Decisions Decisions

Too many options....

...too many pretty fabrics!

Hmmm....

Flying Geese Practice

I didn't want to cut into my Kaffe Fassett prints to practice using my Quilt-in-a-Day Large Flying Geese ruler so I selected a strawberry print that my granddaughter pulled as a possibility for her doll quilt.... along with a pink gingham print as the background.  After reading the directions that came with the ruler and with the "Sparkling Cider" quilt pattern, I cut an 11" square of the strawberry print and a 9.5" square of the background fabric.

Center the smaller fabric square, pin, and then draw a pencil line from corner to corner.

 Next, sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the pencil line...

...then cut along the pencil line to separate the square into two triangles.  Set seams and press open, with the seam heading in the direction of the larger fabric.

Line up the two squares on top of each other; the seams will not match.  Draw a line from corner to corner, crossing the two seams.

Once again, sew a 1/4" seam on each side of the pencil line.

Cut along the pencil line into two triangles, set seams, and press open with the seam to the background side of the fabric.  The right side of your two blocks will look like this.

Using a smaller cutting mat for ease of turning the block as you cut and trim, line up the lines of the ruler with the seams along the background fabric.  Cut across the top from side to side, then trim the Flying Goose section along the other three sides of the ruler.  Repeat for the second block.

Your Flying Geese block will be exactly 4.5" x 8.5"; which is the size I need for the four large stars in the "Sparkling Cider" quilt.

By starting with just two squares of fabric, you end up with four  Flying Geese blocks! 

Add 4.5" squares to the ends of two of the Flying Geese and an 8.5" center square...

...and you have a 16" (finished) star block!   I think this will make a nice throw pillow for my granddaughter's bed.

I've made Flying Geese blocks without this ruler and have to say the ruler is very easy use and all your points come out perfectly.

The Flying Geese ruler comes in a "small" size as well as a "jumbo" size.  If you're interested in ease and accuracy of Flying Geese blocks, I can recommend this ruler.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Disclaimer:  I am not affliated with Quilt-in-a-Day or with any shop or enterprise that sells this ruler. 


 

Does It Count....

...as a "Sewing Day" when you sew on Girl Scout badges & patches???

Catch 'em Young!

After my daughter left for a cute hair appt., I lured the grandbabies into my sewing room and asked them to pick out fabrics they liked from the scrap bins for a doll quilt.    They actually like that kind of thing...  and are fairly good at picking colors that go together.   

First, I had Emma, who is 9yo, press the fabric strips she selected and showed her how to sew a 1/4" seam.  Took a little practice to move from me manning the foot control to doing it herself.   I also had to introduce her to my seam ripper, asking her to please note that I keep it right beside the sewing machine because grandma uses it frequently!

Emma learned about "setting the seam" and pressing the strips open and flat.  It wasn't long before we were at the "sandwich" making stage.... and then on to quilting.

 

By this time, Emma felt comfortable sewing straight lines and she worked steadily at quilting half the doll quilt.   She became a bit distracted because her younger sister was playing a computer game behind her so she asked if I would finish the quilting.  I don't blame her...  straight-line quilting can be tedious.  

Emma picked out the binding fabric and I bound her quilt for her....  then Maddie had to try it out!

 

Younger sister Chloe also selected fabrics but isn't ready to learn to sew yet...  she did help me a bit though.  So now, Black Doggy has his own quilt to snuggle under.

A Tuesday Funny

Shopping My Stash

This year, I am quite determined to work on some of the projects that have been in my stash for way too long....    I pulled the fabrics.... all but the two bottom fabrics were purchased at 2010 Knoxville Quilt Show.  The bottom two fabrics I found online...    all too pretty to be sitting in the stash for so long, don't you agree?

Next, I went looking for the pattern for this project.  I had filed it a plastic sheet "pocket" in a notebook with other quilty patterns and put the notebook safely away.   But where?  *lol*    I know that never happens to you all.   

I was inspired by a quilt made from this pattern using vintage sheets created by Jeni Baker of In Color Order.

Sparkling Cider Vintage Sheet Quilt

blatantly swiped from In Color Order

I'm going to study the various fabrics, pairing them by color and value, before I start working on this quilt.  Also, my daughter and granddaughters will be arriving this afternoon to spend a few days of our mutual Spring Breaks!  Stay tuned for more developments on the quilting front...

 

Friday Night Sew In: Results

The monthly FNSI snuck up on me but I was able to sign up at the last minute.  I did a stash dive looking for fabric for the backing of the D9P quilt top since I didn't have enough of the "Penelope" prints left to handle a nearly 90" square top.

A long-time friend recently down-sized to a smaller house and gifted me with fabrics she didn't think she would use and one of the pieces was a lovely dusty pink with a tiny tan print.

Despite having five yards, I needed to piece some of my favorite print to make an "L" on two sides of the pink blender fabric.   Not very exciting sewing but it needed doing..... because I want to get it to my LAQ over Spring Break.  

Yes!  Spring Break began for me at 3:15pm yesterday and, while I won't be going to the beach, I will be doing a lot of relaxing...

Completed D9P Quilt Top

Despite weekend chores, I managed to get the three borders sewn onto the D9P quilt center.

The top is 89.5" square.... and I don't have a space in my house that large to lay it out completely flat... but you can get the general idea here.

The two inner borders finish at 2" and the outer border is 6.75" (from a 7" wide strip of fabric).   Next... piece the back!

I'm joining the crowd....

...and claiming my blog on Bloglovin.


Follow my blog with Bloglovin
 
Not sure how this works but what the hey...   I'll try just about anything once!   *lol*    Besides, it's St. Paddy's Day and the leprechauns are up to mischief to be sure...

A Semi Finish

Yesterday, I assembled the quilt top sans borders.  Starting with all the blocks...

I'm sure you notice that the top and the left sides do not have the off-white strip & deep rose squares so first...

 ...I made 10 strips and sewed them on as I started assembling the blocks.

On the top left corner, I needed one 2.5" deep rose square but everything went together smoothly.

 

Today, I will be sewing on the borders and hope to finish up.  But if I don't, it's not a big deal since there is no deadline for this!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Four D9P Blocks To Go!

I finished another couple of D9P blocks...

...and hope to finish the last four tonight!

I'm getting there...



 

Too True

I know this doesn't apply to anyone but me.....

Slice & Dice

I'm not too fond of the time change, either in the spring or the fall.  Takes me way to long to get used to it.  However, I must say that it is easier to sew in the evening when it's still light out...

I have three rows of 4-block D9P...  just two more to go before top assembly begins!

Last 9-patch!

I am congratulating myself on finally completing the last 9-patch for my D9P quilt this afternoon!  I thought I'd never get done...

Now, I on to slicing-and-dicing and resewing.   Wish me luck!

Found online, had to share!