merry christmas to me

I decided to go ahead and give myself a very special Christmas present but it entailed doing something that I sometimes dread because it can be stressful and I knew I needed to do it today- topstitching!  I started at 11am and with a lot of stops and gos just finished!  I will select a binding tomorrow and hopefully have it completely done by Christmas morning.  THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to this beautiful quilt.  I had to trim quite a bit which was so sad for me to do but I just had to do it.  I LOVE IT.  Each fabric became more special to me as I meandered over each piece.  Fabrics I hadn't noticed before popped out before my very eyes and I became even more endeared to the fabrics I noticed right away.
Thanks again!  Camie

Finally!

I have had Camie's square cut out since the second week of October.  While I, like Sarah, haven't had or grown any babies I blame these guys (and my own stupidity) for my delay.  Between those boys and a friend's baby who came early and who was owed a quilt I suddenly felt swamped with time sensitive sewing.  (I'll post pics of the friend's quilt hopefully soon!)  I panicked and I shifted gears.

Once I sat down to finish these squares this past weekend they were both so fun and easy.  I think I'd psyched myself out that they would be far beyond my abilities (I have a habit of doing that) and so I didn't think I could bang them out.  I'm sorry I made you wait because I'm such a wimp.  Thank you Camie and Mardie for being so very patient with me. Here are both of your squares. I hope you like them!

I hope the fabrics and layout will work for you!  So fun to see what I saw as your vision come together in my square.  Hoping I saw it right!

And Mardie, I am so sorry for how symmetrical mine ended out.  Apparently I'm a wimp AND boring!  I tried so hard to make it something more unique, but I ended up boxing myself in and so I hope it's not too straight laced.  I left the ugly edges for you to trim as per your instructions.  I think mine is more 12 3/4 by 12 3/4. 

Still super symmetrical at any angle.  Sigh.  I hope it's an awesome addition to your Christmas season!

just a little late.....

Nothing is worse then knowing you are behind and not even having a good excuse like making twins or having a newborn.

Good news is I'm not anymore.

 Liz and Camie, I'm sorry and your blocks are on their way (Jen, you arent the last to send one out. ) and Mardie, yours is on the way as well. 

they are in the mailbox!

 Mardie, I hope you like it I really liked making this one and might have to do one for myself.

 Camie, I have had this cut out ready to put together for EVER glad to have it ready for you!

Liz, again, I'm sooooo sorry! I've also had yours cut out and ready but was really nervous to put it together (not sure why) I like how it came together and I hope you like it.

and lastly, I have all the squares for July and am so excited how they all turned out and am just deciding the backing and then I'll put it together. THANK YOU ALL!! 

To Camie Love, Jen

 Dear Camie,

I might just be the last person to get your square done.

Sorry about the delays.

You are always so quick to get each months square done.

I hope you like the fabrics. 

Your choice in colors was a stretch for me... I lean in the bold and bright direction.

12squared is good for me.

It expands my comfort level.

After it was all sewn together, I liked the completed project.

Much love,

Jen

PS Mardie, you are up next. I am holding my newborn son as I type one-handed... there could be a little delay in your square too. I bet you understand.

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

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!

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

Kristin's Herringbone

I really enjoyed piecing this one.

I hope you like it, Camie!

To Camie

From: Amy

I realized after the fact that you didn't want it trimmed! PLEASE let me know if you want it redone before I send it. I am more than happy to redo it...really!

for cousin camie

Here's your square, Camie!  I hope you like it.

Sorry about the top - one strip was only 10 inches, but I figured I'd be trimming it anyway.  

I'm guessing you'll be trimming it.  ;)

(I put in TWO owl strips just for you)

love,

em

september: the herringbone

 

When I saw this block I knew it was the one for me because I really wanted to incorporate a lot of colors and patterns.  In other words, I wanted to take full advantage of all of your fabulous stashes of fabrics that I have been drooling over for months.  I had in mind a particular size for this quilt so I went ahead and made 5 blocks.  These are 3 of the 5 to give you an example of the colors I have in mind. 

 The following is one of the inspirations for this quilt:

This painting is very serene to me.  Calm and peaceful yet busy in a meaningful, beautiful way.  This photo doesn't show all the colors, especially where the flash caught it, but I'm sure you get the general feel.  Shades of brown, gray, blue, green, rust, dark red, mustard yellow, etc.  Please try to stay away from anything vibrant or brilliant as they may stand out, also pastels and pinks and purples (you'll notice one of my fabrics has a touch of purple.  That's okay, I just don't want any purple to reach out and grab anyone).

First, choose your fabrics.  You will need 24 different fabrics.

Cut your fabrics into 2-inch by 11-inch strips.

Line up two columns of fabric strips next to each other, 12 strips in each column.  Sew pairs of strips together, 6 pairs for your first column and 6 pairs for your second column.

In the photo above you can almost see that I marked the top of each pair of strips with a water soluble marker at 1.5 inches.  You will mark your first column of strips then sew them together like a staircase then iron your seams in one direction.

 This is my left hand column of strips sewn together as a staircase.

 

Now do the same with your right hand column.  Mark each pair of strips 1.5 inches from the right side.  Stagger the strips like a staircase then sew the strips together.  Iron.

This is an example of what your columns might look like side by side.

Now it's time to trim your columns.  You may or may not cut the left column and right column the same way so make sure you cut the left column exactly the way shown and wait to cut your right one.  You will understand why when it comes time to cut it.

For the left column, place the left corner of the ruler where the second and third strips meet.  Place the right corner of the ruler at the bottom edge of the column.  When your ruler is secure and exact you may trim your fabric.

This is what it should look like.

For the right column, line up your ruler exactly how you did before but DO NOT cut right away.  You will want to compare it with the strip you already cut to make sure you have the same angle so your seams will line up.

As you can see, my seams did NOT line up.  That's okay.  Adjust your fabric columns so they DO line up.

Hooray!  Now they DO line up.  Now I can take my ruler and place it on my fabric so I can trim it up.

Ready to trim.

This is what the columns look like side by side.

Pin then sew.  Iron.

You're done! (You can go ahead and leave the top untrimmed.  I will do that part for you.)  I bet your herringbone looks fantastic!  Thank you so much for all your hard work.  I can't wait to see what you created.  This quilt will be proudly displayed in our living room.
Camie

P.S.  I have some extra strips of fabric if anyone would like me to send any out to you if you come up short.  I am more than happy to do that.  Just let me know.
I am bummed that I did not know about the Town & Country fabrics until after I made my blocks.

I used the tutorial for this block here at Stitched in Color.