Catching up - AGAIN!

 Where does the time go!  I guess it's a good thing that I get busy sewing and don't notice how much time has gone by.  Means I'm having fun, right?  Once again I noticed that I hadn't update my blog in forever, or at least I hadn't posted any new I Spy quilts since October of last year.  And here it is mid August and I'm way behind.  Hmmm.  Too many to put in one post, so I'll break it up into those actually FINISHed.  That leaves a bunch in the closet but I'll snag those later.  

Below is a recent quilting binge - I had volunteered to donate some "baby quilts" to our local guild to be sold at an upcoming quilt show in the "country store".  Well oddly enough I didn't have a single finished I spy quilt ready, just some 15 tops hanging in the closet.  Better get quilting.  Then of course since I already had the bolt of fleece on the machine, I might as well keep going.  The result is eight finished tops - though I'm only donating four.  The rest will go into the pile for future gifting.  Several of these are the result of a bunch of kits I put together to work on at a recent quilt retreat - I do love to put kits together in group - makes it nice to just sit and sew later.  

Many of these were patterns I had made before years ago but wanted to do them again.  This disappearing 9-patch is one of those.  It's so easy but always looks so cheerful and happy with the tone on tone colors to set off the novelties. 

This pattern is just an idea I had - what would it look like if you made a sort of snowball block on two corners, then combined with another, and offset the rows.  I think it looks a bit like either strings of beads or perhaps hourglasses.  But it's a little busy, not sure how I feel about it.  But it did use up a large number of 4.5" precut squares and lots of scrappy piano keys from left over fussy cutting.

This pattern called Key to my heart by Busy Hands Quilts also utilizes only 4.5" squares.  I love being able to use those precut squares - no measuring, just pulling them out of the drawer.  Four of similar color are grouped into a large snowball block of 8".  The other block is sashed with 2" strips, also making an 8" block.  I love how such simple construction makes a complex looking pattern.

Last fall I got a "wild hair" and thought I wanted to make some rectangle star blocks.  Hmmm.  Well I did make a large number and put them together in sort of dancing star layout.  The novelty fabrics ended up being pretty small pieces so I don't think it works all that well as an I spy quilt, but still interesting.  I definitely won't be doing this one again  - those rectangle triangles were too fiddly - I had to think too hard to keep it straight which direction they were going.

I sewed this one at a recent retreat.  It is sort of a cheater majestic mountains pattern.  You start with a large square, cut it on the diagonal, then sewn into a large half square triangle block.  Then you cut that into strips and sew them back together in the opposite order, making the points of the "mountain".  You end up with a rectangle block.  I have done this one years ago and wanted to do it again.  It is pretty fun to sew and the other retreaters were impressed.  I think I want to do this one at some point with batiks, the novelties distract a little bit from the pattern unless looking from a distance.

This pattern is also a repeat.  I got the idea several years ago (15?) from the blog by Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting.  She called it Jelly Beans.  I really liked the effect of the black vs white diagonal stripes.  The top uses two blocks, one made from four 4.5" squares, the other with a 4 patch in the center surrounded by 2x4 strips & 2" corners.  The layout is critical to get the colors in the right places on these blocks so the design wall was critical.

Another repeat here, just large (six inch) half square triangles, arranged in a large swirl.  Quick and Easy.  I did repeat the fabrics, but mixed up the triangles.  Not only can you play I spy, but you can play matching with this one.

I love how this next one turned out.  Another very simple idea with great results.  Just 4 patches, surrounded by diagonal fabric sashing, then turned on point with narrow black sashing.  I had that diagonal fabric forever but it never seemed the right thing to use but it looks great here with the black contrast.

There definitely is a feeling of accomplishment seeing all these completed quilts stacked up so pretty.

Adding borders - tips

Back in 2000 I made my first quilt.  One that quilt I made the discover that you can't just add a long strip of fabric to the edge of the quilt to make your borders, sewing it on without measuring.  Those borders waves like a flag in the breeze!  That was one of my first lessons that sewing quilts was NOT the same as sewing garments.  

Over the years I've seen several different instructions on how to add borders in a way to avoid those rippling edges.  This is my favorite and you do not need a measuring tape or calculator.  I'll also show an easy way to add multiple borders using strip piecing.

Fold your quilt top in half, lining up the edges.  Fold in half again so that the bottom corners line up with the center fold on your quilt.  If you don't meet EXACTLY, you can give them a gentle tug.  Hopefully if your piecing is moderately accurate they will be pretty close.  If they are more than 3/4' off, consider making a few seams just a smidge larger to take up the difference.  Adding a border won't correct that much of a difference. 

Take your 1st border strip, laying it right side down along the edge of the quilt top.  Cut to the width of the top - you can just fold it back at the edge and use your scissors.  

Cut two strips this way.  While it's laying on the top, you can easily pin the 1st edge.  Pin starting at each end, then in the middle, then fill in pins about 4 or 5 inches apart.  Push them in far enough that they don't get pulled out while you move the quilt around.  Then flip the edge back and pin the other with the second strip - no need to unfold the entire quilt.  Take the pinned quilt to the machine and attach the first border along both edges.  Press this border.  I like to "set" the seam first before pressing open. I think it opens better, presses flatter if you iron the edge flat first.

Once these first borders are pressed, fold the quilt the opposite direction in the same manner - in half and then in over again so that the edges align with the folded center of the quilt.  At this point I take the next strip and get a rough idea how long I need for two strips by measuring against the edge of the quilt.  Then I take that strip along with the wider border to the machine and sew them together.  That way when I attach them to the quilt, I've effectively attached the second border at the same time.

Once the two borders are sewn together, I again measure them against the edge of the quilt, fold & cut with my scissors.  

Press the strip set open & pin to the edge of the quilt on the first edge. 

 Fold this edge back to expose the other side & pin that one as well.  No need to unfold the quilt.  

Attach strip set to each quilt edge.  Press open.  At this point you'll have two borders on opposite sides and one on the other.

Refold the quilt in the opposite direction.  As previously, match the edges, then fold again, matching the edges to the center fold.  If needed you can gently tug to get the edges even and flat.  Now attach the final wide border.

You can alternate attaching two borders multiple times, until the last single border.  I find it easier to sew the two strips together and then attach to the quilt rather than dragging the quilt to the machine for each border.  But you need to attach the first and last border singly so that the corners overlap correctly.

Learning something new

 Our local quilt guild recently included the following article in the newsletter on a way to organize your blocks for sewing in the correct order.  I was skeptical at first because I've always used my little flannel flags.  But pinning them on my latest quilt last night felt like a big project ( 8 x 13 = 104 blocks).  So I gave "booking" a try and I have to admit, it was pretty fast and easy.  I'm generally not a big fan of keeping the threads in place when chain stitching but it's pretty critical for this method.  It's always nice to learn a new method to try.  I will likely still use my flannel flags in some situations such as when packing a kit - but for short term or smaller projects it's definitely a good way to "organize" your blocks and your sewing method.

Booking a Quilt - Written by Rex

Booking is a method of stacking individual quilt blocks in 1 pile to allow you to stitch the

blocks together correctly into a quilt top.  The top may be sewn immediately or later. 

For the purposes of this instruction columns are vertical, and rows are horizontal. 

Booking is also useful when piecing a multi-unit block, which I’ll show here.  

The process is the same.

Lay out your blocks on a design wall or on the floor or bed. 

Be sure all the blocks are turned correctly, and you are happy with the layout.

Put a straight pin in the upper left-hand corner of the upper left block. 

It does not matter which corner you choose; it provides orientation while you sew.

Place column 2 blocks face down on column 1 blocks.

Flip them as if you are closing a book.

Touching edges stay together.

Gather column 1/2 into a neat pile beginning at the top so that the top block remains on top

of the pile. Work neatly so all blocks remain oriented correctly.  

Place column 1/2 pile at bottom of quilt in #1 position.

Stack the remaining columns straight down, do not flip.

Be sure to keep the piles oriented correctly and in order with top block on top of the pile.

Gather the piles with column 1/2 on top, then on top of 3, 4, 5 and so on.

Again, stay correctly oriented.  

You will then have 1 pile of blocks with a straight pin in the second block from the top. 

Move to your sewing machine or to storage. 

You can store this stack for as long as you need and will be able to come back to it later

without problems.

Though you may want to clip them together in case they are dropped.

When you are ready to sew, place the pile of blocks to the right of the sewing machine. 

Feel around the pile until you find the straight pin.

Place the pinned corner to the upper left

.

Pick up the first two blocks (face together) and sew along the right edge.

Do not cut the thread. Feed the next pair of blocks sewing along the 

right edge. Again, do not cut thread. Repeat until you see a face-up block,

which indicates that you have sewn the first two columns in all of your rows.  Cut the thread.

Pull blocks toward your body until you reach the top of the column. 

Open and add the next block from the stack to the right edge, taking care not to rotate.

Do not cut the thread.

Continue until you reach the end, cut the thread, and repeat.

When you run out of blocks, your completed rows are held together by thread. 

Take to the ironing board. Press seams opposite on each row so they nest. 

All that’s left is to sew the rows together!

A special “Thank You” to Anita Ruthenberg,

who taught me this technique!

And another thank you to Rex Shrauner for writing this up!