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.

August BOM! Finally sorry about delay folks!

Hello everyone!  I am so sorry for the lack of posts lately but lots has been happening and is coming in the future.  

I will write a post with lost of lovelies in the next few days to show you a few things that have been keeping me so far away from you all.  So now let's get down to business since we are a little later than normal.

You will need two colours this time for our Block of the Month.  I decided since you have all been so patient and so many of you have been sending your loving thoughts my way we should do a friendship star block this month.

For the background please cut. 4 X 4.5" squares plus cut two squares at 4 7/8" and then cut diagonally to create 4 half square triangles

For the star cut 1 X 4.5" square and 2 X 4 7/8" squares and cut them diagonally to product 4 half square triangles

All ready to be laid out and sewn

This is how we will have the block sewn together.  So firstly sew the half square triangles together to produce four units measuring 4.5".  Press the seam to the dark side.

Next we are going to sew this block together.  I love to lay my blocks out and web them together as I sew them.  If you are new to this technique.....keep reading and I know you will just love this method.

Take the middle unit of the block and place on top of the left side of the block.  Now starting at the top sew each unit by chain piecing.  Note do not be tempted to cut the threads between these units after sewing.  Just cut it after the three units have been sewn.  See the photos below 

The first three all joined

Opened out and ready to lay the right side units on top of the middle unit of the blocks.

I pin the second and third units so that I can take it to the machine without any problems

Sewing the last of the units on in a webbing format

Before opening 

All opened, now press the outer row seams towards the background squares and the inner row towards the centre square.  This will help with the matching and locking of seams.

All pressed ready to join the rows to a block.  As this is all held with the connecting threads this is known as webbing and helps to join quilts very quickly without having to remember which way you need to lay the units for the blocks.  This is also a very good way to join blocks into rows for a quilt top also.

You can just see the connecting threads

Lay the top row onto the middle and sew together and do the same with the bottom remembering to lock in those seams to gain lovely points.  Your finished block should measure 12.5"

I really love stars so I am amazed it has taken me this long to bring this star to you!  I hop you love the friendship star like I do.

Now here are all of my machined blocks which I have pieced.  I am really enjoying this quilt coming together, I hope you are also.  Don't forget to let me know which are you favourite blocks, I'm very curious to know.

So until the next few days when I can get to let you know what has really been happening with lots of eye candy for you.  Have fun finally with your August Block of the Month!

Until next time have fun,

Wendy xxx

Slow and steady Sunday!

Happy Sunday to you all!

Well I have been away from blog land for a little while but thought I should share a few things I have been up to today and recently.   

Although today was cold it was fine enough for me to snap a photo of Gelati Stars for you all.  I am deciding how to quilt this, jet me know if I should hand or machine quilt it in the comments please. I'm really glad I decided to do this quilt as a mystery for you all to join with me.  It's certainly been lots of fun.  So many thanks for joining or following along. 

Recently I went shopping for a few new text fabrics for my glacier star, these will be used in my outer flying geese and sky units.  Below are the units that have been completed so far.  I'm really excited about this quilt top.  I have decided to do the extension borders. 

Today I finished bagging all of my fabrics into each of the lessons.  During the next few weeks I will prepare my papers and final pieces.  

I was lucky to spend some time with hubby over the weekend and had this gorgeous hazelnut, chocolate gateau to share over coffee.  Was delicious!

Now my final project today was a little bit of free motion quilting on my blossoming news quilt.   Tomorrow I plan to finish the las birder and to do the binding.  So if all goes well I will be able to reveal this quilt complete for you this week.

For all who are going to Melbourne Craft Fair I will be there on Thursday through to 

Saturday so if you see me or spot my quilts say hello or tag me in your photos will be great to meet some of you in person.  

But until then I have lots if things to complete and organise.  So I will keep focused and keep my eye on the prize and not be dismayed!

Keep creating and enjoy the colours you are given in life,

Wendy!

July BOM! Are your ready?

Hello everyone!

I hope you're all ready for this block, sorry it's a bit late.  You have had a mystery last month which has taken a little bit of time.  I still have to get a good photo of the top now that it's all together for you.

Now for the block!  This month we are doing a split 9 patch!

You will need two colours or two values.  I have only used two colours.  

So you will need to cut from each colour 

3 X 4 1/2" squares

3 X 4 7/8" triangles

This is what you will have once it is all cut out!

Then we will piece the triangles to make square units.  We can then sew the units into rows.  I have press the seams towards the full squares and not the triangle squares.

This is the block in rows ready to be sewn together!

And here is the block all sewn together!  One split nine patch.

I am behind in my hand piecing blocks but over the next couple of weeks these shall be all caught up.  How are you doing with your blocks?

Here are all of mine together, I am really loving how these are coming together.  

So be looking out for th next couple of blog posts I have some exciting things happening!  So u til then, take care and have fun with the Block of the Month!

Keep smiling and sewing,

Wendy.

Yahoo! Winter Mystery Quilt Along Reveal!

Happy Friday!  Plus a big Hug and a Kiss for the first day of the month!


Well I hope you are ready to do the last bit of cutting and sewing for this block and quilt!  So lets get to the sewing area and be off and sewing steadily for a quilt top.

Cutting Instructions

From your backgrounds you will need to cut 72  x 3.5" squares.

Sewing Instructions

Take out the four patches from the first clue and make sure they are all facing the same way.  As in the top right corner has either the dark or the light (depending on your background).  Place the background square on top and sew as per photos below.  We are about to make double four patch blocks before assembling our block to make the quilt

ready to sew four patches to backgrounds.

Press Seams towards background square

four patches and backgrounds sewn

Once these are all sewn we then pair them to look like the following photo and then sew these seems together to finish the block

Ready to sew four patch together

Make sure you butt your seams together so that you get a nice point meeting at the centre of the block

Sewing together

Press blocks open and gather all of the other blocks

All units of the blocks assembled to make the new block for the quilt

Now for the Reveal!  We have been making Crossing Ohio!  Have you crossed Ohio?  or have you crossed a new bridge whilst making this quilt?  I would love to hear!

Ok lets lay this out for you to see!

Crossing Ohio Block

Layout your block like this, I then work from the top and chain piece, I have the right piece placed on top of the centre and work from the top of the block and chain each one and remove leaving the little chains between.  This is called Webbing a block, it really helps us not to twist things when they are going together.  

Starting of sewing the complete block

Still all joint and ready to join other three pieces

opened so you can see what it is like part webbed

I now pin the last side pieces to the webbed centre piece.  I do this so that I am able to flip the block and not forget to flip the other parts of the block so that I am sewing with the least amount of fabric going through the throat side of the machine.

Pinned ready to sew

All parts now webbed and opened for you to see

Now back to the machine and sew those last two rows together to create the block

Sewing the last rows together

TA DA!  its all sewn!

 

Crossing Ohio all Sewn!

Now I love this block as it makes a secondary pattern through the quilt.  I have chosen some border fabric which is in a photo above with the units of the blocks and also a binding.  During today I will sew this little quilt together to look like this and I will be putting the borders on and I will explain how to do this for you all.  So either later today or early tomorrow you will have another blog post with the finishing touches!

Crossing Ohio -Winter Mystery Quilt Along!

This is how it will look with a bit of a look at my border.

Now I am actually thinking of Calling this little quilt of mine Gelati Stars. what will you call yours?

I hope you have all had as much fun as I have doing this and I am wondering how many of you have guessed what it was going to look like?  Do you like it or hate it, we all have different taste, I'm just interested in your thoughts?  Also would you do another one with me?

Ok off to the machines and consider these questions.  If you find it hard to leave a comment on the blog just let me know in the group or message me.

Have fun and Enjoy the first day of July!

Wendy!