Wednesday 23 May 2018

Wish Upon a Star Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Wish Upon A Star blog hop hosted by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt.
Star Blocks are one of my favourite blocks. Carol has 44 people participating in this hop so sit back and enjoy some star studded blog reading. Thank you Carol for organizing this hop! A complete list of those participating can be found at the end of this post.
My project is a scrappy star block. As this is a scrappy project I will be giving the measurements of the pieces needed to make it and not an overall fabric amount. All seam allowances are a 1/4''.

Scrappy star block in my favourite colour

So here goes. We will be making the 16 patch center first, it is a simple 4 x 4 grid. Grab yourself (8) 2 1/2'' neutral squares and (8) 2 1/2'' coloured squares or colours of choice.

Step 1: Arrange your squares in a 4 x 4 grid. Starting on the top row place a neutral square and a coloured square right sides together, sew a 1/4'' along one side. Do not cut the thread, we are going to chain stitch the remaining sets of squares. Simply feed your sets through until all 8 are sewn together. Press to the dark side.
Now lay your first set on top of your second set right sides together and stitch. Press as above. Row one is done repeat for row 2, 3, and 4.
Lay row 1 and 2 right sides together, butting or locking seams together this helps keep the seams aligned, and stitch along the long edge. Repeat for row 3 and 4. Press seams to one side.
Lay the 2 completed sections right sides together and again lock seams and stitch along the long side.
Congrats you now have a scrappy 16 patch! It should measure 8 1/2'' by 8 1/2''.

16 patch 8 neutrals and 8 green squares


Step 2: Adding the corner triangles.
Cut (2) 7 1/8'' squares. Cut in half diagonally.
Cut (4) 3 1/2'' squares of a neutral fabric for the background. Draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner, on the wrong side of the 3 1/2'' neutral squares. Lay right sides together on the corners of the 7 1/8'' square sew on the diagonal line. If you draw another line 1/2'' away from previous line and sew on that line, then cut apart between sewn lines you will end up with a bonus HST. Flip and press.

1. Cut square in half diagonally. 2. Draw a diagonal line on wrong side of background square, lay right sides together in the corner of the triangle. Sew on drawn line. 3. Cut a 1/4'' from sewn line. 4. Flip and press.

Sew one triangle to each side of the 16 patch unit creating a square in a square, although this is not a traditional square in a square as the points are not a 1/4'', they are 5/8''. Trim to 12 1/2''.

Sew triangle units to 16 patch center

Step 3: Four at a time flying geese.
Cut (1) 7 1/4'' square.
Cut (4) 3 7/8'' squares of neutral fabric or background fabric. Draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner on the wrong side of the four neutral squares. With right sides together, pin two of the neutral squares on the opposite corners of the 7 1/4'' square. Sew a 1/4'' on both sides of drawn line. Cut apart on the drawn line, press toward the neutral squares. With right sides together lay the remaining 3 7/8'' neutral squares on the corner of the above units. Sew a 1/4'' on both sides of the diagonal line. Cut apart on the drawn line line. Press seam out. Trim to 3 1/2'' x 6 1/2''. You now have four perfect flying geese.

1. Lay two background squares on opposite corners draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. 2. stitch a 1/4'' seam on both sides of the drawn line. 3. Cut apart on drawn line 4. Lay a background square in corner, stitch on both sides of drawn line. 5. Cut apart on drawn line 6. Makes 4 flying geese.

Step 4: HST's
Cut (4) 4 3/8'' squares of your neutral fabric and (4) star point colour fabric.
Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the neutral fabric square. Place right sides together with the star point fabric. Sew a 1/4'' on both sides of the drawn line. Cut diagonally on drawn line. Press to side. Trim to 3 1/2''. Make 8.

1. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the background squares, stitch on both sides of the drawn line. 2. Cut apart. 3. Press open to dark side and trim.

Step 5: Cut (4) 3 1/2'' squares of neutral or background fabric.
Using 2 hst's and one flying goose stitch together. See diagram below. Make four.

Stitch together two hst's and one flying goose. Make four. Add a background square to the both ends of two of the above units.
Refer to my picture below for the layout of the center  and the flying geese units. Join using a 1/4'' seam allowance. Press and trim to 18 1/2'' x 18 1/2''.



I made a small cutting error, when I made my block. I used 3 3/4'' background pieces instead of the 3 1/2''. I guess it pays to read my own directions a little bit more carefully. Now when did I notice the error? Of course after I had the block finished. If you look at the picture of the block at the top of this post you can see my little error.
Now I ask should I fix it or leave it?

Here's the complete list of stars.

May 21

May 22

May 23

May 24

May 25

Monday 21 May 2018

H2H Quilt Finish

A finish, especially for a worthy cause makes me smile. This cute quilt is bound for Ronald MacDonald House in London, Ontario and will be delivered this week. You can read more about it here. The Hands2Help is hosted each year by Sarah of Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This is the third year I have participated in H2H.

I quilted it with an allover loopy feather, I love the texture it gives and it keeps it cuddly and soft to wrap a little one in love.

fmqed with loopy feather

I used a bright print for the back it wasn't quite big enough. No problem I pieced it with a blue strip. Perfect if I do say so myself.
bright pieced back
I used a scrappy binding to finish this scrappy quilt.

rolled quilt showing the scrappy binding in a tree

Hop you get to quilt today!




Monday 14 May 2018

Lattice a New Pattern Release

Back in February Sandra of mmmquilts! hosted the 30 Quilt Design Challenge. I decided to play along and had fun coming up with design ideas.
The next step in designing is writing some of these concepts into patterns. Today I am excited to be  releasing the first of one of those 30 designs.

I would like to introduce you to 'Lattice'.


'Lattice'  includes four sizes in the pattern - Baby (40'' x 40''), Lap (50'' x 70''), Twin (70'' x 90'') and Queen (90'' x 100'') size.  

finished quilt with  fmqing
Anja of  Anja Quilts tested this pattern pop on over to see her version. Thanks Anja!

You can purchase my pattern (pdf only) on Craftsy

I thought I would do a little giveaway to celebrate my new pattern. So if you want to win a PDF copy of this pattern. Leave a comment on this blog, one winner will be chosen. 
Deadline 11:59 PM May 21, 2018
All entries welcome.