Archives for June 2013

06-27-2013

New Blogger Blog Hop

I am so excited to get to participate in this years New Blogger Blog Hop, hosted by Plum and June. By hopping along through the selected blogs during June and July, we get to introduce ourselves to the blogging community and all of our shared followers. So…after today’s post I hope you feel like you know me a little better and come back often!

One might ask…What or Who is a Sassy Quilter?

It all begins with my grandma “Sassy”, that was her nickname. She was my mentor, teacher and the first and bestest quilty friend a girl could have! For the whole story about how and why I began quilting and a pic of my first quilt, check out My Quilt Story(I promise it’s not that long). After my grandmother passed, me and my cousin wanted to start a quilting group to share Sassy’s and our love for quilting. And…because we shoot for the stars…we started our own guild called The Sassy Quilter’s Guild, Wedding Ring Chapter. Yes, we do see this going worldwide and have made room for additional chapters:) This is us at our first meeting…welcome packet and all!

Starting this guild has been one of the most amazing things I have ever been a part of. Most of our members began never having sewn a day in their life. Teaching others to sew and quilt and then watching them grow into their own quilting artists just blows my mind. Our motto is “Piece or Die”… yeah, we are hard core:) Here is some of their work:

579039_10200794454720941_855745299_n

The Sassy Quilter’s Guild is where my love of sharing my quilting journey began. I really love teaching newbies/beginners the basics and seeing them grow. We are about 2 1/2 years in and on April 2, 2013, I began this blog! I wanted to cater my blog to the beginner; sharing any quilty skills I had to offer and keeping things simple and full of all the info a beginner might need to find. It’s a work in progress, but I am loving every minute of it!

Here are some things you might not know about me:

I love teeth almost as much as quilting:) I am a dental hygienist by day and Quiltologist by night/weekend. (self proclaimed Quiltologist that is, I put it on a business card so that makes it true:) )

This past Christmas I finally got my dream sewing machine, a BabyLock Crescendo! (11.25″ throat space…oh yeah!)

I had no idea blogging was so time consuming! Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I hope I don’t get fired for working on my laptop whenever I get the chance. I told my boss I was sorry for being a bad employee, but he said it was okay because I was saving the world:) Sassy Quilter…saving the world one quilt at a time! I think someone like that deserves a quilt, don’t you?

While at AQS Quilt Week in Lancaster, PA, my sister was almost assaulted by a fellow quilter! For real! It was a crazy sale and she said she really needed the fabric my sister had in her hand or she was going to go back to the hotel and kill herself and then proceeded to curse up a storm right there…needless to say my sister gave it to her because she obviously needed it. Fabric addiction to the MAX! (p.s. we got to meet Alex Anderson and Eleanor Burns!)

My three favorite sewing notions: Seam-fix seam ripper, Fiskars Snips, and sewing machine mat(gift made by my sister, in pic of my machine).

Oh yeah, would you like to see some things I have made?

Sunbonnet Sue

Block 6

Fabrics-Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille

Cardinal Stars, my design

What’s on my cutting table right now?

dresden

Some hexie pillows in progress and a Dresden top that needs to be sandwiched and quilted:)

Whew! That was a lot of info. Some others things you might like here at The Sassy Quilter are Helpful Charts, Free Patterns, Quilty Games and Puzzles, Sassy Guide to Lancaster,PA, Sassy Dictionary, and How to Bind a Quilt.

A BIG thanks to Beth at Plum and June for letting me be a part of the New Blogger Blog Hop! Be sure and visit her by clicking the link below for a complete list of all the great new blogs out there. Here is the ones for this week:

Green @ So Sew Green

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts

Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme

Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap

Kathy @ Kayak Quilting

Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter- don’t panic -you are already here!!!

Kris @ Sew Sunshine

Camilla @ Faffling

See ya next week!

Keep it Sassy♥

Links:

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Filed Under: New Blogger Blog Hop

06-25-2013

Block 6

Block 6-Virtual Quilting Bee

I am mixing it up on you guys today;) This is a finished block and a WIP. I have a special post for the end of the week so I just wanted to get this block out here so we didn’t get behind… being behind! This block is by AmandaWoodruff@ACraftyFox as a part of the Virtual Quilting Bee hosted by AmySmart@Diary of a Quilter. Click here for the step by step tutorial for Block 6 and here for Amy’s different method of construction. They are a little ahead of us so we are doing a block a week until we catch up. Click on the link below to get all the details if you want to join on or just see what’s up!

Virtual Quilting Bee

Let me just start by saying…..Check Amy’s edit for this block!!! The center square should be 3.25″ and not 3.5″. Very important and nice to know before you rip the block out 4 times :| I seriously thought I was losing my mind. I was checking and double checking, but I just couldn’t get this to add up! Frankly, I still am not sure about the numbers and it didn’t come out perfectly, but it was good enough at that point. I had to fudge a few points and get in where I fit in:)

This block uses a smaller unit referred to as Flying Geese. This is a very traditional quilt pattern. You can make an entire quilt of these or combine them with other blocks or units to make some pretty cool things. I think they look just fabulous as a border myself! That is on my quilting to do list. There are several ways to make a flying geese unit. This is the way the tutorial shows you. MSQC has a great video showing you how to make four at a time using one of Eleanor Burns specialty rulers.

Also, the technique used to construct this block is one that some beginners may never have heard of…partial or inset seams. Don’t panic! It only means that you partially sew part of your seam so that you can fit it into the rest of the block. You then finish sewing it from a different angle to close up the stitches. Amy’s method is a whole lot simpler so check it out here, but look at both because maybe you will like the other method and it is good to know all ways to get things finished.

First, you will mark a diagonal line on your smaller squares(on the wrong side of the fabric). Sew this on to the larger rectangle. It works best if you sew just along the outside of your marked line! (toward the outer corner). You lose a little fabric when you press this open, so this helps make things a little toward the extra rather than short. We can always square up our block, but if you find a way to square it larger…let me know:)

Trim your 1/4″ seam.

Then, press open. Notice that I am doing some chain piecing her to speed things up.

Now, do the exact same thing on the other side and square up your final unit to 3.25″ x 6″.

Lastly, I will tell you again to read over the tutorial closely! And I would follow Amy’s tutorial on sewing partial seams, especially if you are a little nervous about it.

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I have the privilege of being a featured blogger in Plum and June’s 2013, New Blogger Blog Hop!

Check back later this week, I have a special post for old and new followers alike:)

See ya soon♥

Links:

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Filed Under: Virtual Quilting Bee Tagged With: block 6, flying geese, virtual quilting bee

06-24-2013

The Secret to a Stellar Quilt…

What’s the first thing you notice about a quilt…

Is it the fabric…the color…the design or is it the colors of the design in the fabric???

Well, most likely it’s ALL of these. I think the Secret to a Stellar Quilt is COLOR!!! It’s what catches our eye and makes the design and fabric come to life!

Today’s post is about color theory……I know, I know…. it’s scary and exhausting to think about. I’m going to tell you about some basic principles of color theory, so you can add it to your quilting tool belt. Understanding a little about color theory can go a long way with a quilter. So…..here we go.

What are these things anywho?

col•or wheel

noun
a circle with different colored sectors used to show the relationship between colors.

That’s pretty simple right?

Let’s look at some color relationships that you’ll find in the Wheel of Mystery(aka-color wheel).

Rule: If it looks good in nature, it looks good anywhere!

After all it was designed by the greatest artist EVER:)

Why do we love the ocean so? It’s beautiful shades of one color.

Monochromatic– many values within one color hue.

Ahh, so relaxing.

Or a beautiful sunrise or sunflower?

Analogous– 3 colors next to each other on the color wheel.

Creates a smooth, rich effect that blends.

Complementary Colors- opposites on the color wheel.

Very bold, vibrant and have a POP! factor.

Split Complementary– opposite on the color wheel, but split on one or both sides forming a triangle(triad) or square(tetrad). Great when you need some harmony!

So how do I use these in my quilts?

Well, if you have a fabric you love, but don’t know what to do with it—-pick out some of the colors in it and see where it fits in the color wheel!

Look at the colors beside it for something to add richness(analogous) or stay right in one spot and see if monochromatic suits your fancy. Maybe, go opposite on the wheel for a fabric that really pops! Let’s say you have a project where one color seems to be taking over>>>>look to the triangle or square shapes in the wheel for a couple fabrics you can throw in to even it out a bit.

Here is a great website to check out for awesome color palettes to browse:

Design Seeds

Just look at these gorgeous color palettes!!! If you can’t find inspiration here, you ain’t gonna!

flora bold grassy brights

setting tones wooden hues

Visit PlayCrafts and check out their awesome palette builder where you can create a palette from your own photo! (cool right?)

A few tips for a Stellar Quilt

1. Avoid overly matching fabrics!

2. Use a fabric lighter or darker than the others for an accent fabric.

3. Use shades within a hue to coordinate, try removing the ones that match exactly.

4. Don’t forget Neutrals/Duller fabrics! We don’t usually see these at first glance,

but they are what make the brighter fabrics sing:)

5. If not sure how it’s looking, use your camera to take a black&white photo to check out contrast.

These are not rules, just helpful thoughts and ideas for your inspiration. I hope the color wheel is a little less scary and can now help you out when your staring at that piece of fabric you love and have no idea what to do:)

So, go get you some inspirational fabric, photo, or one of these lovely palettes and get to quiltin’

Keep it Sassy♥

Links:

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Filed Under: Quilt Basics Tagged With: color theory, color wheel

06-20-2013

Block 5

Block 5-Virtual Quilting Bee

Block 5- Virtual Quilting Bee

Zipping right along with Block 5…part of the Virtual Quilting Bee with AmySmart@Diary of a Quilter. This block was created by CalliTaylor@MakeItDo. Visit here to get all the info and join me while we catch up. They are only on Block 8 so we are hot on their heels!

I pretty much followed suit with the fabrics on this one because….well, I really liked them! This block was simple enough. It only has two different piecing techniques, four patch and corner patch(aka-snowballin). Check out my block 4 post for more info on the snowballin’ technique. And well, the four-patch is pretty simple too. The only thing I really wanted to share for this block is a technique used on the back of a four-patch to reduce bulk in the middle of your block.

This is the back of your basic four-patch block. There is one spot in the middle where all the seams are and it kind of makes a hard lump in the center that you can feel through the block and it is especially hard to quilt through. Also, take note that all the seams are going clockwise except one.

If you take that one seam and flip it over you will see the center unfold a little. Some times you have to gently unpick those last two little stitches, but usually they just unravel themselves. Now, take your finger and give it a good smush! Teach that fabric a lesson:)

Guess what? It leaves you a nice flat center and the cutest little four-patch you ever did see! Do it again when you join your four mini blocks and everything will be smooth and sassy.

Don’t mind those crazy looking seams there folks;)

And don’t forget about this weeks New Blogger Blog Hop! These guys have some cool posts for you today so click on their link or visit Plum and June for the complete list for June and July.

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Friday, June 21
Leigh Anne @ Ella’s Cottage

Stacy @ The Tilted Quilt

Sarah @ Quilt Candy

Jackie @ NW Patchwork

Liz @ Beadqueene’s Bits And Baubles

Erica @ Happy Fabric

Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity

Lauren @ Seraphym

Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts

Keep it Sassy♥

Links:

Crazy Mom Quilts

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Filed Under: Virtual Quilting Bee

06-18-2013

WIP Wednesday

Dresden Plate…

Well, I have got my Dresden Plate top together! I thought appliqueing the Dresdens to the block would be tricky, but I used a little adhesive spray and it worked great.

First, I folded the background square into quarters and pressed it so it would leave some creases. I used these as guidelines to center the Dresdens. Just a light press was all I needed because you want to be able to iron them out afterwards. Then I used little bursts of spray adhesive(so I didn’t get the sticky stuff everywhere) and got to sewing these down.

Once the plate part of the Dresden was on I appliqued the center medallion. Pretty simple! My grey blocks are about 21″. This is going to need a whole lot of quilting. Where I got off easy during the piecing, I am going to have a lot to make up for with the quilting. Gotta sandwich first….then to the sketchbook!

I did finish up my Strawberry Jam though! Here it is:

I tried a new technique on the binding. I used a zigzag stitch to do my final seam.

For the most part is came out great. Definitely easier to catch the edge(at least at some point)! I did go off the rails in this corner, but easy enough to fix.

I am still not completely happy with the quilting and may go back and add some more, but I am pretty sure I am over thinking it and should just move on:)

See you guys on Friday!

Keep it Sassy♥

Linking up with:

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Filed Under: WIP Wednesday Tagged With: dresden plate, strawberry jam

06-17-2013

Hexie Fun

Hola Chicas! Happy Monday.

So I spent my weekend working on these hexies! Great project for a ride to the beach. Hey, I even worked on these little cuties while catching some rays!

Quilting with your toes in the sand….the perfect combo. This was my view:)

I am not quite sure what I am going to do with these, but I’m thinking about a pillow or two. Not too bad making the hexies, but sewing them together is what I think takes forever.

I am hoping to get them all sewn together tonight, so I will hopefully have something to show by Friday.

Have a Sassy week♥

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Filed Under: Hexies Tagged With: hexagons, hexies

06-14-2013

Block 4

Block 4- The Virtual Quilting Bee

This block is Going Dutch by Melissa Cory@Happy Quilting. For more info about the Virtual Quilting Bee visit Amy@Diary of a Quilter. She also has links to all the tutorials for each block.

This is another one of those blocks that looks harder than it really is…seriously! I’ve started to notice the blocks that look a little tricky often are using a piecing/designing method I call snowballin’:). It is not that difficult, but when combined with other blocks or a pieced foundation square can create the look of an intricate design.

Have you ever heard of the traditional block called a Snowball? Here is is:

It is created by sewing smaller square blocks to the foundation/original solid square. It is often combined with other blocks to create a secondary design.

The resulting block reveals a somewhat round ball that, you guessed it…..looks like a snowball:) I used a large snowball block in my Cardinal Stars quilt. Can you see it?

Cardinal Stars, my design

Here is a quick how to…

Mark a diagonal line on your corner squares.

Stitch on the marked line.

Trim 1/4″ from the seam line to remove excess.

Press those little corners open and your done! Pretty cute, huh? Don’t you just want to make a whole quilt full of snowballs!

Adapting the snowball technique is a great way to avoid some tricky calculations and having to cut triangles and octagons…ain’t nobody got time for that!

This block is using that technique on opposite ends of a rectangle. Throw in a couple HST’s and some solid squares and you’ll be Going Dutch in no time! Wait a minute…is that a good thing? Anywho, your block will be done and you can figure out who is paying for dinner later.

Don’t forget when you trim those little snowball corners to sew them together and make some mini HST’s, these are really tiny. Okay, this is getting obsessive I know. You can toss ’em if you must!

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Don’t forget to check out the New Blogger Blog Hop! Here is a list of all the blogs featured today:

Julie @ Jolie Maxtin

Melissa @ Melia Mae Quilting

Adrianne @ On The Windy Side

Molli @ Molli Sparkles

Laura @ Little And Lots

Sarah @ Duck Egg Threads

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Cari @ There’s A Thread

Valerie @ Between Quilts

Be sure to leave a comment and share some quilty love!

You will see me on this list June 28th!!!

Keep it Sassy♥

(Links:AnythingGoes@StitchbyStitch, TGIFF, LAFF@RichardandTanyaQuilts,CrazyMomQuilts, LetsGetAccuainted@PlumandJune, CraftasticMonday@SewCanDo, SewCuteTuesday@BetterOffThread, QuiltStory, ShowandTellTuesday@FreshSqueezedFabrics)

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Filed Under: Virtual Quilting Bee

06-12-2013

WIP Wednesday

Moving right along with my UFO’s, this one not quite so old! I created a free beginner quilt pattern called Strawberry Jam when I started my blog, but (*wincing in shame*) I only made the top. It is a pretty simple pattern for beginners who want to make something bigger, but don’t need to get crazy. Actually it’s not just for beginners, but it is easy! A quick fun project with a modern feel. Here is the free pattern: Strawberry Jam.

I made this quilt from generic stash, but some of the strips are from a jelly roll, Odds and End by Julie Comstock for Moda.

I love polka dots and a big pool of fresh binding♥

Well the binding is ready to be bound, and I am going to try a “new to me” technique using a zig-zag stitch to finish the binding. We will see…

See ya Friday for the next block in the Virtual Quilting Bee!

Keep it Sassy♥

(Links: WIPWednesday@FreshlyPieced, WeDidItWednesday@SewMuchAdo, QuiltStory, NeedleandThreadThursday@MyQuiltInfatuation)

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Filed Under: WIP Wednesday Tagged With: binding, strawberry jam

06-10-2013

Sassy Tip of the Week-103

A little behind on the tips but here ya go:)

Don’t know what to do with those old sewing needles or pins that need to be tossed, but it just feels wrong(and dangerous) to put in with your other trash???

Why put them in an old prescription bottle or an empty tic-tac box. That seems a little silly to say empty, but I’m gonna go with it!

Safety First! Quilting can be dangerous:)

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Filed Under: Quilting Tips Tagged With: needles, Tip of the Week

06-07-2013

Block 3

Block 3- Virtual Quilting Bee

Block 3- The Virtual Quilting Bee

For a detailed tutorial check out April Rosenthal of Prarie Grass Patterns…..this is her block for the Virtual Quilting Bee. For more info on the Virtual Quilting Bee(and links to each block tutorial) visit Amy@Diary of a Quilter, she is hosting this quilt along. I hope some of you guys will join in with us. I promise its easy!

I really liked this block. It was pretty easy and I loved the color combo.

If you look close you can see it is just 4- HST’s(half square triangles). One half of the HST is pieced.

I love patterns for blocks where you just cut the squares on a diagonal to get the triangles! Makes it even easier. The green and white ones are cut that way.

So cut your triangles and add to the sides of the orange square, the put your HST together!

Carefully press open toward the solid half of your HST.

The goal with this part(if you are trying to be picky!) is to have the point of your orange square precisely touch the seam. Try not to cut it off or have a gap between the two. If you are off just a little…no big deal:) Square up your finished blocks to 4.5″ and then put ’em together.

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Don’t forget today starts the New Blogger Blog Hop! Here is a list of all the blogs featured today:

Nancy @ Owen’s Olivia

Amy @ 13 Spools

Ashley @ Wasn’t Quilt In A Day

Casey @ The Studiolo

Nanette @ Yeah, I Made That

Ange @ Heart Of Charnwood

Kim @ Robot Mom Sews

Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting

These bloggers have made extra special posts just for you today, so

be sure to leave a comment and share some quilty love!