Friday, November 29, 2013

Block #2 King's Crown Pre-War

Happy Friday Everyone!  It’s time for Block #2 King’s Crown Pre-War!!

My test Block 2 is complete and the Frixion Pen is now one of the top 10 maybe top 5 notions that I will always have in my sewing room!!  Did you know that Frixion Pens also work great on paper, just iron your piece of paper and your notes disappear!  I found this out when I was working away at this block.  I was making notes on my pattern as to what sizes I should be cutting the pieces and at the same time working away at my test block!  I’m certain this pen saved me 2 ink cartridges and at least 3 trees today!

Why you may ask did this pen become my best friend when making this block?  Because my life lesson of the day is: pattern designers spend hours going over patterns, making certain everything is perfect so that when you go to put your block together it fits.  Designers test patterns at least twice (many times more than twice) plus they are normally put together by pattern testers to make certain they are correct and easily understood.  In the end, we are all human and humans make mistakes so next time I read a pattern and I know in my gut that something just isn’t right I’m going to sit down immediately with my calculator and double check the pattern numbers and I’m NOT going to spend 2 hours trying to make something work that mathematically wont. 

On to block #2!  It’s beautiful!  I love it! 
Here’s your strip cutting directions:
  • ·        Piece A 2” strip sub cut into 2” squares, you need 4 for each block
  • ·     Piece B 5 ¼” strip sub cut in 5 ¼” squares (we are going to make 8 ½ square triangles at once!) you will need 1 square of each fabric for each block. (Note: you will be cutting this block from 2 different fabrics.)
  • ·        Piece B 2 ¾” strip sub cut into 2 ¾” squares (you need 4 squares for each block), then cut diagonally
  • ·        Piece C 3 ¼” strip sub cut into 3 ¼” squares (you need 2 square for each block), then cut diagonally
  • ·        Piece D 4 ¼” strip sub cut into 4 ¼” squares (you need 2 squares for each block), then cut diagonally
  • ·        Piece E 4 ¾” strip sub cut into 4 ¾” square (you need 1 square for each block)

Let’s make the half square triangles first!
Take your two 5 ¼” blocks and set them rights sides together and draw a line diagonally:

Next sew a ¼” seam using your drawn lines as guides.  I’ve sewn mine in Red thread so that it is easy to see:


Now comes the fun!  Start cutting these little babies apart!

Cut your 5 ¼” block in half (2 5/8”) horizontally

Then do it again. 

Now it’s time to cut these the way we’ve all been doing it for years!  Time to cut on your drawn lines.




Take them over to your ironing board, set your seams and then press them open to the dark!
These square up to 2”! 

Next step is to assemble your flying geese.  First off, I need to get my disclaimer out there!  Flying geese aren’t my favorite.  I do however like them when I use Eleanor Burn’s Flying Geese Ruler but I figured everyone may not have one so I’d better do them the somewhat old fashioned way so here we go!  Because this block isn’t my favorite I know I have to make mine a little larger than normal so that I have plenty of room to square them up.  It bugs me when I cut off one of my points so I’ve learned over the years to make mine bigger so when I square them up I’ve got a nice ¼” at the top and sides of my Geese.
This block is made from your 3 ¼” triangles and your 2 ¾” triangles.


Remember I said I like mine a little bigger so that I can square them up!





Sew your triangles to your triangle (1/4” seams) and press to the dark side.  Next, we’ll trim these up so that they look beautiful!



Remember your want your center point to be centered so that’s where I start, I find my center!  This block will be 3 ½” x  2”.  I line my ruler up with the 1 3/4” mark right on the point of my block checking to make certain that my ruler is pretty straight and I cut the right side.



I then flip my block over and trim off the other side, check to make certain that my block is now
3 ½” long.



Square up the top so you have a ¼” seam allowance


Then square up your bottom!  Your block should measure 3 ½” x 2”



Time to put your side borders together

And your top and bottom!



Time to make the center!!


Attach your 4 ¼” triangles to your 4 ¾” squares.  Again, my triangles are larger so that I can square up my points once the block is together.


Attach all four of your triangles to your block pressing the seams towards the triangles.


Square up your block!


Attach your side borders being careful to match up your centers.  I pin the center first then work my way out.


 Attach your top borders! 
Your block is done!!!!


The first color way you will need to make 8 blocks, the second color way calls for 4 blocks.  I’m going to make all of the half square triangles first then make all of my flying geese for all blocks then put all of them together at once.  This week is a little challenging but the good news is next week’s isn’t so if you don’t get all of them done this week you will have some time to catch up next week!

Happy Quilting!!!

Margaret

If you would like to participate in this mystery quilt please email me at missmarker@rochester.rr.com and ask to be added to the list!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Monday, November 25, 2013

It really was a good day, considering.....

Do you ever have one of those days where you try really hard to be productive in your sewing room but every time you accomplish one thing you realize that you've created another mess?? I've had one of those days, how about you?


Happy Quilting!
Margaret

Saturday, November 23, 2013

A Quick & Easy Baby Quilt

My Niece is expecting in January and today I attended a shower for her.  I was all set last week to go shopping on Friday and find something on her registry when my sister informed me that my niece had said she was hoping I would give her something that I had quilted for the new baby!  It was time for my brain to kick into HIGH gear because there was absolutely no way I had time to piece a quilt together and I what ever I made I wanted it to be completely washable many times over!

Yesterday I stopped at one of my favorite local quilt stores and grabbed 1 1/4 yards of brown Minky and 1 3/4 yards of tan quilters cotton with brown dots!  This morning (5 hours before the shower) I put the Minky on the long arm.  (Note to every long arm quilter out there!  Minky has a stretch and a non stretch direction, it needs to be attached to the leaders so that the non stretch is between the stretcher bars!)  Next layer was of 100% cotton batting and then I topped it with the cotton fabric and quilted it with a pattern called 'Wild Mouse'!


Back


Front



Once I got it quilted I took it to my serger and serged all the edges.  Minky fabric ravels so easily and I wanted it to be really secure and to withstand multiple washes so I figured it wouldn't hurt to serge the edges closed.  


Next came the binding, I bound it in the cotton brown dot fabric and then using decorative stitches from my domestic sewing machine I top stitched the binding down!


So while I didn't manage to get a ton accomplished today I did make the cutest quilt!!


My Niece love it!




I hope you had a great Saturday!!

Happy Quilting!
Margaret




Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A Small Project Complete!

I know I've been quiet this week but honestly I've been busy!  I've completed quilts but can't show you pictures because they are all presents!  I've been working away at my Downton Abbey Blocks that I will show you on Friday!  There is one project that I've completed that I can show you!!!



This is a FREE pattern from Lecien designed by Meg Hawkey of Crabapple Hill Studios.  If you click on Lecien you will go to their Free patterns site and if you click on Crabapple Hill Studios you will go to Meg's web site!

I made a few changes to the pattern!  I think it's adorable!  I'm handing out the Free pattern today at my Knoty Girls Stitching group at O'Susannah's Quits & Gifts!

Don't forget to send me your email address so I can put you on the list for the Downton Abby Mystery Quilt!  Email me at missmarker@rochester.rr.com!  On Friday you'll receive the pattern in your email and I'll have a tutorial here on my blog!

Happy Quilting!
Margaret



Monday, November 18, 2013

Get Ready For Downton

Happy Monday Everyone!

It's time to get all your supplies ready for your very first Downton Abbey block!  I'm working on getting mine sewn today and can't wait!

What supplies do you need?  Have you picked out your fabric yet?  Do you have it?  If not that's the number one thing that you need to do to get ready for Friday!  All of the directions will be rotary cut directions so make certain that you have your rotary cutter and mat.  Other than that you will only need your basic quilting tools!

This is how it's going to work!  On Friday mornings you will be receiving an email with the pattern and cutting instructions from me.  If you haven't already given me your email address please email me this week at missmarker@rochester.rr.com.  On Friday mornings I will also be uploading to my blog step by step instruction on how to put your quilt blocks together!

I've officially seen Block 1 & Block 2 and I'm busting at the seams!  They are BEAUTIFUL!!

Happy Quilting!

Margaret





Friday, November 15, 2013

Mystery Quilt With Downton Abbey Fabric

I have a major announcement that I can FINALLY tell all of you!  Starting this Friday and continuing every Friday until the project is complete I'm going to walk you through each step of making your very own Downton Abbey quilt!

Do you have your fabric?  If you don't have it yet you need to get to your local quilt shop that is caring this line and decide if you will be sewing with the Dowager Dutches, Lady Mary, Lady Edith or Lady Sybil!  If you live in my area I know for a fact that O'Susannah's Quilts & Gifts has it!

Here's a snapshot of each fabric so that you can start trying to make your decision!  It's hard to decide so grab a cup of coffee, tea or a glass of wine and sit back and enjoy these beyond beautiful fabrics!






































Hard to pick out a favorite isn't it?  I had a really difficult time deciding if I was going to go with the Dowager Dutches, Lady Mary, Lady Edith or Lady Sybil!  I stood gazing lovingly at the fabric line and struggled to make the decision.  I LOVE the Dowager's line it is beyond beautiful and Lady Mary's is elegant, Lady Edith's is a true reflection of her character and Lady Sybil's is as beautiful as her character!

So in the end, after allowing my hands to gently 'pet' each and every bold in the line it was the Lady Sybil line that is now lovingly laying on my cutting table just waiting for the first block instructions!!!!


Beautiful isn't it?


Part of me doesn't want to cut into it at all and the other part can't wait to see it done in a quilt!









I am so excited about this project!

So if you don't have your fabric yet it's time to go and get it!  If you need the fabric requirements let me know which line you want and I can send you the requirements or stop into your local shop that has the line of fabric and get ready to start sewing!!  

The first block will be revealed one week from today!!

Happy Quilting!

Margaret