square for Sherrie

My square for Sherrie T...

I hope you like it! 

emily

Mini Bio from Ceanne

Hi Ladies,

My family and I recently moved back to Arkansas last July.  We have four children ranging from 12-4.  I am a happy stay at home mom who loves to create.  I look forward to meeting all of you and enjoying future quilting moments together.  Thank you for inviting me Marnita.  I am very excited!!

Ceanne Warner

A New Trader

I want to welcome our newest trader, Ceanne Warner, to our quilting group.  Ceanne is very excited to join our group.  I will have her do a small bio so each of you can get to know her better.

Marnita's May Square

Here is my May square for Sherrie.

My block for Sherrie T

Here is my block for Sherrie Turnbull.....I hope you like it Sherrie.   Once I got it put together I am a little worried that my lime green is too light.   Once you see it please let me know if you want me to do another one....I don't mind at all!!   Sherrie, I will get this in the mail to you along with my fabric strips and template.  I really like making this pinwheel!!!

Arkansas Traveler

Hello Ladies!!  I have traded months with Sally B. so I will be providing the instructions for June.  I found my inspiration while blog hopping......Once I found the block I wanted to make I saved it for the future post.  We will be combining regular piecing with paper piecing in order to create "The Arkansas Traveler" block!!!  Here is the blog where the orginal post is.  You will also find the original directions for sewing the block in case mine are too confusing.

I am sending you fabric strips (2 5/8" x 9").  You will have 8 of these strips.  You will be responsible for the background fabric.  PLEASE USE KONA WHITE for the background pieces.    From the KONA White you will cut eight 3" x 6" strips AND eight 3" by 9" strips.   (I normally keep a couple of yards of Kona White in my stash so I have them ready for blocks that require them).

1.  Place your ruler on an angle over the end of one of the 2 5/8" x 9" strips, lining up the 60-degrees mark with the bottom of the strip, as shown and then cut.  (My large cutting guide shown below has the degree markings - the bottom of the strip is aligned with the 60-degree line).

2. Slide your ruler over. With the 60-degree mark still lined up with the bottom of the strip, line up the 2 5/8" mark on your ruler with the angled (cut) end of the strip, and cut again.

3.  You have a 60-degree diamond.  Now continue cutting the diamonds from your fabric strips (colored strips not white strips) until you have 16 diamonds.

4.  Pair up two diamonds, right sides together, and so that the edges intersect 1/4" from each point (right where your seam will be).  This results in little triangles sticking out on each side.  Make sure the triangles are showing  and that they are even on each side.

5.  Sew and press seam allowances open.  Sew together a second pair and press.

6.  Put your pairs together, right sides facing.  Make sure the triangles are sticking out (again).  Sew and press seam allowances open.  You will now have a completed diamond.  Repeat the steps above until you have 4 diamonds!

                                                          

Ok, now the paper piecing!!!   Don't panic this is really easy! You will see that I have sent you the paper piece patterns (4 sheets). 

You will need to trim the edges so that you just have the square (see below):

7.  Now it is time to attach one of the diamond units to the BACK of the template.  (I line it up with a light to make sure it is in place.  You points of the diamond will most likely be longer than the paper line for the diamond....this is ok).  

You can use double stick tape or pins....I usually use the double stick tape but was out and the pins work just fine!   When lining up the diamond unit on the template, you want to make sure that you have placed it correctly and that there will be 1/4" seam allowance all the way around.  This diamond unit is piece #1 on the template. 

8.  Place a 3" x 6" background piece (Kona white) along the edge of the diamond that borders section #2.  Make sure right sides facing and the edges are approximately lined up. 

Now turn over the whole thing and sew on the line, through the paper.  YOU SHOULD LOWER YOUR STITCH COUNT TO PERPORATE THE PAPER BETTER -- I USED 1.4.

 Press back the piece you have just sewn. 

9.  Now you will add the next 3"x6" background piece to section 3 of the template. 

Sew following the line for 3.  Press open.

10.  Now you will attach the "3x 9" strip to section 4 of the template.

Press the seams.  Then you will add another 3"x9" to the last section on the template.

11.  After you press it this is what your piece will look like.  Now you will trim around the template.

Your first section is complete.....DO NOT REMOVE THE PAPER AT THE POINT.   

Now repeat and complete 3 more sections.  Once you have them completed  you will sew two sections together :

MAKE SURE THAT THE BACKGROUNDS MATCH UP - YOU DON'T WANT A SHORT SECTION LINED UP WITH THE LONG SECTION.  THE PICTURE ON THE ORIGINAL POST IS BETTER TO SHOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT .  MY PICTURE ISN'T THAT GOOD.

Sew the upper two sections together then sew the bottom two sections together.  Now sew both sections together and you have a block that looks like this:

Once you have all 4 sections sewn together you can remove the paper from the back of the block.

I hope my directions are clear but if not, please go to the original post and maybe you can get clarification.      I will be mailing out the fabric strips and paper templates on Monday (June 11th) so be looking for them and happy sewing everyone!!

Connie

Let's make the Pinwheel for June!

May I suggest that we make the Pinwheel square June's square and just not worry about May. That will give us a real month to make the square. It also may mess up the rest of the year, but with Julie leaving the group, it may actually help. Can we just shift things?

What do you all think?

Mardie

Pinwheel for May

This is the square that I did for Sherrie T.  I am glad that she said that it would measure 13 inches because when I set it on my cutting mat to take a picture I realized it was a perfect 13 inches.  I was so careful after my size issue with Llewellyn's  I couldn't figure out what I did wrong.  Nothing! it appears.
I really like this pattern.  It is bright and cheery!  Hope you like it Sherrie.

By the way, I actually figured out how to post pictures to this site.  I'm a little proud of myself right now.  I am much better on a sewing machine than I am with technology!!!!

Black and White Square for Llewellyn

Here is the Black and White square that I did for Llewellyn.  I hope you like it.  I am afraid that it is a little shy of 12.5 inches.  I'd do it over but I don't have anymore fabric.  Hope you can make it work!

May's Block Sizing Info

The block will measure in at a little over 13".