November BOM has arrived

Hello!  Well the long await for the November instalment for Block of the Month is here!  

So much has happened over the last month, I have just finally caught up enough to do this block.  This month I decided to do the spool block and place a 9 patch in the centre for the coloured thread!

So go to the stash and select two tones of fabric for your thread or 9 patch, a background and a contrast!

Cutting Instructions:-

for the 9 patch cut from one fabric, 5 x 2.5" squares

                                        second fabric, 4 x 2.5" squares

from background and contrast fabric, cut 2 x (3.5" x 6.5") rectangles

                                                             cut 4 half square triangles at 3 7/8"

Once these are cut layout pieces as below:-

laid out ready for stitching

We will web the 9 patch block so we will take the top two squares and join them and then chain piece the next two and then the next two.  Do not cut the joining threads between the the units.  then we proceed to join the next pieces onto them to create the webbed 9 patch leaving us only to join them into one block

webbing of the 9 patch block

 

Webbed ready to join the three rows to make the block

next join the 6.5" background to the sides of the block

 background edges joined onto the block on opposite sides

Next we join the half square triangles to make the corner square of the block.  These are then joined to the contrast 6.5" rectangle taking care to add it in the direction per the initial layout.  Press seams to the contrast fabric

adding the triangle corners to make the spool bottom and top

Press seams to the contrast 

Ready to add the last two rows to make the completed block

And here is our finished Block!  Ta Da!

completed Spool block all press

Here is our blocks so far, now just one to complete the set, I did promise a bonus block and will look into this one this week,  I am not happy with my split nine patch block so I do plan on redoing this one.

The Blocks so far!

So how are you liking this coming together?  If you would like to place this together like I am planning I will give you the heads up to make some 9 patch blocks from your scraps so far.   Use 1.5" squares  and you will need quite a few,  how many I haven't decided but I am not going to do the standard way of laying these blocks out in a sashing for a boring outlook but you are quite welcome to do that.  My problem is I like to have a different outlook on this.  

I am also thinking about next year, I have enjoyed doing this block of the month and doing something a little different for you all.  I am wondering if you would like to go on an adventure next year with me?  I am thinking of more like a row by row quilt.  This would mean if you only want a wall hanging that is possible or if you want a large quilt this is still possible.  I will be keeping it simple again as I will not have heaps of time but love to do this and have people join with me.  Now let me know your thoughts over the next few weeks as we wrap up the year.

Anyway, have a great Weekend and I hope to check in with you on Sunday if all goes well.  I have almost finished my Double Wedding Ring Bag Pattern also for all who have been patiently waiting.

So have a wonderful time and catch you real soon,

Wendy.

October bom has arrived!

Yay! October BOM!

Hello!  thanks again for being so patient and understanding with me!  This months was running late then I had the call from the nursing home to say that a bed was available for my mum.   Hence I have been a bit busy organising things for her move in tomorrow.  

Now that is under control I thought I would do something for me tonight and sew.  So I went to the Bom fabric stash and I chose these two fabrics for this block.  Earlier this week I purchased the EQ Mini and from the small amount I have played with it, I'm really loving it.

So lets get on with this block.   I have chosen the flying squares block this month.  We will learn how to do a partial seam and still have heaps of fun and whip this block up quickly.

My fabrics for this block

Now lets cut from background 2 strips at 2 7/8" and 2 strips at 2 7/8" from the main fabric.

Then from the background cut 4 rectangles at 2 7/8" x 7 11/16" and 5 squares at  2 7/8"

from the main fabric cut 8 squares at 2 7/8"

layout of flying squares block

lay out your fabrics and remember to check it if you have directional fabric so you have them running all the one way unless you like a messy haphazard look.

getting ready to stitch

We will sew one 2 7/8" square of main fabric onto the background rectangle and then we will sew the 9 patch block together.  Remember webbing is a great idea with the 9 patch blocks.

all outside strips are sewn and the centre 9 patch

Our next part of this block is to sew the outside strips to the inner 9 patch block and we start this with a partial seam.  As below I will start sewing this strip on from about 1/3 down from the start of the seam.  See the next few photos.

sewing the partial seam

starting of the partial seam

sewn and pressed

Take the next strip to be stitch and lay it on top of the block and sew the complete seam and repeat until all four strips are on the block.

ready for 3 strip to be sewn

preparing to sew

all four strips sewn on

Now we will finish the partial seam.  Lay the first strip back onto the centre of the block and sew from the start of the block to where you started sewing at the beginning and press.

about to sew the last part of the partial seam

sewing the seam.

completed flying Squares block

I am really happy with this block.  I hope you enjoy it also.  Below is a shot of all of our blocks so far.  Isn't this looking great.  I will try and do a post soon about how we can lay these blocks out for different layouts of sashing or just joining cleverly.  

all 10 blocks so far

Enjoy this months block and the partial seam!  Always take time to fondle fabric and sew and then you will have the finer things in life!  Take care and lookout for the next blog post not so far away.

cheers for being great followers and if you are new to my blog, I hope you have enjoyed it!

Wendy!

Anniversary Blooms

Anniversary Blooms - Final Reveal!

Wow, this year has gone so so fast!  I can't believe we are in spring here and you are in fall.  Welcome to my blog and if you are visiting for the first time, let me introduce you to my darling quilt called Anniversary Blooms!

In her full glory hanging

and here she is laying on the bed!

I would encourage you all to check out the lovelies being posted on the links at Amy"s Creative Side!  Once again, thank you Amy! You have been hosting this festival for 8 years and have lots of prizes available for everyone, not just for the bloggers. You have done a wonderful job to get this festival underway.

I would dearly love to have one of my quilts nominated as a favourite overall quilt and here is the Viewers Choice nomination form which can be completed now until the 24th of September.

Voting Starts on 25th of September,  you can vote for your favourite quilt in each section from then.

I am entering Anniversary blooms into the Hand Quilted Section here

And my other quilt is called Lollipop Drops and it is in the Original Designs Section here

Remember to leave comments on the blog posts where you can for your chance to win also.

Nitty gritty of Anniversary Blooms!

I am sure you are all dying to see some lovely photos and here about this quilt.   It all started 2 years ago when the American Quilters Society released the 30th Anniversary Dogwood Fabric Collection.   They had a competition to design a quilt.  I did but didn't get it quilted in time, I finally finished this year.

Here are the fabrics and the starting of the piecing

I decided to use the familiar Churn Dash Block to form a lattice and the drunkard paths to form a wedding ring flower.  Hence the name of Anniversary Blooms.  When these fabrics arrived I couldn't believe how delightful they were.

this was my rough mock up which I had decided upon

So after the top was sewn I commenced the hand quilting.  I decided to use Aurifil 28wt threads in several colours.  I also wanted to give the striped border a slightly different look so I went with doing small baptist fans and then I highlighted the flowers and made a cross hatch in the centre.  I then started putting leaves around in the churn dash blocks.

The adding of the background leaves

nearing the end of quilting

I just love the texture of the hand quilting

For this quilt I used Hobbs Tuscany Wool Wadding.  It is definitely my favourite for loft and stitch definition.  Now I just loved working on this quilt but as I thought I was finished I would keep deciding it needed more background quilting.  So I kept going on and off for the 2 years.  Many other quilts were completed in this time but for me this is my favourite quilt so far.  Many have asked who this quilt is for and my answer is ME!  It will be my quilt for ever even if the family are all claiming it!  So I hope you have enjoyed my Anniversary Blooms Blog.

a few shots of the background filling 

Don't forget to visit the other bloggers and their quilts over at Amy"s Creative Side.

So Until next time take care and have fun, 

and many thanks for reading my ramblings,

Wendy

September Block of the month!

Happy spring to everyone from my side of the world!  

Well after a few busy weeks, I am finally getting back on track and a bit more organised.  I decided to get this block to you on time.  I have also cut up all of the hand pieced blocks I am behind on and I have them all bagged up so I can just do some hand piecing when waiting or just wanting some quiet time.

So I have decided to introduce you to the Chinese Coin Quilt Block.  

Fabrics I have chosen for both blocks

Go to your stash and find four fabrics, you maybe able to use up some of the scraps that have been made from the previous blocks.

You will need to cut the following

Background cut 2 squares at 5 5/8" then cut diagonally to give you four half square triangles

                           5 squares at 2 7/8"

Fabric A             4 squares at 2 7/8"

Fabric B             4 squares at 2 7/8"

Fabric C             cut 4 squarest at 3 1/4" and then cut diagonally to give you 8 half square triangles

pieces ready to be laid out

pieces all laid out ready to sew

We will start by sewing the centre squares which form a cross in the middle of the block.  Sew a background to the fabric A and press seam towards fabric A.  Then join the centre background square between a 2 pairs which you have just sewn, this will form the middle strip unit of the block.  

starting of the sewing

Next we will sew the small triangles of fabric C to a square of fabric B and press the fabric towards the triangle.  Then proceed to sew the other small triangle of fabric C to the other side to form the half square triangle as follows.

sew the small triangles onto squares

sewing the small triangles to make the half square triangle

sewn units ready for sewing

Next we will sew the Background half square triangles to the pieced half square triangle units as per the following photos.

sew hst to the pieced half square triangles

all units ready to sew

All pieces are now sewn into units.  we will now join the corner squares to the rectangle units to form three rows of units to make the block.

in rows

Continue sewing and sew the rows together to form a Chinese Coin Block!

completed and pressed block

And here are all of my sewn blocks so far!  I am loving this one.  As I owe you your bonus block I am hoping I can get that out to you all soon.

all 9 blocks so far

I will endeavour to give you another blog post over the weekend.  I have a few little projects and squeals to share with you.  So until then I hope you love this block like I do.  Don't forget to leave a comment and say hello.  I would love to know what your favourite block is so far, so how about that as this months answer as a comment on the blog....which block is your favourite?  For me I think I really love the Greek cross and this Chinese coin along with Puss in Corner.  

So don't be shy,  leave a comment.

Happy Sewing and Happy Weekend!

Wendy.

Clue 2! Winter Mystery Quilt Along! Come Join the Fun!

Happy Friday to everyone!

What a week I have certainly had and its been lots of fun and lots of planning of many many fun things to come. I hear you saying "Seriously you are saying just get down to business and let us all have the mystery clues".  I hope you are enjoying it, don't forget I want to see all of the photos of how you are going.



So without any further ado, here goes:-

Today you will need to bring out the little 2" squares we put away last week and to this we will add some background and our medium fabrics.  I am using two different colours so I will give you total to cut and then my breakdown incase you are using two colours also.

Cutting instructions:-
from last week the 36 dark 2" squares (18 blues and 18 greens)
36  pieces cut at 3.5" x 2" of medium fabrics (20 Pinks and 16 yellows)
*note I cut these in lots of four of the one colour, if you can this would be a good idea unless you are doing a completely scrappy quilt
9 x 3.5" squares of your background fabric

pieced all cut and ready to sew

Sewing instructions:-

From your medium strips you have cut separate into two halves keeping them in pairs.  

Take one pile to the sewing machine with the 2" squares. 

*if you are using 2 colours separate the colours and take to the machine with your medium strips.  I had 10 pink strips and 8 yellow strips. 

We are adding a square to each end of the strip.  If you are using two colours add them to opposite ends of the strips.

ready for sewing

The next stage take the 9 backgrounds with the remaining strips to the machine and sew the strips to either side of the background fabric making sure you use the same fabric on each square.

prepared ready for sewing

And this is what we achieve, 5 pink units and 4 yellow units and 18 strip units.

all pieces joined into units

Last stage for sewing this unit is, to join the strips together as follows.  

Remember if you are not using two colours for you darks it will not matter how you put the small strips to the centre of the block.  If you are using two colours make sure the colours are opposite each other as follows in photo below.

Ready to sew unit together

all units stacked in order for sewing

Clue 1 and 2 all complete 

Now we have completed clue two.  We now have 9 uneven 9 patches and 36 four patches.  Only two more clues left folks!  How are you enjoying this?  Are you loving my colours coming together or are you enjoying yours more.  Don't just visit leave your calling card!  Say hello, and let me know where you are visiting from, I love to chat!  

Don't forget to join me on instagram here  and don't forget to tag your blocks with #Wintermystery2016 or on Facebook  at Wehago Designs Quilting Community

So until the next post over the weekend to let you know how my sewing is going, have fun and keep on smiling and quilting!

Cheers!

Wendy