Design Challenge - Block Two - Quilt Neighbors

I'm so excited to share the second block for my Design Challenge quilt!!!

One thing that my hometown in Tennessee and my current home in rural, Upstate New York have in common...TREES!!!!!  Every neighborhood must have trees!!!!

I researched and found numerous TREE quilt block patterns, but it seemed that everything I was finding was set "on-point" (which wouldn't work this time).  I did find paper-pieced blocks (too time-consuming), and of course there are unlimited applique ideas (too much work for me).

I finally found one pattern that had promise...but wasn't quite perfect.  So with some tweeking here and there...here is the winner!

The block as you see it measures 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" unfinished.

Placed next to a house block.....instructions for House block can be found HERE.

Do you want to give it a try?

***In order for all the cuts, angles, etc., to be correct, we will be cutting enough pieces to construct two separate tree quilt blocks at one time.  Trust me, if you try to cut one block worth at a time...it just won't work!! :)

1)  Using a neutral fabric, cut TWO rectangles measuring 4 1/4" x 10 7/8".

     Using two different green fabrics, cut TWO rectangles measuring 3 3/4" x 10 7/8".

2)  Place both green rectangles RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.   Rotary cut from one upper corner to opposite bottom corner.

Do the same thing with the two neutral rectangles, make sure to place them RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.

You should be able to lay out your pieces like this.....

3)  From the same neutral fabric, you will need to cut 4 rectangles measuring 3" x 3 1/2" (enough for two completed tree blocks).

4)  From a brown fabric (tree trunk), cut 2 rectangles measuring 1 1/2" x 3 1/2"  (enough for two completed tree blocks).

Now we are ready to sew.... for each block, place both green tree pieces right sides together and sew center seam.

I usually press to one side, but this time I chose to press the seam open, then trim off the dog-ears at the top.

Place the right neutral "triangle" right sides together with the "tree"....matching up with the top corner....

You will notice that the bottom of the neutral triangle extends past the green tree...that's what it should do. :)

Sew this seam....

I pressed this seam towards the outside, neutral triangle.

Notice the little, pointy tip?  Don't cut it off.  This will guide you in placing the left neutral triangle.

Place left neutral triangle, right sides together, matching top corner as shown..

I found it easier to pin and "flip over"....sewing from the top of the tree to the bottom....

Press to the neutral fabric...

This section will be too large at this point, and we will need to trim it down to a 6 1/2" x 9 1/2" rectangle segment...

In order to keep out "points" nice and sharp when all the block are attached later on, notice that we need to place our ruler's 1/4" line on the very tip of the "tree" as our guide....   DON'T CUT YET.......

Also notice that I am using the center seam as a guide to place my ruler before trimming.  Place the 3 1/4" line of the ruler on the center seam.  If you happen to own a 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" ruler, you will find that it is a tremendous help in trimming the block perfectly.  :) :)

Once everything is lined up, trim right, top and left sides....

Final trim is to measure 9 1/2" from top of block and trim off bottom excess...

THIS SECTION OF THE TREE BLOCK SHOULD MEASURE 6 1/2" x 9 1/2".

The most difficult part is over....the rest is a cake walk!! :) :)

Using the two neutral 3" x 3 1/2" rectangles and one brown 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangle, simply sew a neutral rectangle to each side of the brown (tree trunk) rectangle.

Once sewn, the section should measure 6 1/2" x 3 1/2"

One last seam....sew bottom section to top section....

Completed block should measure 6 1/2" x 12 1/2" at this point.

I've decided that I need a total of 8 Tree blocks to go with the 12 House blocks already finished.  Guess it's time to get busy again!!! :) :)

I'll be sharing my progress with you.  It's hard to believe that we'll soon be ready for sashing and borders. Can you sense my excitement??? :)

Stay warm and keep sewing!

Just Love Productive Days!

It is SO COLD here in Upstate New York...oh my goodness!!!!!!  It's just too cold to do most things in the house so I forced myself to cozy up in my sewing room. :) :) :)  Of course, I must be honest and say that it was very tempting to just bundle up, snuggle under some quilts and read the day away with a cup of coffee, hot tea or hot chocolate.

I finished piecing together 12 quilt blocks for my Design Challenge quilt...YIPPEE!!!

I'm really tickled pink with how they are turning out so far.  The instructions for making these blocks can be found HERE.  I was able to pull out little scraps to make all the sky, chimney, house and door pieces (even though my scrap basket doesn't look like it has been touched and is just as full as when I started!).  I did end up using three different FQ's to cut the roof pieces from because of their larger size.

My design is slowly coming together in my brain and I'm excited to share that I plan to post the instructions for a SECOND block on Friday.  It's going to be so cute....I promise. :)

On a totally different subject, I was able to web together the 144 Split 9-Patch blocks that I have been making as my Leader/Enders since Bonnie Hunter issued the challenge last summer.

I even got the top four rows sewn to each other.  Slow and steady wins the race! :)  Interested in doing the same thing?  Bonnie Hunter's Leader/Ender Challenge and instructions can be found HERE.  Not familiar with the Webbing process?  Bonnie Hunter's Webbing Tutorial can be found HERE.

Last but not least....the final project I worked on last night was to make the binding for a special quilt that I can't reveal until it is received by someone for his birthday.

I know that just as soon as I share it in this blog, "he" will see it and the surprise will be ruined. :)

What did YOU get accomplished yesterday?

Until next time....keep quilting (and smiling)!

Design Challenge - Block One - Quilt Neighbors

My last post (found HERE) explains the Design Challenge I'm participating in with my local quilt guild.  As I started dreaming of ways to use the challenge 6 1/2" blocks in a completely new quilt design, I started thinking of all of the Barn Quilts that I see whenever I travel Interstate 81 from Upstate New York to my hometown in Tennessee.  I've always got my eyes open, hoping to spot a pretty painted quilt block on the side of someone's old barn.

Instead of barns....why not houses...why not a neighborhood?  Each home would display a quilt....a village of quilting neighbors!!  :)

Why not something like this????

After looking at my EQ7 software and seeing several "house" blocks with slanted roofs and complicated piecing involved, I decided to design an easy block, easy and quick to rotary cut and quick to piece together.

Here is what I came up with....the blank space is where my Challenge blocks (or ANY 6 1/2" unfinished quilt block design) will fit.

So easy to cut and piece together....

This block is perfect for using your scraps....this is what you will need:

Diagram A - SKY - two pieces that are 2" x 2 1/2" rectangles

Diagram C - SKY - one piece that is 2" x 5 1/2" rectangle

Diagram B - CHIMNEY - two pieces that are 2" x 2" squares

Diagram D - ROOF - one piece that is 5" x 12 1/2" rectangle - this is the largest piece needed for the block.

Diagram H - DOOR- one piece that is 2 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangle

Diagram E - HOUSE - one piece that is 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle

Diagram G - HOUSE - two pieces that are 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangles

Diagram I - HOUSE - one piece that is 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle

Diagram F - Quilt Block - any quilt block design that is an unfinished 6 1/2" square.  In my case, one of the Challenge blocks provided to me.

When placed together, your pieces should look like this....

Let's piece the block together in sections.

First sew together the sky and chimney pieces.... (A+B+C+B+A)

Next...the door and house column sections on each side....(G+H+G)

Now sew the top house section (I) to the top of the door/house column section....

Next, sew any 6 1/2" quilt block to the far right section of the house (F+E).....

Now sew the door/house section to the quilt block section....

At this point, you should have three distinct sections of the house ready....

Almost finished.....

Sew the top SKY/CHIMNEY section to the roof.....

Then sew the bottom of the roof to the top of the house......

Your completed block should measure 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" square....

Yippee!   Whew!  What a relief!  The measurement is perfect.  Be sure to use a scant 1/4" seam.

Use your imagination!  Wouldn't it be adorable to make this block and have a completely different "quilt block" on the side of each home?  I don't have the luxury this time to use a different design for each house since I'm using the challenge blocks provided by my local guild.  Thankfully, even if my blocks are all the same design, at least they use different fabrics/colors in each block.

Now I need to continue digging through my scraps to make 11 more blocks.....plus continue deciding HOW I will use these blocks to design a final quilt top. :) :)

If you decide to make this block....I'd love to see your interpretation!  Don't be shy!  I'd love to see pictures!!!

Until next time!

Design Challenge Excitement

I know, you are wondering what the above picture has to do with a design challenge?  Well, let me tell you! :) :)

The quilt guild I attend decided to have six members participate in a design challenge.  We were each given 20 blocks that are 6 1/2" unfinished.  The photo shows only a few of the 20 blocks I was given.  All of the blocks are the same design, but are made from scraps and the majority of us received sets that had no color coordination whatsoever....totally scrappy!  The above blocks were made using one 3 1/2" center square, 4 identical 2" x 3 1/2" rectangles, and 4 identical 2" squares.  (I'm still having a hard time believing that one person willingly made 120 of these blocks, divided them into 6 groups of 20, then GAVE THEM  AWAY! My goodness....120 blocks is a quilt top!!!!!!!!!!)

The Challenge:

1.  Use at least TWELVE of the blocks in your completed design.

2.  Keep notes so that you can create a "pattern" that will be included in a future monthly newsletter.

3.  Select a month for your design reveal.

Guidelines:

1.  You can add to the blocks, creating larger blocks

2.  You can cut the blocks into segments

3  You can add as many additional blocks to your design as you want provided you use at least twelve of the      blocks you receive.

I've never done anything like this before, but I'm up for the challenge!  Ideas are running through my mind at a frantic pace.

Can't wait to share my design thoughts with you very soon....hopefully in the next day or two!

Happy Quilting!

Teaching My Daddy to Sew!

I'm finally getting around to writing a very special post.  This past August, we planned a family vacation to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  We reserved a beautiful cabin that would accommodate us along with my parents (who we planned to kidnap on our way and force them into taking a break from the real world).

I have several different stories to share about this vacation but for this post, I will concentrate on my Daddy.

Our cabin was reserved for 9 days and the only worry I had prior to our vacation was...HOW WILL WE KEEP DAD OCCUPIED SO HE WON'T GET BORED AND WANT TO GO HOME EARLY!!

On Day #1....Dad was content to sit and read on the front porch (along with his constant companion...his 3 pound, toy breed Mi-Ki named Zealy).  She is sitting on the porch swing next to him.

On Day #2....Dad was content to teach Kirsten all the ins and outs to shooting pool.

On Day 3...Dad was content to help the rest of the family put together a jigsaw puzzle.

On Day 4....Dad was content to rest. :) :)

On Day 5....Dad started to show the beginning signs of boredom!  Oh boy!!!!  I had taken two of my vintage Singer Featherweights to have some mother/daughter bonding (sewing) time and on this day, Dad started insinuating that he could sew better than both my mother and me.  I do need to explain to everyone reading that my Dad had never sewn one stitch in his life....but he's always had a talent for thinking he can do anything!  :) :)

With a big smile on my face I said... "Sure, Dad....if you want to sew, I'll teach you!"  Of course, I had to remind him that he did indeed need to put his doggie Zealy down on the floor in order to use both hands while sewing!!! :) :) :)

My Mom and Dad, getting ready to sew side-by-side (once he puts the dog down that is!)

Thankfully, I had packed quite a bit of different fabrics, including lots of pre-cuts (jelly rolls, charm squares, layer cakes, etc.)  Even though I would have NEVER DREAMED my Dad would want to sew, I had brought the PERFECT fabric for my Dad...a layer cake of pre-cut 10" squares of big construction trucks.

The Sewing Lessons Begin!

Dad sewed and sewed for two straight days until he had completed his very first (and possibly only :) :) quilt top!

I brought his quilt top home with me after vacation, added a red inner border and a wider outer border using fabric from the same line.  We ended up with a quilt large enough to fit a full size bed!

Time to quilt....

I used a royal blue tone-on-tone for the backing...and a quilting design called "Swoosh" from Urban Elementz.

Not a great photo...but here is a portion of the quilt hanging from my banister....

Spread across my queen size bed....

I used the red fabric in the border to bind the quilt also.  While on vacation, I thankfully remembered to write a label and have Dad sign it...the best part!!!

The quilt is currently here in New York just waiting to be mailed to Dad or hand-delivered whenever I get to make a trip back home.

Teaching my Dad to sew will always be a special memory I will forever hold in my heart.  He really did an awesome job and needs to make a few more quilt tops!!!!  He has lots of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who want quilts made by him now that everyone knows he can SEW!!!!!

The secret is out now Dad....better get busy!!!!!