then have instructions to finish a fun wall hanging from the blocks. Of course, the finishing is optional. If you like a block, feel free to make a whole quilt out of that one block! Since this is a scrappy project, I am not giving any overall fabric requirements. This is meant for using up scraps and small pieces of fabric in your stash. When I give finishing instructions in week 10, I will have fabric requirements for any fabric needed for borders, etc that might not be found in your stash.

Added bonus! For participating and commenting on the blog each week, you will be entered into a drawing for a give-away. There will be one each week and then, at the end, a grand prize! Sorry, drawing is open only for US residents. But we’ll talk more about that later. For now, let’s get started with block #1! 

Block #1 – Combination Star

For the instructions to make this block, find the pattern here: 2021 BOW Block 1. 

So now onto this week’s tips. I will show you the steps to make fast quarter-square triangle squares or fast QST squares as I will refer to it throughout the remainder of this post.

How to: Fast QST Squares

As I show in the pattern, the traditional way to make a QST square is to cut two different print squares into quarters by cutting diagonally and then sewing them together, carefully because these are sewn on the bias. But, there is what I think is a simpler way that make two QST squares at the same time.

Step 1: This step starts out having you make two half-square triangle (HST) squares. Take two squares of different colors, lay them right sides together – lining up raw edges, and draw diagonal lines in both direction on the wrong side of the top square (first photo). Next, stitch an accurate 1/4″ on each side of only ONE of the lines. Cut the unit apart and press the pieces open for two HST squares. 

Step 2: Now comes the twist! Layer the two HST squares right sides together with the tan print of the top square over the color print on the bottom. You do not want the same color print sides on top of each other.

Be sure to line up the seams of the HST squares as shown and pin so the pieces don’t shift while you move on to the next step.

Step 3: Extend the line from the tan print as shown to give you a guide and once again, sew 1/4″ on each side.

Finally, once the stitching is done, cut the unit apart on the drawn line and press open for two finished QST squares!

So, if you have a lot of QST squares to make, this is a slick way to make two at a time without having to sew on an already cut bias seam.

This method also works when you need QST squares with 3 or 4 different colors. See the examples below.

I hope you will join me in this Block of the Week adventure for 2021! The grand prize at the end of this project will be a copy of my book, a Quilt in a Day Triangle Square-up ruler, and an assortment of my latest patterns. Commenting on one or all of these Block of the Week posts not only enters you for the prize that week, but enters you in the grand prize drawing!

Leave a comment below and be entered in the drawing this week’s give-away, my Mill Country Sky pattern, which will give you some practice with QST squares!

This drawing will be on Monday, April 19th. I’m excited for this project and I hope you join me every week! Let’s get sewing! **We have a winner! Congrats, Christie Brehm!**
Happy Quilting,
Deanne

Scrap Quilting: Building a Stash and a Scrap Quilt!

Scrap quilting is so much fun. It’s even more fun when you have a stash to work from. It’s not hard to build one, especially if you quilt a lot. Scrap quilts are my favorite because since they use so many different fabrics, I don’t have to have a lot of one particular fabric. I can even make my background fabrics scrappy! Let’s talk about building a stash and a scrap quilt so you can get started.

Building a Fabric Stash

One of the keys to successful scrap quilting is to have a stash of a lot of smaller pieces of fabric to choose from when making these quilts. I often buy fat quarters at the quilt shop for this purpose. But I also achieve this by cutting down larger pieces of fabric into assorted smaller pieces, so that color print I like so much is represented in every size in my stash. There have been fabric pieces I have had in my stash for a while and haven’t used until I cut it up into smaller yardage!

So here is my mini tutorial on cutting up a yard of fabric:

Below are the tubs I store the different cuts of fabric in. I like to keep them separated by size and color so I can just grab a tub and find the colors I want.

And this is how I store the fat eighths:

See how easy it is to move around the fat eighths without any getting lost?

Finally, strips! I like to save lots and lots of strips. I will cut and keep 2 1/2″ and 1 1/2″ strips any time I have less than an 1/8 of a yard of fabric left when cutting pieces from a larger piece of fabric. Here’s how I store those:

I cut pieces of acid free cardboard to make separators between stack of strips. This is a lot better than the way I used to store them:

LOL! It was pretty hard to find the strips I wanted in this mess. Also, they would get tangled and frayed this way.

Building a Scrap Quilt

You can actually turn any quilt pattern into a scrap quilt with a little thought. I’ll use a simple 3 color quilt as an example. To make it easy, let’s say this quilt takes a yard of each color fabric (not including the background) and has 12 blocks. Here’s the 3 colors:

These fabrics would certainly make a pretty quilt:

However, you can turn this into a scrappier quilt by substituting three 1/3 yard cuts for each yard of fabric from above. I’ve done that here:

The red, blue and yellow fabrics served as a jumping off point to add in 6 more colors. So here’s how that quilt from above looks now:

It really does make a difference! And like I said earlier, you can also make the background fabrics scrappy by using different tan prints with each color.

Another way to “scrap it up” is to use several colors in one block.

You can alternate which colors you use in the center and for the star points and end up with a really fun scrap quilt! This was just a simple example of how to make a quilt scrappy. Use your imagination, plus a little math, and you can make any pattern scrappy!

Leave a comment below on scrap quilting and be entered in the drawing for my pattern, Twinkle, Twinkle.

The drawing will be on Monday, August 3rd. **We have a winner … Congrats, Eileen!**

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Block of the Week – Block 7

Here we are at week 7 already! After this week there are only 2 more blocks to make and then I’ll provide the finishing instructions. When its done, you’ll have a fun, scrappy wall hanging! You can still join in the fun. All the block instructions are still available by going to the previous blog posts here: Block 1, Block 2, Block 3, Block 4, Block 5 and Block 6. This week’s block uses a lot of techniques from earlier blocks so you should be able to whip this one up fast. I’ll also do a more in depth talk about secondary design, picking up from last week. So… ready?

Block #7 – Beacon

This block reminded me of a searchlight, especially with the bright gold in the middle, so I named it “beacon”. You can find the instructions here: Block of the Week – Block 7.

Secondary Design

Last week, we talked about secondary design that existed within a block when you changed the colors. This week, I’ll do that with this block and then I will show you how those designs can also emerge when joining two or more blocks.

Like the block last week, you can change the look of this block by simply moving the colors around. Here’s a variation that brings forth a design that looks like a churn dash: 

To achieve this look, all I did was flip the middle units so the gold was on the inside towards the center. A completely different look! This next variation I take out most of the gold. I change the 4 corner units to blue and the background fabric:

This variation makes the center star more prominent. 

So now we come to the other way to create a secondary design – by joining blocks together. The way to create a secondary design is to start with a block with interesting elements that, when joined with additional blocks into a quilt top, combine to make the secondary design. Look what happens when I join multiple versions of the original block:

All of the sudden, there’s a pinwheel block created where the four blocks meet. And the gold fabric creates an interesting lattice look. Look at what happens when we make a whole quilt from these:

The stars and pinwheels really stand out! A quilt that makes great use of secondary designs makes it hard for someone to figure out what the block actually is. Remember… the above is a one block quilt but it doesn’t look like it!

One of my quilt patterns that has a secondary design is Follow the Stars.

Notice how the black pieces in the quilt blocks create a fun criss-crossing design based on how the blocks are laid out. 

Leave a comment below on secondary design or this week’s block to be entered in a drawing for my pattern above! The drawing will be on Monday, June 8th.

Until next week…. Happy Quilting!
Deanne

Block of the Week – Block 4

Welcome back! We’re already on block 4. My how time flies! If you are just joining me this week, you can still download the patterns for the previous blocks. Just click on the block you want here: Block 1, Block 2, or Block 3. Also included in this block 4 post, I will talk about creating a scrappy quilt with just one block. This is kind of a continuation from last week’s color theory lesson in the block 3 blog post. Remember, the chance to win a free pattern is still available! The drawing will be on Monday, May 11th. More details at the end of this post. So let’s get started on block 4!

Block # 4 – Rolling Pinwheel

This block will put those flying geese skills to the test!

I add a little bit of fun to this by making four of the flying geese blocks with two different “wings” so a pinwheel design is created in the center. Find the pattern here: Block of the Week – Block 4. For this block, I just used two colors, my black accent and a green print. It’s fun to play with colorways on blocks like these to make a scrap one block quilt. I’ll show you how below.

Building a Scrap Quilt

A scrap quilt is easier than you think… as long as you have a bit of a stash. And I’m sure, like most quilters, you do! So, here is the above Rolling Pins block duplicated for a one block quilt.

It’s a pretty quilt! But not a scrap quilt. Now, let’s alternate where the black accent fabric is used. This is an easy way to turn a 2 color quilt into a “scrappy” look quilt.

Now look what happens when you introduce even just 1 more color:

It’s amazing the difference with just adding another color. Now lets get crazy with multiple colors and alternating the accent color placement:

And now you’ve made a scrap quilt with just one block! Now you are ready to make block 4. And if you feel inspired, make several of them in different colors and you will have an instant scrappy wall hanging! Add a few borders to finish it out.

Leave a comment below on the block of the week and building a scrap quilt and you will be entered into my drawing for my pattern Scrappy North Stars. 

This pattern will give you a lot of practice with scrap quilting! The drawing will be next Monday, May 11th. Have fun!

Happy Quilting!
Deanne

My Favorite Tools for Small Blocks

Hi! Happy Friday! I hope this week has been good for you and you were able to squeeze in some quilting. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you saw that I am working on a project that has small blocks, specifically 3 1/2″. To make these blocks and have them measure accurately when I am done, I have some favorite tools I keep by my machine.

First up are my tiny ruler and scissors.

Every one needs scissors at the machine to clip threads, but I have been known to use the tip of the scissors as a stylus to hold down seams as I chain piece. The mini ruler is for me to check that the seams are 1/4″. This is especially important on small blocks because an error in the seam allowance will really show.

To keep these items corralled at my machine so they don’t get in the way while I’m stitching, I use a really common household item: a Command hook!

Stuck to my machine on the right side (since I am right handed), it’s a great place to hang my little supplies!

Since these small blocks I am making are scrappy and can not be made by making long strip sets and then cutting them apart, my next tool I like using is my wooden pressing stick:

I use this tool to press the many seams that need pressing while piecing these small blocks. Since there are a lot of seams to press between each stitching, I don’t want to have to jump up to the ironing board for every one. So, here’s how it works:

Here are my three 1″ squares stitched together to begin my nine-patch:

And now I use my pressing stick:

And here you go this pressed row of squares ready to join to the next without the iron:

This allows me to make all the nine-patches in one sitting, then I can get up and press them at my ironing board.

Although it wouldn’t hurt to get up and down from the machine to iron each seam…. when you’re making tiny blocks like these, you can get tired really fast! I still have to get up and press all the blocks when they’re finished, so I don’t lose out on my exercise!

Here are some of the other small blocks I was making this week. The flying geese are 1 1/2 x 2 1/2″ and these stars are 3 1/2″. They were really fun to make!

Let me know in the comments here on the blog what are some of your “can’t live with out” tools when you are quilting. I will enter you in a drawing for my newest pattern Twilight Desert and a surprise gift! The drawing will be on Tuesday, September 4th. Good luck! ****We have a winner! Congrats, Karen Shurts!*****

Here’s the give-away pattern:

Happy Quilting!
Deanne