Friday 29 September 2017

Alaska Cruise Quilt

This quilt was developed for the recent Alaska Quilt Cruise that I participated in, sponsored by Cherry Tree Quilt Shop in Summerland.


The block is a great way to show off a fussy cut fabric.  All the kits for the cruise were Cotton + Steel fabric.  What fun!


This is a close up of the block made from a little halloween fabric.  For each block you require a feature fabric, a background fabric and two accent fabrics.  #1 accent for the Star points and #2 accent for the frame.  I use the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers.  I will give Substitutions at the end of the instructions.


The first step is to fussy cut the feature fabric.  You will need one 4 1/2" square and four 2 1/2" squares.


The block has eight 2 1/2" half square units.  My favourite way to make these is to lay a 2 1/2" strip of background right sides together on top of a 2 1/2" accent 1 fabric.  Cut with the Easy Angle ruler as shown, then sewn the two cut pieces together to make the half square unit.  Here is a video tutorial on using the ruler.  After cutting the units, cut four 2 1/2" squares from the background fabric.


To make the corners for the block, sew the half squares, fussy cut 2 1/2" pieces and the background squares together to make the units shown.  Note that they are all pieced a little different, so that the fussy cut fabric will be right side up within the block.


The next units needed is cut from a 1 1/2" strip of accent 2 fabric.  Use the Companion angle ruler to cut eight of these.  From the background fabric cut four 1 7/8" squares.


Sew the units cut as shown.


From accent 1, cut eight 2 1/2" Easy Angle units.  I like to lay the fabric wrong sides together to cut, so that I get mirror image units.  Sew together as shown.



The block requires four flying geese units that are 2 1/2" x 4 1/2".  Using the Companion Angle Ruler cut four 2 1/2" units from accent 2.  Using the Easy Angle Ruler cut Eight Background 2 1/2" units in the same manner as the previous step.  Piece together.  Click here for Bonnie Hunter's tutorial on making flying geese.


The two units above are sewn together to make your last pieces of the block.


Lay the pieces out as shown and sew together to make your completed block.

Substitutions: 2 1/2" Easy Angle - 2 7/8" square cut in half diagonally
                       1 1/2" Companion Angle -3 1/4" square cut twice on the diagonal
                       2 1/2" Companion Angle - 5 1/2" square cut twice on the diagonal

I made eight blocks and then set them together as shown below


The units that are not marked on one side of each block are 2 1/2" x 14 1/2"  These measurements assume the blocks are 12 1/2".  The outer border is cut 4 1/2" wide and yes, there is a bottom border. I must of cut it off for the picture.


To make a baby quilt out of the block, I upsized the block to finish 36".  The fussy cut pieces are 12 1/2" and 6 1/2".  The half squares are 6 1/2", the flying goose unit is 6 1/2" x 12 1/2".  The small background square is cut 4 3/4" and the companion angle units attached to the squares are cut from a 3 1/2" strip.  A great class demo size block that also makes an adorable baby quilt.

Linking up with Finish it up Friday.

Friday 15 September 2017

Kansas Troubles

No, not the state, the fabric!  Lol!  Whenever I want fabric that works for a man, I turn to Kansas Troubles Fabric.  The latest line is called Harvest Mill.


I love this simple pattern, mainly because it is so quick to stitch up.  The country feel of the fabric is perfect for that man in your life.  I'm sure he won't mind the odd little flower here and there.


From country to modern, here we go.  This line is Farmer's Daughter by Lella Boutique.  The pattern is one of my favourites from the book Beyond Neutral by John Q Adams.  Another quick and easy pattern.

I am currently on a Quilting Cruise to Alaska.  This trip is hosted by Cherry Tree Quilt Store in Summerland.  Pictures to follow when I make it home to my computer.  Have a great day!



Friday 8 September 2017

September.......Where did summer go?

It is hard to believe that we are into September already!  Even though this summer was one of the hottest on record, it wasn't the most enjoyable.  Fires, smoke and all the evacuation orders dominated most of our thoughts for the last two months.  Not that we are done with all that yet.  I hate to say it but please let it rain soon.


First up today is a quilt that I made just after Spring Market.  The fabric is Fig Tree's Hazel & Plum.  It will be released in stores this fall.  Most Fig Tree quilts are made with a cream background.  I wanted something a little different so I went with a grey Grunge.  I like it so much that even though I made this quilt for Trend-Tex, I'm about to make another one just like it for myself.


Have you seen the "Dream Big" panels by Hoffman.  They really have perfected the digital panels.  Every time I'm asked to make something from their panels, I get very excited.  I'm just finishing up their latest Call of the Wild panels but you will have to wait a bit to see them.

If you are in the Kamloops area this month you must check out the FAN (Fibre Art Network) display at the Old Courthouse Cultural Centre at 7 Seymour St. W.  It is open Tuesday through Friday 10am - 5pm and Saturday from 10am - 4pm.  The display is on now until September 30 with an artist reception on the 30th, 2 - 4pm.  Admission is by donation.

Linking up with Finish it up Friday!