Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Ladies' Wreath

 
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.


This is how I made my block, the instructions
may be a bit different from the original.


Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Light
5 - 3 1/4'' squares - Mark a
diagonal line on back.

Fabric B: Purple
5 - 3 1/4'' squares

Fabric C: Green
4 - 2 1/2'' squares

Fabric D: Orange
1 - 3 1/4'' squares - Mark a
diagonal line on back.

Fabric E: Blue
1 - 3 1/4'' squares


Make Half Square Triangles:
Pair 3 1/4'' squares in the following combinations:
5 - A/B     1 - E/D
Sew 1/4'' away from each side of drawn line, cut on
drawn line and press seams to the darker fabric.
Square to 2 1/2''.


Make Quarter Unit #1

Layout half square triangles 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 seam to the top.
Square to 4 1/2''. Make 2.


Make Quarter Unit #2

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 seam to the top.
Square to 4 1/2''. Make 2.


Assemble Block:

Layout quarter 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 square to 8 1/2''.


Here is an interesting quilt using this block.
It is 4 blocks across and 5 down and every other
block is rotated. Add a few borders!
Copyright 2013 - American Homestead


Here is a more modern quilt,

 
using a second alternating block.
Copyright 2013 - American Homestead

Check out everyone's work on Dustin's
Flickr site:

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

True Blue

 
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.


This is how I made my block, the directions may differ
a bit from the original. But using these measurements
my block came out to a perfect 8 1/2''. There will be
measurements that WILL freak you out, just go with
it and I promise, in the end it is easy...


Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Fussy Cut
1 - 3 3/16'' square

Fabric B: Red
4 - 1 13/16'' squares (this is the
freak out measure!)

Fabric C: Blue
4 - 1 13/16'' squares (again!)
2 - 4'' squares

Fabric D: Green
2 - 4'' squares - Mark a
diagonal line on back.

Fabric E: White print
8 - 1 13/16'' squares (last one!)

Regarding the Freak Out Measure:
Okay, I don't like them either but if
we want to make an 8 1/2'' block into
a 9-patch, well then, we have to deal
with some wonky measures. Just look
at it ~ 1 13/16'' is in the middle of 1 3/4''
and 1 7/8''. If you need to stick a little
piece of painters tape on your ruler to
remind you, that's fine.


Make Half Square Triangles:

Pair Fabric C and D 4'' squares with right
sides together. Sew 1/4'' away from each
side of drawn line, cut on drawn line, press
seam to the darker fabric and square to 3 3/16''.


Make 4-Patch Units:

Layout the freak out squares (1 13/16'')
as shown and sew together in 2 rows.
Press seam in row 1 to the right and seam
in row 2 to the left. Sew rows together.


Layout units as shown and sew together
in 3 rows. (Note: I rotated my 4 patches
because I liked how that looked in one of
Becky's blocks.) Press seams in rows 1 and
3 to the outside and seams in row 2 to the
inside.


Sew rows together and press final seams
open to reduce bulk. Square to 8 1/2''.
Mine came out just about perfect, which
considering the freak out measures, makes
me happy ~ I guess it was worth it!


Check out everyone's work on Dustin's
Flickr site:

 

American Homestead can now
be found on Facebook.
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Friday, February 8, 2013

Her Flag Flying

 
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
2013 Block of the Month, Dixie Diary.



Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Blue
1 - 10 1/2'' square - cut on
the diagonal twice.

Fabric B: Red
2 - 2 5/8'' x 8 1/2'' strips
1 - 2 5/8'' x 18 1/2'' strip

Fabric C: Gold
2 - 1 1/2'' x 12 1/2'' strip
2 - 1 1/2'' x 14 1/2'' strip
1 - 6'' square - for applique


Layout Fabric A triangles and Fabric B
2 5/8'' x 8 1/2'' strip as shown.


Sew together as shown and press
seams to the outside.


Square up corner.
Make 2.


Take above units and fold in half along long edge,
finger press and mark with a pin. Do the same with
the long edge of 18 1/2'' Fabric B strip, match up the
centers with right sides together and pin along edge.
Sew together and press seams to the triangles.
Repeat to other side of strip.


Square to 12 1/2''.


Sew a Fabric C 12 1/2'' strip to each side of
block, press seams to the outside. Sew a
Fabric C 14 1/2'' strip to the top and bottom
of block, press seams to the outside.
Applique a star or heart to the center as desired.
 
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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Girl's Joy

 
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.


Now I want to make clear this is how I
made this block so it may be a bit different
from the way it is presented on Barbara's
blog. For instance I like to label my fabric
by a fabric swatch as shown above, not by
the cut of the fabric. This just makes it work
better in my brain...


Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A:

4 - 2 3/16'' squares - cut in 1/2
on the diagonal
1 - 3 7/8'' square - cut on diagonal twice

Fabric B:

4 - 1 1/2'' x 3 3/4'' rectangles

4 - 1 1/2'' x 3 1/2'' rectangles
Fabric C:

4 - 1 1/2'' x 4 1/2'' rectangles

Fabric D:

4 - 1 1/2'' x 4 1/2'' rectangles

Fabric E:
 
1 - 1 7/16'' square


Make Corner Units:

Center one of the smaller Fabric A triangles
on a long edge of a Fabric B 1 1/2'' x 3 3/4''
rectangle. Sew together and press seam to
the triangle. Repeat on opposite edge of
rectangle.


Place the ruler as shown and square unit
to 2 1/2''. Make 4.


Make Outer Center Units:
Sew together Fabric C and Fabric D
rectangles as shown, press seams open.
Make 4.


Make Center Unit:

Layout larger Fabric A triangles and
Fabric B 1 1/2'' x 3 1/2'' rectangles as
shown and sew together, press seams
to the triangles.


Square up corner as shown.
Make 2.


Layout Fabric B 1 1/2'' x 3 1/2'' rectangles
and Fabric E square as shown and sew together.
Press seams to the inside.


Layout units and sew together as shown,
press seams out.


Sew an outer center unit to each side of
center unit as shown, press seams to the outside.


Layout a corner unit on each side of
an outer center unit as shown and sew
together, press seams to the inside.
Make 2.


Layout units in as shown, check that the
top and bottom units are positioned correctly
and sew together. Press final seams open to
reduce bulk. Square to 8 1/2''.

It is cold here in the American Midwest. I am
watching the birds on the feeders outside my
studio. They look so pretty against the snow.
Ahh, it is nice to get back to this project.
See you next Sunday!
~ Ellen



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


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