Sister's Choice Quilts

Lots of Stitching Going On

Lots of stitching going on, and I actually have something to show for it.  I completed my little red stars table runner and love how it turned out.  I just made a whole bunch of 3 1/2" stars and sewed them together diagonally with a 2 inch border.  It will be nice for all sorts of different occasions:  Valentine's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Christmas.  Anytime a touch of red would be nice, I can bring this out.  It finished at around 16 1/2" x 31".

I also dragged out my Moda Blockheads I blocks and started thinking about how I want to put them together.  I had made a slew of flying geese units, and also have loads of 2" half square triangles, in a basket, so I have some options that could include those.  I went through all the blocks and measured them to be sure they were all 6 1/2" square.  And guess what?  About five of them weren't.  That bothers me.  So, I decided to remake the ones that were not measuring up.  It's funny, the one on the bottom in the photo above looks way smaller than the two on top, but I swear they are all exactly 6 1/2".  

No surprise, the blocks I had issues with involved tiny pieces.  Lisa Bongean (one of the Moda designers) is known for making blocks with teensy units, and those were the ones I was most unhappy with.  Operator error for sure, so it was good piecing practice for me to remake them and strive for better accuracy when using tiny units.  As I said in my previous post, one really positive benefit from participating in these sew alongs featuring different designers is that you will get a lot of experience making blocks you otherwise might not tackle on your own.  Applique for instance.  I avoided it pretty routinely until I did a few sew alongs and consequently discovered that not only did I enjoy it very much, but that it added a wonderful element to a pieced quilt.  So, I guess my message is, don't shy away from challenges!  

Moda Blockheads 3

I probably have no business starting up another Moda Blockheads project, since I never finished putting my blocks together for the first Moda Blockheads sew along in 2017/18.  I do have all my lovely blocks from that one, and need to figure out a setting for them.  I used Kansas Troubles fabric for that sew along and can easily pick up more fabric that will coordinate for a setting.  Must do that.  I skipped last year's Blockheads 2 since I felt guilty starting another sew along when I hadn't even done anything with the blocks from 2018.  By the way, there is a pattern book for that first Blockheads Sew Along, full of instructions for each block and suggestions for layouts.

Oh well, a new year, a new project, right?  I have some gorgeous bundles of two 3 Sisters collections that I have been hoarding for just the right project, and I think this may be it.  The fabric collections are Holly Woods (I have a fat eighth bundle) and Snowberry (I have a fat quarter bundle).  The colors are that perfect red, cream and a light/medium blue and a navy. The two bundles are so similar in their color ways that they could have been one bundle, honestly.

That first block shown at the top of this post was not for sissies, I tell you.  Luckily a couple of participants shared some hints for making the construction of the block a bit easier, which I took advantage of.   I will say, the blocks for the Moda sew alongs that I have participated in have really helped me step up my piecing game, so that is worthwhile on its own.  There are 14 different designers participating in the block designs, as well as Instagram and Facebook links to see all the blocks that folks are making.  It is really fun to see the different colors and fabrics people are using.

Corey Yoder from Coriander quilts designed the first week's block, and if you go to her website you can download the pattern and tips for alternate construction of the block that is easier.  Instructions for making the blocks in several sizes are given.  I am making 8 inch blocks.

How about you?  Are you tempted to sew along?

  

Let's Get Back in the Sewing Room, Shall We?

It's been a minute since I have done in sewing, but after a few days without power, I thought I should be more grateful for my electricity and actually use it.  I got up to the sewing room yesterday and brought out an unlabeled project that I started back in May.  Five months ago.

When I opened the box, I literally thought "What on earth was I making?"  I had to look up my blog posts to refresh my memory.  Honestly, if that isn't a good reason to have a blog, I can't think of another one.  It turns out, this is the Temecula Quilt Company's Sew Along that they did on "One Block Wednesdays".  The instructions can be found here.

I have been so lacking any quilting mojo for months, mainly due to the fact that I have way way way too many bed sized quilts.  I think in the future, I need to make more smaller projects, and maybe work on one or two large quilts per year.  This will be a big one, but I have to say it is fun and kind of mindless stitching.  I listened to some book podcasts while I sewed and spent a nice couple of hours.  

Happy Halloween!

Oh My Goodness. Going Batty.

Can you even?  Is this not the cutest little Halloween block ever?  Actually, it is two blocks from the Night Flight pattern by Basic Grey.  The fabric is Hallo Harvest by Basic Grey.  This was a $130 purchase I do not regret whatsoever.  I am thinking I may not make the entire quilt, but make several table-toppers instead.  One for me, one for my daughter, one for my son in law.  And leftovers for future projects.  I love this fabric so much.

This is the complete kit, which makes a lap-sized quilt.  Those Moda kits that come in these beautiful boxes are just stunning.  My thought is to make table runners consisting of five blocks ( a row of bats and stars blocks).  Don't you love the sprinkling of albino bats throughout the top?  Oh, those fabrics.  Mostly Halloween, but some great "grunge" almost solids, and some beautiful fall florals.  It was so gratifying to open that box for the first time and see this:

The kit appears to consist of the pattern, a fat eighth bundle and three cuts of fabric that seem to be about a yard and a half each.

Hope you all had a terrific weekend!  You can see how I spent mine.

Free Half Square Triangles

I have been snagging an hour or so every now and then to work on some blocks I started a few months back.  I am trimming off my triangles, but not tossing them.  Oh no, this time I am being frugal and turning them into half square triangles.  I used to scoff at friends who would save all their triangle trimmings to use in some other project.  It just seemed like too much bother to me.  But these are pretty big triangles, and I thought it would be a shame to waste them.

I am chain stitching the hsts and trimming them down to 2" squares.

Eventually I will sew them into some sort of quilt.  

I have about a gazillion of them.

Otherwise, I am spending most of my time with this gooney bird.

 

One Block Progress

I've got a couple dozen of these blocks done so far, and am pleased with the ease at which they can be turned out.  I have put my iron right next to my sewing machine so I can avoid getting up to the pressing station, which saves time and steps.

I have been cutting out a couple dozen strips of fabric at a time, so I have a nice variety of combinations to choose from.  My goal is not to have more than two blocks with the same fabrics.  If I mess up and put the same fabrics together more than once I will live with it, but I am trying not to.

It is still hot as blazes here.  Another 100 degree day.  Eva's daddy took her to swim practice yesterday so I was spared.  Whew.  But it's up to me again today, so I am going to be prepared.  I have a chair, an umbrella, a gigantic hat, and a big container for ice water.  This time I am going to try not to get sunstroke.

A few of you expressed surprise that there is no covering to provide shade.  Well, here's my take on it--the swim practices are held at the local high school.  It is all very bare bones.  There is a huge pool and a big area of concrete surrounding it.  I think the powers that be designed it so that the kids who are swimming are in the pool doing their laps, and if you aren't one of them, you probably don't have any business being there.  They sure didn't make any accommodation for observers!  That's fine if you have a 16 year old, but a lot of parents of 8 year olds want to stay and watch.  If the practices were held at the local country club, there would be picnic tables, umbrellas and overhangs. 

As I recall, when I was a teenager, my high school was open to the public for swimming in the summer and there wasn't a speck of shade.  Just hot concrete that we baked on.  It's a wonder we don't all have skin damage.  We were pretty casual about using sun screen back in the day too.  Baby oil with a few drops of iodine to stain our skin was all the rage.  Do any of you remember Bain de Soleil?  It was a gel like sun screen with an SPF of about 8, that was kind of bronze colored when you smeared it on.  It made my lily white legs look like they were tan already.  I loved that stuff and had no idea that it wasn't doing a bit of good to protect my skin.  Now we spray on the SPF 50, but it's too late for my freckled and spotty old body.

Chateau Rouge Cutting

Didn't we have great comments yesterday to my complaints of not feeling inspired to sew lately?  My gosh, so many of you weighed in with ideas for projects that were exciting to you.  The enthusiasm just leapt off the page.   If that wasn't a shot in the arm, I don't know what would be!

I got my red French General strips all cut out and a fair number of strip sets sewn together and cut out.  I think this project is going to go quickly, which is just what I need right now.  Instant gratification.  In spite of pre-washing my fabrics, I am getting the required eight triangles cut out of each pieced strip set.

I am using a 60 degree equilateral triangle ruler by Creative Grids.  My triangles are being measured on the 8 inch line near the bottom of the ruler.

Do you see how the bottom three strips are off-set by about an inch?  That is to be sure you get every smidgen of use out of your strip set and get your eight triangles from the WOF.

I need 108 of the pieced triangles.

Hope your week got off to a good start.  Thanks for all the encouragement and suggestions yesterday.

My Latest Distraction

My latest distraction from reorganizing my sewing room is this little mini quilt in the Corn and Beans block.  I got my little pieces all cut out and sorted with my Alphabitties.  If you don't have Alphabitties, you might want to consider adding some to your collection of sewing notions.  They are double sided plastic squares labeled with the letters of the alphabet, so you can keep multiple block units all clearly organized.  There is nothing worse than grabbing your C triangles, when the ones you meant to sew together were the F and G triangles.  These little squares help you out with that.

This is as far as I got yesterday.  Today I hope to finish the border of flying geese and maybe even get it quilted.

Yesterday was a big day.  I got new canvas covers for my retractible awnings that shade my front and back porches.  One of them in particular was completely shredded in the bad storms we had this past winter.  They are colossally expensive, but have a ten year warranty, so we should be good for awhile.  

It was such a gorgeous day I sat outside with my book instead of sewing.  There is always tomorrow...

Aunt Addie's Quilt is Growing

I couldn't help myself.  I just had to make week 2 and week 3 blocks for the Aunt Addie Mystery Sew Along.  The blocks are fun, and I am enjoying my teal and brown fabrics from my stash.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

I keep worrying that I won't like the quilt when the finishing instructions are given, which has been my experience with every mystery sew along I have ever done.  But then, I remembered something.

Remember this book?

And this one?

I have both of them, and had a browse through them and got all inspired.   Have you seen these books?  The idea is you make rows of blocks, alternating kind of plain boring "blender" block rows with more pizazzy rows with houses, flowers, trees, applique etc.  The result is a super cute and unique quilt.   I may use these Aunt Addie blocks as a starting point for one of the quilts in the books!  I always enjoy doing my own thing, and I may end up with something fun if I incorporate some ideas from these books into my quilt.  I have loads of fabric, so I can definitely go larger.  The wheels are turning...

 

Success!

Thank you all so much for all your suggestions on how to be more successful with making this block. There are so many ways to get to a good result:  make half square triangles instead of sewing triangles to the square, hand piece the block, paper piece the block and more.  For me though, it all boiled down to two things, which in my heart, I know to be right:
1)  Starch the fabric
2)  Make the units larger than called for, then trim them down to the correct size

There was also a fair amount of operator error in my technique with the Creative Grids ruler.  There are several places where one is supposed to trim with the tool.  It turns out, I was neglecting to do the final trim down of the "Cat's Cradle" unit.  When making the units the specified size, this trim amount was negligible, but when I tried making the units slightly oversized, I could trim off a good amount and ended up with perfectly square units.

Here are some photos I took when making my test block in red and cream:

I made my units a quarter inch larger than I needed.  When the pieces were sewn, I used the Creative Grids Cat's Cradle tool to trim them down. You line up the solid lines to the size you want your square, and the diagonal lines to the size you want your finished unit.  In my case, this was the 2 1/2" diagonal line.

Trim two sides, then flip the block and trim the remaining two sides. You will end up with a perfectly square 2 1/2" square unit.  (There are other size options on the tool, I just needed 2 1/2" for my blocks).

Lay out your block units and stitch together.

Here is my perfect red block next to my sad floppy blue block from yesterday.

I had also gotten away from starching my fabrics prior to a project, which is really not a good idea.  Always take the time to do that, you will be much happier with the results.

Besides listening to all your great suggestions on how to make this block better, I did watch two YouTube tutorials.  One was by Deb Tucker, who invented a trim tool (the Tucker Trimmer) for this block, which is practically the same as the Creative Grids ruler.  I watched her instructions, and she is so clear and concise, I immediately grasped what I needed to do.  Then I watched another tutorial, specifically for the Creative Grids tool, but not sponsored by that company.  These two funny gals from Prairie Quilt started out bickering over what their favorite Thanksgiving menu item was, but then got into a demo of how to use the Creative Grids tool, which was very instructive.  You should watch it, they are pretty funny.  And their demo was more clear than the one Creative Grids put out to sell their ruler.

Thanks again to those of you who took the time to make suggestions.  I really appreciate it!