Thursday, May 31, 2012

One more day -

Today is the last day of the month -

One more day in the month of May -

One more day -

To try to finish up the projects -

That I had planned for the month of May -

One more day -

To work up a bunch more sampler blocks -

So that I can post them one at a time - while I make some more -

One more day -

To plan out what I want to get done next month -

As if things actually ever go according to plan - ;))

One more day -

Got me to thinking -

And you know how thinking -

Always gives me a headache - ;))

But -

What if -

You KNEW that you had only one more day -

Before you died -

And - in that day -

You could make -

One more quilt -

What quilt would you make?

I'm not trying to be morbid -

Or anything -

Just curious -

Would it be -

Something scrappy? -

Something traditional? -

Something modern? -

Something simple? -

Something complex? -

What quilt would you make?

Would it be -

A brand-new one?

Or an old UFO? -

Me? -

I think I would like to finish up my Floral Applique -


And my Someday Memory Quilt - here -


So -

Just in case -

I have only one more day -

Those are going to the top of my list - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -



Wednesday, May 30, 2012

LEFTY ROLL CALL -

Every once in a while -

I like to do a little LEFTY ROLL CALL -

Sort of a head-count of LEFTY Bloggers -

So that I can update my LEFTIES list -

That page/tab at the top of my blog -

See it?? -

It was intended to be a one-stop shopping list of other LEFTY bloggers -

But I need your help in keeping it up-to-date -

So - If you are A Left-Handed Quilter -

Or a Right-Handed Friend of a Left-Handed Quilter -

Please grab a button -

And let me know if you want me to add you and your blog to my LEFTIES list - ;))

We Molly Dookers have to stick together - ;))

And I don't sometimes know that you grabbed a button -

Unless you TELL me - ;))

And for those of you who have ALREADY made my little list -

THANK YOU VERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRY MUCH!!

You guys just MAKE MY DAY!! ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -







Tuesday, May 29, 2012

WSONG - HEART

============
Note - these instructions are written in LEFTISH.
If you are right-handed - just reverse the directions.
============

As part of the documentation of my quilts -

I like to make a Scrap Card -

I showed you my process - here -

But basically -

I cut a strip/piece of each fabric -

That I use in a quilt -

And stitch it to an index card -

Like this -



Trim it all up -

And add it to my scrapbook - ;))

AND -

I make a Foundation Paper Pieced Heart -

I showed you the long version - here -

But - while I’m at it -

I thought my new readers might like to see -

A short version of -

How I Do It - ;))

I want my Wolf to take center stage on this heart -

So I sorted through my heart shapes -

And found the one I want -

I want my Wolf to go here -



And - because I do it BACKWARDS -

From the way most people do it -

I can put him here -

And KNOW that he will be there -

When he gets sewn -

And NOT be reversed!!

Yay for MY WAY!!

I just fold the pattern on the line -


And trim 1/4” past the fold -


That’s where he will be when I’m done -


For the left side of the heart -
I ignored the lines on the pattern -
And sewed a sample of each fabric used in the quilt -
Checking it against the pattern to make sure it fit the space -
And straightened the RIGHT edge -


Place it next to my Wolf -
Should be just fine -


Remove the pattern - temporarily -
Put the Wolf and the strip set -
Right sides together -


Baste the seam - to see if I like it -
Don’t want to have to “unsew” itty bitty stitches -
Don’t like it -
The Wolf is too low -


Do over -
Much better - ;))


Normally -
The sections would be sewn to the TOP of the paper pattern -
But - in this case -
I just used the paper pattern as a placement guide for the pieces -
SO -
I need to pin the Wolf section - to the TOP of the paper pattern -
For the rest of my “process” - ;))

Then -
Place the Wolf section - RIGHT SIDE DOWN -
On a piece of muslin -


Starting on a straight part of the side -
Sew completely around the heart -
Using a tiny stitch -


Trim it - 1/8”-1/4” away from the stitching -
Clip the “V” and the point -
Remove the paper - carefully -
Clip the muslin - being careful NOT to clip the Wolf -
Turn it inside out -
And -

Viola! -

A Heart and Scrap Card -
For my scrapbook - ;))





Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -








Monday, May 28, 2012

WOLF SONG - BACK

DESIGN WALL MONDAY -
Check out all of us who link up with Judy L. at Patchwork Times on Mondays.
We have some awesome stuff on our walls!
Well, THEY do - ME - not so much sometimes - ;))

============

Note - these instructions are written in LEFTISH.
If you are right-handed - just reverse the directions.
============

I took another break –

From my LHQ Sampler Quilt -
See the page/tab at the top of my blog -

I decided to finish the backing for the Wolf Song quilt –

I started working on it a while back -

But I got sidetracked - ;))

The panel came with two more wolf scenes –
Perfect for the back –

Add some brown trees for a strip in the middle -

Add some green trees and the extra wolf vignette fabric –
For a strip along the top –

Then fill in with some black along the bottom -

Looking good!! –


And then -

I saw another squirrel - :))

And never got back to it -

Until now -

So -

One problem is that my first plan doesn’t fit this wall -

It's too big -

So I switched to the wall in the hallway -

And - because I have a tendency to measure WRONG -

I put up the top first -

Now - if I pin the back on top of it -

With some extra on each side -

I can SEE if it’s big enough -

Or not - ;))

The green trees and extra wolf vignette fabric -
At the top -


A chunk of dark green at the bottom -
Gotta save that BLACK - LOVE that BLACK!! -


The wolf scenes can go in the middle -
So they won’t get chopped off when it gets trimmed -
With a spacer strip to set off the wolf vignette fabric -

Sew some more green trees to the left -
And some brown trees to the right -

Shift the big green chunk on the bottom -
Over to the left side -
Add some more green trees to the right side -

NEVER going to use those green trees again -
Might as well use it UP!! -


And when I sew larger pieces together -
I always put an extra pin to keep the sides straight -
See the top pin on the right?
I’m sewing the edge along the bottom -


Close-up of the wolf scenes -
Looking good!!


Here’s another shot from the other end of the hallway -
The whole top is covered -
Looks big enough to me - ;))


Sew it all together -
Put it up on the wall -
Top and back -
Side by side -



Now I need the sleeve - binding - and label -

Then I can pack it up for my friend/quilter -

To quilt -

While I make the scrap card -

Heart -

Write the story -

And gather photos - ;))



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –



Sunday, May 27, 2012

LHQSQ - Block #24


Another 6” sampler block -

That you can make using -

2-1/2” squares -

and HST that FINISH at 2” -

Three across and three down -

Variations of the basic NINE-PATCH -

The sewn block will MEASURE 6-1/2” -

And FINISH at 6” -

===

#24 - Road to California

2 light squares
3 dark squares
4 light/medium HST




Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -



Saturday, May 26, 2012

LHQSQ - Block #23


Another 6” sampler block -

That you can make using -

2-1/2” squares -

and HST that FINISH at 2” -

Three across and three down -

Variations of the basic NINE-PATCH -

The sewn block will MEASURE 6-1/2” -

And FINISH at 6” -

===

#23 - Simple Basket -

3 medium/light HST
4 MEDIUM/light HST (a second medium)
2 MEDIUM squares (the second medium)


Here again -

EQ7 wanted me to make this block -

With all of the MEDIUMS as one piece -

I could have used a template -

Or I could have cut a large triangle -

And then sewn a smaller triangle to the bottom right corner -

Or sewn a square - using the sew-and-flip method - to the bottom right corner -

Or a number of different things -

But I like trying to break these blocks down -

Into nine-patches -

It’s fun -

Try it - you'll see - ;))



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -


Friday, May 25, 2012

LHQSQ - Block #22


Another 6” sampler block -

That you can make using -

2-1/2” squares

and HST that FINISH at 2”

Three across and three down -

Variations of the basic NINE-PATCH -

The sewn block will MEASURE 6-1/2” -

And FINISH at 6” -

===

#22 - Simple Design -


2 dark/light HST (Triangles on a Roll)
1 dark square
3 dark/medium HST
2 DARK/medium HST (a second dark)
1 medium square


You could also make the top left and bottom right corners
From larger triangles -
But - hey -
So far I have managed -
To make all of these blocks -
As nine-patches -
So I made this one -
That way too - ;))


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -




Thursday, May 24, 2012

LHQSQ - Block #21

Another 6” sampler block -

That you can make using -

2-1/2” squares

and HST that FINISH at 2”

Three across and three down -

Variations of the basic NINE-PATCH -

The sewn block will MEASURE 6-1/2” -

And FINISH at 6” -

===

#21 - Maple Leaf #2 -

For this version I used a Sew-and-Flip method -
I had 2 light HST triangles cut from my die -
So I sewed two of them to the corners of two strips -
But since you may not have the die -
You may use 2 light squares instead -


The top row will be -
1 light square -
2 dark/light HST

The middle row will be -
1 dark strip - 2-1/2” x 6-1/2” - with either a HSTriangle or square sewn to the LEFT BOTTOM corner

The bottom row will be -
1 dark strip - 2-1/2” x 4-1/2” - with either a HSTriangle or square sewn to the LEFT BOTTOM corner
1 light square

I started with the top row -
And used my “Triangles on a Roll™” -
For the two dark/light HST -


I cut a square of the paper for two HST -
And an oversized chunk of the dark and light fabrics -
Layered the fabrics - right sides together -
Put the paper on top -
And sewed on the dashed lines -


Cut them apart on the solid line -
Tore off the paper -
Pressed them open -
And squared them up to 2-1/2” -
Using my Easy Square Jr. -


For the middle and bottom rows -
I placed a HSTriangle - right side down -
On each of the dark strips -
And sewed on the diagonal -
From corner to corner -


If you use squares instead -
Just layer one light square - right side down -
On the LEFT end of each of the dark strips -
And sew from one corner of the square to the other -
Just watch the direction of the seam - ;))

Press the light triangle open -
Check to see if it matches -
The bottom corner of the strip -
Before trimming the fabric underneath -

The one on the right will have to be “unsewn” -
And redone -
It’s just a tad short -


There - that’s better -


Trim the dark fabric from underneath -
(And the extra fabric from the square - if you used one)


Lay out the rows -


And then sew the block together -
Just like normal - ;))


OR -

You could just make it with squares and HST - ;))

4 dark/light HST
3 dark squares
2 light squares -




Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -





Wednesday, May 23, 2012

LHQSQ - Block #20

Another 6” sampler block -

That you can make using -

2-1/2” squares

and HST that FINISH at 2”

Three across and three down -

Variations of the basic NINE-PATCH -

The sewn block will MEASURE 6-1/2” -

And FINISH at 6” -

============
Note - these instructions are written in LEFTISH.
If you are right-handed - just reverse the directions.
============

I figured that you’re probably getting bored -
With the squares and HST by now -

Assuming you are even with me - ;))

So - this next block will be a slight variation -
On the HST and square theme -

#20 - Maple Leaf - with corner stem



The fun part on this block is the stem in the bottom right corner -
I'll show you a couple of different ways -
But you can use Templates -
Or Squares -
Or Triangles -
Or whatever works for you - ;))

For the first way -

You will need -

4 dark/light HST
3 DARK squares (a second dark)
3 light squares -
1 dark strip - 1-1/2” x 5”

We’ll start with the corner stem -


Take 2 light squares -
And your Easy Square Jr. - 6-1/2” ruler -

Put the light squares on the diagonal -
And put the TOP LEFT 45 degree line of the ruler -
Along the TOP RIGHT edge of the square -
Making sure that the dashed 1/4” line on the ruler -
Is ON the diagonal of the square -
Going from TOP to BOTTOM -
Like this -


See the dashed line? -
That will be your “sewing” line -
Right down the center of that square -
What you want to do -
Is to cut 1/4” to the LEFT of that line -
1/4” to the LEFT of center -
And that’s where the edge of the ruler is - ;))

So - you need two light triangles -
Cut from two light squares -
And the dark strip -

Or you can cheat like I did - ;))
I had two light triangles already cut -
From my HST die -
That’s why the dog-ears are trimmed - ;))


Anyway -

Make a little sandwich with the two light triangles -
And the dark strip -

Bottom light triangle - RIGHT side UP -
Dark strip - folded in half - WRONG sides together -
Top light triangle - WRONG side UP


Make sure all of the raw edges are even -
Sew it together -


Press the seam open -
At the same time -
Opening up the dark strip -
On the other side -


Here we are -
All sewn and ready to trim -
And yeah - it’s 3D -
The stem has a little flap on both sides -
So those will DEFINITELY have to be sewn down -
NO flanges - right Judy? ;))


All laid out -
Ready to sew -
My corner stem didn’t come out perfectly even -
Now ask me if I care - ;))


After I made the corner square -
I sewed the HST together -


And then the rest of the block -
Just like normal - ;))





Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -





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