It is finally time to start COLOR MY WORLD! I made this quilt in May and June 2020 and had to keep it quiet until November 1, 2020. Let's get started!
Here is my top finished, with the delightful Stella for scale. The quilt is about 70" square:
RESOURCES:
1. The PATTERNS are available FREE to Star Members of
The Quilt Show. They are available ONLY on The Quilt Show for all of 2021. After this year, the designer gets the rights to her design back and you will be able to buy it from her. Join The Quilt Show now to get this incredible added bonus.
2. The SHOW which features this quilt is available to watch NOW. It airs January 1, 2021 and will be one of the FREE shows all year so everyone can see what a terrific project this is.
3. The FORUM: under CONNECT on www.thequiltshow.com find the Forum where you can ask questions, get answers, share your progress and be part of the world-wide quilting community.
4. Instructional Videos: under LEARN/BOM on www.thequiltshow.com, find several videos I have made to show you the steps for making this quilt , with the Freezer Paper Piecing technique. It is very important that the patterns are printed the correct size--the videos and show address this.
This month we begin to make Small Houses, 1 and 2, eight of each. In Month 3 we will make 16 more Small Houses, 3 and 4. Each of these houses is slightly different in design but the same size overall. DO NOT Sew them to each other after getting all 16 done--WAIT until Month 3 when you make 16 more that are different in design.
Here is a quick look at my Small Houses. You don't have to use the same colors I used, this just gives you an idea:
FABRIC SELECTION: You decide how to build your houses, using colors you choose.
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| The Kit Fabrics I received |
I recommend you cut one strip of 3.5" x width of fabric (WOF) from each fabric EXCEPT the black and white and background. The black and white are for the Inner and Outer Roads, the background is cut wider than 3.5":
Each Small House #1 and #2 are made from 4 fabrics plus the background: a door, windows, roof and the building. Use the Cutting Instructions to cut out the fabrics for your first small house #1. SAVE all the Scraps:
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| Small House #1 and # 2 |
Start by making one--select the 4 fabrics for the house and get started. There are videos on how to Work With Freezer Paper, and the Basics of Sewing the Blocks.
For the Background, I came up with a way to efficiently cut the background pieces with minimal waste. There is a Video for that. Find all the Videos here: Instructional Videos
I recommend you make the eight Small House #1's THEN move on to make the eight Small House #2's. The bottoms are different sizes though they look very similar and I wouldn't want to sew a small bottom for House # 2 to the top of Small House #1. And the Background angles are the opposite in Houses # 1 and 2; I found it less confusing to concentrate on just making all the #1's then making all the #2's.
The patterns can be used over and over--some I used 12 times. When most of the wax is gone, I simply used a light swipe of fabric glue stick to lightly secure the fabric to the freezer paper pattern. Not sewing through the paper makes it possible to use just two sheets of freezer paper to make all this month's houses.
Another advantage to the Freezer Paper technique is using the same size stitch for piecing as usual, a 2.0 for me. This makes it easy to "un-sew" when you sew something wrong--and we all do that from time to time.
The only disadvantage I can find is that since I was not sewing through the paper, if I just grabbed the paper out of the back of the machine, it was easy to have the fabric come off the paper. This is especially true as there is less wax on the freezer paper. Then I had to carefully line up the seam of the fabric with the line on the paper--not really easy, but really important. I quickly learned to hold the paper AND fabric in my hand when removing the unit from the machine.
Like any other new skill, there is a learning curve. Just take it easy, don't rush, and know you will get better with practice. There is no rush to get these 16 Small Houses done--you have all month.
Next month we will make the Mariner's Compass center. Until then, take advantage of all the videos, read the pattern, check the Forum frequently, and enjoy the Journey.
Let's quilt.
Barbara
thanks for all the help you have given so freely Barbara
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteIt will be incredible to see this come together!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. Thousands have downloaded the pattern.
DeleteIt's obvious Barbara that you have put a lot of hard work into this project, and your expertise, experience in quilting and teaching really shine! This pattern just says WOW to me. Will be fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHi I'm in the UK. Will there be a pdf pattern that I could print off and join jn please x
ReplyDeleteThe link to join The Quilt Show is right up there in RESOURCES, 1.
Deletehello I get this pattern thanks
ReplyDeleteYour encouragement and help are invaluable. I found a spot of glue using my thread cutter alleviated the problem if separating the freezer paper from the fabric.
ReplyDeleteJust finished the houses.I sew to keep me away from cleaning supplies😉 Have a question...in the video you or maybe Alex mentioned fusible bias tape as maybe being in the kits. I the pattern I didn't see it mentioned...and was wondering...?
ReplyDeleteThe fusible bias tape is used for tree trunks and in the skyscrapers, like the Eiffel Tower. About 16 yards is used in the quilt. The Introduction has the Kit information that includes two spools of fusible pre folded 1/4" bias tape in black.
DeleteHi, Thanks for your clear instructions!
ReplyDeleteI have used starch when doing paper piecing but you don't mention it for this quilt. Just wondering why. Also, I cant' find your instructions for preparing fabric except to wash, dry and fold when warm. Are there more instructions somewhere?
I don’t use starch much. Some find starched fabrics don’t stick well to freezer paper.
DeleteThis blog suggests you cut 3.5” strips and work from those strips to build the houses. What other instructions are you looking for?
Information about preparing the fabric
DeleteThis is the first quilt I've found interesting enough to do. My head is spinning with ideas for different fabrics and a few different buildings/houses to personalize it because I usually design my own quilts.
ReplyDeleteI found that stitching thru the lines with no machine thread makes the folding so much easier. Just a thought,
ReplyDeleteLove this paper piecing method, great to learn something new!
Thanks so much for your tips, Barbara. Looking forward to seeing this quilt come together.❤
ReplyDeleteLove your thorough instruction and tips. You are awesome! It is much easier with all the pre-knowledge that you have provided us!!!
ReplyDeleteMake sure you are logged on as a current Star Member. You may have to log out and log back in if you just joined. The BOM is under LEARN :
ReplyDeletehttps://thequiltshow.com/learn/bom/bom-2021
I tried sewing the background to my houses and the last 2 houses are not right, so I need the templates to cut the background. I wonder if I cut the templates apart to use or ? That one thing about them being one size and up or down facing is clear. The part I don't know is what to do with those pieces of paper, to cut my triangles. Please. Do I cut the paper apart along the lines and lay the pieces of background on the bottom and cut along the edges of the triangles?
ReplyDeleteDo NOT cut the paper—it is just a visual guide for cutting the background fabric. Cut the fabric exactly as shown on the paper.
DeleteIs there any reason not to copy the template pages directly onto the freezer paper instead of tracing it? It would save the time it takes to trace and relabel all the templates
ReplyDeleteThe only people who may have to trace rather than print directly to the freezer paper are those with a laser printer who cannot fun freezer paper through that printer easily, if at all. Printing with an inkjet printer is a snap once the settings are accurate. Be sure the 1" box is absolutely perfect.
DeleteThank you Barbara for doing a wonderful job teaching us. I am New to this method and loving it. I would love to learn the pc better so I could share more. Thanks again for everything.
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, Would 4 yards of background be sufficient?
ReplyDeleteIf you cut very carefully, save every scrap and are willing to piece come of the large pieces that will come in the second half of the year If it's a busy print, those seams wont' show. If it reads as a solid, the seams might show but after quilting will be less visible.
DeleteOkay, thanks Barbara!
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, Im very excited to create this gorgeous quilt. I printed off the pattern, measured the 1" square and it measured accurately. I then decided to (thankfully) print off 16 small houses and tape the paper pieces together to ensure they were accurate. To my dismay they do not come together in a full circle. I am so grateful I didn't start cutting fabric. Suggestions as to why my pattern isnt the correct size after doing all the steps and carefully measuring the square?
ReplyDeleteBe sure the 1” is absolutely correct. What is the height of your paper houses, measured through the center, from the top of the house to the bottom edge, including seam allowances?
DeleteI am only doing the bottom half of the houses with paper. The bottom half of the small house 1 is 4 and 5/16th" including seam allowances. The bottom half of small house 2 is 3" including seam allowances.
ReplyDeleteThe #1 is about right, #2 should be 3 3/8”. Weird one is about right but one is not. Fabric will move and can be eased to fit, unlike paper. When the patterns are the right size, they do fit. Don’t know what else to advise.
DeleteThank you for your help! I will keep adjusting the paper print until it is close to what you are saying.
ReplyDeleteYour quilts above are beautiful! I don't know that I will be as accomplished, ever. If you have time to answer this: On an average, how many hours does it take to finish one (first cut to finish)?
ReplyDeleteNo average, each quilt is different. I made Color My World in 8 weeks, start to finish. Another one took 8 years. When I am working on a bed quilt with a deadline, I sew 6-7 hours a day, 6-7 days a week. Complexity adds to the time required as well.
DeleteWondering when we will be cutting the border strips? Or will we be piecing them together?
ReplyDeleteThe instructions have cutting the borders from Width of Fabric (WOF) in the last month. 7 strips cut 5" wide, so about 1 yard of fabric. A few people have directional fabric for their background and wanted to cut on lengthwise grain. These things come up in the Forum and I answer them there
DeleteHelp, I'm sure I saw a diagram for cutting the houses out, or am I dreaming?
ReplyDeleteThe website is in transition currently for another few days. The patterns and Forum are not available until it is in place. Use the link above in a couple days to see if it’s available then.
Deletethank you, glad I wasn't dreaming. Barbara, can you cut what you need for one house, or more, from a fat quater?
DeleteYes, you can get a lot of parts from a fat quarter. As it says above, cut strips 3.5"x width of fabric, 20" or so from a fat quarter from all fabrics except black and white--those are the roads, and the background. From these you will cut the house pieces, the door, windows, and roof. Once you use up a strip, cut another from that fabric--if you really mix up your fabrics well it will be quite a while before you use up any strips.
DeleteBarbara,How much fabric is needed for the back ground? I would like to pick my own back ground from what is offered in the kits.
ReplyDelete4.25 yards if all the background is the same. There have been some posts on the Forum about how to use two or three different backgrounds and what the amounts are for those. Look on the Forum to find those discussions.
DeleteThank you,Love your videos
ReplyDeleteI am super excited to start this quilt. I only just discovered it and signed up. I am not going to try to catch up quickly but just do the Jan and Feb blocks in 2022.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
No rush. Be sure to watch the LIVE and other videos and read the monthly blog for the most help.
DeleteHi Barbara, I'm such a dunce, I started w/you in Nov, I believe, got side tracked with life, didn't get far. But, I have been keeping track of you on the quilt show, FB, & your blog, I thought. Tonight, I finally found this first blog! I only have the first 16 sm houses done, but I'm raring to go now. I'm so glad I found your Monthly blog. I'll catch up sooner or later. I love this pattern, your skills at teaching, & I'll post my picture when I finish my mariners compass, roads, trees, & the rest of the sm houses. (Freezer Patterns are made). I also love my stash of Fassette fabs, so this will be a beauty when done. I am caught up on saving & printing all of the patterns, & made a Big book for all of this. I do cut my own freezer paper. Thankyou, you're a great teacher. I'm so glad everything else is going on the back burner for awhile. This is going to be fun!
ReplyDeleteHello everyone, just wondering if anyone else had made this quilt out of wool felt rather than shot cottons? I saw the most beautiful interpretation of it on Facebook and was wondering if anyone else had done it in another fabric type? I really want to attempt it but am a little bit intimidated without proper instructions! I'm hoping to be in touch with the original maker of the wool felt quilt for her kind help and assistance. I'd love to hear any advice etc. Thanks so much xx
ReplyDelete