the House

I had the pleasure of staying at the home of a friend of a friend while staying in Nashville for QuiltCon.  A bit of research tells me the house was built in 1925.  It was filled with character and really unique features.  Stairs creaked, doors didn't close properly - everything was as it should be for a home almost 100 years old!

As a thank you, I made a slightly wonky version of the house into a mini quilt, minus the large tree in the front yard.

I sketched out the house onto graph paper to get some of the large dimensions right and then I started piecing it together in fabric.  The idea was to bring an element of improv into the process.  Doors and windows are the right size proportions compared to the size of the house but things were not necessarily cut straight with the ruler.

I really love the result and hope the hostess will too, especially my attempt at capturing the charm and wonkiness of her house in fabric.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

One Monthly Goal March Finish Link-up

Ready to link up your March finishes?

Don't panic - this link-up is open until March 31 at 11:55 pm ET.

My goal March was to finish the hand quilting on my quilt for theHand Pieced QAL.  Next step is to block the quilt and then I will add a facing.  (Interested in hand piecing?  Come join the fun!)  

There will be three winners this month - Fat Quarter Shop is offering a $25 gift certificate, Make Modern Magazine is offering a 6 month subscription, and Tara Faughnan of Tara Faughnan Quilts is offering a PDF pattern from her shop!

Congratulations to Janice, Kat and Susan - our lucky winners for March!   (updated 4/2/2019)

Visit the One Monthly Goal event page for the specific requirements for links and social tags. 

And remember, to be eligible for the prize(s) by random drawing you must linkup at both the goal setting and the accomplishment linkup in a given month. (March Goal Setting Link-up.)

Make sure you add a link to this OMG post so others can follow where you are linking.   Let's make that easy -  just paste this into your post:  

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - March Finish Link-up

Sign up to receive email notifications when the One Monthly Goal linkup is open.  Think of it as a helpful reminder!  Joining the link-up from Instagram -see the tutorial.

An InLinkz Link-up

Thanks for linking up.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Hand Pieced QAL - Sashing and Quilt Top Assembly

Have a pretty pile of hand pieced blocks ready to go?  Let's turn them into a quilt top!

This post will contain instructions for two different block settings - a traditional grid setting or an on-point setting.  We will cover the cutting instructions for the vertical sashing, the horizontal sashing plus an option for a traditional border or a on-point border.

This is your quilt, however.  You are welcome to create a quilt top of your own design using the blocks.  To be eligible for one of the grand prizes, your quilt top must use at least 5 of the blocks and be hand-pieced!

Cutting Instructions

The instructions assume that your blocks all measure 6 1/2'' (unfinished).   But don't despair if they actually measure 6 1/4'' (for example).  As long as your blocks are all the same size, you can adjust the sashing measurements accordingly. 

Traditional Grid setting (no cornerstones)   (Note, if your blocks consistently measured slightly smaller or larger, adjust the length of the sashing.)

• Cut (6) strips background fabric 1½'' x 6½'' for the vertical sashing.  
• Cut (2) strips background fabric 1½'' x 20½ '' for the horizontal sashing.  From both the left edge and the right edge of the strip, make a mark at  6¼'' and at 7¼''.  These marks should align to the edge of the vertical sashing.  (Alternatively, measure from the left edge, make a small mark at 6¼'' at 7¼'', at 13¼'', and at 14¼''.)   (updated 3/31)
• Cut (2) strips 2'' x 20½''  from background fabric for side borders
• cut (2) strips 2'' x 23½'' from background fabric for top and bottom borders

Note: Before cutting the side borders, assemble quilt center and measure the quilt top in three places and take the average measurement.  Cut the (2) side border strips 2'' x Average measurement.  Repeat before cutting top and bottom borders, adjusting measurements if necessary.

On-Point setting (no cornerstones)   (Note, if your blocks consistently measured slightly smaller or larger, adjust the length of the sashing.)

• Cut (6) strips background fabric 1½'' x 6½'' for the vertical sashing.  
• Cut (2) strips background fabric 1½'' x 20½ '' for the horizontal sashing.  Measuring from the left edge, make a small mark at 6¼'', at 6¾'', at 12¾'', and at 13¼'' to align with the edges of the blocks.
• Cut one, 20'' x WOF  from your background fabric.  Subcut this further into (2) squares of background fabric each 20'' x 20''.  

Cornerstone (option for either layout)

• Cut (6) strips background fabric 1½'' x 6½'' plus (4) cornerstones each 1½'' square.  Assemble (2) horizontal sashing strips.

* Note - if you are concerned about the size of your blocks, cut the sashing out border fabrics only as you are ready to sew them.  This will allow you to measure and adjust.  For example, measure the length of each of your 3 rows and adjust the length of the sashing strip by taking an average of those measurements.  For example, if row one measures 20'',  row two measures 20 1/2'' and row three measures 20 1/4'', you will cut the horizontal sashing at 20 1/4''.  (20 + 20.5 +20.25=60.75.  Divide by 3 for an average of 20 1/4''.


Assemble the Quilt Center

Please assemble your block in the configuration you find the most pleasing - you do NOT need to follow this specific block placement layout shown in the photos or diagrams below!

Whether you've chosen the traditional grid setting or the modern on-point setting, your first step in completing your quilt top is to assemble your blocks into a grid.  

Assemble each of the 3 rows in your quilt top with sashing between each block.
Assemble quilt top center by sewing the horizontal sashing between each of the rows.  Take care to align the marks you made on the horizontal sashing (or with the optional cornerstones) to the block edges when adding the horizontal sashing.

In a perfect world, your quilt top center will now measure 20½'' x 20½''.  

Outer Borders - Traditional Grid

For a traditional finish to your quilt top:

• Sew a side border strip to the left and right side of your quilt top.  As with the sashing, always do your stitching on the more complicated side so you can go through seams.
• Sew top and bottom borders.

With borders, your quilt top will measure 23½'' x 23½''.

Outer Borders - On-Point Setting

For a on-point finish to your quilt top:

• Cut each of the 20'' background squares in half on the diagonal.  Mark the center of the cut diagonal (see 1 below)  and make a mark 10 1/4'' to each side of the center mark.  (Measure the width of your quilt and adjust as necessary.)

• Mark the center of one side of your quilt. Align the center mark and each edge of the quilt top to the marks made on your cut diagonal.  Pin carefully and sew a triangle to one side of your quilt.  Repeat for other side.  (see 2 below)   Your diagonal edge will hang off each side by about 4''.

• Carefully trim off the corners.   (see 3 below)

• Repeat for other two sides. 

• Press and trim quilt top as needed to 32'' x 32''. 
   (see 4 below)

Remember that this long edge is cut on the bias so it will stretch.  Laying your work on a table in front of you can help prevent the piece from getting distorted.

The on-point quilt setting will finish 32'' square.

Please remember that you can choose to set your blocks into a quilt top any way that you want to - these are just suggestions.  To be eligible for one of the grand prizes, you need to use at least 5 unique blocks.

The grand prize link-up will open on Thursday, April 4 - we just can't wait to see what you create!!

Our final block link-up is open until April 4 to give you plenty of time to finish your blocks.

Thanks to Fat Quarter Shop and Famore for sponsoring the block tutorials!

For more information on the QAL including catching up with any tutorials you've missed, please visit the main event page - Hand Pieced QAL.   

You can also join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group and / or subscribe to our newsletter so you'll be among the first to know about new block tutorials

.



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Family Friendly

Each quarter, Curated Quilts host a challenge for a mini quilt - a selection of those submitted make it into the magazine.   This quarter's challenge was "Well Said" - an opportunity to send a message with your quilt.

I love putting text on minis and have done it about a dozen times.  After thinking about this challenge for awhile, I decided to go with this family friendly version of swearing!   The inspiration comes from my weekly games of Pickleball with friends.  When someone misses a particularly easy shot, it becomes a challenge to keep our language clean and we have come up with a bunch of different words to use instead!

The actual term for using symbols like this is grawlix.  If you read through your Sunday comics, I imagine you'll see it more than once!

I'll be linking up here.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Hand Pieced QAL Week 9 Link-up

Welcome to the week 9 (and final) block link-up for the Hand Pieced QAL!  We are so excited to see what you have made!  Find the tutorial for this week's block here.

This link-up will be open for two weeks - until Thursday, April 4 (4 am ET/1 am PT).  Since this is our final block link-up, please make sure you share any blocks that you've not shared in previous link-ups   Each block should be in its own photo!

This week’s prize is the Smart Travel Lamp from The Daylight Company. This modern, portable and multi-purpose lamp has a battery life of up to 10 hours on low light setting and approximately 4 hours at the brightest setting and is ideal when you need light away from a plug. The Daylight Company is the leading market innovator in specialty lighting in the art, needlework, craft, low vision, health & beauty and industrial sectors in Europe, the USA and Australia.

Our Grand Prize link-up will open on Thursday April 4 - we can't wait to see your quilt tops!

Congrats to Lynn - the lucky winner of the Daylight lamp! (updated 4/6)

Photos can be shared from a blog, Flickr, or Pinterest and much include a  link to Elm Street Quilts or Simple Handmade Everyday.  Photos can also be shared via a public Instagram and must contain the tag #handpiecedqal.  Don't have a way to share?  You can also email them to handpiecedqal at gmail dot com.  Need instructions on how to link-up?  See the tutorial!

Blocks shared must follow the guidelines below to be eligible to win a prize.

We hope you take a few minutes to visit others and make new friends!

Please note - sharing a photo in the link-up gives Elm Street Quilts and Simple Handmade Everyday permission to feature a photo of your block on their sites.  Full attribution will be given.

An InLinkz Link-up

Guidelines:

• Blocks must be entirely hand-pieced.  
• Block must visually match a block from the QAL.  The block can be constructed using different units (ex: using two HST to make a flying geese).. Blocks can also be made a different size.
• Finished blocks can be shared in any link-up but can only be shared once.  Duplicates will be disqualified.
• Multiple blocks created by one quilter may be shared in the same link-up.
• Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email.  Winners have 72 hours to claim their prize - if we don't hear back, we will draw another name.  Once winners have claimed their prize, this post will be updated with the winner's name.
• This prize is only available to be shipped within the US.

For more information on the QAL including catching up with any tutorials you've missed, please visit the main event page - Hand Pieced QAL.   

You can also join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group and / or subscribe to our newsletter so you'll be among the first to know about new block tutorials.



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Hand Piece QAL - The Emmeline Block (Block 9)

Our final block in the Hand Pieced QAL is called Emmeline!  Just like the character in Friendship Album 1933, you might not care so much for Emmeline at first but she will surely grow on you!

Lighting by Daylight, Thread by Aurifil, Snips by Famore, OLFA 28 mm Rotary Cutter & Ruler, Clover Wonder Clips, & Robot Mom Sews Thread Conditioner

The center block might look complicated but it really just uses assembly techniques from the half-square triangle and the quarter-square triangle.  I just love the tiny pinwheel spinning around in the center.

We can't wait to see your finished blocks - the link-up opens Thursday!  (See the overall QAL post for more information on how to link-up.)

As needed, refer back to our tutorials (including video) on each of the hand piecing skills and basic blocks:

• Marking stitching lines
• Running Stitch 
• Dealing with Seams
• 4-patch
• Half-square triangle
• Flying Geese
• Quarter-square triangle
• Flying Geese Stitch & Flip assembly option
• Square in a Square Stitch & Flip assembly option

Fabric requirements are available as well as some suggestions of useful tools and notions and a coloring page.  (See overall QAL page for more information.)

Seeing all the blocks shared by everyone has been so much fun.  Next week, we'll give the instructions for sashing and the setings each of us chose.

Kristin is hosting the tutorial for the Emmeline block on Simple Handmade Everyday.  Click image below to visit tutorial and enjoy time piecing this week's block!

Thanks to Fat Quarter Shop and Famore for sponsoring the block tutorials!

The link-up for the Emmeline block - block 9 in our QAL - opens on Thursday, March 21! (Please note that this is the final block link-up.) Finished blocks can be shared in any weekly link-up, however, so don't worry if you get behind.

For more information on the QAL including catching up with any tutorials you've missed, please visit the main event page - Hand Pieced QAL. 

You can also join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group and / or subscribe to our newsletter so you'll be among the first to know about new block tutorials.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Hand Pieced QAL Week 8 Link-up

Welcome to the week 8 link-up for the Hand Pieced QAL!  We are so excited to see what you have made!  Find the tutorial for this week's block here.

This link-up will be open for one week - until Thursday, March 21 (4 am ET/1 am PT).  You are welcome to share any and all of the blocks you completed this week.  When this link-up closes, a new one will open (magic!) so please don't worry if you fall behind.

Green Fairy Quilts  is a wonderful online quilt store that offers precuts, patterns and notions at prices that can't be beat.  They are my source for precuts! Shipping is fast and the selection is wonderful. Green Fairy Quilts is offering a $25 gift certificate to their online store for one lucky winner.

Photos can be shared from a blog, Flickr, or Pinterest and much include a  link to Elm Street Quilts or Simple Handmade Everyday.  Photos can also be shared via a public Instagram and must contain the tag #handpiecedqal.  Don't have a way to share?  You can also email them to handpiecedqal at gmail dot com.  Need instructions on how to link-up?  See the tutorial!

Blocks shared must follow the guidelines below to be eligible to win a prize.

We hope you take a few minutes to visit others and make new friends!

Please note - sharing a photo in the link-up gives Elm Street Quilts and Simple Handmade Everyday permission to feature a photo of your block on their sites.  Full attribution will be given.

An InLinkz Link-up

Guidelines:

• Blocks must be entirely hand-pieced.  
• Block must visually match a block from the QAL.  The block can be constructed using different units (ex: using two HST to make a flying geese).. Blocks can also be made a different size.
• Finished blocks can be shared in any link-up but can only be shared once.  Duplicates will be disqualified.
• Multiple blocks created by one quilter may be shared in the same link-up.
• Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email.  Winners have 72 hours to claim their prize - if we don't hear back, we will draw another name.  Once winners have claimed their prize, this post will be updated with the winner's name.

For more information on the QAL including catching up with any tutorials you've missed, please visit the main event page - Hand Pieced QAL.   

You can also join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group and / or subscribe to our newsletter so you'll be among the first to know about new block tutorials.



Have a wonderful day! Patty

hello and welcome home! (Blog hop & Giveaway!!)

Welcome to my stop on the blog hop for the fabulous book Text It! - Quilts and Pillows with Something to Say by Sheri Noel.

(Make sure you visit Sheri's blog for the overall blog hop schedule and her post for today!)

I was lucky to get an early digital copy of the book.  If you want to express yourself through your quilts and projects with words, this book is for you!  The projects are fun and colorful and the book offers all different techniques for adding text to your projects including 7 different fonts of letters, numbers and symbols.

I had so much fun that I made two projects!!

Welcome Home is a wall-hanging, 18'' x 13'', which will be placed on the wall in our mud room so I'll see it everyday when I get home!

I used up scraps from my collection of Alison Glass fabric for the houses an then choose to stitch the words "welcome home".  I quilted with straight lines roughly 1/4'' apart and applied a facing instead of a binding.  I really love how this turned out!

Once that was done, I really wanted to play with applying a word from bias tape so I made a pillow for Mom as a gift.  She loves it!

While 1/4'' bias tape is a bit finicky to apply, I really, really love the way it looks and will be using this technique to add text to my projects in the future.

I'm excited to have the opportunity to offer a giveaway - two prizes and two lucky winners.

The first lucky winner will receive a copy of Sherri's wonderful book!  (US only).
The second lucky winner will receive 2 large spools of Aurifil thread - colors may vary.  (Open worldwide).

To enter, please comment on this post with the word or phrase you might add to your next project and tell me the country that you live in.  If you are a no-reply blogger, please make sure you leave your email address. 

Winners will be chosen on Saturday, March 16 at 8pm ET and winners will have 48 hours to reply to an email with their mailing address otherwise another winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is closed - congrats to our winners: Isis & Diane!!  (updated 3/18)

Several other makers are sharing their take on the Home Pillow today - go check them out!

Joanne @ Quilts By Joanne  

Andy @ A Bright Corner 

Sandra @ Utah Quilt Appraiser 

Cindy @ Stitchin At Home 

Get an autographed copy directly from Sherri or find a copy here on Amazon (affiliate link).

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Hand Pieced QAL: The Bess Block (Block 8)

We are so very excited to share Bess - block 8 in our  Hand Pieced QAL.  Bess, named after a character in Friendship Album 1933, joins her quilting bee friends Dorothy, Florence and Eula.  (Emmeline will join them soon!)

(For more information about the QAL, links to all posts and tutorials, click here.)

Let's deconstruct the Bess block to better understand what units will need to be hand-pieced, namely Flying Geese blocks, Half-Square Triangles (HST) and a Square-in-Square in the center.

You'll notice that the required sub-units for Bess are exactly the same as for Eula - the fabric placement changes how the block looks.

Today's tutorial will revisit the 'stitch and flip' method to create our center unit - the Square-in-Square (SinS) as well as the Flying Geese block.  (Alternate cutting instructions will be given if you'd prefer to construct your center square from two flying geese.)

To get started with a SinS unit, you'll need a center square (white) and four smaller squares (blue).  On the wrong side of the smaller squares, draw your stitching line on the diagonal, making sure it starts and stops 1/4'' from the edge.    (See the tutorial on marking stitching lines.)

Align a single smaller square along one corner of the larger square and stitch along marked stitched lines.  Trim away the excess, leaving a 1/4'' seam  (see photo below), fold back corner and finger press.  Align a second smaller square along one corner of the larger square and stitch along marked lines.  Trim away the excess leaving a 1/4'' seam, fold back corner and finger press.  Repeat to attach all corners.

Pictured: Famore snips, OLFA rotary cutter, Clover clips 

The ledge created by the folded over corner will actually mark the starting (or stopping line) of your stitches.  Take care not to stitch into or through the seam allowance during construction of the unit.  The smaller squares can be attached in any order.  Your finished unit should match the dimensions of the larger square - trim carefully if needed. 

As needed, refer back to our tutorials (including video) on each of the hand piecing skills and basic blocks:

• Marking stitching lines
• Running Stitch 
• Dealing with Seams
• 4-patch
• Half-square triangle
• Flying Geese     Constructed with Triangles or Constructed with Stitch & Flip method
• Quarter-square triangle

Fabric requirements are available as well as some suggestions of useful tools and notions and a coloring page.  (See overall QAL page for more information.)

Now let's make our block!

Block size: 6’' finished (6 ½’’ unfinished)

Notes:

• All seam allowances are 1/4''.
• Stitching lines are drawn on wrong side of fabric and always start and end 
  ¼ '' from the edge
• RST=Right sides together
• HST - Half Square Triangle
• SinS - Square in Square

Materials  (for Stitch & Flip construction method)

For HSTs:

• Print fabric: (2) 2 3/8 " squares, cut in half on the diagonal to yield (4) triangles 
• Background fabric: (2) 2 3/8 " squares, cut in half on the diagonal to yield (4) triangles 

For Stitch & Flip Flying Geese Construction Method*:

• Print fabric: (8) 2 " squares
• Background fabric: (4) 2 x 3 ½ '' rectangles  

For Stitch & Flip  Square-in-a-Square Construction Method:

• Print fabric: (4) 2 " squares 
• Background fabric: (1) 3 ½ '' square 

Creating the Bess block   

1. Make (8) HST (follow this tutorial).  HST unit should measure 2 x 2''. 
2. Make (4) Flying Geese using the stitch & flip method.  (Tutorial available.)   Flying Geese unit should measure 2 x 3 ½ ''.    
3. Make SinS unit using stitch & flip method (above). SinS unit should measure 3 ½ x 3 ½ ''.
     

* Note: Flying Geese units can also be constructed from triangles - see Kristin's tutorial.  The center of the block can also be pieced from two Flying Geese.  For this construction method, in addition to the HST cutting instructions, you will also need:

• Background fabric: (3) 3″ squares, carefully cut each square in half on the diagonal (yielding 6 triangles total)
• Print fabric: (6) 2 3/8″ squares, carefully cut each square in half on the diagonal (yielding 12 triangles total)

Assemble the Block

1. Lay the block out according to the diagram and stitch together in rows. The top and bottom row will each measure 2 x 6 ½ ''.  The middle row measures 3 ½ x 6 ½ ''.
2. Press.

Thanks to Fat Quarter Shop and Famore for sponsoring the block tutorials!

The link-up for the Bess block - block 8 in our QAL - opens on Thursday, March 14!  Finished blocks can be shared in any weekly link-up, however, so don't worry if you get behind.

For more information on the QAL including catching up with any tutorials you've missed, please visit the main event page - Hand Pieced QAL.  

You can also join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group and / or subscribe to our newsletter so you'll be among the first to know about new block tutorials

.

Have a wonderful day! Patty