Criss - Cross Connections tutorial

Wow, the months are speeding by.  It seems we just barely posted last month's mystery quilt tutorial. 
Well, here comes some more fun!

Begin by sewing the borders to the 8 inch blocks.

Draw a diagonal line on the back of each of the 2 inch star point squares.  Place one (right sides together) on the corner of a 3 ½ x 11 inch sashing rectangle.  Sew on the drawn line and press back.  Repeat on all four corners of each of the sashing rectangles. 

Create the rows by sewing a sashing unit between three of the blocks and to each end of the resulting row.  Create three rows. 

Sew a 3 ½ inch star center between three of the sashing units and one to each end.  Create four of these rows.

Sew a sashing row in between each of the three block rows and to the top and bottom of the quilt.

Sew a 1 ½ inch brown first border to the top and bottom of the quilt.  Add the 5 inch stripe border fabric to the top and bottom only.  Sew a 1 ½ inch brown first border all the way around the quilt.

 Finish with the 5 ¾ inch final border.

Quilt as desired.  Bind and enjoy!


The finished quilt.  - The colors are nuch better in real life.  We are still working on this photography thing.

Here are some of the fabrics for August's mystery quilt.

They are from the Country Harvest line, by Eric Dowdle.

New block party begins Aug. 11

We finally found fabrics to get started on the next block party!  Here is a peek.....

Becky finished the first block the other night.  It feels good to have it started.  We were pleased with the way it turned out.  What do you think?

We have a daughter getting married next month.  With wedding on the brains we wonder if we have successfully taught her and helped her learn all the skills she will need to be happy and successful in life.  We hope so.  We pass along these musings only because they are the inspiration behind this quilt.  It will be called "Letters to my daughter".  Each block will represent some practical advice for life as she moves into the wonderful phase of independence and rearing a family of her own.  A letter with practical advice and counsel will accompany each of the blocks.

We may offer the quilt in two different color ways if we can find more fabric to our liking.  (Stay tuned.)

Anyway, the block party will begin Aug. 11th.  We are now reserving spaces.  The sign up fee is only $15.00 and then $2.00 per session.  Each session will include fabric for two nine inch blocks.  Right now, the plan is for 24 blocks total.  You will be able to set the blocks however you like.  We will have setting kits available for an additional fee if you like the way Becky finishes hers.


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

Garden Stars tutorial

Draw a diagonal line on the back of the 2 inch (print 2) squares.  Place a two inch square on each corner of the 5 1/2 inch center (print 1) fabric.  Sew on the line.

Trim 1/4 inch from the stitching line.

Press all of the triangles back.

The center square is done.  Not too hard so far.

Next we are going to create some flying geese blocks.  We will be using a method that creates very little waste.

Lay two (print 2) 3 1/2 inch squares on opposite corners of a 6 1/2 inch (print 3) square as in the photo below.  Make sure the right sides of the fabric are together.

One corner of the two small squares will overlap each other slightly. 

Draw a diagonal line through both squares.  Sew 1/4 inch on both sides of the line.  Cut apart on the line.

Press toward the smaller triangles.

Place a (print 2) 3 1/2 inch square on the large  corner of each of the resulting pieces with the right sides facing.

As seen above, draw a diagonal line through the square and sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line.


Cut apart on the line.

Press the triangles back and wa la!  Four flying geese.

It is important to square them up to 3" x 5 1/2".  Quilt in a Day makes a 2 1/2" x 5" (finished size) flying geese ruler which is very handy.  If you do not have access to one make sure you leave 1/4 inch from the tip of the geese to the edge of the block.  This will help avoid having flat nosed geese when you sew the blocks together.

Repeat the process using a 6 1/2 inch background block and four (print 3) 3 1/2 inch squares.


You now have all of the components to complete a block.  Lay the pieces out as in the photo below.  Sew them together one row at a time.  If you press the seams in opposite directions from row to row it will make it easier to line up the seams perfectly.

Repeat the process to create a total of nine blocks.  Keep in mind that prints 1,2 and 3 will be different in each block. 

Arrange the blocks in three rows with three blocks in each row.  Sew a   15 1/2" sashing strip between each block in the rows and on the end of each row.

Sew 3) 15 1/2"  sashing strips between 4 brown stripe squares.

Create four of these rows.  Sew between the block rows and to the top and bottom to the quilt.


To create the final borders sew a brown stripe square to each end of the 10 1/2" sashing strips.  Sew a 3" background square between 3 of these units and to each end.  Create four of these rows.

Sew one of these strips to each side of the quilt, being careful to match the seams.


Sew a brown stripe square to both ends of the remaining two strip sets.

Sew one to the top and bottom of the quilt.

It was a particularly busy month, so I didn't have time to get it quilted.  I am really pleased with the way it turned out though.  If you like a longer quilt, you could easily add borders to the top and bottom.  In fact, I think I will.  And scallop them.

Thanks so much for participating in our mystery quilt program.  Please tell your friends about it!

Here are some of the fabrics we will be using for the July mystery quilt.

Give us a call to sign up.  801-465-9133      Happy Quilting!

 

Beehive Buzz free block pattern

Here is the block Becky created as our shop's free pattern for the beehive buzz.  She liked it so well she is actually considering repeating the block to make a quilt.  We'll see...

Anyway,  we think it is kind of fun framed up. 

Stop by and pick up your free pattern.  We also have a few frames left.  They are only $21.95 but we're offering 10% off during shop hop.

Busy busy beehive buzz

We have been busy preparing for the beehive buzz.  We finally got the shop back in shape last night about 7:30.  We had a great crowd awaiting this morning when we opened.  Thanks everyone for showing up!



We ran across a fun and quick idea from the folks at Quiltsmart the other day.  Little tea light lamps.  The shades make up really quick (about 10 minutes each).  You just place the shade over a wine glass and insert a battery operated tea light.

We added the trim to the bottom.  You could go crazy with all kinds of embellishments. 

Our daughter is planning her wedding and reception for this fall.  We're thinking some version of these little treats will become part of the decorations somewhere.


Shop Hop will be going on through Saturday the 16th.  Stop in for a cookie and a demo.  Enter to win a $100.00 gift certificate.   Everything in the shop is on sale!

                                 OOPS!  

We discovered an error in the cutting instructions for the whirligigs mystery quilt.  The two red strips should be cut 1 3/4 inches not 1 1/4 inches.  If you have a question please give us a call at 801-465-9133.
We apologize for the error and hope we caught it in time to save you some extra trouble. 




Don't forget to sign up for the June mystery quilt.  The fabrics we will be using are pictured below.

Thanks,
Rebecca and Kelly

Here is the tutorial for "Whirligigs", our May mystery quilt.  Hope it proves helpful to you.  We welcome any ideas and suggestions to improve.  (We hope to become better photographers along the way.)

Have fun!!

Cut 12 - 7 inch squares from each of  the plain red, red print, yellow polka dot and yellow floral.  Match the plain red with the yellow polka dot - right sides facing.  Draw diagonal lines from corner to corner on the back of one of the squares.  Sew 1/4 inch on both sides of the lines.

Cut apart on the drawn lines as well as half way horizontally and vertically. 

Square each of the blocks to 3 inches.   (I love the Quilt In A Day triangle square up ruler for this.  Place the 3 inch line of the ruler on the seam line of the unopened half square triangles.  Sorry - the photo shows it on the edge, it should be on the seam - do as I say, not as I show.) 

Clip the excess seam points and press open, creating a total of eight - 3 inch half square triangle blocks.  Press toward the red.  

Repeat with the remaining red print and yellow polka dot squares and then with the red squares with the yellow floral.

Using eight each of the two color combinations, assemble as in the photo below to create twelve whirligig blocks.

The finished block.  You will need twelve.

To create the corner posts, sew the yellow polka dot 1 ¼” x width of fabric strip between the two red 1 ¾” x width of fabric pieces.  Sew along the length of the strips.  Press toward the yellow. 

 Sub cut to create 20 – 1 ¼” segments. 

Sew a 1 ¾” x 3 ¾” red to each side of these segments.  Press toward the yellow. 

Create the sashing strips by sewing a 1 ¼” x 10 ½” striped fabric between two 1 ¾” x 10 ½” inch yellow polka dot pieces.  Press towards the yellow polka dot.  Repeat to create 31 units.

Lay the blocks out in four rows of three blocks. 

Sew a sashing unit in between each of the three blocks in the rows and one to both ends.

Create 5 sashing/corner post rows by sewing three sashing units between four corner post units. 

Sew a sashing row between the four block rows and to the top and bottom.

(We got a little ahead of the photo taking in our exitement to see the finished quilt top.  I think you can see how the sashing and blocks all go together from the photo.)

Sew the final border to the quilt.  Quilt as desired.  Bind and enjoy!

The finished quilt top (above).

I think it makes a fun splash of color in the garden (below).

Thanks for participating!  Have fun making your whirligig quilt. 


Please join us for the June mystery quilt.  Here is a peak at some of the fabrics we'll be using.

Happy Quilting!