Short and Sweet Adventure

I had a little adventure to a yarn shop with Tina today.  We thought we were going to be shutdown when we arrived at our destination, and the shop was empty.  Never fear, they just moved and we have GPS.  It was worth the delay.  What's a good friend to do when there is StarBella  yarn on the line.  They had received a shipment recently.  Holy Cow!  I don't know how much they received but they didn't have much left.  What's a girl to do but take it all.  I even had to wrestle my friend Tina for the color I wanted.  Ok, we really didn't wrestle, but I took it right out of her hand because I wanted THAT color.  If she hadn't given it up so easily, I probably would have taken her out for it.  The shop had 3 other kinds of this type of yarn.  2 of which I had never seen before.

After the yarn shop, we were off to the quilt shop.  You know it is going to be a great day when you are greeted at the door with "Have you heard about our sale".  I bet she could see the excitement growing in my eyes. 
 The top fabric Tina talked me into.  She didn't have to talk too hard.  She invisioned a pillow case.  I invisioned a baby coin charity quilt.  I can't wait to dig into Char and Nancy's scraps for the coins.

See those great neutrals?  Those are for the next ISE group jelly flop swap!  They had a great selection of fabrics both sale and otherwise.  I had been on a quest for the perfect red to border my very old orange crush quilt with.  I finally found the perfect shade.  It was just patiently waiting for me to find it on the clearance table. 

Eleanor delivered all the quilt going to the Henryville, Indiana tornado relief.  Eleanor had 3 more, and Lorraine had one that is not pictured.  When I saw that Eleanor was donating her blue ridge beauty quilt that she just finished, I about flipped.  

She said that the collection site was very organized and everyone was very appreciative of our efforts.  Thanks to everyone that was able to contribute. 

Attic Window

This block is a little different than the block I normally see labeled Attic Window

Before you forget how to trim with the easy angle, let's do another one and practice again.  Once again, save those little triangles.

Color 1

• 1- 2 1/2" square

Color 2

• 2- 2" finished triangles (2 1/2" strip with the easy angle)

Color 3

• 2- 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle

Color 4

• 2- 4" finished triangles (4 1/2" strip with the easy angle)

Add the 2 1/2" triangles to both sides of the square

Trim the angles on the 2 1/2" X 4 1/2" rectangles like in Block 9

Attached these 2 pieces to the unit

 pin the color 4 triangles to the unit.  I like to sew with the triangle on the bottom.  If you enlarge the picture at the left, you can see that little square where the middle pin is.  That should be a 1/4" away from the edge, and that is where you want to sew.  Sewing right through that "X" will give you a perfect point on your block.

March Farming

Block #9
Let's start March with the Box block from the Farmer's Wife Book.  There are several ways to make this block.  I made it 3 different ways, and I will give directions for my favorite.  Make it the way you feel most comfortable.

Look closely at the illustrations below.  Line up the 2 1/2" line of your easy angle (2" line if you are using the Olfa frosted ruler like in the picture).  YOU MUST HANG THE RULER OVER THE EDGE 1/4" OR LINE UP THE BLUNT EDGE OF THE RULER. 

Don't throw those little triangles away!  You are going to need those in a couple months.  Trim them down to 1" finished half squares (use the 1 1/2" line on the ruler)  When we get to those blocks, you will already have them cut.

Color 1

• 1- 2 1/2" x 6 1/2"
• 2- 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"
• 2- 2 finished half squares cut with 2 1/2" strip

Color 2

• 8- 2" finished half squares (triangles cut with 2 1/2" strip and easy angle)

Look closely at the picture so that you can get the angles going the correct way.  It was really hard for me to line up that ruler like a right handed person.  Stack the 2 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" pieces right sides up and cut like illustrated.  Take the 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" strip and cut in the same manner.  Sew together the 2 - 2 1/2" (unfinished) half squares.  Check the measurements of your units.  I had to square mine up just a little.  



Press the 4 1/2" pieces to the right (One seam should face the red the other seam to the light

Press the half squares to the dark

Press the 6 1/2" piece to the light

Join the half squares with the 4 1/2" pieces; Press toward the half squares.

Join the 3 pieces to make the 6 1/2" block

One more done!

Pure Goodness

Is that even a word?  Several people asked how many jelly rolls can come out of 80 yards of fabric...the answer is about 20.  At least that's how many are lined up and ready to be swapped.  The theme was country colors, so there are quite a few reproductions in there. 

Lots of browns and greens

 Plenty  of neutrals to lighten it up

Even a few purples to go with the reds.  You know I like purple, so I can't do country without it.


I hope everyone likes the colors.  It was a really fun project for me to coordinate. 

March FW blocks will get posted this weekend.

Farming in February

These are the last 3 blocks for February- #70 Prairie Queen, #72 Railroad, #98 Waterwheel.  These blocks are very similar, so I grouped them together. 

Do you remember when you changed your rotary blade last?  How about your sewing machine needle?  When you are cutting and sewing these small pieces, it can make a BIG difference.  A dull rotary blade will push the fabric and give you inaccurate cuts.  Measure your 4 patch units and half squares to make sure they measure 2 1/2" before you join the pieces together.

#70 Prairie Queen

• 4 - 2" finished half squares (2 1/2" strip and use easy angle  or your favorite method)
• 1 - 2 1/2" square
• 1- dark 1 1/2" x 13" strip (13" gives you a little extra)
• 1- light 1 1/2" x 13" strip

Sew the half squares by sewing a light to a dark.  Sew the 13" strips together and cut into 8-1 1/2" segments.  Line up a perpendicular line on the ruler with your center seam to keep the segments square.  Join the segments to make 4 - 4 patches    You should now have 9 units.  Join them together like illustrated in your book.  I pressed away from the half squares to make everything lay nice and flat.












#72 Railroad

•  4 - 2" finished half squares (2 1/2" strip and use easy angle or your favorite method)
• 1- dark 1 1/2" x 16" strip (16" gives you a little extra)
• 1- light 1 1/2" x 16" strip

Sew this one together in the same fashion as #70 Prairie Queen.  Sew the 1 1/2" strips together and cut into 10- 1 1/2" segments.  Make 5 -4 patch units.  Make 4 - 2 1/2'" half squares.  Join the 4 patches with the half squares and press away from the half squares. 














#98 Waterwheel

This one is almost identical except with more colors.  I just cut out squares when I made mine, but I will present the instructions with strips.  You need 4 - 2" finished half squares, so feel free to use your favorite method. 

• 4 light triangles cut with Easy Angle 2 1/2" strip
• 2 medium triangles cut with the EA 2 1/2" strip
• 2 dark triangles cut with the EA 2 1/2" strip
• 1 dark and 1 light - 1 1/2" X 3 1/2" strips
• 1 dark and 1 medium - 1 1/2" X 3 1/2" strips
• 1 light and 1 medium - 1 1/2" X 3 1/2" strips
• 1 light and 1 medium 1 1/2" X 6 1/2" strips (illustration presents a 4th color as the medium, so this should be different than your other medium color)

Sew the 1 1/2" strips together and cut into 1 1/2" segments.  Make the 4 half squares that finish at 2" (should measure 2 1/2" at this point).  Sew the 1 1/2" segments together like the illustration in the book.  Your 4 patches should measure 2 1/2"  arrange the pieces like the book illustration and sew together in a 9 patch fashion.  Press toward the 4 patches as you join your rows.  This block could be done in 4 colors as well. 

The instructions sound more confusing than this block actually is!  It might be easier for you to just look at the picture and cut squares.  I'll leave that up to you.  Double check your 4 patches before you sew them.  I had to un-sew more than one time to get them going the right direction.  Not sure I really care for this block.

Enjoy!

It's Here!!

Do you see what is peaking out of the box?  It is 29 pounds of pure goodness.  It's all about the presentation.  Can you imagine cutting this many different fabrics?  See how warm and cozy they are in the box?

 OOPS!  How did those bright colors get in there?  I guess they will just have to go in my resource center because they are just too bright for the jelly rolls.

The pile on the left...Those are for the jelly rolls.  Don't they look so great all lined up by color.  The one at the bottom may be a little too yellow.  I may have to omit that one.  There is also one that appears a little too light.  That pile on the right- well - lets not talk about what those fabrics are for.  

Little Bit of Friends

The checkerboard quilt is all pieced together.  I picked out a single piece of fabric for the backing this time.  I posted a little tutorial on how I constructed the blocks here.

 This pattern is Hopscotch from bitsnpieces.net.  Most of the pieces are leftovers from friends.  It was a little too "matching" for me, so I added scraps from my bins.  I hope get the blocks sewn together this week.  I hope the chains show up a little better once I get the blocks together.  I have been staying focused so far this year on empting  the containers that I have filled with parts and pieces.  One at a time, that's my motto.

Tomorrow is the big delivery day!  28 pounds of fabric will be delivered to be cut for the jelly roll swap (1600" jelly roll quilt).

More Farmer's Wife blocks will be posted on Tuesday.