September/October

I am full of excuses also.  My excuses aren't quite as valid as making two babies so I will spare you the details :). I did have time to throw together these two squares.

Mardie, I had fun with this one.  Initially I believe I was over-thinking it, once I simplified my expectations it was a breeze. I can imagine a family reading the Christmas story wrapped in this lovely quilt.     

Camie, I finished this square while "wearing" a one-month-old and defending the sewing machine foot from an 18-month-old.  I hope the handy work doesn't reflect the chaos that was going on while it came together.  I hope you like and the fabrics work with your other squares.  If not, please offer me a do-over.  

Joining the walk of shame

Dear Camie,

I'm hoping that I did it right!  I had a hard time figuring out how to trim it to join the two sides.  

My ruler is not the convenient six inches!  It's five!  But a few friends helped walk me through it and I hope it worked! 

 I have had these fabrics cut and sewed into pairs for over a month.  

I'm sorry it took so long to get this done! It will be in the mail tomorrow!!

-Liz

Becca's Post of Shame

Here's the post where I make apologies, excuses and play catch up...

First off, I'm super-duper sorry for being THREE months late.  It's a pet peeve of mine to miss deadlines and I'm terribly sorry to Liz and Camie, who've always been so thoughtful in their 12 Squared contributions.  I feel like I've let our little blog down.

Even though my sewing machine hadn't seen the light of day for three months, I've haven't been completely unproductive.

I found out in July that what I thought was the flu was actually twins.  Since then, I've learned that growing twins means twice as much morning all-day sickness, twice as many doctors appointments, and 200% less energy.

Now that the morning sickness is abating, it is time to play catch-up.  My goal was to get everyone's squares done this month and I did it!  

(It's the little victories in life that make it good, right?)

 Liz-  I have been wanting to do half-square triangles since I saw a tutorial on Pinterest, so when I saw your pick, I was excited.  This block was a lot of fun.  I hope that the fabrics I picked are modern floral enough, and not too vintagey.  I picked up the cherry print at a great fabric shop in Florida and it really reminds me of you!  Enjoy!

Camie-  I have never done a block like this, but love the concept!  I was a little nervous when it came time to trim up the columns.  And I'm not going to lie, there may have been a swear word uttered when I thought I'd done it wrong.  But, turns out, I had just missed trimming the bottom of the column.  I'm hoping it will work for your quilt and that the fabrics are okay.  You do such a good job of putting prints together, I don't want to disappoint!

Emily mentioned owls in her block for you, so I thought I'd continue the theme...

                  

Mardie-  I love Christmas in October!  Your block has reminded me that Chirstmas is just around the corner and maybe it's time to kick my baby-eaten brain into gear!  This fabric will look so nice in your home and I can't wait to see how you put it all together.  I wish my right-angle sewing skills were up to par...  I'm sorry this block isn't more precise.  Maybe you can tuck it into a corner. :)  Like Camie, it didn't turn out quite big enough; it's about 12 1/4" x 12 1/2".  I haven't mailed it off yet, so, if you'd like me to re-do it, I would be happy to, but I might need a little more fabric.  Hope it's okay!!

 Here's to being on top of the rest of the year... can't wait to start November and December!
xo

Becca

Update on "Christmas in Octobler"

Ladies... I don't think I made it clear in my tutorial that the red is only for the "leading" around each piece in the windowpane... THE SQUARE SHOULD BE WITHOUT ANY RED OUTLINING IT. I will be using a wider strip of red for the sashing. Hope that is clear. The way that Camie's looks is correct, as is my example.

So, NO red on the outside of the square.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Mardie

Catching up with Camie!

I finally got this to where I will send it! I decided not to trim it up... I wasn't sure I knew where to, so I figured it was better to let you do it! I am anxious to see how these all look together!

an oops for mardie

 

sweet mardie- i wish i could say I am proud of my 12 1/2 by 12 1/2 inch square but I can't.  it measures 12 by 12 1/2 and i could scream.  i am not quite sure what to do at this point.  i don't have any fabric left over that is wide enough to redo any of the columns.  is there any chance you could send me the two fabrics in the right-hand column and i will unpick and redo?  seems like the easiest remedy at this point although if you think of something better i am open to suggestions.  i would need 3 1/2 by 5 of the blue floral and 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 of the leaf print (or whatever you would prefer instead) and i suppose i also need a bigger piece of one of the bottom fabrics- either the cream or red.  again, i really am sorry for the hassle. i was optimistic that it was going to be perfect!

Finally...For Camie

I loved how this finished sdquare turned out! I struggled with cutting it and may or may not have redone parts twice, but I love it! Again Camie, sorry this is so late especially since you have always been so prompt! I can't wait to see it all together!
 xoxo
Teriney

To Teriney

I know!  I did another one!  I'm as shocked as y'all are.  I was so intimidated by this one until my sister (the real quilter in my family) sighed and said, "Robyn, Maddie (my 10 year old niece) has done paper piecing!"  So, I guessed maybe I could do it...

Anyway, it did become second nature and was lots of fun.  I hope you like it Teriney!  I really worked to match your paint samples and I hope it nestles in nicely with the rest of the squares.

 
Now my sights are set on Camie's and Mardie's (which I can't believe I should be able to make within the assigned month)!  Again, thanks all for your patience. 

I should get this, Liz's and Sarah's in the mail by tomorrow morning.  Enjoy!

To Liz and Sarah

I've finished two squares!  I know they are out of order (as Teriney is still waiting patiently for hers), but I have actually been working concurrently on all three and these two just finished up quicker.  Teriney's should be done tonight or tomorrow night at the latest.  I've really enjoyed getting back into sewing!  I hope you both like them!

Liz, the dark blue on here really looks cobalt to me in person, but, of course, here it looks like darkest navy.  A very fun square!  I hope this fits in well!

Sarah, the under fabric really isn't wrinkled in a problematic way, I just was determined to post this and didn't run an iron over it again before taking the pics.  I sort of felt like it all worked because of the darling strawberry on the far right cone that my sister gave me.  It just screamed strawberry for me.  Oh, and I picked the under fabric because it was minty...like a favorite ice cream of mine mint chocolate chip!  (I'm so subtle!)  I hope your kids feel duly honored and that you like it!

Also, Liz and Sarah, you're welcome to play my favorite game of "what's wrong with the layout that Robyn painstakingly thought through" because you'll probably win!  I don't mean to poorly place things...but I keep on doing it.  Wah. 

Teriney...you're next.

Camie...you're next next!

Mardie...I am so excited to work on your square!  And yes, you're next next next.

Thanks for your patience everyone!

Christmas in Octobler!

FINALLY!

Here we go, Christmas in Octobler!

I am so excited about this quilt. I love the fabric; 

Sentiments by 3 Sisters, for Moda. 

I am sending a packet (today) of 8-9 pieces from the Layer Cake and some red yardage for each of you to make a "windowpane" for my "stained glass window" quilt!

This is a "free style" square where you will create your own design. It is much like the "Mosaic" that you did last year for Emilee, except that all of the pieces are squares or rectangles, forming right angles (90°).

Here is my finished square.

 This is what you will receive in the mail. 

Please use only these fabrics in your square. 

Cut your red yardage into three 1" strips. I used 2 strips for my square. But am sending another inch so you will have plenty to work with! This will serve as the "leading" in your windowpane. Each square or rectangle of fabric must be outlined in the red fabric.

Cut the fabrics into various sizes of squares and rectangles. All corners are 90°. (not to be confused with the 45° I mentioned in my "apology" blog entry!)

Please cut all the squares and rectangles 2"X2" or larger. (Finished size 1 1/2"X 1 1/2" or larger). My largest finished piece in my square is 4 X 4 1/2". 

I used some of my fabric twice. It seemed to add some continuity. But if you don't want to, you have plenty of fabric to not duplicate.

 Newest addition to the Tobler clan... Grace's son, Clark.

1. All seams are 1/4".

2. Please press your seams as you work. I found that some of mine go one way... some, the other way! Please just press so that there are no bulky areas!

3. Your square should measure 12 1/2".

4. Do not trim your square.

5. PLEASE RETURN ALL OF YOUR SCRAPS WHEN YOU ARE DONE! 

(I sent a large variety so you would have a choice of many options for your square.)

I am so excited to see how my "Stained Glass Window" quilt comes together!

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Mardie

Octobler Delays

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!

I thought Octobler looked like a great choice when I agreed to do this month's square...

No excuses. I have not forgotten, life just really got away from me. I am almost ready to get this thing on the blog. And you don't need to go shopping as I will be sending all of the fabric to you. (That may not be good news for everyone. Always nice to have an excuse to go to the fabric store for some.)

I am using Christmas fabric and in the meantime, you can start thinking about your square before I get the tutorial posted. I want a "window pane" look, a lot like the mosaic that you did last year for Emilee. Except that all of the angles are 45°.

Anyway, it is coming. Christmas in Octobler!

Thanks for your patience,
Mardie

is my computer broken?

I keep checking back and keep seeing Kristen's herringbone over and over again, one of a few blocks for September and no new tutorials for October.  I hope everyone is just busy and it's not because I chose a horrible square.  If so, please tell me and I will do something about it. I hope everyone is enjoying fall.
camie