Category Archives: QAL 2016

Mar16

Block 3 – Martha Washington’s Star

Posted on by
Standard

Following are the pieces you will need to cut for EACH block:

Neutral

(2) 1 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ rectangles

(2) 1 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ rectangles

(4) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ squares

(4) 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangles

(2) 4″ x 4″ squares

(1) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ square

Color 1

(8) 3 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ squares

Color 2

(1) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ square

MWS 1

Take the Neutral 4 1/2″ square and the Color 2 4 1/2″ square and lay one on top of the other.  Lay your ruler from corner to corner and cut in half diagonally.  Without moving the fabric pieces, cut between the other two corners to make 4 smaller triangles of each fabric.

MWS 2

Lay one neutral and one color 1 triangle next to each other as shown below.

MWS 3

Sew them together on two of the short edges to make a larger triangle.  Do the same with the remaining triangle pieces.  You should have four pieces that look like the picture below.

MWS 4

Cut the 4″ squares in half diagonally once.  Center the pieced triangle on one of the neutral triangles and stitch together.  Trim to make 3 1/2″ squares with the intersection meeting at the 1 3/4″ mark in both directions.

MWS 5

Sew the four blocks together as shown to make a pinwheel block.

MWS 6

Mark all eight of the  3 1/2″ Color 2 squares from corner to corner.

MWS 7

As with the Block 2 you will make four Flying Geese blocks by laying the 3 1/2″ square at the end of the 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ rectangle and stitch just outside of the drawn line.  You should be able to see the distance on this picture.

MWS 8

Cut the excess away.

MWS 9

And press.

MWS 10

Repeat this on the other side of the rectangle.  Make four Flying Geese units and lay all the units out as shown below.

MWS 12

Stitch together and press well.

Add the 1 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ pieces to two opposite sides.  Then add the 1 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ pieces to the other sides to finish the block.

MWS 13

 

Mar2

Block 2 – Summer Winds

Posted on by
Standard

For this block you will need to cut the following pieces for each block:

Neutral:

(6) 3″ x 3″ squares

(8) 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ squares

(4) 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles

(2) 1 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ rectangles*

(2) 1 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ rectangles*

*I cut a piece of neutral 12 1/2″ x WOF and also 14 1/2″ x WOF.  For each block I cut the 1 1/2″ pieces from these strips.

Color 1:

(6) 3″ x 3″ squares

(1) 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ squares

Color 2:

(4) 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ squares

(4) 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles

 

SW 1

We are going to make HST (half square triangle) units again.  However, this time I’m not going to draw the pencil line through the center.  With smaller pieces you can just use a piece of painters’ tape instead.  Place a ruler flat against your quarter inch foot and lay a piece of tape along the line formed by the ruler in front of the foot.  This will be your guide.

SW 2

Using the 3″ squares of the neutral and color 1, place one of each square together.  Place one of the corners at the edge of the quarter inch foot and make a seam toward the opposite corner.  Guide the pieces through the machine keeping the front corner on the edge of the tape as shown below.  This will make your first seam.

SW 3

Do the same thing on for the 2nd seam.  Cut the piece into two between the two seams.  Press toward the darker fabric.

SW 5

Trim each unit to 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″.

SW 6

Lay out three of the HST units with one of the 2 1/2″ squares from color 2 as shown below.

SW 7

Sew the units together as shown below.  You will make 4 of these.

SW 8

For the flying geese units you will need to draw the pencil line from corner to corner on the 2 1/2″ neutral squares.

SW 9

Lay one of the 2 1/2″ marked neutral squares at one end of a 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ color 2 rectangles.

SW 10

Typically when you make the flying geese unit using this method you will come up with a unit that is a little smaller than needed.  However, this little tip will give you the correct size unit.  Do NOT stitch directly on the drawn line.  Stitch about 2-3 threads to the outside of the line.  My needle barely touches the line on one side, but it is not directly on the line.

SW 11

Cut off the excess.

SW 12

Press as shown below

SW 13

Repeat on the opposite side.

SW 14

SW 15

Don’t forget to trim this unit to 2 1/2″ by 4 1/2″ being careful that the “v” intersection is right at 1/4″.

 

Assemble the units as shown below.

SW 17

Piece them together.

SW 18

Square up the block to 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″.

SW 20

Sew the 1 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ strip to opposite sides.  Press and stitch the 1 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ strips to the remaining sides and press.

 

 

Feb17

Block 1 – Yankee Puzzle

Posted on by
Standard

There are truly only 6 blocks in this quilt.  Each block is made twice with opposing colors.  For instance if the center block is color 1 in your first block, it will be color 2 in your second block.  I will be calling the fabrics either neutral, color 1 or color 2.  You can assign these names based on your own fabrics.  The color 1 and color 2 will be the opposite for the second of each of the blocks.  Keeping the colors straight won’t matter too much until we get to the sashing and cornerstones.  Border fabrics will be referred to as Inner border and Outer border.

For the Yankee Puzzle block you will need to cut the following:

Neutral

Two 4″ x WOF strips — subcut into 16 4″ squares.  Save the remainder of the 4″ strip.

One 12 1/2″ x WOF strip — subcut four 1 1/2″ pieces.  Save the remainder of the 12 1/2″ strip.

One 14 1/2″ x WOF strip — subcut four 1 1/2″ pieces.  Save the remainder of the 14 1/2″ strip.

Color 1

One 4″ x WOF strip — subcut into 8 4″ squares.  Save the remainder of the 4″ strip.

Color 2

One 4″ x WOF strip — subcut into 8 4″ squares.  Save the remainder of the 4″ strip.

YP 2

Each of the neutral pieces will be paired with each of the colored pieces to make half square triangles.

To make half square triangles (HST) draw a pencil line from corner to corner using a straight edge.

YP 3

Sew a scant 1/4″ away from both sides of the line.

YP 4

Cut between the two seams

YP 5

Press each unit open with the seam allowance facing the darkest of the two fabrics.

Trim each block to exactly 3 1/2″ square.

YP 6

Arrange the blocks as shown in the picture below

YP 7

After you have the pieces sewn together add the 1 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ to two opposite sides and the 1 1/2″ x 14 1/2″ to the remaining sides.

YP 8

Feb11

Yardage for Quilt Along

Posted on by
Standard

Have you decided on the colors for your quilt along yet?  Here is the required yardage.

Background                  6 1/2 yards

Color 1                           2 yards

Color 2                           2 yards

Inner Border                  1/2 yard

Outer Border                  1 5/8 yards

 

Although my electronic samples all have solid borders, I have chosen a medium-large scale print for my outer border.  I have broken down the border yardages should you decide to do the same.  I hope you will join us.

I will post the first blocks next Wednesday, February 17.