Newby Quilting Bee April Recap

I thought it might be fun to recap the blocks we have done so far.  I put them in a Mosaic using BigHugeLabs.com.  It's fun to see it coming together!  We only have three blocks to go now.   Friday was a bit of a challenge with the power going on and off due to the storms here.  I am anxious to see the blocks finished by the gals that left early.  A few of us die hards stayed and played till noon!  There are some corrections to the printout.  The "wings" of the geese should have measured 4 1/2" square and you need 8 of them.  So much for typing things up in the middle of the night!  Please forgive me.

Big thanks to Mo!  Although she could not stay and quilt with us, she scored some older quilt tops to donate and also made up this pinwheel quilt using the Twister ruler.  It turned out really cute!  Someone will be delighted to receive this.

So grateful for her generosity!   And that of others in the class that have donated blocks and fabric!  

I am washing up some donated fabric and will be stripping it up this week.  When we have our next class, in addition to making our scheduled block which will be the Dresden Fan Block...we will make a quick and easy block from strips of fabric.  All of the blocks will be collected at the end of class and we will put them into one quilt.  I think you will love this technique and will be amazed how fast it goes together.  All fabric will be precut for you.  Should you decide that you want to make more for yourself at home, this block would be a good option for a "jelly roll".  Jelly Rolls are precut strips of fabric that are generally 2 1/2 inches wide by the width of the fabric. Usually there are 40 strips in a roll.  They are fun to work with, because someone has done all the hard work of picking, cutting and blending fabrics for you.  You just start sewing!  You can find jelly rolls everywhere, they look just like they sound, a colorful roll of fabric.  

The Dresden Fan Block looks complicated to a beginner, but when you learn the secrets you will be stunned at how very easy they can be!  No paper piecing necessary!   

Newby Quilting Bee - Class 4 Kings Crown Block-CORRECTIONS

Kings Crown Block

Corrections to measurements when cutting your fabric for your block below!

This is our 4th class now and our 5th block!  The Kings Crown Block incorporates 4 flying geese around a center square that can be creatively developed as a focal block.  You could fussy cut a fabric for the center, your could embroider, applique, you could even piece the center as Brenda has done below.  She has used a paper piecing method which we will discuss in class a bit. 

Where you place your fabrics, as we have discussed in previous blocks, will create the emphasis.  So let's get started!

There are several tools and techniques out there to make flying geese.  Here are some of them. 

This first one uses the Lazy Girl  Flying Geese X 4 No Math Ruler.  Good Demonstration, easy to do.

The next one demonstrates the Eleanor Burns method and rulers.  Also easy and fun to watch.

These are both great tools and wonderful methods...if you need those sizes.

Now here is a method by Ricy Timms which is truly amazing and fun, one seam and you can make it the size you need for your project!  

In addition to the methods listed above, you can also paper piece your flying geese, templates can be obtained online at http://www.quilterscache.com/B/BlankPPTemplatesPage.html  I don't suggest this for a beginner.

Excellent tutorial link here:  http://www.quilterscache.com/H/Howtomakegeese.html

I do not recommend her method #1 for beginners as you will be working on a raw diagonal and there is a risk of stretching your fabric and having a disappointing outcome.

We will be using her method #2. Her method #3 is actually demonstrated in the video at the top and I will demonstrate that in class as well.   You can make them anyway you like...like I said at the beginning, there are a number of roads and they all lead to the same place!

To make the Kings Crown Block, you will need to cut the following:

4 squares measuring 4 1/2" square for your corner stones.

4 rectangles measuring 8 1/4" x 4 1/2" for your flying geese body

8 squares measuring  41/2" x 41/2"  for your flying geese wings

1 square measuring 8 1/4" x 8 1/4" for your center

Set aside your corner stones and your center for the time being.  We are going to make four flying geese.

Lay your "wings" on top of your "body" as shown, fabric right sides together.  Draw a diagonal as shown.

 Stitch on the diagonal.  This is a relatively thick chalk line so you can see.

Using your ruler, cut 1/4 inch away from your stitch line as shown above.

Press open as shown.  You have completed 1/2 of your geese block.

Do the same for the other side as shown above.

Trim and press open as you did for the first "wing".  You now have a finished flying geese.  You will need four of these for your block.

Lay your block out with the large square in the center, your small squares in the corners and your flying geese in between...they can point in or out, your call.  Stitch each row together as you have been taught in lesson 1 and your block is complete.

Now, as in our previous lessons, I want you to think outside the box for a minute.  Before stitching your block together, play with the components, what do you come up with?  Here are some different blocks, made with the same bits.

Lots of variety here!  Again, I encourage you to experiment, let your creativity fly.  Do you love to embroider?  Maybe an embroidered focal piece in the center would be fun.  Some iron on applique, or stitched if you are so inclined.  Fussy cut a focal piece. Use diagonal fabrics in your flying geese as Brenda has done, to give additional interest.  

Okay, We are moving right along.  

Our next meeting will be on May 11th at 9am.  

We will be having another surprise that day, so I hope you can make it!  If not, please join us online and quilt along with us.

If you are inclined, please pack a sack lunch, refrigeration is available...we will stay in the afternoon and you can work on your project or help with a charity quilt!

Our Next Block will be a 5 blade Dresden Fan!  So much fun to make, so quick and easy with lots of creative variations for you to try.

Having fun with Craftsy and Their BOM And Swooning!

Before I started teaching my quilt class, I thought it would be a good idea to take a beginner class myself just to make sure I'm not missing anything.  I'm working on my March blocks today, I'm a bit behind with everything else I want to do.  Here are the blocks that I have finished so far.  I'm working on a sixth block right now and will update the posting shortly. (updated)  Then I will need to get busy on my April blocks, but I have a secret stash of hexies already made up, so I am ahead of the game there!  These blocks are all made with Kaffe Fasset fabrics and some random batiks, thai silk and blender cottons. 

The other project I have been working on is a "Swoon" quilt.  You can get the pattern here:  Thimbleblossoms Swoon Quilt Pattern  The blocks are great fun, they are 24" square and I have been making them more difficult and challenging for myself by incorporating the stack and whack technique.   Here is a link for a great tutorial on stack and whack blocks...Connecting Threads Stack and Whack tutorial  Here are the blocks that I have assembled so far, I have 5 more to go!  If you like the stack technique, there are some great books on the subject by Bethany Reynolds.

And if that wasn't enough, I decided that I needed a new pillow cover for an old pillow so I dug through my stash and came up with this.  It's two inch square, half square triangle blocks assembled in an off set manner.

And if that still wasn't enough, I finished a quilt top.  Now to go on a search for backing and binding.

My sweet husband offered to hold up the quilt for a picture...so this is officially a "Walking Quilt" now!

Okay, I better get back to the iron and sewing machine!  I have 3 more Craftsy blocks to do to get caught up! And maybe I can get another Swoon block cut out before I have to clean house.