Just a Quick Post

I've been traveling to teach so just want to drop in with a "teaser".

Here is a "secret sewing" project I've been working on--more to come on this king size quilt top in the future:

And why not include a "happy anniversary" wish to my beloved, today is our 43rd:

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Local Classes Summer 2019 and a Question

The Summer Schedule at Patches & Stitches, Huntsville, AL is set--find it HERE.

I am offering a new class--Won't You Be My Neighbor: paper piece the houses and trees, quick piece the stars:

My go-to giveaway quilt, Southern Super Star--this bed-size top can be pieced in a weekend:

My Favorite Things, Part 2: even if you didn't take Part 1, you can still learn how to make this, a quilt with my favorite blocks:

There will be three new classes, four hour sessions each:

Let Me Help You--stuck on a project, forget how to finish? Bring your project and the instructions and I'll get you back on track:

Machine Piecing: Learn the Basics: learn tips and tricks for perfect piecing--a PROCESS class, not a project--just learn how to improve your piecing skills.

Hand Piecing: Learn the Basics: another PROCESS class, learn hand piecing AND English Paper Piecing--always have a portable project ready to go.

All dates, times and cost for these classes are on the Patches & Stitches website--see link above.

Now, the question for you--I am planning to offer a couple more local classes, Summer, Fall or Winter. Several of you have expressed interest in these classes. Which would you like to take? Do you prefer one all-day session or two half-day sessions with a few weeks in between? Or would you prefer two all-day sessions, at a higher cost, so you can get a lot of class time instruction?

Circa 2016:  great pattern from Temecula Quilt Company:

5 Easy Pieces: learn several ways to make Flying Geese:

Secret Stars:  Double Sawtooth blocks, on-point set:

I would love to hear which of these  you think would be of interest to the most quilters.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

A Few Antiques

While searching in the storage closet for an antique top to take with me on a teaching trip, I came upon one I had forgotten about and two that needed to be photographed.

The most recent purchase is this Flying Geese Strippy quilt top, bought from Cindy Rennels, of Cindy's Antique Quilts.:

She posted photos on Instagram and I bit--the fabrics are quite interesting and I am a fan of Flying Geese quilts. Entirely hand pieced. She sells at all the big shows, and will be at Paducah later this month, check out her booth.

The next is a quilt top I forgot I bought--the tag on it says $10 so I am guessing this String Quilt came from an antique shop. It is also entirely hand pieced, a bit primitive, even humble, but someone put a lot of time into it many years ago:

The backdrop is my Lifetime quilt, still covering the design wall

I enjoy studying all the different fabrics and researching their approximate age.

This third top I bought in 2015 from Julia Hodenius-Kelly of Pique'. She also sells at the big shows and always has interesting quilts, usually quite old and often has wonderful old fabrics which I don't buy buy admire--how did they survive all these years? I believe this one came from Pennsylvania as did I. I began reproducing it and need to get back to it. It, too, is entirely hand pieced:

Several of the fabrics are "patched"

Pretty cool fabrics

On an edge, I think she was running low on fabrics

Far right is the "border"--a half row--perhaps she got tired and just stopped

You never know what you'll find in my closets. Oh, here was the one I was searching for and found:

I have written about this quilt top and its' interesting story before--check it out here.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

SIZZLE--Block 4

This is the 2019 Block of the Month from The Quilt Show. Sizzle is designed by Becky Goldsmith and the quilt pattern is FREE to Star Members.  Join today  to be part of the fun. 

Be sure to READ ALL THE GENERAL DIRECTIONS and WATCH ALL THE VIDEOS. Each month's pattern has detailed instructions as well. 

PRIOR POSTS WITH HELPFUL INFORMATION:

Block 1
Block 2
Block 3

We have come to the first of 3 blocks that have that small circle in the middle--Blocks 8 and 9 have the same size circle. When you print the paper patterns for Block 4, you will have 8 paper patterns for the center half circles--you will use two of those paper patterns for this block and save the remaining half circle paper patterns for Blocks 8 and 9--you will have two extra.

Becky's instructions make it very clear it is important to put the correct fabric in the correct position. I find it helpful to use marking pencils to mark the paper.  Here is the center circle paper patterns, marked, and with the correct fabrics in place, ready to sew:

Here are the Diamonds. NOTE It is very important to have 4 units that have the green fabric in position 4 and 4 units that have blue fabric:

And the Wedges:

CUTTING TIPS:

This month I am sharing some of my cutting tips. I want the fastest method that gives me the result I want. Fabric #1 for the Wedge is cut from 1.75" strips, into 8 pieces, 1.75" x 5.5". First, I cut the strips 1.75". Since there are two of them, I can layer them neatly on top of each other, cutting 4 layers at a time. I use a 12" long ruler--5.5" x 2 = 11". I place the 11" mark on the end of the fabric, BEYOND THE SELVEDGE:

 Make the first cut, rotate the 11" strip, place the 11" ruler mark on the cut edge, and remove the selvedges, which are now on the right side--I will say, I usually just leave the selvedges in place--they will be cut off when all the sewing is done, one less step to do now. Just be sure none of the selvedge is included in the fabric piece--meaning, be sure you  have at least 5.5" of real fabric in the cut pieces:

 Slide the 5.5" line on the ruler to the left side--11"-5.5"= 5.5":

If I have both strips stacked together, I have quickly cut 8 pieces, 1.75" x 5.5". If you prefer to cut one layer at a time, you simply do this process twice to create the 8 pieces needed:

I do the same thing cutting background pieces for the Wedges, using two strips of fabric, that is 4 layers of fabric. I stick with the 12" ruler since it is handy, though I could use a ruler at least 16" long to make the first cut. Here I have the 12" line, the end of the ruler, on the left, and make the first cut at 12":

 Slide the ruler to 8", make that cut:

 Slide the ruler to 4", make that cut:

Then I simply cut one more stack of four layers into the last 4" square--each block requires 16 4" squares of background for the wedges.

I find this to be fast, I am sliding the ruler, not picking it up. This works well when the units to be cut are easy-to-use numbers, 4, 8, 12, etc. If dealing with
 2 5/8" or numbers like that, it's not so fast if you cut the units the wrong size. You get to decide what cutting method works best for you.

Here are all the fabrics/patterns cut out, and ready to sew:

SEWING TIPS:

Although the basic process is the same as the previous 3 blocks, Diamonds and Wedges, these Diamonds have a lot of lines at the tip. To be sure you are starting to sew on the correct line, place your finger on the solid sewing line between Fabric 1 and 2 and follow it up to the outside tip--that will tell you which line to start on. Here I have marked that line in red:

When you lay out the Diamond/Wedge paired units, be sure the two fabrics in position 4 of the Diamonds alternate with each other. In the Cool kit, these fabrics are Flume and Grass. When four units are sewn together, you have a half block, repeat exactly the same steps to make the other half:

Once both halves are sewn together, it is time to tackle that little circle in the center. I highly recommend you stop and watch Show 2401 again to see Becky pin and sew that small circle in place. Start at about 31 minutes to see this all-important step.

Becky also has a great video showing this step--even though it focuses on working with Block 8, the sewing process to set-in the circle is very similar--Pinning and Sewing the Center Circle--watch it before sewing in the circle.

Remember, this is not a race and slow and steady is the way to go with this step. While the paper is off the large part of the block, you leave the paper on the center circle until it is pieced-in to the center. Use as many pins as you  need, sew slow and steady, and you will be amazed how great your pieced-in center circle looks.

Add the appropriate Block Corners and your beautiful Block 4 is complete. NOTE: it does not matter if you add the Block Corners before or after you set in the Center Circle--I did the circle first because I was eager to get to it. Becky recommends sewing the Block Corners on first, to protect the bias edges of the Wedges.

Let's quilt!

Barbara

Judging the Batting Brigade Quilt Show

Yesterday I was privileged to  judge the Batting Brigade Quilt Show, in Florence, AL. The guild has about 100 members and the show has about 80 quilts. It took most of the day to select the best of the best, not an easy task.

The judging is "blind", meaning all I know is what category the quilt is in, and each category is judged as a whole. Best of Show is selected from all the First Place quilts in each category.

Some of these photos were taken just before it was time for me to leave, many of the ribbons were not yet in place, nor the placards with the quilt information, so I am not able to give credit at the moment. I hope to get this information and will update this post to recognize the maker and quilter.

Best of Show: from category 2, Bed Quilts-Individual-Hand Quilted:

Made by Margaret Miller

Best Machine Quilting:

Quilted by Terri Rogers

Pieced by Jane Barcomb

Best Hand Quilting:

 Made by Margaret Miller

Best Use of Color:

Pieced by Kate Basden

Best Piecing:

Made by Connie Ramsey

Best Applique':

Made by Margaret Miller

Judges' Choice--the one I would take home if I could:

Made by Claudetta Henderson

A few more you might enjoy:

Straight Line Quilting is very effective here

Simple design, simple quilting, very well done

Very large pieces, the quilting was just the right touch 

Very simple design--the elaborate quilting draws you in for a closer look

Just a small detail of the quilting

A cheerful, happy quilt

Simple, effective--I guessed correctly, this is an Auburn quilt

First Place Miniature, excellent piecing

Honorable Mention Miniature, teeny weeny logs, about 1/8" each

If you are anywhere in the North Alabama area, try to see this show:

2019 Quilts by the River Quilt Show
March 29-30, 2019, 10-5 both days, $5 admission

Edgemont United Methodist Church
1330 Eauclaire Ave
Florence, AL 35630

At 10 and 2 there will be a bed turning with one of their most prolific quilters, Linda Sherrod--looks like an event to see.

Let's quilt!

Barbara