Having a great time with the girls in Charleston. So proud of them. They are dancing as fast as their legs will go
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Old Windmill
I'm not sure I understand the color placement in this block. It is a basic half square block, but I tried several different color selections and none of them excited me. I can't wait to see what colors you pick to prove me wrong.
#62 Old Windmill
Cutting:
This block is made of all 1 1/2" finished half squares, so everything is done with the Easy Angle and a 2" strip.
Background: Cut 16
Color 1,2,3,4: Cut 4 each
Pair each of the background triangles with a colored triangle to make a half square. Press toward the color. Square up each square to 2" if necessary.
Join the half squares together in pairs and then Join in 4 patches. I pressed the 4 patch seams open. Join the 4 patches together to complete the 6 1/2" bloc
I can't wait to see your color choices.
#62 Old WindmillCutting:
This block is made of all 1 1/2" finished half squares, so everything is done with the Easy Angle and a 2" strip.
Background: Cut 16
Color 1,2,3,4: Cut 4 each
Pair each of the background triangles with a colored triangle to make a half square. Press toward the color. Square up each square to 2" if necessary.
I can't wait to see your color choices.
Peace and Plenty
This reminds me of how much I love those good and plenty candies. You know the black licorice ones. I just may have to get some at the store today.
Farmer's Wife number 64 Peace and Plenty. While I was posting this block, I noticed that something didn't look quite right. I became acquainted with the seam ripper, and now things are looking better. This is how NOT to put your pieces together!!
I did not make mine like the book. There are so many ways you could make this block. You can make yours just like the book with 1 1/2" finished half squares if you prefer. I sewed mine differently and eliminated 4 seams.
Cutting:
Background:
16- 1 1/2" finished half square triangles (2" strip cut with EA)
Color 2:
8- 1 1/2" finished half square triangles (2" strip cut with EA)
4 - triangles cut with 2" strip and Companion Angle (CA)
Sewing:
Sew together 8 half squares - square them up to 2" if necessary. Join them in pairs.
Sew together 4 flying geese with the remaining triangles. I pressed the first seam toward the larger triangle and the second seam toward the smaller triangle. Square up to 2" x 3 1/2" if necessary
Join the flying geese units to the half square pairs to make 3 1/2" squares. Join the 4 squares together to complete the 6 1/2" block.
This is what your completed block should look like. I pressed the seams where the flying geese met open as well as the seams where I joined the four patches.
Farmer's Wife number 64 Peace and Plenty. While I was posting this block, I noticed that something didn't look quite right. I became acquainted with the seam ripper, and now things are looking better. This is how NOT to put your pieces together!!
I did not make mine like the book. There are so many ways you could make this block. You can make yours just like the book with 1 1/2" finished half squares if you prefer. I sewed mine differently and eliminated 4 seams.
Cutting:
Background:
16- 1 1/2" finished half square triangles (2" strip cut with EA)
Color 2:
8- 1 1/2" finished half square triangles (2" strip cut with EA)
4 - triangles cut with 2" strip and Companion Angle (CA)
Sewing:
Sew together 8 half squares - square them up to 2" if necessary. Join them in pairs.Sew together 4 flying geese with the remaining triangles. I pressed the first seam toward the larger triangle and the second seam toward the smaller triangle. Square up to 2" x 3 1/2" if necessary
Join the flying geese units to the half square pairs to make 3 1/2" squares. Join the 4 squares together to complete the 6 1/2" block.
This is what your completed block should look like. I pressed the seams where the flying geese met open as well as the seams where I joined the four patches.
If you sew your 4 patches together correctly, your block should look like this.
Hovering Hawks
This is number #52 according to the FW. When I recommend you cut triangles, you can always use strips and cut them with right sides together. I am working from scraps, so this generally isn't possible for me. It does speed things up if you use strips because they are already lined up and ready to sew.
Cutting:
Color 1:
4- 2" squares
8- 1 1/2" finished half squares (2" strip EA)
Color 2:
10 - 1 1/2" finished half squares 2" strip (EA)
2 - 3 finished half squares (3 1/2" stgrip EA)
Sewing:
Sew all the half squares together (6) and trim if necessary to measure 2". Join 4 of the half squares with the squares to make 4 -3 1/2" four patches.
Join the remainging 2 half squares with the remaining small triangles and use your easy angle to trim to 3" finished half square.
Join the 3" finished half square units with the 3" finished half squares to make a a 3 1/2" square.
Trim away the corner of the 3 1/2" square using the take away method.
Add the remaining 2 triangles to the corners to complete the 3 1/2" squares. Square up to 3 1/2" if necessary.
Join the 4 squares to complete the 6 1/2" block.
Cutting:
Color 1:
4- 2" squares
8- 1 1/2" finished half squares (2" strip EA)
Color 2:
10 - 1 1/2" finished half squares 2" strip (EA)
2 - 3 finished half squares (3 1/2" stgrip EA)
Sewing:
Sew all the half squares together (6) and trim if necessary to measure 2". Join 4 of the half squares with the squares to make 4 -3 1/2" four patches. Join the remainging 2 half squares with the remaining small triangles and use your easy angle to trim to 3" finished half square.
Join the 3" finished half square units with the 3" finished half squares to make a a 3 1/2" square.
Trim away the corner of the 3 1/2" square using the take away method. 
Add the remaining 2 triangles to the corners to complete the 3 1/2" squares. Square up to 3 1/2" if necessary.
Join the 4 squares to complete the 6 1/2" block.
This is the back of the block if you want to see how I pressed mine. The fianal join seemed thick, so I pressed that seam open.
Block 51 Hovering birds is almost identical. You may want to do this one in also.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Square Dance
This is as fun block. I am in love with tangerine and pink. I am anxious to start a project in those colors, but I am continuing to work through my mountain of UFOs instead.
#85 Square Dance
I had to dig deep to find a large piece for this block. Judy came through by donating me some of her big scraps.
Cutting:
Dark (fuchsia):
If you look at the picture showing the cut away method, you can see how to line up the ruler correctly
Join these pieces to the Dark triangles. Press toward the rectangles.
Square up at 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" if necessary. Press the second rectangle toward the orange.
Join one of these to opposing sides of the large square. Press toward the large square. Add the 1 1/2" squares to the remaining 2 pieces. Press toward the squares. Join these to the remaining 2 sides.
I could tell you were ready for an easy one!
#85 Square Dance
I had to dig deep to find a large piece for this block. Judy came through by donating me some of her big scraps.
Cutting:
Dark (fuchsia):
- 1- 4 1/2" square
- 4- triangles cut with Companion Angle and 1 1/2" strip
- 8- 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"
4- 1 1/2" squares
Join these pieces to the Dark triangles. Press toward the rectangles. 
Square up at 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" if necessary. Press the second rectangle toward the orange.
Join one of these to opposing sides of the large square. Press toward the large square. Add the 1 1/2" squares to the remaining 2 pieces. Press toward the squares. Join these to the remaining 2 sides.
#25 Cups and Saucers
I found this to be a challenging block with the tiny flying geese.
Cutting:
Color 1:
Color 2:
I would recommend trimming off the corners of the Companion angle pieces before you begin. If you have any points on the 1" finished triangles, I would trim those off also. It will be much easier for you to line things up without those points in the way.
Start by making the flying geese. These should measure 1 1/2" X 2 1/2". I found it necessary to square these up after I made them. I pressed the first seam toward the larger triangle, and the second seam out. If I made it again, I would probably press these seams open to reduce bulk. When I am sewing these little pieces, and plan on pressing open, I use a shorter stitch length (like 2.0 on a digital machine). When quilting, you should never stitch in the ditch pieces that have been pressed open.
Make the 4 - 2" finished half squares. Square up if necessary (should measure 2 1/2"). Join the flying geese in pairs (should also measure 2 1/2") . Press the seam joining the pairs open.
Join the 9 - 2 1/2" units together by joining 3 blocks in a row and then joining the rows. I pressed all of these joins open.
I am pleased with how mine lines up. I would like to try to make this block similar to a pineapple block. If I get that far, I will post those instructions also. This method would eliminate a lot of seams.
Cutting:
Color 1:
1 - 2 1/2" square- 4 - 2" finished half squares (2 1/2" strip with Easy Angle)
- 8- triangles cut with Companion Angle 1 1/2" strip
Color 2:
- 4- 2" finished half squares (2 1/2" strip with Easy Angle)
- 16- 1" finished half square (1 1/2" strip with EA)
I would recommend trimming off the corners of the Companion angle pieces before you begin. If you have any points on the 1" finished triangles, I would trim those off also. It will be much easier for you to line things up without those points in the way.
Start by making the flying geese. These should measure 1 1/2" X 2 1/2". I found it necessary to square these up after I made them. I pressed the first seam toward the larger triangle, and the second seam out. If I made it again, I would probably press these seams open to reduce bulk. When I am sewing these little pieces, and plan on pressing open, I use a shorter stitch length (like 2.0 on a digital machine). When quilting, you should never stitch in the ditch pieces that have been pressed open.
Make the 4 - 2" finished half squares. Square up if necessary (should measure 2 1/2"). Join the flying geese in pairs (should also measure 2 1/2") . Press the seam joining the pairs open.
I am pleased with how mine lines up. I would like to try to make this block similar to a pineapple block. If I get that far, I will post those instructions also. This method would eliminate a lot of seams.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Broken Dishes
In the Farmer's Wife book, this is block number 11.
Cutting:
1 - 2" strip X width of fabric (WOF) of Both background and a contrasting color.
Use the Easy Angle (EA) and cut 16 each 1 1/2" finished half squares.
It will go super quick if you put the right sides together of the strips and cut both fabrics at the same time. Carefully pick them up and sew away. The edges will already be lined up and ready to go this way. I pressed all of these toward the dark color. Before you press, if you have the square up ruler, square up your blocks to 2"
Join the half squares in pairs; then join the pairs into 4 patches. You can either press these to one side, or press them open. Join the remaining 4 units to complete the 6 1/2" block. Use lots pins to keep things lined up nicely.
6 1/2" Completed Block. I had to use a couple different dark blues because I didn't have enough of the one dark blue I chose. This block would be equally effective if you chose med/dark scraps and a light for the background.
This is the back of the block showing how I pressed my pieces. Feel free to press yours differently.
Cutting:
1 - 2" strip X width of fabric (WOF) of Both background and a contrasting color.
Use the Easy Angle (EA) and cut 16 each 1 1/2" finished half squares.
It will go super quick if you put the right sides together of the strips and cut both fabrics at the same time. Carefully pick them up and sew away. The edges will already be lined up and ready to go this way. I pressed all of these toward the dark color. Before you press, if you have the square up ruler, square up your blocks to 2"
Join the half squares in pairs; then join the pairs into 4 patches. You can either press these to one side, or press them open. Join the remaining 4 units to complete the 6 1/2" block. Use lots pins to keep things lined up nicely.
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