Saturday, July 25, 2015

one red square

I'm sorry there's only one block, Mardie.  The stripes on my second block were sewn so that they are horizontal, not vertical.  Would you mind sending me two 2 1/2" squares of mums & stripes fabrics?  Then I will finish the second.  My husband took my kids camping last night and even with a perfectly quiet house without any distractions I still managed to orient those wrong.  I'm sorry!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Mardie's expecting twins! (stars, that is)

Mardie asked me to do one square from this year and one from last year.  Here they are...


Happy Pioneer Day!

emily

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Mardie's Twin Star Tutorial (Red Square)

Here is an example of the block pattern for the Twin Stars Quilt.
Last year we made blue stars, this year we will make red squares. 
I am asking you to make 2 RED squares. They are small squares (8 1/2").  
I am sending all of the fabric to you. (Mailed this morning!)
This is the red square that we will do this month.

Enclosed in your mailed packet, PLEASE find 2 1/2" strips or squares of:
Cream fabric
Red with flowers fabric
Cream with Red berries
Cream with Blue and Ivy fabric
Cream with Red flowers
Cream with Red "mums"
Red and White stripe
Please do not substitute any of the fabrics. If you need more, let me know. 
Be careful cutting, some of the strips are cut close. 
Mostly you will have extra fabric after cutting. 
Please return any excess with your finished squares. I may need it for finishing other squares.

When sewing, please use 1/4" seams
PLEASE pay attention to the orientation of the fabrics. 
Flowers and stripes, vertically, up and down, etc.

This square is made up of Half-square triangles, and a few Flying Geese. 

A. Let's start with the Flying Geese. You will make 4 of these units.
Cut the Cream with Blue and Ivy fabric strip into Four  4 1/2" X 2 1/2" rectangles.
You will need Eight 2 1/2" squares of the Cream.

 

Draw a line from corner to corner of the Cream squares.
Place 1 Cream square in the corner of the Cream with Blue and Ivy rectangle. 
 

 Stitch ON the drawn line.
 
Press to the dark. Trim 1/4". Press again.
Repeat...Three more times.

 

B. Half-square triangles, lots of them!
2 Units: Red stripe with Cream and "mums"
2 Units: Red with flowers and Cream with small red flowers
4 Units: Red with flowers and Cream with Red berries
Cut all (if needed) into 2 1/2" squares. 
 
  
 

Draw a line from corner to corner on one of your matching squares. Plan out your orientation NOW. So that the lines and flowers are correct vertically.
Stitch from corner to corner ON the drawn line. Trim 1/4" as shown. Press to light. 


Lay out your Half-square triangles as shown above. Again, check your orientation. As you stitch these together, then press seams open to lessen thickness.  
 



C. Repeat the process for the corner units. Again, watch and plan for proper orientation. 
I had to deconstruct a finished square to get some pictures of the corner units. Now I can't get the photos to transfer to my computer! Aarrrgghhhh!!!! Please use your imagination. Lol.



Assemble the corner squares as above. (except that it is not finished)

D. With all of the units ready, lay out the square as follows. (Yup, this is the only picture I have.)


Stitch the units together in columns, press open.

Stitch columns together to complete the square. Press seams open. 

Please do not trim the square(s). 

When I get the photos to transfer I will put them in for a more complete ending. Although, I doubt if I need to do so. You are all so able and talented.
Thank you, ladies! I hope you liked the square(s). 
Mardie


Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Embarrassed...

So, this morning I get this very sweet email from Emily. (Thank you, Emily)

Hi Mardie! 

What square are we making for you for July? So excited!

Emily

Ladies, I am so embarrassed and sorry to be so incredibly late! Grovel, grovel, grovel...

My square for 2014 was for a Patriotic themed quilt. It has 2 complimentary squares. 
This year, let's do the square on the right! 
The squares are small and I'm asking you to make 2 squares, please. 
Here is a picture of the 2 squares together. 
I will send out all of the fabric...
and post the tutorial. 
Hugs and Kisses from a very embarrassed, 
Mardie