Tiny Tuesday - Diagonal Set #2

If the smaller setting squares seem like too tight of a fit, you might want to try this slightly larger version.  It will leave you about half an inch on each side to play with.  

 Materials:

• 1 tiny Tuesday sampler block - 5 inches unfinished
• 2 squares of background fabric 5.5 inches each

Cut the background squares in half along the diagonal.  

 Find the center of the sampler block and each of the triangles.  There are several ways to do this.  You may fold each in half and finger press or iron to mark the middle.  You can measure and mark the middle with a pin or a light pencil mark in the seam allowance.

 Match the center of a triangle to the center of the block.  Pin it in place.  Sew a triangle to opposite sides of the sampler square.

 Press the seams away from the center.

 Trim the dog ears of each triangle even with the sides of the sampler block.

 Match the center of the next two triangles to the center of the sampler square and pin.  Sew both triangles to the opposite sides of the sampler.

 The block should be about 8 inches square.  This will leave you plenty of room to trim it to the final size of 7.5 inches.

Tiny Tuesday - Diagonal Set #1

The math on diagonal set blocks is always a little tricky.  Because of the angles involved, they don't tend to work out to nice even sizes.  Either you can cut the inside square to an odd size and have and nice even size on the outside -- which doesn't work out well when you are working with a pieced inner block.  The other option is to use an even size on the inside and have an odd size for your finished block -- this option tends to make everyone a little bit cranky.  I'm going with option #3.  I'm using an even sized inner square and leaving it "floating" in the middle of an evenly sized outer square.  Setting option 1 uses even sizes to get almost exactly to the right finished size.  There will just be a tiny sliver to trim at the end.  If you block seems a bit small or you aren't getting enough breathing room, try out setting option #2 which uses larger squares for extra squaring up room at the end.  

Materials: 

1 finished Tiny Tuesday sampler block unfinished at 5 inches

2 squares of background fabric cut to 5 inches 

Cut the two background squares from corner to corner to yield 4 triangles.  

Mark the center of the sampler block and of the triangles.  There are many ways to accomplish this.  You can fold them in half and finger press.  You can iron them to get a nice crease in the middle.  You could measure them and mark the middle with a pin or a disappearing pen.  I chose to crease mine gently with an iron.  

Match the center of two triangles to the center of the block.  Pin the center and sew one triangle to each side.  Press the seams away from the center square.  

The triangles are oversized, so trim them so that the edges are even with the edge of the sampler block.  

 Repeat the same procedure with the other two squares on the other two sides.  Pin the center to make sure they go on evenly.

 Press the triangles so the seams go out away from the center block.

Your finished square should be just barely a smidge larger than 7.5 inches.  Carefully square up your block to the desired size of 7.5 inches.  

RSC19 - Tiny Tuesday Block 1

The first Tiny Tuesday block with year will be a string block.  

Step 1: Gather supplies.  You will need strings.  Strings are strips of fabric.  For this block, anything between 1 inch and 2 inches will work well.  It is also nice to have triangles.  I usually save the extra bits leftover from joining binding for this.  In addition to strings, you will need paper for foundation piecing.  Telephone books work great if you can get your hands on one still.  Any lightweight paper will do.  If not, just regular old paper is OK as well.  

 Cut your paper into a 5-inch square.  

Find a strip of fabric long enough to reach across the diagonal in the middle of your square.  

Find another strip about the same length and place it face down on top of the first square.  You may pin it to hold it in place temporarily or just hold it and hope for the best.  In any case.  Sew with a nice straight quarter inch seam through both strips of fabric and the paper.  If you use a slightly shorter than usual stitch length, then removing the paper at the end will go more easily for you.  

Open up the strip you just sewed and repeat with a new strip along the other edge of your center strip.  

After you have strips sewn on either side, it is time to iron.  Notice that all of the seams don't necessarily run parallel to one another.  This is fine with a string block, as long as each seam is straight, having additional angles can add interest to your block.  

Repeat the process of adding a strip to either side of your block.  You can use slightly shorter strips each time, as long as they are long enough to cover the paper.  Don't worry about the exact size, it will all be trimmed in the end.  Press open and repeat until you get near the corners.  

 When you get to the corners, you can either add slightly wider strips or use triangles if you have them.  Try not to use anything too skinny.

 Make sure that you have fabric covering all your paper.  Press your finished block so that it is nice and flat.

Finally, it is time to square up your block to 5 inches.  I like to use a bias square up ruler for this, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand.  

 Repeat on all sides so that you have a nice, perfect 5 inch square.

 Remove the paper from the back.

 Here is your finished block.  It should measure 5 inches square.  Follow the directions for setting your block.  This week is a straight set block.  There will be a PDF of this block posted on the RSC19 Sampler Tab.

TIny Tuesday - Straight Set #2

This is a slightly oversized version of the straight set for tiny Tuesday blocks.  Use it if your blocks are slightly on the small side, or if you prefer to set your blocks larger and square them up to the final size. 

Materials:
1 Tiny Tuesday sampler block
2 sashing strips 2 inches by 5 inches
2 sashing strips 2 inches by 8 inches 

 Sew a short sashing strip onto each side of your sampler block.  Press seams away from the sampler block and toward the sashing strips. 

Add long sashing strips to either side of your block.  Your finished, framed block should be about 8 inches.  Because it needs to be 7.5 inches, you may trim it to size.  Feel free to do this now or wait until the end.  

Tiny Tuesday - Straight Set #1

I'll be posting a series of instructions for square settings for Tiny Tuesday blocks.  Ignore them for now.  I just want to be able to link back to them when they are needed.  

Use these setting instructions for a sampler block in a straight setting that is either 5 inches unfinished or slightly larger.  If your block is slightly smaller, use setting instructions for straight set #2

Materials:

• 1 block, 5 inches unfinished  
• 2 sashing strips 1.75 inches by 5 inches
• 2 sashing strips 1.75 inches by 7.5 inches

Sew one short sashing strip onto either side of the sampler block.  Press the seam out away from the sampler block

Sew the two long sashing strips onto the long sides your block.  

 Press the seams away from your sampler block again.  Check to make sure that your block is 7.5 inches unfinished.  If you started out with a block that was a bit large, you might need to trim it to size. 
Each block with its sashing will be 7.5 unfinished meaning it will be 7 inches in the finished quilt. 

Playing with Patterns

I'm playing with EQ and working on plans for the new year.  If only I didn't have to go to work in the morning I'd be up until the wee hours making some practice blocks.