Crafty Sewing & Quilting: Home Sweet Home Quilt A Long

Showing posts with label Home Sweet Home Quilt A Long. Show all posts

Monday, May 7, 2012

Make the Zig Zag Block into at Sashing

Update: This Quilt Block Pattern is now available as PDF Downloadable Pattern at PDF Downloadable Patterns.

Today, I am sharing my Zig Zag Block for a sashing possibility for the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along. Thanks Kim for inviting me to share my sashing idea!
There are several simple ways to construct this block. Basically, you need a square of fabric with strips of fabrics stitched on two sides. Then you cut it at an angle with a small square ruler.

I shared one method on how to make this block during Project Quilting here.
You can make the block by starting with squares and two short strips.
Today, we will make it starting with long black fabric strips for the main block and skinny black and white strips for the side strips.

First sew one black and white strip to one side of the black fabric. I started with 3 1/2" wide black strips. The black and white strips are 1" to 1 1/4" to 1 1/2".
Then cut across the strips and cut them 3 1/2". I cut several all at once as it doesn't have to accurate yet.

I know why I take several photos of each step. Some don't turn out and others have a glare. Sorry about the glare.
The next step, is to sew one strip on the second side. I do not have a photo of that step with the black and white fabrics. Here it is in another color, so you can at least see the two side strips on the block before cutting it at an angle.

You can see the strips are on two adjoining sides - not opposite sides.
Now you are ready to square up. The original black strip was 3 1/2". You added two strips. You are going to be cutting it at an angle, so we square up to the same measurement of 3 1/2" Square.

Angle the square, so you have a narrow part on one strip and a wide part on the other strip. Make sure to keep the measurement of 3 1/2" inside the black fabric. See above photo.
Then flip it around to cut the other two sides.

Line up the 3 1/2" even with the black and white sides and the bottom left corner. Trim the excess on the black sides. You now have a 3 1/2" block for your sashing.

Start sewing them together into a long strip for your sashing.
The coolest part about this block is there are no seams to match.
If you need a shorter strip you can just trim it shorter. My suggestion is that you trim on the black and white sides, not the solid black sides as it will show less.

I used the Zig Zag Blocks on my border of my Kissing Quilt.

Here is a photo before the quilting. I think it is upside down. It gives you a view of it as a border around a block.

I sewed them together in rows for this little table runner with a solid strip in between each row.

I will be sharing another Zig Zag Quilt later this week using the Zig Zag Block. Here's a sneak peek from a weird angle.

Plus, I will be announcing a Zig Zag Block Challenge with a prize of Free Quilting. It will be very similar to the Scrappy Quilt Challenge where we used the Denim Block to create a scrappy quilt, but of course we will use the Zig Zag Block.
All details about the challenge will be announced this week.
Are you playing Bingo? I added a link in my sidebar that takes you to all of my posts with my Bingo items that have been called so far on my blog.
Hope you are enjoying every day in May! I am!
Marcia

Linked with:
Pieceful Life: Little Quilts Monday
Sew Happy Geek: Manic Monday
Sew Chatty: Made with Love Link up
Linky Party at Our Delightful Home
Quilting by the River: Linky Party Tuesdays
Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday
The Shady Porch: Rock'N Share
Freshly Pieced: WIP - Work In Progress

Monday, April 16, 2012

Rippling Pond Block -- Bonus Block for Home Sweet Home Along

Update: This Quilt Block Pattern is now available in a downloadable pattern at Craftsy.com for only $1.00.

Here is the direct link:
http://www.craftsy.com/user/3103603/pattern-store

I had another idea for a block that I think is pretty cool. It's a pond block. You can use all your leftover scraps for this block.
Thanks Kim for letting me share my Rippling Pond Block as a bonus block for the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along!

Last summer for Project Quilting, I made a table topper that I named Floating Lilies.

I decided the lilies that I created for that quilt would make a perfect pond block for the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along. Here's a close up of one of the lily pads.

The light blue background is the water on the Floating Lilies Quilt. On the pond block, I used a dyed green for the land around the pond and then added some trees.
I used a variety of blue strips - no wider than 1 1/2 inches. Just use leftover pieces.

I started with a small 5 sided shape for the center of my pond. Size is about 2 inches for each side or even less is fine.

Stitching one strip at a time and going around the shape. Stitch, press, and rotary trim each strip.

I chose to use the same color for the first four strips of the first round.

Just keep stitching, pressing, and trimming.

When you have your pond almost the size that you would like, trim the strips of that round at an angle like the photo. I made my pond large to cover most of the block. You can make your pond large or small.

Then I added a round of a pebble blue and green fabric to represent the shoreline of the pond. I did not trim that pebble fabric, as it is the last row.

Pressed it.

I auditioned the pond on the green dyed fabric to see where I want to cut the 13 inch square block. I know we want at 12 1/2 inch block, but I want to cut it a little larger and then trim it after I adhere the pond with the iron on Heat 'n Bond Lite. I will apply the pond using the raw edge applique' method.

I had a yard, so I had a couple choices.

Trim a piece of Heat 'n Bond for the back side of the pond.

Then with a scissors trim it smaller than the pond.

I ironed on the Heat 'n Bond Lite to the back side of my pond. I pressed/ironed on the right side of the pond too. Follow the directions on the label of the Heat 'n Bond for applying it to fabric.

Let it cool a few minutes, then you can trim curvy edges on your pond with a scissors or a rotary cutter. If you use a rotary cutter be very careful.

Flip it over to make sure there is paper all the way out to the edge. Then you know the adhesive is all the way out to the edge of your pond. Trim more needed.

Peel off the paper.

Press/Iron the pond to the green background fabric.

I created a few evergreen trees to add along the edge of the pond. Here is the PDF with the evergreen trees and trunks.
I used a texture green fabric and pressed the Heat 'n Bond on the back side of the fabric.

Cut it out with the scissors. I used a brownish texture fabric for the trunk of the trees. Yes - there is Heat 'n Bond on the back side of the fabric too.

Cut out the little trees and trunks too.

I pressed/ironed the large tree on the left side of the pond.

and the two little trees on the right side of the pond.

Your Rippling Pond Block is complete!

I am going to a quilt retreat later in the week, where I will work on more of my Home Sweet Home Blocks. I will also be working on our green scrappy courthouse round donation quilt. I will share more about the projects I am taking along this week. I plan to post a few photos while at the retreat too.
Enjoy your day!
Marcia

Don’t forget to add your picture to the flickr group once it’s complete - I added mine: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1850682@N20/

This week I will be linking with:
Quilting by the River: Linky Party Tuesdays
The Shady Porch: Rock'N Share
Right Here at Minutes for Me Linky Party

Thursday, April 5, 2012

A Bonus Block for the Home Sweet Home Quilt - Marcia's Crazee Patch House

Thanks Kim for inviting me to share a Bonus Block for the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along!

Update: This Quilt Block Pattern is now available in a downloadable pattern at Craftsy.com for only $1.00.
Here is the direct link: http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/crazee-patch-house-quilt-block/96519

I created a house block that is assembled like a crazee patch, where you build around a five sided object - the house. It is a very relaxed block and would be perfect to use all your leftover scraps.

Fabrics pieces and sizes:
1. Main part of the house cut a 6" square - a striped fabric works best. You can make the house smaller if you would like.
2. One rectangle to be cut into a triangle for the roof - after you stitch it on you can trim it even with the edges of your house. I cut it 6" long by 3" wide. Use a texture fabric.
3. Two rectangles for the windows. I made them about 1" X 2". I placed one vertically and the other one horizontally. They don't have to be the same size. You can have more than two windows.
4. One rectangle for the door. I made it 1 1/2" X 3". I used a checkered fabric.
5. Strips of various widths for going around your house. You could have some of them in green colors for under the house. The sides and top strips should be in blues for a sky appearance.

Main house square

Press Lite Heat 'N Bond on the back of your windows and door and trim.

Peal off the paper and press them in place on your square.
Stitch the rectangle to be cut into a triangle for the roof, press, and trim it.

I drew the details in with a sharpie marker. Later, I will stitch it, when I quilt. You could embroider the parts too.

Start stitching your strips going around your house like a crazee patch block.

I started on the roof, but you could start on the bottom with the green grass strip and then keep going around the house. Press after you stitch each strip.

When you have enough strips stitched around your house trim your block to 12 1/2 inch square.

Your block is trimmed and ready for your Home Sweet Home Quilt.

I made my house six inches, but you could make your house smaller. Then you would have more strips to build around your house for the crazee patch look. I think a little 3 inch house would be so cute!

I am working on another post, where I will share a cool sashing idea for the Home Sweet Home Quilt Along or for any quilt.

Enjoy!

Marcia

Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting

www.craftysewing.com

http://marciascraftysewing.blogspot.com/

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Click here for the post about my progress on the Home Sweet Home Blocks.

Kim's Crafty Apple Where Creativity Blooms - Home Sweet Home Quilt Along