Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Sunflower

 
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
 

We are quilting along with Barbara
Brackman's Block of the Week,
Grandmother's Choice.


And since this is about choice, I have chosen
to make a different block. I am traveling
again and away from home for a month, so I
don't have my stash to pull from or this would
have been yellow, orange and brown. I couldn't
print the pdf to the correct size, I tried
the block given this week and failed.. and
said some bad words...
So, I chose another block that could be seen as
a Sunflower to offer as an alternative in case
anyone has the trouble I had.

I also have a lobster dinner to get to this evening
followed by an opening night party so I wanted
to be happy and not frustrated tonight.


Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Red
4 - 2 1/2" squares
4 - 3 1/4" squares - Mark
a diagonal line on back

Fabric B: Print Fabric
4 - 3 1/4" squares
1 - 4 1/2" square

Make Half Square Triangles:

Pair 3 1/4" Fabric A and B squares with
right sides together, sew 1/4" away from
each side of drawn line. Cut on drawn line
and press to the darker fabric. Square to 2 1/2".


Layout and sew 2 Half Square Triangles
as shown and press seam open.


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



Sew rows together and cut a circle to
the size that looks best to you, mine was
the size of the bottom of a glass and
applique as desired, I sewed it with a
small zigzag on the edge.
Square to 8 1/2".

Check out everyones work on the Flickr site:

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Union Square: Red For Rebellion

 
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
 

We are following along with Barbara
Brackman's Block of the Week,
Grandmother's Choice



I decided to use fussy cuts for this
week's block. You may want to check
out the Flickr site shown at the end of
the post for color ideas.

Fabric Requirements:

For the 9-Patch:
9 - 2 3/8" squares

For the Corners:
4 - 2 1/2" squares

For the Triangles:
4 - 2 7/8" squares -
cut in half on the diagonal


Make the 9-Patch Center

Layout units as shown as 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 and press final seams
open to reduce bulk.


Make Triangle Corner Units:

Layout units as shown on top. Sew
seam as shown in center left unit,
press seam to the triangle and trim dog
ears. Then sew second triangle as shown
in center right unit. Press seam to the
triangle and trim dog ears. Make 4.


Assemble Block:

Fold triangle units in half and finger press
the center of the long edge, do the same to
the edge of the 9-patch that you plan to sew
the triangle to. Match these center marks
and pin. Sew the seam with the side shown
above facing up and pay attention to the seam
intersection shown with the arrow. You want to
sew a thread width above the center of this seam
intersection. This will make your point precise
but also allow for the fold of all that fabric coming
together. Press seam to the inside.


Repeat process above on the opposite edge.
Trim the dog ears.


Now finish the two remaining sides and
square to 8 1/2".


Check out everyones work on the Flickr site:
 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Amethyst

 
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
 

We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's
Block of the Week, Grandmother's Choice.

 

I must state, I am a quilter that says,
WHY? to Y seams...

I despise them, and generally avoid them like the
plague. As of last night I had decided to skip this
week's block but woke up at 4:30 this morning and
decided to give it a go.


 
I could not get the provided link to size up
correctly so I used EQ7. Search in the Block
Library for the Priscilla block (there are at
least 9 of them) and select one. From your
Quilt worktable, click on your select tool and
click on the block. Click File>Print>Templates
and choose your block size. Click Print Seam
Allowance and Print.
Cut your fabric using the templates.

If you should not have access to EQ, check the
Flickr site and there may be someone there who
can help with getting the right size from the link.



Layout pieces as shown.


Sew together in 3 units, press seams in
center unit to the outside and seams in
outer units to the inside.


So this is what we are going to do.
I'll show you how in the next steps.


Line up the center section as shown and
sew from seam line to seam line.


Pivot the fabric so the seams on the
left side match up and sew from edge
to seam line. Repeat on other side.


Now go reward yourself for making
it through the Y seams.

 
It is so much fun seeing people from all over
the world participating in this project, please
become a follower to my blog! We are all one
in this world of quilting.

 
Check out the Flickr site where everyone can
post their work:

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Grandmother's Choice

 
 
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
 


We are quilting along with Barbara Brackman's

                                                Block of the Week, Grandmother's Choice.




I have a bias toward sewing bias seams, they tend

to go wonky on me, I call myself "triangularly

challenged" when it comes to cutting a square

in half and sewing that bias seam to another bias

seam. So, I offer an alternative method to anyone

who may have a similar ailment to me...


Please sew all seams with a scant 1/4".



Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Gold

4 - 2 1/2" squares

1 - 2" square

Fabric B: Light Print

4 - 2 7/8" squares - Mark a

diagonal line on back.

Fabric C: Green

4 - 2" x 3 3/4" rectangles

Fabric D: Dark Print

4 - 2 1/8" squares

4 - 2 7/8" squares



 
Make Half Square Triangles:

Pair Fabric B and Fabric D 2 7/8" squares

with right sides together and sew 1/4" away

from each side of the drawn line. Cut on

drawn line and press seam to the darker

fabric. Square to 2 1/8".


Make 4-Patch Corners:

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 this seam open to reduce

bulk. Square to 3 3/4".


Layout units as shown and sew together

in 3 rows. Press seams to the Fabric C.
 

Yeah, the center square and the sashing

are a bit smaller than the other blocks,

but, there is no way to make 5 go into 8

in a nice way... And in the end, you

really won't notice.


Sew rows together and press final seams

open to reduce bulk. Square to 8 1/2".

 
Since this is Grandmother's Choice, I am

including a few links so you can read about

my Grandmother:


and my Great-great Grandmother:



Check out the Flickr site where everyone can

post their work: