February Mystery Quilt

Where did Feb go?  Do the mystery quilt days seem to be coming around faster and faster or is it just us?

Anyway, we think you will enjoy this month's quilt.  Let's get started.

The quilt is made with nine 20 inch blocks.  We will begin by making the large stars for each of these blocks.  We love Quilt in a Day flying geese rulers.  This block uses the 3 x 6 inch ruler - it keeps the geese neat, tidy and precise!

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of a yellow 7 1/2 inch square.  Place the 7 1/2 square in the middle of a 9 inch red square with the right sides facing.

Sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line.  Cut apart on the line.  Press seams toward the larger triangle.  

Place the two pressed halves right sides together with outside edges aligned and opposite fabrics touching.  Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner perpendicular to the seams.  Sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line.  Cut on the line.  

Make a small snip between the parallel seams in each half.  This allows the fabric to be pressed in different directions.  Press the block and trim the flying geese with the 3 x 6 inch (finished size) flying geese ruler as shown.

It's hard to see in the photo but the ruler has markings that align with the edges of the flying geese triangle.  You simply trim all the way around to create precise, tidy flying geese.  Each set yields four flying geese.

Use a center square and the yellow background squares to complete the large star block as shown below.  

You will need to create 9 large star blocks.  We used the center shown in part of the blocks and the alphabet print in the remaining stars.

To create the small star blocks place a six inch teal square with a 6 inch red star square making sure the right sides are facing.  Draw two diagonal lines on the back of one of the squares.  Sew 1/4 inch on each side of the drawn lines.

Cut on the diagonal lines and halfway through the squares vertically and horizontally.

Square the triangles to 2 1/2 inches.  ( We love the Quilt in a Day triangle square up ruler for this.)  Press toward the teal fabric.

Arrange and sew as in the photo below.  Create nine small star blocks.

Sew a red 6 1/2 inch bandana square to an alphabet or cowboy print 6 1/2 inch square.  Create nine.

Assemble the components to create a block as shown below.

Assemble 9 blocks.  Arrange the blocks into three rows with three blocks in each row.  We twisted the blocks different directions to give the quilt more of a scrappy, unplanned look.

Sew the 5 inch grey cowboy strips to the top and bottom of the quilt to complete.

We think it turned out fun.  Anxious to try the same pattern with different fabrics.

Happy Sewing!

We are tentatively planning a quilt using the Camp-a-lot line for March mystery quilt.  Please call us to sign up.

Feb. updates

Wow! We have started the year off running.  We want to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for your support.  We feel we have gained so many new friendships.  Thanks so much!

The Feb. mystery quilt is coming up in just a couple of weeks.  We will be using fabrics from the Sasparilla collection from Riley Blake Designs.  You can view the fabrics here.  We have spaces left so give us a call.  It will be another fun quilt.

For those of you who are sorry you missed the Jan. mystery quilt we have a few kits left.  They are $37.00 with the optional applique and $34.00 without the applique.  It is a fun, quick quilt to do.  (You can view it in the previous blog.)  Give us a call if you would like one or just stop in.

We just spent a wonderful week attending the Winter Quilt Retreat at Ruby's Inn at the mouth of Bryce Canyon.  Bonnie Miles organizes the retreat every year.  She does such a wonderful job.  Every year we come away uplifted and anxious to move forward productively.  Becky taught a couple of classes at the retreat.  She taught a Mondo Bag class.

This is created with a great Quiltsmart product which makes it pretty easy to complete.  Several of the ladies had their bags completed by the end of the three hour class.

She also taught her watermelon table topper.

This is also a pretty quick and simple project which many of the ladies were able to complete during the retreat.  We took kits to sell in our booth and they were gone the first afternoon.  I guess folks are looking forward to a little sunshine.

Not only did Becky teach but we also set up a booth to vend.  Becky has been working frantically for the last few weeks in preparation for the retreat.  It paid off.  We were well received.  Here is a photo of our booth.

Isn't she a talented gal?  You can see the "Traditions" quilt hanging on the back wall.  It is also one of our block party quilts we will be doing the third Saturday of each month.  (It begins this Saturday.)  We have spaces left so give us a call (801-465-9133).  You can't see the embroidery detail in the center of each star but it really adds to the heirloom feel of the quilt.

That's all for now.  Have a great day!

Jan. Mystery quilt

We are well into the new year.  Hope it's going well for you.

Becky decided to call this month's mystery quilt "OOPS! I did it again".  We have done the quilt in other versions but it is just so quick and fun we think you may want to repeat it over and over.


Here is how the quilt turned out.  I'd say - she's done it again!

Here's how it's done.


The kits contain 21) 5 inch strips.  From each strip you will cut 4 squares and 2 rectangles.  If you leave the strip folded, you can cut them twice as fast.

Match two different squares and sew together.  Complete 42 sets.

Match the two square sets to a different rectangle and sew to create 42 blocks.

 

 

Arrange and sew the blocks into seven rows of six blocks.  Turn each of the blocks to create a random look. 

 

The photo above doesn't show all six blocks but you get the idea.

Sew all seven rows together. 

We decided to add a big blossom to give the quilt just a little extra interest.  (The applique is optional and is not included in the $29.00 kits.)

We used fusible interfacing to create the applique.  You simply trace the shapes onto the non-fusible side of the interfacing.  Place the fusible side of the interfacing against the right side of the fabric. 

 
Sew on the drawn line and trim just over 1/8 inch from the line.  For the circle, you will cut a slit in the interfacing and turn right side out.  The petals will have an open end that you can turn through.  Smooth out the edges and gently roll the interfacing to the underside of the applique.  Arrange on the quilt as desired and press using steam.  The steam helps the interfacing to shrink up a little behind the fabric so it doesn't show.  Stitch the applique to secure.

Add the borders to the quilt and your done!  Wasn't it fun?

The Little Red Hen block party starts this Saturday.  We still have room available and would love to have you join us.

The Traditions block party starts on February 15th.  It is turning out beautifully.  We have space available in it as well.

Check back for next month's mystery fabrics.  We will post them as soon as we find them.

February Candy Coaster

As some of you know, Becky is working on a series of "Candy Coasters" (little decorative things to make the candy dish look nice).  She created one for October.  (Remember the cute little candy corns?)

Well,the holidays came and we got a little preoccupied with other things. 



Here it is almost February and she has finished the second in the series.

Turned out kind of cute don't you think?  It really doesn't take much fabric and is pretty simple to do.  We will have instructions available tomorrow (the plan at least).  We will also have kits so you can make one just like it.

We still have spots available for the January mystery quilt.  We will be using the Priscilla collection from Riley Blake.  View them here .  It is going to be another fun quilt so give us a call to be included. 

Make it even more fun - bring a friend and do them together!

Traditions

The other day, Becky and I were trying to decide what to do for the next block party quilt.  I could see the lights click on in her eyes as she became excited about an idea she had for the quilt.  She practically ran home and started the quilt.

Actually, we decided to do two quilts.  The Little Hen will be done in storybook hues of teal, yellow, red and green.  (See some of the fabrics here.) We will have photos available as the quilt progresses.  Little Hen will be the first Saturday of each month beginning Feb. 1 and will go for 6 months.



The quilt Becky ran home to start will be called Traditions.  Here is a photo of the first block.

We will be using fabrics from A French Courtyard  collection from Riley Blake.  (See them here.)


The center of another block....

 

 



This quilt is different than any other block party we have done.  We will actually be doing the same blocks each month with different fabrics from the collection and a different word stitched into the  center of the block.  We will pass out the kits on the third Saturday of each month.  There is a total of 12 blocks in the quilt.  We will do two blocks each month so the quilt will still be done in 6 months.



We are now accepting registration for both block party quilts.  The Traditions block party will have a $25.00 sign up fee and $6.00 per month.  This price will include all twelve blocks.  We will have finishing kits available for an additional amount.

Little Hen will be a $20.00 sign up fee and $5.00 per month.  Finishing kits will be available for an additional charge. 

Pick your favorite or sign up for both!

Call us at 801-465-9133 to reserve your spot.

There's No People like Snow People

We haven't dropped off the face of the earth, the holidays just got really busy.  Hope you all had a great holiday season.

We have one more session of the snowman block party left.  Hope you have enjoyed it.  As you're getting ready to put it all together we thought a photo might be helpful.  So, here is a photo.

We have decided to do two different block party quilts to start off 2014!  They will begin in Feb. (dates to be announced).

After receiving several requests to do so, we will re-make the  Little Red Hen in storybook colors of teal, red, and yellow.

Becky is designing another quilt we are calling "Traditions".  She will be using fabrics from A French Courtyard  from Riley Blake designs. 

We will follow up soon with photos and more information.  We are now reserving spaces for either or both quilts.  Call us at 801-465-9133.

We will also be posting the fabrics for January mystery quilt soon.  Stay tuned - we've got a lot going on.

Quilt sample sale just in time for Christmas

We are having a  sample quilt blowout sale - several quilts just $99.00!  Check out our face book page (www.facebook.com/framesandsewforth) to view photos or stop by the shop to see them all.