Thursday, April 30, 2020

Book Club - Jo Link-up

Welcome to the week  6 link-up for Book Club - A Hand Pieced QAL.  We are so excited to see what you have made!  Read more about Jo the block and the book behind the block.



This link-up will be open for one week - until Thursday, April 30 (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.

This week's sponsor is Precision Quilting Tools!

One lucky participant will win a set of Classy Clamps Wooden Quilt Hangers from Precision Quilting Tools!

These wooden hangers are designed to look great on your wall and are simple to use. They are created with high-quality Beechwood and stained for protection. The Classy Clamps Wooden Quilt Hangers are constructed to work with a wide variety of hangings including quilts, fiber art, rugs, tapestries and more! The clamps can be opened wide enough to support hangings up to 1/2”, or as thin as a piece of paper.

Congratulations Hilary B! (updated 5/15)


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 and/or #bookclubqal 

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.




You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter


Guidelines:

  • Blocks must be entirely hand-pieced.  
  • Block must visually match a block to the Book Club - A Hand Pieced QAL pattern.    Blocks can 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 - Book Club - 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.


Haven't yet purchased the pattern?  Get your copy here!





Have a wonderful day! Patty

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

My 100 Day Project

Have you heard about the 100 Day Project?  While it officially kicked off on April 7, you can certainly start your own 100 days of creativity anytime you want.

Last year, I hand pieced 100 drunkards path blocks.  The hand quilting on the resulting quilt is about halfway done and I think it is time to pick it back up again!


Since I find handwork to be a very satisfying and relaxing, I wanted another handwork project for this years 100 days effort. 

I'll be making a whole cloth quilt using this yummy texture Essex Linen, hand quilting a new design each day.


Before the quilt sandwich was assembled, I sewed a 1 1/2'' grid across the entire piece of linen.  Each day, I will hand quilt two squares which will be a rectangle measuring 1 1/2 '' x 3''.   Threads are snipped as I go.



The resulting pattern will be a grid that looks like this -  a bit like a basket weave perhaps.


The pattern each day is chosen for me by a roll of the dice - each possible combination from 2 through 11 has a assigned pattern.  A lucky roll of double sixes give me free choice!  My only other rule is I can't quilt the same design 2 days in a row.


Today is day 23 - I wonder what today's dice roll will be?



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Monday, April 27, 2020

Hand Pieced QAL - Jo



Having fun hand piecing?  It's time to get started on our block #6 - Jo.



Jo will build on the skills from our prior blocks (Evelyn, JanePenelope, Louisa, and Cathy).  This partial seam will may feel a little different just because of the shapes you are dealing with but you can do it!

Take your time with those triangles - they might be the trickiest bit! Sewing the units around the center square will be a unique experience but one that is much easier to do when piecing by hand instead of piecing by machine.

Still need the pattern for Book Club for the Hand Pieced QAL - grab yours now!  Book Club is a 9 block sampler and two block setting to make either a wall hanging or a throw sized quilt.  Did you miss the QAL announcement?  You can find more information here!  If you have any trouble ordering the pattern, please don't hesitate to email us at handpiecedqal@gmail.com - we'll be happy to help!



Tips & Tricks

There are just three basic shapes needed to make our Jo block.  The triangles and the center square can be cut with templates or your rotary cutter.  The trapezoid unit requires a template. (Check out the tutorial if you need some reminders.)  Make sure you mark all your stitching lines on the wrong side of the units.  This specialty ruler - The Perfect Piecer -  makes it easy marking sewing lines on angles.

The rotary cutting instructions (if applicable) for the units can be found in the bottom left corner of the pattern sheet.  Please consult the tutorials for Using Templates and for Marking Stitching Lines if you need some tips.

Once I get my pieces all cut and prepped, it can seem like a bit of a puzzle but placing the pieces down in block formation is key!   (I am using my wonderful wool pressing mat to keep everything organized.)


Each set of the 4 smaller triangles gets assembled together and then joined to the trapezoid shape to form the corner units.   Folding the trapezoid in half will help you align the center of the trapezoid to the 4 smaller triangle assembly.


Once all 4 corners are assembled, join two of them to opposite sides of the center square.  Stopping and starting all your seams a 1/4'' from the edge is the key to success!



Once all 4 are sewn to center square, carefully fold to sew seam between them - starting at the center and working towards the edge for the win!


Wasn't this a fun block?


The link-up for Jo (or any blocks you make this week) will open on Thursday, April 30.  If you share on IG, please tag your photo with #bookclubqal and #handpiecedqal.

Make sure you go visit Kristen and see her Jo block!


The Book behind the Block


Our block Jo is named after Jo Marsh - one of the four Marsh sisters in Little Woman .

In the book, we watch the sisters grow and face various challenges.  Meg, the oldest, manages the household when her mother is away.   Jo is independent, stubborn, and working hard to keep her temper under control.  Beth is the peacemaker between the sisters - kind and sweet to the very end.  Amy, the youngest, is a bit vain and self centered.  She and Jo are at odds several times during the story.

The story is set during the Civil War and Jo works for her Aunt Marsh in order to help her mother (Marmee) make ends meet while their father is away supporting the soldiers.   As the adventures of Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy unfold, it is their love for each other and their parents that keep them centered.  Our block celebrates these four sisters dancing around the center square.

Little Woman was written by Louisa May Alcott in 1868 - over 150 years ago!  There have been many movie adaptations but nothing beats the book itself!  Which of the Marsh sisters is your favorite?







Stay in touch and join our community so you don't miss a thing! 



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Friday, April 24, 2020

One Monthly Goal April Finish LInk-up

Ready to link up your April finishes?
Don't panic - this link-up is open until April 30 at 11:55 pm ET.


My goal for April was to quilt my circles quilt - I'm pleased to say that it is all done and ready to be donated.  (Read more.)


Now it is your turn to link-up.

There will be three winners this month Fat Quarter Shop is offering a $25 gift certificate,  Aurifil is offering a thread pack and Quiltfolk is offering a year's subscription.

Congratulations to Babette, Karrin, and Jan - our lucky winners for April!  (updated 5/7)





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. (
April 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:  


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.



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter


Thanks for linking up!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Book Club - Cathy Link-up

Welcome to the week  5 link-up for Book Club - A Hand Pieced QAL.  We are so excited to see what you have made!  Read more about Cathy the block and the book behind the block.


This link-up will be open for one week - until Thursday, April 30 (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.

This week's sponsor is OLFA  

One lucky participant will win an OLFA 45 mm Splash Ergonomic Handle Rotary Cutter!

The OLFA 45 mm Splash Rotary Cutter comes in several colors and features a tungsten steel 45mm rotary blade, an ergonomic curved handle, a squeeze trigger handle exposes blade and self-retracts for safety, and dual-action safety lock allows for blade to be locked while in use or locked inside the handle when not in use.

(Note prize can only be shipped to US or Canada.)

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 and/or #bookclubqal 

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.



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter




Guidelines:



  • Blocks must be entirely hand-pieced.  
  • Block must visually match a block to the Book Club - A Hand Pieced QAL pattern.    Blocks can 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 - Book Club - 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.

Haven't yet purchased the pattern?  Get your copy here!


Have a wonderful day! Patty

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Astro

I'm very excited to share my quilt Astro!


Astro finishes 52" x 52".  The top assembled quickly and it was really fun to play with big curves.

(It turned out to be very difficult to get a photo that truly showed the fabrics true to color - the very last photo in this post is probably the best.)

The quilting was done with my walking foot and then big stitch hand quilting was added inside and outside the half circles and in the horizontal stripes. 



Fabrics used are Moda Bella solids - Citrine, Pool, and Royal - and the batting is Warm and White.  50 wt. Aurifil thread was used for the walking foot quilting and Sulky floss for the big stitch.

Most exciting is Astro is the Modern Quilt Guild's April Quilt of the Month!  This means the pattern is available to all Modern Quilt Guild members and was featured along with 2 other fantastic quilts in the latest issues of Modern Monthly.  MQG members can find the pattern here!

The quilts were photographed around Austin and I just love this photo of the quilt hung on the outside of the building.

Image credit to The Modern Quilt Guild

The crew at the MQG was just fabulous to work with on this pattern publish and I'm so excited to have a quilt featured.  The MQG typically hangs their Quilts of the Month at QuiltCon so I psyched to know I'll have a quilt in the 2021 show.


And why is it called Astro?  The design was inspired by the 1960's cartoon The Jetsons - Astro was their dog!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Monday, April 20, 2020

Hand Pieced QAL - Cathy



Having fun hand piecing?  It's time to get started on our block #5 - Cathy.



Cathy will build on the skills from our prior blocks (Evelyn, Jane, Penelope, and Louisa) and introduce a more challenging partial seam.

The basics units of Cathy will assemble quickly. Sewing the units around the center square will be a unique experience but one that is much easier to do when piecing by hand instead of piecing by machine.

Still need the pattern for Book Club for the Hand Pieced QAL - grab yours now!  Book Club is a 9 block sampler and two block setting to make either a wall hanging or a throw sized quilt.  Did you miss the QAL announcement?  You can find more information here!  If you have any trouble ordering the pattern, please don't hesitate to email us at handpiecedqal@gmail.com - we'll be happy to help!



Tips & Tricks

There are just four different kinds of units to be cut  for our Cathy block.  You can cut them exclusively from templates (check out the tutorial if you need some reminders) or actually use your rotary cutter for each piece.  Make sure you mark all your stitching lines on the wrong side of the units.  This specialty ruler - The Perfect Piecer -  makes it easy marking sewing lines on angles.

The rotary cutting instructions (if applicable) for the units can be found in the bottom left corner of the pattern sheet.  Please consult the tutorials for Using Templates and for Marking Stitching Lines if you need some tips.

Cathy might look like a complicated block but once your break is down into a set of steps, you'll see it is not a tough block to construct.

First, you'll need to make sew together two smaller triangles (see Quarter Square Triangle tutorial) and then sew on a larger square to make a compound HST unit.  Each of the compound HST will get a rectangle sewn to the left side.  You will make four of these units.

Lay your blocks around your center square and decide where you will start sewing.   (I am using my wonderful wool pressing mat to keep everything organized.)


It doesn't matter where you start - you'll just sew the pieces on clockwise from that point.  But first, just partially sew the center square to your first unit.  You'll finish this seam in the very last step.


Then, continue clockwise to sew on the last 3 sides.


Now you've got one seam left - start in the center where the seam ended and sew out to the edge to finish your block!


I really enjoyed the challenge of this block and hope you do too!


The link-up for Cathy (or any blocks you make this week) will open on Thursday, April 23.  If you share on IG, please tag your photo with #bookclubqal and #handpiecedqal.

Make sure you go visit Kristen and see her Cathy block!

The Book behind the Block

Maeve Binchey is one of our favorite authors.  Her books are filled with wonderful characters who live in Ireland.  She's written a whole series of books that are loosely related - each one stands alone as a story but characters will appear in other novels.


Cathy Scarlet is one of those characters.  She and her friend Tom open a catering firm called Scarlet Feather.  Cathy works hard to take care of her new business, her husband, her parents, and her husband's niece and nephew.  We named this block Cathy because so many things are spinning around her that need her attention - things are often left undone and then needed to be picked up afterwards ..... just like that block seam!

I've recently been rereading all of Maeve Binchey's books and the Scarlet Feather is one of my favorites.


Stay in touch and join our community so you don't miss a thing! 




Have a wonderful day! Patty

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Book Club - Penelope Link-up

Welcome to the week 4 link-up for Book Club - A Hand Pieced QAL.  We are so excited to see what you have made!  Read more about Penelope and the book behind the block.



This link-up will be open for one week - until Thursday, April 23 (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.  




Pineapple Fabrics is a fabulous online fabric store that stocks a beautiful selection of fabrics that includes yardage, precuts and wide quilt backs at great prices.

They also offer Pineapple Packs, which are quilt shop quality precut fabric collections. Each pack includes five fabrics coordinated by an in house designer for the best possible variety of color and patterns. Every Pineapple Pack purchased includes a free pattern that is designed for the precuts in the pack making sewing projects as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Pineapple Fabrics is offering a $40 gift certificate to one lucky participant!


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 and/or #bookclubqal 

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.




You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter


Guidelines:


  • Blocks must be entirely hand-pieced.  
  • Block must visually match a block to the Book Club - A Hand Pieced QAL pattern.  Blocks can 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 - Book Club - 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.


Haven't yet purchased the pattern?  Get your copy here!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Its Circle Time!


Circles are what it is all about right now in my sewing room!  After taking a class with Jen Carton Baily (aka @bettycrockerass) at QuiltCon , I've been enjoying experimenting with circles!

My first finish was made from scraps from another (not yet shared) quilt.  This quilt finishes 36'' x 36'' and will be donated to a local NICU and eventually go home with a little baby.  To quilt, I just did an all over loopy design - it is fast and fun to do!


Next up is another circle quilt - this one is made with all solids and my quilting in much more intentional.  I pin basted and then outlined each of the circle bits with my walking foot to secure things and (hopefully) keep the quilt in shape as I do some intensive quilting.



Just a sneak peak so far!   I am really loving that I had matching thread in the house - color changes is going to add some pizzazz!

Both of these quilts evolved organically.  The quarter circles were made over-sized and then trimmed them down to create all different kinds of designs.  I am using - and loving! - the templates I got from Jen - you can find them in Jen's shop.)



Have a wonderful day! Patty

Monday, April 13, 2020

Hand Pieced QAL - Penelope


Having fun hand piecing?  It's time to get started on our 4th block - Penelope.

Penelope will build on the skills from our previous blocks  (Evelyn, Jane, and Louisa ) and introduce a new skill of partial seams.  (See the partial seams tutorial post.)

I really enjoyed piecing Penelope and hope you will too!

Still need the pattern for Book Club for the Hand Pieced QAL - grab yours now!  Book Club is a 9 block sampler and two block setting to make either a wall hanging or a throw sized quilt.  Did you miss the QAL announcement?  You can find more information here!  If you have any trouble ordering the pattern, please don't hesitate to email us at handpiecedqal@gmail.com - we'll be happy to help!


Tips & Tricks

There are different kinds of units to be cut  for our Penelope block.   You'll likely be a pro using templates now but check out the tutorial if you need some reminders.  Make sure you mark all your stitching lines on the wrong side of the units.  This specialty ruler - The Perfect Piecer -  makes it easy marking sewing lines on angles.

The rotary cutting instructions (if applicable) for the units can be found in the bottom left corner of the pattern sheet.  Please consult the tutorials for Using Templates and for Marking Stitching Lines if you need some tips.

Probably the trickiest part of this block is figuring out which seam to sew first!  Hint, its the long bias seam - the one you need to create a diamond ring like shape.   You'll make 4 of these.


With your 4 units sewn, position them around the center square.    (I am using my wonderful wool pressing mat to keep everything organized.)

The first set of seams you will sew is the seam that connects each of these units to the cetner square,  making sure to start and stop your seams 1/4'' from the edge! 


Attach all 4 units to the center.  Once that is complete, you are ready to sew the seam that connects each of these corner units.  Pin carefully and sew a seam between two corner units, starting from the center and working out to the edge.


Repeat until all 4 corners are attached.

While I recommend you first attach each of the 4 corners to the center square, before joining any together, my photo (below right) will demonstrate that I didn't take that step for the final corner.  However, once attaching that final corner, my steps were the same.  It was first sewn to the center square.  Then corners were pinned together and the seam was sewn from the center to the edge.


Enjoy your newly completed block!


The link-up for Penelope (or any blocks you make this week) will open on Thursday, April 16.  If you share on IG, please tag your photo with #bookclubqal and #handpiecedqal.

Make sure you go visit Kristen and see her Penelope block!



The Book behind the Block


You may not remember the specific character Penelope from The Shell Seekers but chances are you've read at least one of Rosamunde Pilcher's books.  The Shell Seekers is a painting by Penelope's father.  Penelope's children become aware of the painting's value and offer strong opinion to their mom on what she should do with the painting and, to Penelope's annoyance, strong opinions on what she should do for the rest of her life.  Penelope just doesn't agree with what her kids have to say!  Sound familiar?


We choose to name this block Penelope because each of the corner units give you the opportunity to offer two contrasting fabrics representing two contrasting views of ones future - what you want to do and what others want you to do.


Please stop by Kristin's blog to check out her version of Louisa!




Stay in touch and join our community so you don't miss a thing! 

Have a wonderful day! Patty