Last Quilts of 2018

I got a good start of the last star quilt binding yesterday.  It should be easily done before the end of the day today.  I thought that Anna might take it back to college with her because of the backing matching her dorm room quilt, but she is back already.  She will be back again in a few weeks for a doctor's appointment.  Maybe I can give it to her then.  

I also got the border finished on Squared Away.  I think that I will hand quilt this one.  It might look great with some bright Pearle cotton.  I'd like to get it layered up and basted in any case.  

 The next 16 and 4 patch quilt is ready to load onto the frame.  Since the last one was Four Squared, maybe this one should be the Square Root of Sixteen?  I was ready to get it started yesterday, but I'm out of batting again.  We tried to pop into Joann's after dinner last night, but they were already closed.  Kurt is supposed to pick it up on his way home from work today.  We'll see how that goes.  The kids both have New Year's Eve parties to go to tonight.  That will leave Kurt and I rambling around the house alone.  I have a feeling that it the way it is going to be more often from now on.  They grew up so fast!  I am sure that they were all babies just yesterday.

I've just finished up the first Tiny Tuesday block!  I'll get that post set up to go live first thing in the morning.  January is going to be red this year.  I can't wait to get started!

ScrapHappy Saturday - Tickled Pink

Roll out the rose and pink, and new month has begun!

 Mari has posted directions for the new squared away block.  I'll post a link on the Squared away tab and here when the pdfs file for the tutorial is ready to go.

I finished my blocks earlier.  I was really happy with how the darker rose added nice contrast to the pink scraps.  

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

ScrapHappy Saturday - Fresh Start

 A new month is always exciting.  Pulling out a new color and digging in is a little bit like a tiny birthday present at the beginning of each new month. First up this month are the February Squared Away blocks.  Mari has written a great tutorial if you are interested in making these blocks.  Hers are in a 10 inch size while mine are only 7.5 inches.  I also noticed that she used slightly different combinations of colors.  The nice thing about making three of each block is that you can play with different combinations.  I did find after making several blocks that I got so much better about planning out the seams.  After going though a couple of twisted allowances in the first month, I started putting these together as if they were tiny quilts, following the webbing method I learned from quilt in a day so many years ago.
Now that those are crossed off the list, I'm planning on digging in and playing some more with my scraps.  Purple is a pretty big color for me.  Maybe because I have two daughters?  Hopefully I can put some of that purple to good use this month.
I'll be back sometime today with a PDF version of the directions and will post updated links on the RSC18 Sampler tab.  Please use the linky below so we can all see what great purple plans you have brewing for February. Just finished this step, be sure to take a look if you like to save off PDF files for later.  

RSC18 First ScrapHappy Saturday

For all the people joining in to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for the first time, welcome.  To everyone else, welcome back.  A new year is always a great opportunity to think about what you have done and what you want to do.  Hopefully you finished off a few projects last year.  Maybe that leaves room for something new this year?

My new project this year is the squared away sampler.  Mari and I worked together to plan a sampler quilt of 5 by 5 blocks.  She has posted a tutorial for making the block in the 10 inch size.  

I made test versions in 5 inch and 7.5 inch  sizes before deciding to make the quilt with 7.5 inch blocks.  Mari has more information on a tab on her blog as do I.  So feel free to read more about it if you are thinking of joining in.  

 I used a slightly different color arrangement, but here are a couple of charts to let you know how many squares and half square triangles you will need for each block.

Mari's color placement

first blue	5 squares
second blue	16 HST
background	4 squares

Angela's color placement

first blue	4 squares, 4 HST
second blue	1 square, 12 HST
background	4 squares

 Here are my three finished blocks.
If you would like the directions in a handy PDF, that is ready to go, and at the RSC18 Sampler tab above, you can find a link of all the block tutorials for the year.
Misterlinky is below.  Share your progress on squared away or your other Rainbow Scrap Challenge Projects.  Light and medium blue are the colors for January.  Please let us know if you are new so we can welcome you on board.

More Buttons

My previous button making went so well that I thought I should make one for the 2018 sampler quilt that Mari and I have worked together to plan.  As always, posting the image online is step 1.  So here goes.  (I'll be back shortly with step 2)

OK, that went so much better than last time.  The button will take you back to Mari's Squared Away BOM tab,  I have one as well, so be sure to check it out when you have a chance.  I tried to put in nifty tables and important information.   
I made the first few blocks today and they are fabulous!  I'll be back tomorrow with some assembly options for 5 by 5 blocks.  I learned a bit through trial and error and will be happy to share my new wisdom with you all. 
If you would like to join in the Squared Away block of the month, feel free to grab the button by copying the html code below the button into a widget on your own blog. 

Half Square Triangle Tutorials

Do you have a favorite method for making half square triangles?  I used to use the method of drawing a line down the middle of a square and sewing a quarter inch on either side of the drawn line.  It is easy and quick.  The only down side is that with squares cut 7/8 inches larger than the finished size of the square, they don't easily come from precut strips.  I love being able to cut all the pieces for a block from the same sizes strips, and so have been converted into an Easy Angle fan.  I don't use a lot of specialty rulers, but I have really gotten my money's worth out of this one.
Because this year's RSC Sampler quilt is limited to just three units: squares, rectangles, and half square triangles, I have been thinking of all of the different ways people make half square triangles.  I'm starting a collection of tutorials, so let me know if your favorite method is not on the list and I will add it.

Magic 8 Method - add 7/8 inches to your finished size and multiply by 2
Square Sewn in the Middle Method - add 7/8 inches to your finished size
   Two at a time without drawn lines - using a laser to mark the line
Printed Paper Method - Pattern is printed on paper then sewn and cut
Sew Around the Edges of a Square Method -  leaves lots of bias edges, but seems nifty otherwise
Specialty Rulers
    Fons and Porter  (video)- cuts both HST and QST as well as the strips
    Easy Angle (video) - cuts units from same strip size as the square units in your block

New Year Organization

 

I started off the new year with a little bit of organization.  The strips weren't getting used effectively in a separate bin, so I pulled them out to integrate them back with their colors.  

Here are some of the newly tidied drawers of scraps.  I made labels!

 Then I spent some time taking in inventory of ongoing projects. They are now sorted into hanging flimsies ready to be quilted, bags of blocks ready to be sewn together....

 and best of all, project boxes of blocks being pieced for ongoing projects.  I have dutifully updated the My Quilts tab to list all the projects I found.

With the strips duly distributed, I had an open bin for the new RSC18 Sampler Quilt.  Here are some of the blue strips I was auditioning for "Squared Away".  Now that all of that is done, I think there might be some actual sewing on the horizon.
We had chicken pot pies for dinner and are waiting for  Anna to return home from her volunteering.  Ryan and Sydney were kind enough to join us for a family card game before disappearing again to the wilds of upstairs.  Kurt is back to work tomorrow, but the rest of us still have a week of vacation to enjoy.  Guess what I have planned?