A New Trader

Maria Mae Tobler (Mardie's daughter in law) is the newest member of our sewing bee.  I just wanted to welcome her to the group!  I hope everyone is having a great time with the new squares.

Hourglass for Mardie

Here is my block(s) for Mardie!  This was a fun block and I think I am going to make myself a quilt using this design....I hope you enjoy your squares and I latched on to your comment regarding black...hope these will work for you.

Connie

for Connie & Mardie

here's my square for Connie:

my hindsight suggestion: save your 2" squares for the center where it gets crowded (the same side as the white stripe)

here are my orange hourglass squares for Mardie!  (sorry the picture isn't great - the sun decided not to come out today)

is this square supposed to remind us that time is ticking?  :)

emily

February's block: Double Hourglass for Mardie

Here is my inspiration: From cluckclucksew.com

I really like the bright colors in this quilt. Brights that contrast beautifully with the Kona white. 

Please choose bright colors like:

 Spring greens, summer blues, bright reds, Sunshine oranges and yellows, turquoises, etc. from your own stash.

I even like the black pattern. 

I love the patterns represented in the inspiration quilt too. 

1. First of all, cut a 7 1/2" SQUARE of CARD STOCK (when I say square, I mean square! Take it from me, this will not work with a rectangle!). 


2. Cut corner to corner both directions. *One of these triangles will be your template.



3. Cut 2 strips from selvage to selvage lengths of your fabric, each  
2 1/4" wide strips. One in KONA white, the other in your choice of colored fabric.

4. Using 1/4" seams, sew the 2 strips together then press towards the color. 

5. Fold strip in half, lining up edges perfectly. Then lay your template down, on the strip. Center it and mark the on the joints between the white and color on the template. This will help you place it consistently in the other cuttings. 

(Here is my mark.) 
6. Cut your 1st triangle, then turn the template and cut again. Twice. You will make four double triangles. (I used some scotch tape to keep the template in place while cutting the fabric triangles.) 


7. Here are your 4 double triangles.  

Arrange them into your blocks before sewing. 

Each square will have 2 colored sides and 2 white sides.

 8. Sew block to each other like this: Match the seams. 

9. Press seams open to reduce bulk. 
Then match the 2 halves to each other matching the seams and center. Press seam open. 

 10. When you are done, you will have TWO squares. They are actually identical, but will be turned when I assemble the quilt. 

 11. Please don't square them up. I will do that. 
Please use all 1/4" seams.
Please press seams open. (I know, weird for Mardie.)
The finished squares will be approximately 6.75" square.

Have fun!
Thank you, in advance!
Mardie

for Sherrie

Here is my square for Sherrie.  Sorry it's so late!  I'm headed to the post office.

Happy Valentine's Day!
emily

Connie's January Block in February!!!

Ok, I have the tutorial ready for my block.   This time we are making a String Star!!!  This block is a mix of paper piecing and regular sewing.  I will send you all the fabric you will need. 

You will get a variety of 1" strips to use including a 1" Kona White strip.

I will also send you 4 Kona White large triangles, 4 Kona White small triangles, and a couple of 2" strips to use on the ends of the paper piecing. I will also send you the paper piece templates. You will have 4 pages with two diamonds on each page. They are marked D and E. Please separate them into D stacks and E stacks.

 

 

 

Begin by placing one of the Kona white strips aligned so the top edge runs thru the points on the right and left–you can see the placement in the picture below. Use a little bit of temp. fabric spray adhesive to hold it into place or you can pin it in place (whatever is available to you)  & work from the non printed side.

 

Now add one of the color strips (right sides together with the Kona white strip)  Sew together then add another color strip right sides together to the color strip you have just sewn to the white strip.  Now just keep adding the strips just as you would with any other strip block until the diamond shape is covered with strips.   I found that it is important to IRON after each strip is sewn on. 

I also found that sometimes it was easier to use a 2" strip on the ends of the triangles.

 

NOTE:  Cut the strips as close to the paper piece as you can, making the strips smaller as the diamond gets smaller.  This will ensure that you will have enough strips to cover 8 diamonds.  I didn't quite cut mine close enough and found myself struggling to have enough strips for all 8 diamonds.

 

Now flip it over to paper side up and trim each side to the diamond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOW IS THE TRICKY PART (OR AT LEAST IT WAS FOR ME).  THE PICTURE BELOW IS WRONG

 

When you begin adding the triangles to the diamond -- MAKE SURE THE WHITE STRIP IS ON THE BOTTOM OF PART OF THE DIAMOND--- otherwise the star will not come together correctly (I know this because I did wrong the first time around and had to rip seams!)



Because I was so frustrated over ripping out seams I forgot to take pictures as I put it back together...but some important notes when sewing the triangles to the diamonds:

 

1.  Keep your D's and E's separate

2.  On your D diamonds you will sew the small triangle to the left and the large on the right side.

3.  On your E diamonds you will sew the small triangle to the right side and the large triangle to the left side. 

4.  Once you have your triangles sewn to your diamonds - you will sew a D diamond to an E diamond --- MATCHING UP THE WHITE STRIPS TOGETHER AS WELL AS THE POINTS (IF YOU LOOK CLOSE MINE ARE NOT PERFECT, JUST CLOSE)  ---this will make 1/4 of your square (or a mini square) 

5.  Now lay them out like below and sew your top two squares together - then sew your bottom two squares together.  Now you have 2 halves of the square.-





Sew the top and bottom together and you have a strip/string Star.  Notice the white circle in the middle of the star ---FUN!!!

 Since I don't create the best tutorials I am adding the inspiration link so you can go to that site and maybe get better directions.

 

http://www.littlemissshabby.com/2012/08/string-star-tutorial/

 

 

Once you have your square sewn together, DON'T TRIM IT.   I WILL DO THE TRIMMING WHEN I PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER.

 

I will start mailing out packets tomorrow (Friday, Feb. 8th).

 

HAPPY SEWING!!!