November BOM

Sorry for all the bad photos in this post. My husband has requested that I try to keep my projects in the studio/sewing room/kids' art room and not all over the house. Well, honestly, that room has the worse light in the entire house. I will have to figure out some way of taking better photos in that room. I love the light in my family room, but oh, well. Maybe I should just drag the photos down after every stitch; oh let's not kid ourselves, I am patient when it comes to making things but spending four to ten minuets per photo -- just not happening. Especially going up and down the stairs since my knee is still hurting and I'm still wearing the knee brace on and off when the pain is too much to stand. Anyway, on to this month's BOM. It is sort of a cross between snail's trail/court house steps/ and log cabin. I honestly don't know the name of this block, so if anyone in blog land does, please let me know.

Supplies:
3 fabrics cut in 1 1/2 inch wide stripes
sewing machine and sewing supplies ie: scissors, rotary cutter, mat....
clear quilter's ruler for truing up

Go to it!

First two pieces are 1 1/2 inches square. From there, it is follow picture and sew and cut till done. This is a more follow-the-picture type of thing and true up as needed. Be careful, there shouldn't be a need for truing up and you have no tolerance for it either. I like to use a scant 1/4 inch seam; that gives me just a little fudge room. Just so we know, the block is square: a nice 10 1/2 by 10 1/2, but I didn't take the photos from dead-on; the lighting issue and kids-under-feet issue. First block is just the three fabrics cut in 1 1/2 inch wide strips; the rest are sewing order.
Side note: the last two photos are of the same finished block (oops), and they are rotated wrong, too. This is what I get for doing this when I am sleepy, too.

update:
I figured out why I have two of the same block at the bottom of this between picture 1 and 2 on row three. There should have been two more photos; I haven't a clue where they went, the photos that is. But I think everyone can still follow well enough to make the block and life goes on. You see those two last blocks were supposed to be in the construction layout just at the top or bottom of this post. Sorry folks!

October BOM

I know it is November, but I never showed October's block; it was Ditzy Donuts by Mary Evans from 2005. Since she posted the detailed instructions on her site, I will just show an over-view of what I did in construction of these three blocks. The block starts out 13 inches and ends up 10 1/2 inches, unfinished size.

Steps:
1. 3 fabrics cut into 13 inch squares stacked on top of each other.
2. First two cuts
3. Third and fourth cuts (none of these cuts are measured; they are random in width)
4. Fifth and sixth cut
5. Seventh and eighth cut
6. Take top center piece and place on bottom of stack
7. Take bottom pieces of middle row and place on top of stack
8. Take middle pieces to machine and keep them lined up in order so you don't forget orientation
9. Iron pieces and take back to original layout and make sure you have layout correct
10. Repeat step 8 and 9. Do not true up at this time; do trim ears at this time
11. Repeat step 8 and 9. Do trim off ears at this time; do not true up
12. Take back to original block and make sure you have directions correct. Repeat step 11; cut off ears and true up now 2 more finished blocks, plus the one at the start of this post.

Block of the month from Fairbanksfancygoods

Fairbanksfancygoods went a little overboard on making blocks for "The Block Of the Month" swaps on flickr. She had more blocks than swap partners, so I agreed to swap for her overages. She was so sweet and sent me extras to boot.

She sent the two blocks. If you want to make these blocks, follow links on names of blocks to the tutorials
Pinwheel
Disappearing Nine PatchPlus a tape measure she had decorated. Then a handmade needle case with supplies included and one blank page to fill.Lastly, she sent fabric; I am trying to figure out if she decorated it or if that is the original print.She is also sending these latter this month to me: this is her photo not mine.
Ditzy Donuts

September block of the month tutorial

Join block of the month

1. Cut 9 squares 4 1/4 inches square.
2. Lay-out for placement; flip middle column on top of left column.
3. Stack with bottom-most row on bottom of stack; take to machine to sew. Sew these in the continuous chain method that was demonstrated in the block of the month tutorial for Aug.
4. Take your chain back to your layout table and open up. Lay right-most column on top of middle column and chain stitch. Again, do not cut any of your chain stitching. Press seams in opposite directions from row to row so they will nest when sewing the next set of seams.
5. Take this piece of half-sewn cloth to the machine and sew the next two seams and press again.
6. Take back to cutting board; true up and cut in half, both directions.
7. Play with placement of blocks.
8. Once you find the lay out you want, flip right sides together like in step number 2.
   
9. Sew last two seams, press in between the sewing of the first and second seam.
   
10. Press and true up again to 10 1/2 inches.
11. Done!
    

W is for..

What are you waiting for? Sign ups are now! Head on over to the group's home page and get signed up for the block of the month swap on flickr. Below are some samples of the blocks that have been made and swapped thus far.Please feel free to check out the group just to see the pretty blocks made so far. You are welcome to join the group and not swap, too. If you happen to make the block, you are welcome to post it, even if you don't swap it.

U is for...

Up and posting photos again! Yes, I am a happy camper (to say the least) so what have I been doing?

We, my oldest daughter and I, have been making boa scarves for a Halloween swap over at MJF, ruoughly 14 of these.

I have also been working on the mini yoyo quilt and the normal cd yoyo quilt.

I have also been taking my oldest kid to school and taking care of the one that fell down the stairs and the one that got pink eye, who is also the oldest, while I wasn't posting pictures. I thought about taking a picture of her, the pink eye one, the first day of the infection. Can we say she looked like Quasimodo? Sad but true, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings by posting a picture of her that way, so I changed my mind.

I also made my block for quisic in the swap on flickr, the block of the month group. Since it is going to be mailed one day late, I also made next month's block for her, too, as an added bonus and apology. So she will get one Aug. block and one Sept. block.

S is for.....

September block of the month.

This upcoming month in the flickr group the block that will be swapped is the Disappearing Nine patch. Please feel free to check out the group and join in on the fun. You don't have to swap to be a member. If you are a great seamstress and don't need truing up, start with a 4-inch block. However, to get the desired block of 10 inches finished (10 1/2 unfinished), most people need truing up; so, start with 4 1/2 or 4 1/4 for fudge factor. I hope I can post photos soon; this is driving me a little crazy. I would suggest starting with 4 1/4; that is what I did. It's easy to do with little truing up but it is needed, truing that is.

This block is not mine; it is fairbanksfancygoods and she gave me permission to post this so you could see what the block looks like when done. Please check out her photos on flickr.

Block of the Month Tutorial For Aug

So the block of the month on flicker is under way we have our first block which will be for the month of August. You can join the group at any time but sign ups for the swaps are always the 1-5 of each month. Sorry it is a rainy dark day so my photos are not the best but will work. Below are the basic rules and layout of the group.

RULES

If you sign up in an individual month's block exchange you will be required to make 1 quilt block, it must be 10-1/2" x 10-1/2", and send to your partner for that month.

I will suggest a block to make but you can always choose your own, any style or color.
Then, when you have enough blocks, you can make a quilt and post the photos on the photo pool.

TIME LINE

1st of every month I will post a photo of the suggested block (please note you do not have to make this block, it is only an idea). You may make any type of block you choose as long as it is the right size and agreed color of your partner.

1 - 5 of the month sign ups post on thread also flickr mail me please.

5- 10 contact partner to see if there is a color theme or not and to get mailing address.

5 - 20 of the month make your block.

20 - 30 of the month, post/mail out to your partner.

Post your blocks in the pool before you mail to your partner.

Now that you know that, on to the block:

Aug 2007 Tutorial for Pinwheel
finished size 10 inches unfinished size 10 1/2 inches

Supplies:

• Minimum 3 different fabrics (1 is the background, the other 2 colors make up the pinwheel if you want a scrappy look you can have as many colors as there are pieces to the block)
• A way to sew the block, either a sewing machine and supplies for it, or needle and thread for hand sewing
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Iron
• Here is the pattern: PDF file, plain SVG file and Inkscape SVG file. I cut mine using measurement, but you can download these files and use templates if you are more comfortable.
  

Directions:

1. Cut three stripes of fabric 4 1/2 inches by 9 inches; set aside 'till step 5.
2. Cut one piece of fabric 4 inches by 10 inches.
3. Cut in half so you have 2 pieces of fabric that are 2 inches by 10 inches.
4. Stack neatly and cut at an angle so one side is 4 inches and the other is 6 inches. You will now have 4 pieces of fabric (before making this last cut, make sure you have the angle facing the right way for the block) set aside.
5. Stack all 3 pieces neatly (from step 1) and cut in half, so now you have 2 squares that are 4 1/2 by 4 1/2.
6. Stack squares neatly and cut from corner to corner and set aside.
7. You now have 12 triangles and 4 edge pieces for a total of 16 pieces.
8. Match up first seam for all blocks, short side of edge with short side of triangle, and then two short side of triangle. To help with this, lay out the block as if done and flip the pieces over on top of the piece they will be sewn to and make two neat stacks.
9. Take to machine and sew. Use the chaining method when sewing; that means, do not cut threads between blocks. This is faster, neater, and easier to manage; use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Continue in this manner of chain stitching through the triangles and the triangle with boarder pieces.
10. When sewing the triangle to boarder, note the little dog ears at the end where the two blocks cross; your stitches should go right through that intersection. If done correctly there will be a smooth edge when flipped and pressed.
11. Cut apart blocks and press seam to one side.
12. Match next set of seams for blocks; lay right sides together and sew in chain method again.
13. Press seams to one side and match up next seam and chain stitch again; continue in this fashion 'till done with the block.

Quilt Block Swap Starting

I have been asked how does one find out about these swaps that happen. Well, here is one that is just starting out, and you can join.

There is a group just getting started over on flickr called block of the month. This is a group all about sharing quilt blocks. If you sew or embroider, you can do this. Objective of this group is to swap blocks each month. Once you have enough blocks, you can assemble a quilt and show it to the group.

Blocks, hopefully, will come from all over the world because this will be open for international swapping. Please feel free to check out this group, see rules, and join.

I will have tutorials here for most of the blocks and a link to the patterns. You can sign up now for the group for sign ups for each month start August 1, 2007.

Thanks for checking this out
Take care
Sunshine

http://www.flickr.com/groups/blockofthemonth/