Friday, July 26, 2013
Trimming
I am working on another little project that I am hoping to be able to share soon. But I am just wondering, does anyone else just get a huge smile over a pile of trimmings. I don't know why, but I just love to see a stack of shavings and all the colors popping from them :)
Thursday, July 25, 2013
MQG - Individual
Did you know that the Modern Quilt Guild is now letting people who don't have a guild in their area sign up for an individual membership. I got an email the other day and popped right on over to sign up. I am so excited to finally be an official member of the Modern Quilt Guild.
It says that individual membership affords you the opportunity to participate in other guilds challenges and so forth, which I am so excited about. I have always wanted to join in the challenges ever since I jumped on with the Salt Lake Guild for the Easy Dresden Challenge and made my Double Dresden Delight
So here is to being an official member of the Modern Quilt Guild. Yippee Skippee!!!
Oh, and I am still debating starting a Southern Utah chapter, but somehow, it keeps getting moved to the bottom of the list, maybe someday :)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
A Quick Trip
Friday night I buzzed up to Salt Lake to go see little David :) David is still in the hospital but out of the cardiac unit and working his way up to going home. It was so lovely to finally get to hold this precious little angel. He is just adorable!! Here we are getting better acquainted :)
The next morning, his sister came to visit as well. She really wanted to share her cookie with David but was told repetitively that David can't eat cookies. Well that didn't detour her, look what we found a half-hour later hiding under the blanket just waiting for him to wake up and get hungry :)
After visiting David, we took his big sister out so that Mom and Dad could have a little down time together with David. So what do I want to do with a few hours in Salt Lake, visit a fabric shop of course :) I knew that Pine Needles had changed their location (same general area just a new building) and really wanted to check it out. It was great!!
This chair greeted you as you walked in the side door. Oh, I can't tell you how much I wanted to pick it up and take it home with me. So fun!!!
And here is a view of the shop from the upstairs classroom. All those adorable quilts on the wall, and all those bolts of fabric, ohh, I could have stayed all day. But as mentioned, I had some company, my nieces, mom, and older sister and while I (and probably my mom) could have stayed all day, them not so much :)
The next morning, his sister came to visit as well. She really wanted to share her cookie with David but was told repetitively that David can't eat cookies. Well that didn't detour her, look what we found a half-hour later hiding under the blanket just waiting for him to wake up and get hungry :)
After visiting David, we took his big sister out so that Mom and Dad could have a little down time together with David. So what do I want to do with a few hours in Salt Lake, visit a fabric shop of course :) I knew that Pine Needles had changed their location (same general area just a new building) and really wanted to check it out. It was great!!
This chair greeted you as you walked in the side door. Oh, I can't tell you how much I wanted to pick it up and take it home with me. So fun!!!
And here is a view of the shop from the upstairs classroom. All those adorable quilts on the wall, and all those bolts of fabric, ohh, I could have stayed all day. But as mentioned, I had some company, my nieces, mom, and older sister and while I (and probably my mom) could have stayed all day, them not so much :)
I did manage to grab a few fat quarters from the "these have to go" bucket. I always love searching through those buckets, you never know what treasures you are going to find :) Like the oh so fun text print from Lucy's Crab Shack, score!!
I returned home Sunday afternoon and was so happy to be greeted by all of my children and their daddy. It doesn't matter how little I am gone, I still miss them like crazy :) It was a wonderful weekend and I think I can safely say, I have the cutest little nephew, what a charmer!!!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Star Surround Quilt-A-Long - Cutting
** NOTE - This post is part of a series of posts for the Star Surround Quilt-A-Long. If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of 4 of the $75.00 Gift Certificate grand prizes sponsored by The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop ) you can find a list of the post links here :) Here is the schedule
So here we are at July 22nd and this weeks assignment is cutting your fabric!! So let's get right to it :)
THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - CUTTING
We will start but cutting out the pieces needed for the stars and surrounds. If you have problems viewing any of the charts, just click on them and they will come up larger :)
SAME LAYOUT
If you have chosen to do a same layout project, you will need to use the following 2 charts to cut your star and surround fabrics.
Start with your 2 fabrics chosen for the star centers. Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from each of the star A and star B fabrics. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (45) 5" x 5" squares from your star A fabric and (45) 5" x 5" squares from your star B fabric.
Now you are ready to cut your surround pieces. Using the chart below, cut the number of square for your desired size and layout from your Surround Fabric. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (27) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" and then (108) 4 1/2"" x 4 1/2" squares.
SCRAPPY LAYOUT
If you have chosen to do a scrappy layout project, you will need to use the following chart to cut your star and surround fabrics.
Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from each of your fabric cuts, for a 2 x 2 layout there will be 4 fabrics, for a 3 x 3 layout there will be 9 fabrics and for a 4 x 4 layout there will be 16 fabrics. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (3) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" squares then (10) 5" x 5" squares, and then (12) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your first fabric. Then repeat that process for each of your remaining 8 fabrics.
SAME OR SCRAPPY LAYOUT - BACKGROUND
Whether you are choosing to do a same layout or a scrappy layout project, the background fabrics you will need are the same.
Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from your background fabric. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (54) 5" x 5" squares then (108) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares, and then (108) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your background fabric.
CUTTING TIPS
Here are a few helpful tips if you are new to cutting or just want to see how I like to cut. This is the way I like to cut, it is not the only way to cut, so if you do it different, great :) Do what you are comfortable with. This is just more tidbits that might help save your some time and eliminate waste.
1 - Always press your fabrics first, it takes a second more but will help in keeping your pieces accurate. I like to keep my iron at a super hot setting and use a little extra water from a spay bottle if I have any creases or folds that don't want to come out with a simple pass of the iron.
2 - Check the sharpness of your blade before starting to cut. Sometimes I like to layer my fabrics a bit, especially if I am cutting several fabrics all the same way (like in the scrappy layouts.) I never like to cut more then 4-6 layers at a time, and if I am cutting that many layers I always need to use a really sharp blade. But if you are still beginning, I don't recommend cutting more than 2 layers of one fabric at a time as the fabric really tries to shift the more layers you have.
3 - Whenever cutting yardage, I always like to cut with the fold in my fabric lined up along the 0 horizontal line on my cutting mat. I always start but cutting a straight edge along the left hand side of my fabric and then (as long as my yardage is short enough) trim the selvages from the top of my fabric. (Almost always along the 21" horizontal line)
4 - I like to cut in strips and use the lines on my mat as cutting guides rather than my rulers. Once I cut all of the strips I need, I slightly separate the different size strips, still keeping them aligned along the 0 horizontal line and the nearest vertical line, and then sub-cut the strip using the horizontal lines on my mat. This allows me to cut a lot of squares quickly.
5 - When cutting strips, I always like to start with the largest piece first. So I cut a strip the width of my largest piece and then sub-cut that strip as needed. When sub-cutting, I always start at the top of my strip and work my way down, thus allowing the scrap to be on the fold and creating 1 large scrap instead of 2 small scraps. Any extra of that strip can normally be sub-cut into smaller pieces needed thus eliminating waste.
So let's show how I like to cut using the example we have been using so far, the 3 x 3 layout of the 32" block for the stars and surround. This is a 2/3 yard cut.
So to start, I would align my fabric with the fold on the 0 horizontal line and trim a straight edge along a left hand horizontal line of my mat and trim the selvages using a horizontal line along the top of my mat (normally 21"). Then I would cut a 9 1/4" strip. From that 9 1/4" strip I would sub-cut (4) 9 1/4" squares. (You are always cutting in even numbers as you are cutting through 2 layers of fabric creating 2 pieces each time you cut.) 3 of those squares I put in my finished pile and the fourth I will sub-cut into (4) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares. Then from my yardage I would cut a 4 1/2" strip and sub-cut it into the remaining (8) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares needed. Finally, I would cut (2) 5" strips. The first strip I would sub-cut into (8) 5 " x 5" squares and the second I would cut (2) 5" x 5" squares and then scrap the remaining part of the strip.
And way easier than reading all of that . . . Your cutting would look something like this :)
NOW GO START CUTTING :)
I hope these cutting tips help :) Now, have some fun with your cutting! Here's my fabrics all cut up :) This weeks assignment wasn't to hard, right :) And now the fun part, you can enter to win the weekly prize :)
The Weekly Prizes are sponsored by the Christa Quilts and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the Star Surround Quilt-A-Long.
This weeks prize is a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Christa Quilts
July 15th - Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prize Announcement
July 22 - Cutting
July 29 - Half Square Triangles
Aug 5 - Flying Geese
Aug 12 - Building Block Centers
Aug 19 - Building Block Surround
Aug 26 - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky
Sept 16 - Star Surround Parade and Grand Prize Winners
So here we are at July 22nd and this weeks assignment is cutting your fabric!! So let's get right to it :)
THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENT - CUTTING
We will start but cutting out the pieces needed for the stars and surrounds. If you have problems viewing any of the charts, just click on them and they will come up larger :)
SAME LAYOUT
If you have chosen to do a same layout project, you will need to use the following 2 charts to cut your star and surround fabrics.
Start with your 2 fabrics chosen for the star centers. Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from each of the star A and star B fabrics. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (45) 5" x 5" squares from your star A fabric and (45) 5" x 5" squares from your star B fabric.
Now you are ready to cut your surround pieces. Using the chart below, cut the number of square for your desired size and layout from your Surround Fabric. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (27) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" and then (108) 4 1/2"" x 4 1/2" squares.
SCRAPPY LAYOUT
If you have chosen to do a scrappy layout project, you will need to use the following chart to cut your star and surround fabrics.
Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from each of your fabric cuts, for a 2 x 2 layout there will be 4 fabrics, for a 3 x 3 layout there will be 9 fabrics and for a 4 x 4 layout there will be 16 fabrics. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (3) 9 1/4" x 9 1/4" squares then (10) 5" x 5" squares, and then (12) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your first fabric. Then repeat that process for each of your remaining 8 fabrics.
SAME OR SCRAPPY LAYOUT - BACKGROUND
Whether you are choosing to do a same layout or a scrappy layout project, the background fabrics you will need are the same.
Using the chart below, cut the squares for your desired size and layout from your background fabric. So, for example if you were doing the 3 x 3 layout in a 32" size block, you would cut (54) 5" x 5" squares then (108) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8" squares, and then (108) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares from your background fabric.
CUTTING TIPS
Here are a few helpful tips if you are new to cutting or just want to see how I like to cut. This is the way I like to cut, it is not the only way to cut, so if you do it different, great :) Do what you are comfortable with. This is just more tidbits that might help save your some time and eliminate waste.
1 - Always press your fabrics first, it takes a second more but will help in keeping your pieces accurate. I like to keep my iron at a super hot setting and use a little extra water from a spay bottle if I have any creases or folds that don't want to come out with a simple pass of the iron.
2 - Check the sharpness of your blade before starting to cut. Sometimes I like to layer my fabrics a bit, especially if I am cutting several fabrics all the same way (like in the scrappy layouts.) I never like to cut more then 4-6 layers at a time, and if I am cutting that many layers I always need to use a really sharp blade. But if you are still beginning, I don't recommend cutting more than 2 layers of one fabric at a time as the fabric really tries to shift the more layers you have.
3 - Whenever cutting yardage, I always like to cut with the fold in my fabric lined up along the 0 horizontal line on my cutting mat. I always start but cutting a straight edge along the left hand side of my fabric and then (as long as my yardage is short enough) trim the selvages from the top of my fabric. (Almost always along the 21" horizontal line)
4 - I like to cut in strips and use the lines on my mat as cutting guides rather than my rulers. Once I cut all of the strips I need, I slightly separate the different size strips, still keeping them aligned along the 0 horizontal line and the nearest vertical line, and then sub-cut the strip using the horizontal lines on my mat. This allows me to cut a lot of squares quickly.
5 - When cutting strips, I always like to start with the largest piece first. So I cut a strip the width of my largest piece and then sub-cut that strip as needed. When sub-cutting, I always start at the top of my strip and work my way down, thus allowing the scrap to be on the fold and creating 1 large scrap instead of 2 small scraps. Any extra of that strip can normally be sub-cut into smaller pieces needed thus eliminating waste.
So let's show how I like to cut using the example we have been using so far, the 3 x 3 layout of the 32" block for the stars and surround. This is a 2/3 yard cut.
So to start, I would align my fabric with the fold on the 0 horizontal line and trim a straight edge along a left hand horizontal line of my mat and trim the selvages using a horizontal line along the top of my mat (normally 21"). Then I would cut a 9 1/4" strip. From that 9 1/4" strip I would sub-cut (4) 9 1/4" squares. (You are always cutting in even numbers as you are cutting through 2 layers of fabric creating 2 pieces each time you cut.) 3 of those squares I put in my finished pile and the fourth I will sub-cut into (4) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares. Then from my yardage I would cut a 4 1/2" strip and sub-cut it into the remaining (8) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares needed. Finally, I would cut (2) 5" strips. The first strip I would sub-cut into (8) 5 " x 5" squares and the second I would cut (2) 5" x 5" squares and then scrap the remaining part of the strip.
And way easier than reading all of that . . . Your cutting would look something like this :)
NOW GO START CUTTING :)
I hope these cutting tips help :) Now, have some fun with your cutting! Here's my fabrics all cut up :) This weeks assignment wasn't to hard, right :) And now the fun part, you can enter to win the weekly prize :)
The Weekly Prizes are sponsored by the Christa Quilts and a huge thanks goes to them for their support of the Star Surround Quilt-A-Long.
This weeks prize is a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Christa Quilts
So what do you have to do for a chance to win this Gift Certificate? Simple . . . Just link up your fabrics all cut up at the end of this post :) You can link to a blog post or a flickr picture, or whatever. Just make sure to link up by next Monday morning as I will be announcing a winner at the beginning of next weeks post :)
If you don't get your cutting done by next week you can still link it up :) (just not in time for the prize :) The linky will remain open until the end of the Quilt-A-Long. So if your out of town, or just had a busy week, no worries!!! Just link up when you can :)
And Don't forget to add your beautiful cut up fabric to the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group!!! I am so excited to see all of your beautiful fabrics all cut up ;)
So let's get cutting!!! And if you have questions, don't hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com. Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Finally Sewing!!!
I tell ya, it sure feels good to be sewing again!!! With all of the trips, reunions and what not, it had been like 3 weeks that I had touched my machine, that is until Tuesday morning. And it is true, absence does make the heart grow fonder :) I finished up these 2 lovelies Wednesday evening and sent them off. (But I can't show you the whole quilt because they are a secret surprise :)
And yesterday I was so excited to actually finish cutting this lovely pile for the Star Surround Quilt-A-Long
Into these lovely piles. Now I can get to writing up the cutting instructions for all of you Quilting-A-Long. There is still time to join, we are just gathering fabric now :)
And now I am off to finish up my big goal for the day. Cleaning the house and packing my bags :) I am off to go see little David and visit his mommy and daddy this weekend :) Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
Linking up to Amanda's and Sarah's :)
And yesterday I was so excited to actually finish cutting this lovely pile for the Star Surround Quilt-A-Long
Into these lovely piles. Now I can get to writing up the cutting instructions for all of you Quilting-A-Long. There is still time to join, we are just gathering fabric now :)
And now I am off to finish up my big goal for the day. Cleaning the house and packing my bags :) I am off to go see little David and visit his mommy and daddy this weekend :) Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!
Linking up to Amanda's and Sarah's :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)