Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Big T


 
Hi!  If you enjoy this blog, please become
a follower, I need to know if anyone is out
there using these tutorials!  And pop on over
to the American Homestead blog and see what
is going on in my life.  All the best!  ~ Ellen
 


Fabric Requirements:
Fabric A: Rust
1 - 4 1/2" square
8 - 2 1/2" squares - Mark
a diagonal line on back.
Fabric B: White print
2 - 5 1/4" square - Mark
a diagonal line on back.
4 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles
Fabric C: Light Brown
2 - 5 1/4" squares
Fabric D: Dark Brown
4 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles

Make Half Square Triangles:
Pair Fabric B and Fabric C 5 1/4"
squares with right sides together.
Sew a 1/4" away from each side of
drawn line, cut on drawn line and
press seam to the Fabric C.
Square to 4 1/2".

Make Outer Center Units:
Place 2 1/2" Fabric A square on left
side of Fabric B rectangle. Sew a
thread width below drawn line and
press seam to the bottom corner.
Trim back 2 layers of fabric to 1/4".
Repeat procedure to opposite side.
Sew flying geese unit to Fabric D
rectangle. Press seam to the Fabric
D. Square to 4 1/2".
Make 4.

Layout units as shown and sew
together in 3 rows. Press seams
in rows 1 & 3 to the outside and
row 2 to the inside.
Sew rows together and press
final seams open to reduce

bulk. Square to 12 1/2".


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Weathervane


 
Hi!  If you enjoy this blog, please become
a follower, I need to know if anyone is out
there using these tutorials!  And pop on over
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is going on in my life.  All the best!  ~ Ellen
 
 

There are quite a few versions of
the Weathervane block, this one
is easy and looks great.


Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Large light print
1 - 4 1/2" square

Fabric B: Red
4 - 4 1/2" squares

Fabric C:  Green
4 - 2 1/2" squares
4 - 3 1/4" squares

Fabric D: Small light print
4 - 2 1/2" squares
8 - 2 1/2" squares - Mark
a diagonal line on back.
4 - 3 1/4" squares - Mark
a diagonal line on back.


Make Half Square Triangles

Pair Fabric C and Fabric D 3 1/4"
squares with right sides together.
Sew 1/4" away from each side of
drawn line,  cut on drawn line and
press seam to the Fabric C.
Square to 2 1/2".


Make Corner Units

Layout units as shown and sew
 together in 2 rows.  Press seams
 toward the solid 2 1/2" squares.


Sew rows together and press
seam open to reduce bulk.
Square to 4 1/2".
Make 4.


Make Outer Center Units

Place a Fabric D 2 1/2" square in
the corner of a Fabric B 4 1/2"
square and sew a thread width
away from the drawn line on the
side near the corner. 

 Press seam toward the corner.

Trim back 2 layers of fabric to 1/4".

Repeat process on the other side.

Square to 4 1/2".  Make 4.


Assemble Block

Layout units as shown and sew
together in 3 rows.  Press seams
in rows 1 & 3 to the outside and
seams in row 2 to the inside.


Sew rows together.  Square to 12 1/2".

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

New Album

 
Hi!  If you enjoy this blog, please become
a follower, I need to know if anyone is out
there using these tutorials!  And pop on over
to the American Homestead blog and see what
is going on in my life.  All the best!  ~ Ellen
 

Here is the second block of the
Be Mine quilt shown on Sunday at:


This makes a 15 1/2" block.


Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Red
4 - 3 1/2" x 9 1/2" rectangles

Fabric B: Beige
4 - 5" squares - Mark a diagonal
line on the back.  Now mark a
line 1/2" from one side of first drawn
line.  This is for a great trick!

Fabric C: Green
1 - 9 1/2" square

Fabric E: White & red print
4 - 3 1/2" squares


Make Diamond in a Square Unit:
Place 2 Fabric B 5" squares with
rights sides together in opposite
corners of 9 1/2" Fabric C square.
Make sure the second line you drew
1/2" away from the first line is on the
side toward the corner.  Sew a thread
width away from the longer line on the
side toward the corner.  Then sew on
the second drawn line.  Press the seam
toward the corner and cut between
the 2 drawn lines.  Now you will have
your block and not waste the fabric
you have trimmed away.  Press open
the additional units and you will have
half square triangles to use for another
project.  With the price of quilting fabrics
rising all the time, we must not waste!


Repeat the above process to the
remaining 2 corners.  Square to 9 1/2".


Layout units as shown and sew
together in three rows.  Press
seams in rows 1 & 3 to the inside
and seams in row 2 to the outside.


Sew rows together and square to 15 1/2".


This is what the 2 blocks look
like when put together.


To make the Be Mine quilt, make
6 of the Rocky Mountain Chain block
and 6 of the New Album block.  Put
quilt center together as shown and
add an inner border of 3" unfinished
and an outer border of 5 1/2" unfinished.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Central Quad


 
Hi!  If you enjoy this blog, please become
a follower, I need to know if anyone is out
there using these tutorials!  And pop on over
to the American Homestead blog and see what
is going on in my life.  All the best!  ~ Ellen
 

This is a quick and easy block.
You can use up your scraps.


Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: White Print
4 - 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangles
4 - 3 1/2" squares

Fabric B, C, D, E:  Red, Gold, Blue, Green
1 - 3 1/2" square of each color


Pair 3 1/2" squares as shown and sew
together.  Press seam to the darker fabric.


Place 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle
above the pieced rectangles and
sew together.  Press seams to the top.


Layout units as shown and sew
together in 2 rows.  Press seam in
row 1 to the left and seam in row 2
to the right.


Sew rows together and press final
seam open to reduce bulk.
Square to 12 1/2".


Here is an example where the quad
colors are the same but the backgrounds
change in alternating blocks.


Here is how it would look with 30's scraps.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Basket Variation


 
 
Hi!  If you enjoy this blog, please become
a follower, I need to know if anyone is out
there using these tutorials!  And pop on over
to the American Homestead blog and see what
is going on in my life.  All the best!  ~ Ellen
 
This is a lovely block for Spring.
 

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: White Print
1 - 2 1/2" square
2 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles
2 - 3 1/4" squares - Mark
a diagonal line on back.
1 - 5 1/4" square - Mark
a diagonal line on back.

Fabric B: Green
1 - 5 1/4" square
1 3 1/4" square

Fabric C: Purple Floral
3 - 3 1/4" squares

Fabric D: Deep Purple
2 - 3 1/4" squares - Mark
a diagonal line on back.


Make Half Square Triangles:

Large Half Square Triangle:

Place Fabric A and Fabric B 5 1/4"
squares with right sides together
and sew 1/4" away from each side
of drawn line.  Cut on drawn line and
press seam to the Fabric B.
Square to 4 1/2".

Small Half Square Triangles:

Pair 3 1/4" squares with right sides
together in the following combinations:

2 - A/C     1 - D/C     1 - D/B

Sew 1/4" away from each side of drawn
line.  Cut on drawn line and press seams:
A/C - 2 to the Fabric A and 2 to
the Fabric B
D/C - press to Fabric C
D/B - press to Fabric B

Square to 2 1/2".


Make Upper Left Quarter:

Layout units as shown, taking care
to use A/C Half Square Triangles that
have the seams pressed to the Fabric C.
Sew together in 2 rows and press seam
in row 1 to the left and seam in row 2 to
the right.


Sew rows together and press
seam up.  Square to 4 1/2".


Make Upper Right Quarter:

Layout units as shown and sew
left column together using the
A/C unit with seam pressed to
the Fabric A.  Press seam to the
bottom.  Then sew the 2 columns
together.  Square to 4 1/2".


Make Lower Left Quarter:

Layout units as shown, taking care to
use A/C unit with seam pressed to the
Fabric A.  Sew upper row together and
press seam to the left.  Sew 2 rows
together and press seam to the bottom.
Square to 4 1/2".


Sew 2 rows together and press
 seam to the bottom.  Square to 4 1/2".


Layout quarters as shown and
sew together in 2 rows.  Press
seam in row 1 to the left and seam
in row 2 to the right.

Note: You will have an extra large and
small half square triangle to use in
other blocks.


Sew rows together and press
final seam open to reduce bulk.
Square to 8 1/2".
 

Think Spring!