WIP Wednesday

Alright, It's that time again.  To take stock of what I am in the middle of and what I have planned for the next few months. It is always nice to stop and see how many balls you are actually juggling :)

Of course, my largest work in progress is the continuation of the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long.  We are about 1/2 way through now and have so many fun people participating.  My blocks look like this right now.  There is still time to join if you are interested.  The easiest way to read up on what's going on is under the Quilt-A-Long tab at the top of this blog.  It is right under the second P in Happy in the banner :)

I also got my Mono-Cramatic quilt started this last week.  This is the one for Project Modern which is also going to be a gift for my brother and his wife.  It took me 3 + hours to cut out the pieces for this quilt.   Because of the nature of the design, I could only cut it one row at a time, and there are 24 rows.  Happy to be done with that.

I also started on the first few rows.  I know you don't know what it is going to look like but I can say, I am super excited about how it is turning out so far :)  (how is that for a teaser :)

I also am continuing along with half of the quilting community with Block-A-Palooza.  I got all caught up last week only to get back behind yesterday.  Le sigh :)  Ah well, I kind of like doing a lot of blocks at a time so I think the plan is to get behind a bit again and then catch up all at once.

Okay, so that just about covers the actual things I am currently sewing.  As far as things pushed down the line

I never got to making my Valentines table runner from my Holiday Charm pack, catch-up needed.
I also need to make some table runners for my Sister-In-Law as a trade for her marvelous crocheted slippers
And then there is my ABC, Log Cabin quilt that I have only made 1 of the 28 blocks needed.
And I am always keeping busy "Baking"  I just have to squeeze them in between the other projects.

And Lastly, what is taking up all of my current quilting time (and adding to the list of catch-up's above) . . . We are preparing to sell our house.  It will go on the market in the next few weeks :)  And while we don't have any major projects to get it ready, just cleaning and touch-ups, it still takes me away from what I really want to be doing.  Ah well, I will miss it after we move.  It is our first house and we have been very happy here :)

And that about sums it up :)  I am linking this up to Lee's super fun blog, Freshly Pieced

Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Disappearing 16 Patch Instructions

Okay, so you have all heard of the Disappearing 9 patch right??  Well this is my version of a Disappearing 16 Patch.  This is going to be fun!!!  So, first off, See below to see how many Disappearing 16 Patch Blocks you will be making.  (Note . . .If your block number is an odd number you will have 2 triangle pieces left over when finished :)

So, let's get started.  Grab your first 16 patch block that you made in the last step.  Lay it out on your mat.  Don't worry to much about lining it up, it doesn't matter.  Now, if you have a yard stick it will probally be easier to use.  Unfortunately, I don't own one.  Crazy, I know.  If you don't have a yard stick use your long ruler and another ruler lined up together.  Lay your ruler diagonally across your entire block.  You want to try and make sure that your ruler is intersecting each of the corners.  Make sure to really smooth your corners out, they will want to creep in on you :)  Once you are all lined up, go ahead and cut along the diagonal.  

Now don't move your fabric.  Go ahead and pick up your rulers or yardstick and align them along the opposite diagonal.  Once again, make sure to intersect all of your points and to smooth out your corners.  Honestly, a lot of times your points will be all lined up and then you will find the edge doesn't line up.  Most often it just needs to be smoothed out.  Once you are all lined up go ahead and slice along the diagonal.

Now you can go ahead and pull your 4 parts apart.  You will end up with 1 - 2 of these little scrap pieces hanging out either under your square or poking out.  Go ahead and cut them off.  This will help to reduce bulk making them easier to piece in future steps.

So out of each 16 Patch Block you will end up with 4 wonderful, adorable, easy to make, triangles :)

Continue this process until all of your 16 patch blocks have been cut.  You will have a fun little pile of triangles.

Now, back to more random piecing fun!!!  Go ahead and grab 2 triangles and line them up as follows.  Once again, you are trying to keep it random so don't stress to much about what lines up where.  Just try to avoid having the exact same blocks across from each other :)

Lay your top triangle onto your bottom triangle with right sides together.  Once again we are going to pin just like you did your 16 patch blocks.  Pin your seams first, making sure they match up.  Then pin your edges.  If you have any bubbles smooth them out with your finger and then put in a vertical pin :)  Continue to pin your blocks until you have done the required amount of sets.  (Once again, remember, if you are required to have an odd number of blocks you will have 2 leftover triangles)

Now it is on to sewing.  Once again, sew a 1/4" seam along your pinned edge.  Make sure to remove pins as you go and to double check your seams that they are laying flat by running your finger underneath the seam right before you sew across it.  Continue to chain stitch all of your Disappearing 16 Patch Blocks.

Go ahead and clip your threads between your sets.  Now, just like before, we are going to press the new center seam open.  Yes, you will have some little overhangs at the edges, we will deal with them shortly :)

Now, this step is not necessary but only takes a second and I like to do it to reduce bulk. Along the corners of the inner squares there will be a small triangle that is "hanging out".  (The little red plaid one)  I like to clip these out in all four of the corners.  Once again, not necessary, it just reduces bulk.

Lastly, turn over your block over.  You will have 4 little triangles sticking out from the center seam.  Go ahead and clip them even with the block.  Repeat for all 4 edges.

And there you have it.  A stack of adorable Disappearing 16 Patch Block.  We will be adding the sashing next.  Yippee Skipee, we are getting closer :)

Don't forget to post your pictures of your progress on the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr page.  It is so fun to see everyone's progress :)

Winners - A Few Days Late :)

Did I say Friday??  Oops, I got a little distracted and completely forgot about the giveaway results.  So without further ado, the 4 winners of the 400 follower card giveaway are . . .

 

- Barb said...

Four Hundred followers is awesome.....congrats.

Christa V said...

SOOOOOO glad I am a follower!

 JanetK said..

ooh! I'm a follower! These cards are so lovely!

Quiltjane said...

Congratulations on your 4th Century of followers. Well done. I always enjoy your blog

Congratulations Ladies!!  I have sent you emails to get your address :)  And thank you to Jewel for helping me figure out how to add the number generator pictures :)  I owe you one :)

And lastly, Thank You to all of my wonderful followers!!!  You all are the greatest and make me so happy each and every day to be part of this amazing virtual quilting community!!!

Block-A-Palooza Back-Up No More :)

So I got a little behind in Block-A-Palooza.  As in 5 blocks behind :)  On Monday morning, I sat down and cut out the 4 blocks that I was behind at that point.  I found I actually really preferred cutting out several blocks at once.  It seemed to save time.  (especially where I don't have a designated cutting area and so it all comes up to my dining room table :)  So with that said, don't be surprised if you don't see any more of these blocks for another 2 weeks :)

So, here they are, in no particular order, the 5 block-a-palooza blocks completed.  And now, I can say I am half way done and all caught up!!  Yippee Skippee!!

I love how this block turned out!!!  I just love the color combination and it was fun to get to do something a little different.

Can I just say, flying geese aren't really my favorite.  So ya, I had to major push through this block.  That is a lot of little tiny flying geese :)

This block was a lot of fun.  A little more labor intensive than most of the blocks so far but a lot of fun.  I had a fun time mixing all of the bright colors.

I love pink and yellow together.  It reminds me of pink lemonade.  This block was simple and sweet.  And only having to do 4 flying geese was sweet :)

I loved tying in some solids in this block.  Also, having a large square allowed me to use one of my more fun and bold prints.  Super fun!!

And here they are so far.  The 8 blocks for Block-A-Palooza.  I just love how they are coming together.  Super bright and just screaming of Spring!!  And right now, I am so ready for Spring!!

Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long 16 Patch Block Instructions

So are you ready to start sewing??  I am so excited!!!  To start we are going to be making 16 patch blocks.  I know, not what you expected, but trust me, this is a fun and fast way to whip this quilt together.  So to start, check out the chart below and find the size you are making.  It will let you know how many 16 patch blocks you need to make.  So for example, I am making a 3 x 4 size or 51 x 68 so I will need to make 6 16 patch blocks :)

So if you know how to make a 16 patch block go to it.  If you are a beginner, no worries, I will walk you through step by step on how to make your block.  First, you need to decide if you are going to make all of your blocks together in assembly line format or if you want to make one at a time.  I will be showing how to make one at a time but if you want to do assembly line just repeat the instructions for how many blocks you are making :)

Onto the sewing!!!!  We'll start by matching 2 patch pieces.  Grab 2 of your 5" squares.  Try not to worry to much about what you are putting together, you want to keep it random.  I just make sure that I am not aligning 2 of the exact same prints next to each other :)

Lay your first 5 " Square onto your second 5" square with right sides together.  Pin along the edge.  Now go ahead and repeat this step 7 times so that you have 8 pinned together sets.  That is for one block :)  If you are doing assembly line pin together the number of blocks you need times 8 :)  Make sense??  And just in case you are wondering, Yes, you should have extra charms.  We will get to those in a week or so :)

And you are ready to sew.  Grab your first set of 2 and sew a 1/4" along the pin side.  Make sure to remove pins as you go.  I know it is tempting to run over them but it is a really bad habit (one I am still working on breaking :)  Once  you have finished your first set don't cut your threads.  This is where you chain stitch.  Chain stitching is sewing all of your pieces one after another.  It saves a lot of time.  So keep feeding your sets through until you have sewn a 1/4" seam along all the edges.

When you have sewn the last set go ahead and remove them from your machine.  Clip the small set of threads between each of your 2 patch sets.  (I know, I need a new ironing board, this poor guy has been with me since college and has been used and abused :)

Now go ahead and open your 2 patch pieces.  You are going to press the seams open.  The reason for this is to reduce the bulk that is created.  Go ahead and press all of your 2 patch pieces.

So now you have a stack of 2 patch pieces that look like this :)  Aren't they just cute :)

Now we are going to turn those 2 patch pieces into 4 patch rows.  Once again, try not to stress to much about the way things are lining up, just try to avoid repeat patterns next to each other :)

Lay your first 2 piece patches onto your second 2 piece patches with right sides together.  Pin along the edge.  Now go ahead and repeat this step for all of the 2 piece patches are pinned :)

Once you are all pinned you are ready to sew again.  Once again, chain stitch your 1/4" seam running all of your pieces through one after another.  

And once again, go ahead and clip the threads between your now sewn together 4 patch rows and press your center seam open :)  Repeat for all of your 4 patch rows.

So now is where you really see it start to come together.  Go ahead and lay out 4 rows.  This is the time where you can play with the layout a bit to get a look you like.  Once again though, don't stress about it to much, it will get mixed up again :)

Once you get a layout you like you are ready to pin.  Lay your first 4 patch row onto your second 4 patch row and then lay your third 4 patch row onto your fourth 4 patch row, making sure to have right sides together.  You want to start with pinning your 3 center seams first.   (Where the arrows point).  Make sure to align your seams as perfect as you an.  This will give you nice crisp corners.

If you find that aligning your seams perfect results in a bubble no worries.  Just smooth the bubble down and put a pin in horizontal.  This will help to keep the bubble down and out of your way when stitching.   Also, after stitching I realized I would have preferred a few more pins, so feel free to put a pin in the center of each 5" squares as well.

Once you are all pinned up go ahead and stitch your 1/4" seam along the pinned line.  Before reaching seams, I like to just run my finger under to smooth out my underneath seams.  This just keeps them from "flipping over" and creating bulk.  Once you are done stitching go ahead and clip your threads and press your long center seam open :)  (You are a pro at this now, I figured you didn't need a picture).

So now you are here, and you only have one more seam to do.  That's right, you know what to do!!

Lay your top now sewn together row 1 and 2 onto your bottom now sewn together row 3 and 4 with right sides together.  Once again, make sure to align your seams first.  I added the extra pins this time and found the sewing easier :)  Now that you are a pro you can do it all without pictures, right :)  Just sew your 1/4" seam, clip your threads, press your center seam open and presto!!!

You have a beautiful 16 patch block!!!  So fun!!!  I am just so excited to see all of your fun blocks.  Once you are done, feel free to post pictures on our little quilt-a-long flickr page so we can all see your progress :)