Summer Workshops with MAQ, Part 3

Are you still with me? Today I share my 3rd class which I am teaching this summer at the MAQ retreat in Gettysburg, PA. I will have another English Paper Piecing class which concentrates on using diamonds with hexagons.

Sunday, July 16:

C16 English Paper Piecing with Hexagons and Diamonds

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• Skill Level: All skill levels. This is a hand sewing class.

• Description: English Paper Piecing is a great take-along hand piecing project, perfect for making traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden (GFG) blocks – and more! Discover simple diamonds, which, when combined with the hexagons, offer exciting possibilities for altogether new blocks adding a creative dimension to your design options. My collection of samples is a treasure trove of inspiration, where you’ll see all sorts of ways to use your hexagons and diamonds in a variety of settings and projects.

• Techniques covered English Paper Piecing, hand sewing, designing with hexagons and diamonds.

• Kit Required: Yes
• Kit Fee: $15
• Kit Contains: contains fabric, card stock hexagon and diamond shapes in 2 sizes. The supply list will give you more options for fabrics to bring out of your own stash.
• Sewing Machine Required: No
• Supply List

Now let's see some of the projects, huh?

Large 2" Hexagons with Diamonds

Let's now add some small triangles to those diamonds and single hexagon. Students will receive a kit to make one of these Wild Woods creatures and when you finish it, you can stitch it into a hot pad or mug rug (your own finishing)

Center an awesome motif in the center and learn how to put all these shapes together

 How about ONLY diamonds?

A traditional Seven Sisters block

Just to show you how you can EPP seven of these blocks and make a beautiful table topper. This is called Seven Sisters.

All hand stitched, Seven Sisters blocks

A simple block to feature some awesome prints (fabrics will vary, depending on what I am able to find for these shapes)

3 Hexagons and 3 Diamonds (fabrics will vary)

This is suited for beginners who have never done EPP. We will begin with a hexagon and then introduce those diamonds for a beautiful variety of blocks. I will have kits of pre-cut fabric and papers and you can enjoy a relaxing day hand sewing. No distracting sewing machine noise means that you are actually chatting with your neighbors in class!

Visit the MAQ website to see more on English Paper Piecing with Diamonds and Hexagons. 

Summer Workshops with MAQ, Part 2

Part Two of my MAQ class lineup in July. I shared on Monday what I'll be teaching on the first day of the quilting symposium: English Paper Piecing, Going Beyond the Hexagon. If you missed it, make sure you get over and see all the pictures!

My Saturday class (July 13) is The Traditional Pickle Dish. You may be asking: What is a Pickle Dish? And why would I want to make a quilt out of pickles?!

It's not made out of pickles; the sharp points take their cue from an old fashioned cut glass pickle dish. Here's just one block. Yes, this is PAPER PIECING and curved piecing, not for beginners.

Pickle Dish Block: 12" x 12"

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  Here's my description:
• This is NOT a Double Wedding Ring but the vintage block that simulates a glass pickle dish with sharp points, which are possible using foundation paper piecing. The center melon shape and background curved unit are doable using my easy pinning method. The 4 blocks are set together for a square center. More blocks can be added for a larger quilt. A 2-page planning sheet with a coloring chart is part of the supply list.
• Block Size: 12”, Quilt Center: 24” x 24”, Quilt Size with Borders: 34” x 34” (quilt can be made larger)

• Techniques covered Foundation paper piecing. Joining curved units with ¼” seam. Accurate piecing. We will discuss (but not teach) the quilting used in this quilt.

• Pattern Required: Yes, $13
• Pattern Contains: Pattern with all 8 oversized foundations to make this quilt, plus multi-page, well-illustrated step by step directions. Master patterns are also included.
• PreCutting Required: Yes
• Sewing Machine Required: Yes
• Supply List

Now let's see my two quilts which will be my teaching samples. The first one is unfinished so that you can see the blocks from the wrong side (students like that, I think). I first drafted this in 2008 and then worked up my courage to stitch it in 2013. I finally put the borders on in 2018.

Pickle Dish using the Up in the Air fabrics by Windham

And how about a version using some Kaffe Fassett fabrics?

Pickle Dish quilt finished

You will receive a multi-page, well illustrated pattern with all foundations to make the four block quilt. Master foundations and master templates are also included (in case you wish to make a bigger quilt).

Visit the MAQ website to download the Supply List and get more information about how you can join me in this action packed class.

Summer Workshops with MAQ, Part 1

MAQ? What's that? It's Mid-Appalachian Quilting Symposium and they work on one thing all year long - putting together one of the loveliest quilters' retreats I've ever been to. For 32 years this group of volunteers (a new board every 2 years) puts together an amazing line up of national teachers which offer a wide range of classes.

Dates? July 12-14, 2019.
Where? Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

This is a 3-Part series. Today I share my Friday class.

Friday:  English Paper Piecing: Going Beyond the Hexagon

This is a hexagon. Actually, a lot of 2" hexagons. Let's work with some other 60 degree shapes!

The Zig and Zag of Hexies

How about one hexagon and 6 half-hexagons? What's this called? A Twisted Hexagon! We might be exploring this delightful block, which I typically make on the sewing machine. We will have NO sewing machines in our class! We will also answer your question: what's with those little bits of fabric sticking out? Come and find out!

Twisted Hexagon Block

• 
  
• What is English Paper Piecing? Here is my class description:
• 
  
• "English Paper Piecing is a great take-along hand piecing project, perfect for making traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden (GFG) blocks – and more! Discover simple diamonds and jewels, which, when combined with the hexagons, offer exciting possibilities for altogether new blocks adding a creative dimension to your design options. And we will work with pentagons, too! My collection of samples is a treasure trove of inspiration, where you’ll see all sorts of ways to use your EPP shapes in a variety of settings and projects."
• 
  
• 
  
• Kit Fee: $15 (click that link for your supply list)
• Kit Contains:  “mini kits” of fabric, card stock hexagon, diamond, jewel and pentagon shapes. The supply list will give you more options for fabrics to bring out of your own stash.
• PreCutting Required: No
• Sewing Machine Required: No

We will be making a Pentagon Wreath with these awesome kaleidoscope centers. I first made this to appear in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine a few years ago. It is a wonderful way to feature a beautiful motif in the center of the wreath.

Pentagon Wreath

And this is the original one as it appeared in the magazine:

Pentagon Wreath

And my favorite shapes are the jewel. They are made from diamonds. First a set of diamonds:

12 Diamonds make a larger hexagon!

And some lovely uses with the jewel shape . . .

A fussy cut crab in the center of 6 jewels. It's not finished!

6 Jewels and a hexagon

Add 6 diamonds in those open spaces and you have created a modern version of the vintage block called "The Star Bouquet." I have a few dozen of these and am trying to figure out my quilt assembly. Maybe it will be done by July . . .

The Star Bouquet

Turn those jewels into hearts! As you can see, I began by rotary cutting my diamonds. Then we slice a small triangle from one end. Piece two together and you have some colorful hearts. I will have ideas for what to do with these, too.

Jeweled Hearts

Pink hearts

I'd love to have you in my class if you are within driving distance of Gettysburg, PA. EPP is a fabulous take along project, too.

There is a supply list for the things you need to bring (mainly sewing needles, thread, cutting tools, etc). I will have kits of pre-cut fabric shapes and EPP card stock papers to make several blocks. You will have MORE than enough to occupy the entire day. I share lots of tips and have quite a few samples to inspire you.

I'll be sharing about my other two classes this week, so stay tuned. Hope you enjoyed seeing English Paper Piecing: Going Beyond the Hexagon.

The Wearin' of the Green

I posted this last year and I love this quilt so much, I wanted to share it again! I used the new Uncorked Collection by Windham Fabrics to make this in a 10" block size. Irish Cross and Chain is the name of the quilt. It is featured in my Quilter's Block a Day Calendar (now out of print).

Irish Cross and Chain Quilt: 28" x 28"

These two 10" blocks from March 17 and 18 are a perfect way to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day! I offer all 31 blocks in a 50 page pdf at my Etsy store.  This larger quilt is a digital pattern that was included in the CD version of my calendar.

Irish Cross and Chain: 64" x 74"

Let's see each of these blocks up close:

Double Irish Cross (10") is the March 17 block  (for St. Patrick's Day, right?) I raw edge appliquéd the hearts, but they could just as easily be done by hand.

March 17 block: Double Irish Cross - 10"

Double Irish Patches (10") is the March 18 block. Each of those squares finishes to 2". When the two blocks are put together they form a Double Irish Chain!

March 18 block: Double Irish Patches - 10"

I made a quilt in early 2000 using the Double Irish Chain pattern and my alternating blocks are machine embroidered butterflies and wreaths. Let's take a look:

Double Irish Chain

I hope you will look in your stash for some green fabrics and give a thought to making a Double Irish Chain quilt. There are lots of helpful web sites with free patterns. As you know, Craftsy suspended my store and I can't offer free patterns at my Etsy store. But you can find the 31 blocks from March in my Etsy store!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you (on Sunday, the 17th)!

Butterflies in Circles Tutorial

This is a repeat of a blog post from 2014 featuring some beautiful fabrics from Benartex.

Beautiful fabrics from the Sakura Collection by Benartex

I was especially drawn to the large scale print featuring butterflies. What do you think of these?

Oh. You want me to show you how to make them? Allow me!

Butterflies remind me of Spring. Are you coming, Spring?

I wanted to make something simple, letting the fabric take the stage. Simple shapes: circles and squares. Did I say that circles are simple? Easy? Of course. Let me show you how!

Isolate a butterfly. Cut out a circle of freezer paper.

I drafted a 6" circle and printed it. Then I traced it onto freezer paper. I will center it on my butterfly.

Captured all of the butterfly within the circle

Now I iron the freezer paper circle to the WRONG side of the butterfly. It will be my sewing guide.

Cut a piece of medium weight interfacing larger than the circle

Now for the fun part!

Sew along the EDGE of the freezer paper circle (I've already peeled the circle off)

 Now we trim, leaving 1/8" - 1/4" seam allowance.

Trim!

OK. Now you're confused, right? It's like I painted myself into a corner. How do I get out?

Clip into the interfacing and turn the butterfly circle right side out. Press well (but not on the interfacing side)

OK. How does it look from the front?

Butterfly auditioning for a background fabric

Chose this due to the irregular etched lines.

Butterfly pinned and ready for stitching

What color thread did I use? Black, but I also found that finer-than-usual thread disappears into the fabric much better. I changed my thread after the first circle was stitched. I also used black in the bobbin. Why? Because sometimes the bobbin thread "beads" up to the top and I didn't want little specks of white or cream to show on the front.

Now it's time to clip away background fabric and interfacing

Notice that I used a narrow, short machine zigzag stitch. I made five butterfly blocks this way. Now it's time for my alternate block for the 5 butterfly blocks.

Make simple 4 Patch blocks

 And how does the quilt look?

Sakura Butterfly Quilt

10" blocks. 42" x 42" quilt. I will quilt it with my friend Jeannine's walking foot along the straight lines. Then I'll free motion quilt each block individually.

But, wait! Did you notice that I started with 3 butterflies on a light background. Yes, I rediscovered those in my piles of leftovers. Let's see if I can do anything with them. Not sure if I have more of those butterflies, but I'm going to check!

OK. I'm back and I grabbed a few companion pieces to go with those butterflies on light background. What do you think?

My go-with fabrics for the light butterflies

Not sure what my background fabric will be, but I'll keep you posted. I'm on the road again teaching in Lakeland, Florida. I'm always happy to get back home and play with my fabric. These will be waiting for me and I know I have enough for another small quilt to delight any child!

More Sun, More Time to Quilt

Welcome to the first day of our American Daylight Savings Time. I don't like that it comes early in March. I love having daylight at 6 am and now it will be dark again! I get up early and have enjoyed the NATURAL coming of the sun.

I have been finding leftover blocks (what? You don't have any?) that I abandoned and am trying to see if I can make something useful from them. You know I've had to be creative!

"Leftover from what" you may ask. Well, this is what I called "Descending" from my book Paper Piecing Perfect Points (2013, Martingale).

Descending: 56" x 56"

I think it looks like a colorful sun with shining rays, don't you? When you write a quilting book, most publishers ask that you send them a sample block (along with ALL the other stuff: finished quilt, instructions, artwork, templates, etc) so they can scrutinize it up close and personal. I have also taught this as a workshop, so I had some leftovers.

I cut my patches and printed my foundations:

Background fabrics with brights for my points

These are SUCH SHARP POINTS! I used some leftover 2" strips from another project to make these.

Four paper pieced quarter circles

Then I had some of those skinny donuts in dark pink and turquoise. Notice how I pin the straight ends. I always place an extra pin on the sides to keep them from shifting once I start to sew.

Pinning the donut to the foundation pieced quarter circles

Now let's see how cutting the background fabric. I had a little bit of the original fabric leftover in a light print and only enough for two in the darker print. This is how I challenged myself to get creative. Can I mix the two? Let's find out!

I made my freezer paper templates and cut out four from the light print.

This is how I flip flop my freezer paper template

And up close:

Cutting fabric layered so I can cut two at once

Then how do the parts look like together into one block?

Descending block with light background

And one of the original colorings:

Descending block with dark background

Wait a minute! There's a hole at the bottom of those blocks! Not to worry. I fussy cut two circles and interfaced them so I could appliqué them over those holes!

Circle interfaced

 My little circles ready to put on those centers:

Interfaced and turned circles

 Sew the block units together and adding some plain (floral) squares. NOW I add the circles.

After stitching over the hole

I squeezed the life out of my fabrics. As you can see, I didn't have enough to make that bottom, righthand space a block so I made it a floral square. I had a piece of this awesome Jane Sassaman fabric for the border and I'm pretty proud of myself. What do you think?

New version of Descending

The quilt center is 30" x 30". It looks like it would welcome Daylight Savings Time, don't you think?

You can find the 7 page pdf pattern on my Etsy pattern site, in full color with all foundations and templates ready to print. What a fun use for skinny, leftover strips!

One Day Lone Star Workshop

I am returning to teach at the Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA in July. (Yes, THAT Hershey - yum, yum!)

One of the 3 classes is my tried-and-true One Day Lone Star. Yes, you heard that right: a large Lone Star in one day. The block is 35". I put this together 10 years ago and still remains a popular class.

Let's see what I'm talking about:

Large Lone Star using an older Blank Fabrics collection

This is from the Holiday Splendor fabric collection and the 9-Patch diamonds are strip pieced. The large floral setting squares and triangles are set-in - GASP! Yes, I did it and it turned out ok. That is one technique of two that I teach for this very large 35" block.

I also teach that those outer squares and triangles can be split for ease of construction. I made a second quilt with this technique. I added some bias trim. I saw a vintage quilt photo and this was done and I thought: "Why not?" It is a little tricky, but I do show my students how to do this.

Lone Star with split squares and triangles

And the added bias trim:

Same 35" block with the added bias trim

As you know, I moved at the end of November and thought I had packed and unpacked my sewing studio correctly. I tore everything apart last week because I could not find these teaching samples. I gave SO MUCH away before my move, I figured I lost my mind and accidentally gave those samples away. So I began to make ANOTHER sample quilt. I thought it would be nice to have this in solids. What do you think?

Half of my Lone Star

Then, wouldn't you know it! I found my teaching samples. My dear quilting friend Julia convinced me to make an Excel spreadsheet of where my stuff is. A spread sheet? How much do you have, Debby? Allow me . . .

Stack of Chobani yogurt boxes being moved

 And another stack:

More boxes filled with projects, UFOs, workshops

I have about 4 dozen. They are labeled. But then I have several LARGE cardboard boxes with gallon size ziplock bags, full of various projects in process. I needed a spreadsheet!

I have a simple spreadsheet. I found the Lone Star samples and you can be sure they are now listed in the spreadsheet! I am slowly identifying my things.

I look forward to teaching this class. It is very doable. Students come with their strips pre-cut and labeled. They have a coloring chart to identify where they are placing their colors. It is fun and we usually don't stop with one!

If you are within driving distance of Hershey, PA, consider coming and taking this class. I'll post about my other two classes soon. Hope you enjoyed seeing my "filing system."