RSC Sampler - Sickle

Here's a nice easy one.  Its just a four patch really, so the pieces are pretty big.

You could use the easy angle ruler for this one, but with just two HST units, I decided to use the old two squares method.  Also, I had a nice pile of charm squares in the brown bin to use up.  

The unfinished unit needs to be 3.5 inches.  So I think the traditional math says to cut the squares to 3 and 7/8s -- I just did mine at 4 inches, cause it gave me a bit of squaring up room.  For just two squares, it is just as easy either way.  

Anyway, cut two squares, one brown and one background colored.  

You will also need 2 inch strips in brown and background that are at least 8 inches long.  

The brown for the strips can be the same or different from the brown in the squares.     

Sew the strips together.
Place the squares right sides together and draw a diagonal line down the middle from corner to corner.  Sew a quarter of an inch on either side of the drawn line.

Cut along the drawn line on the sewn square to divide the two HST units.  Open and press toward the dark.  Remove the dog ears.

Press the strip set open with the seams going toward the brown.  Sub-cut the strips into 2 inch sections.  You will need 4 of them.

Sew the 2 inch subunits together to make four patches.  Arrange your blocks as shown.  Notice that the four patches don't go in the same direction.  This really bugs me personally, but it is the pattern.

Sew the four subunits together as shown.  Pretty quick, right?  

Home with a Sunrise

As much fun as it is to go away, even for work, coming home again always feels SO good!  We finished up with our work around lunch time today while I was getting a text from Kurt with pictures of the kids at Universal.  It was a day off school for teacher inservice and they took advantage.  Knowing they would be busy for a while, I ate a leisurely lunch before starting my drive home.  It was a nice uneventful trip and I arrived at about the same time as the rest of the gang.  Anna and Sydney were both busy with craft projects of their own, so I though I'd put out the star blocks I made this week with the framed nine patches from earlier.  I do need just a few more star blocks to round out the collection, but it is almost ready to be sewn together.
This block, called Mai Tai Surprise, is a Bonnie Hunter pattern.  It was posted on her Addicted to Scraps column in October of 2012.  I also think she used it as the quilt pattern for one of the quilting cruises she hosted at about the same time.  I did change out the color placement just a bit, and made monochromatic blocks instead of the scrappy ones she showed, but I really do love the effect.  The stars have partial seams, which do take a bit of concentration, but the effect is totally worth in my opinion.  Anyway, mine is called Mai Tai Sunrise and I really love how it is coming together.  
So now I'd better do the normal home after a trip things, like unpacking and laundry.  After that though, I'll whip up just a few more stars and get this guy all ready to sew together.  Such a nice way to jump start the weekend!

Productivity

 I finished up all the star blocks that I could make with the bits and pieces I brought along.

After that, I thought that I would switch to cutting and organizing some scraps.  I have 1 inch strips, with me, but without my "good" machine, I think my seam allowance is overly generous to be working on the teensie bits.  Maybe I can play with those this weekend.  Tonight is the last hotel room night I have to enjoy, though, and cutting up scraps is also a fun way to spend  some time.    

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Hourglass

I cut this one out during the pink month, and put it in a baggie for later. Note to self: when putting things away for later, always include a note as to how things are supposed to go together. Things that seem simple today, are complicated later.

Start with 5 inch square of pink fabric, you will also need 2.5 inch strips in brown and pink.
Cut the following pieces:
2 - HST units made using the easy angle ruler to cut brown and pink fabrics which have been placed right sides together.
4 - single layer pink HST units also cut with the easy angle ruler
1 - 2.5 inch brown square.

Sew the HST along the diagonal and press with the seam facing the brown.

The HST triangle blocks will make the top right and bottom left corners of the block.  The solid brown square goes right in the center.  Fill in the middle strip using the pink triangles, making sure the long side forms the outside edge of the center section.

Starting with the bottom left corner, sew a pink triangle to the top edge.  Repeat with the middle brown square.  The upper right hand corner square should have a pink triangle sewn to the bottom edge.  I laid these out and sewed and pressed each before putting it back to check placement.  

Now the two corner sections are done, you just need to attach another triangle to the bottom of the center square.

Match the seams where and sew the three center subsections together.  Press so that the seams lie as flat as possible.

Next, begin attaching the two large pink corner triangles, being careful not to stretch the bias edges on the small pink triangles.  Press away from the bulky middle section.

There you go.  A nice simple block really, as long as you can get everything oriented properly.  Measure it to make sure that it is 6.5 inches unfinished and you are done.  Enjoy!

Starry Starry Night

I've been making nice progress on the star blocks for Mai Tai Sunrise.  I was even able to come up during the lunch break today and sew a few blocks before the afternoon session started.  It has been nice to relax and sew the evenings away, though I was feeling a little guilty leaving Kurt to handle everything at home.  I called earlier tonight though, and he was home alone while all of the kids were scattered about at different activities.  

Hotel Room Quilt Retreat

I'm all settled into my hotel room with my sewing machine and all the supplies I will need.  Ready to do a little sewing -- on a school night!  I am at the EOC Item Specification and Review Committee, and though the days are full of question editing, the nights are open for quilting fun!

Deb has been kind enough to write up 2 block tutorials to fill in during my absence.  Be sure to head over to her blog, and tell her I said THANKS!  I'll be sure to put up some more blocks when I am back home again, until then, I'm sewing stars.

Sampler Blocks!

There has been a barrage of RSC blocks coming, trying hard to get a few out there before I head out of town.  Look at the RSC Sampler tab for an index and links to each block.  You can also check out the Pinterst page for a sneak peak at upcoming blocks.  Deb

has been kind enough to offer to post a couple of blocks this week.  Isn't that nice of her?  I'm super excited to add her blocks to the collection.  I'll post a link to the posts when they are ready.  Until then, happy sewing!

RSC Sampler - Cat

Back in March, Deb made a cat block, and it has been on my list since then. I thought I was making it the same, but mine turned out just a bit different. I had cut out the pieces a while ago, but ended up with slightly different sizes.   Actually I cut out quite a few blocks, but after leaving them in baggies without directions, I'm not sure quite how to get them together anymore.   Check out Deb's cat as well, maybe they could be friends?

Cutting, I chose a black and a grey, your cat could be any color of course.
From cat fabric:
5.5 by 3.5 inch body
1.5 by 6.5 inch tail
3 - 1.5 inch squares for ears and tail curl
From background fabric:
1.5 by 3.5 inch
2.5 inch square
2 - 1.5 inch squares

Step 1, use flip and sew corners to round off back and for first ear.  Sew one light and one dark 1.5 inch square together.

Add second flip and sew ear and attach two patch from step one to background square as shown.  press toward the background piece because it has fewer seams.

Step 3, attach ears to head.  Press toward the head, to reduce bulk.

Step 4, attach head to background.  This time press away from the head to avoid the angled seam.  

Step 5 attach head to body.  Press away from the body.  I really like to avoid pressing toward angles when I can.

Step 6, attach tail to body.   Press toward the tail.  The block will be 6.5 inches unfinished and 6 inches in the finished quilt.  

RSC Sampler - Prairie Queen

I know its been a while! I finally sat down today and made time for another rainbow scrap challenge sampler block! Thanks for your patience as I ramble through trying to make too many "to dos" fit into a day. I am planning on sitting down this week though and working through as much of the rest of the year as I possibly can. I want to have a finished quilt to show y'all in the very near future.

I'm definitely in a brown mood right now.  All the warm chocolateyness makes me think of fall.  For this block, you will need 1.5 and 2.5 inch strips in both dark and light.  Start with the 2.5 inch strips.   Place them right sides together and use the Easy Angle Ruler to cut 4 HST units.  Take just the light fabric and cut one additional 2.5 inch square.  Next check out your 1.5 inch strips.  You will need at least 12 inches length on each strip.  You could also use two 6 inch strips of each color, which is what I did.

So here are your pieces ready to go:
    4 -  2.5 inch HST units (dark and light)
    1 - 2.5 inch square in light
    12 inch long 1.5 inch strips of light and dark

Sew the HST units together along the long side.  While still at the machine, go ahead and sew your 1.5 inch strips together.  Trip dog ears and press all seams toward the dark.

You will need to divide your dark and light strip set in half and layer them together so that the dark and light alternate.  Sub cut the layered strip set into 1.5 inch segments.  Sew these together to make four patches.  Twirl the seams and press.

Now your 4 HST units will combine with your 4 four patches and your one extra light square to make a nine patch.  the four corners are made of the HST units with the dark fabrics facing the center of the block.  The four patches all face the same direction.  Resist the urge to rotate them decoratively.  I had trouble not changing up the pattern.  The single light square will go right in the center.

Sew together as you would any nine patch block.  Press the seams so that the block lies flat, I did mine away from the four patches because they had more seams.  Your unfinished block should measure 6.5 inches and it will be 6 inches in the finished quilt.  Check out the RSC Sampler link or Pinterest page for more 6 inch block tutorials.  

RSC Sampler - Maple Leaf

I'm on a roll! In order to keep rolling right along, I'm choosing nice simple blocks and building up momentum.

This block uses 2.5 inch strips in light and dark brown.  I chose golden hued tones, to resemble fall leaves.  

Place the two strips right sides together.  Using the easy angle ruler, cut 4 HST units.

Now separate the strips and cut 4 squares of dark brown and one square of light brown.  I didn't want to find smaller strips, so I just cut two more light squares down into 2 inch squares.
So here is the total inventory of strips:
4 - 2.5 inch HST units (light and dark)
4 - 2.5 inch dark squares
1 - 2.5 inch light square
2 - 2 inch light squares

Take a small light square and place it in the corner of dark square, right sides together.  Use a pencil to draw a line corner to corner.  Sew along the line.  Open and finger press the light square toward the corner.

Repeat this flip and sew procedure for the opposite corner, leaving a strip of dark fabric showing in the middle of two light corners.

Here is the layout for your block.  Three dark squares form the body of the leaf, with HST units for the edges.  Place the light square in the upper right corner, and the stem in the bottom left corner.

Go ahead and sew as a nine patch and press the seams to reduce bulk as much as possible.  The unfinished block will be 6.5 inches.