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

06-12-2013

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

04-05-2013

Strawberry Jam- Part 3

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Click here for pattern

Okay, let’s wrap this thing up and finish this quilt top!

The center blocks of your top are done and put together in rows, all we need now is to add our borders and the top is D-O-N-E. The problem with borders is, the pattern tells us how to cut them the perfect size, and well… those borders…..only fit on perfect quilts. Your quilts can come out a little over or undersized. All those seams combined with the stretchiness(is this a word???) of fabric can lead to some distortion in your finished product. This is the method I use to add my borders so that they are perfect every time;)

After I construct my border strips(so they are long enough), I don’t make the second set of cuts to the exact size. This leaves them a little over-sized. Next, I fold my border in half and rub my fingernail over the fold to make a crease in the fabric; marking the mid-point of my border. Because the center of our top is 6×6 blocks, I know my mid-point on the top is the seam between the third and fourth block. Line up your crease with the seam and pin together, make sure right sides of fabric are facing each other. Did I mention we are starting with the side borders?

Working on a flat surface, like your table, continue to pin your border along the quilt top. About one pin at every seam line, this is where it wants to move the most. The trick here is not to stretch the border or the quilt top. All those seams have a lot of give…so take it easy! If you pin too tightly, when you take out the pins it will relax and be wavy. If you pin too loosely, you will have puckers or folds along border. Just let the fabrics lay naturally together and you’ll be fine:)

Go ahead and pin both sides, and then sew ’em up! Now take it to the ironing board and press open your border. Be gentle, but make sure to press your border all the way open. Next, I lay it on my cutting mat and make sure everything looks square and then trim the excess with my ruler. Do this on both ends of each border.

Time for the top and bottom borders and…..your oh, so, sassy, Strawberry Jammy quilt top is done!

Here is mine:

Hope you like it:) Stay tuned for the finished quilt!

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Filed Under: Patterns, Quilt Basics Tagged With: borders, easy quilt pattern, pattern, strawberry jam

03-29-2013

Strawberry Jam- Part 2

sj8

Click here for pattern!

Alrighty then! Now that your strip blocks are done and the solid blocks are well…….. solid…….let’s join them together and make our rows♥

Lay out all your blocks to see how the center of your quilt top will look. If you have a design wall, this is a great time to use it. If your like me and don’t, just lay them out on the floor. Once you have your layout the way you like it, piece your rows together. Press your seams between the strip and solid blocks toward the solid block. Now, back to the floor and layout your rows. Laying things out lets me see how the quilt is looking, hopefully spotting mistakes sooner than later.

I recommend using a few pins when joining rows together. Your sewing line will be long and there will be seams to fight along the way. Pins free up your hands for other adjusting. Now here comes the part about locking/nesting your seams. Where both rows seams come together they line up(hopefully) and produce a lot of bulk. This is hard for your machine to sew and quilt through and can even break your needle. To keep things flat and smooth we try to press the seams so that when they line up they will be going in opposite directions. Not only does it reduce bulk, the seams butt into one another(lock/nest) and make sure your piecing lines look accurate on the topside of your quilt.

Once you join your two rows together, press to either side. It won’t matter for these seams. Sew the rest of your rows together and Voila!!!!

The center of your quilt top is complete.

Happy Quilting!!!

Stay tuned for Part 3—>Borders:)

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Filed Under: Patterns, Quilt Basics Tagged With: combining blocks, easy beginner pattern, locking seams, nesting seams, Part 2, rows, strawberry jam

03-23-2013

Strawberry Jam- Part 1

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Click here for the new pattern!

Well, I have been working on creating a couple of easy quilt patterns that would be perfect for new quilters to give a try. This one is called Strawberry Jam! Follow me as I piece and quilt this quick and sassy pattern. So far I have cut all the yardage and constructed the strip blocks. I am making this top with some fun, grey-on-grey polka dot yardage combined with strips from a jelly roll called “Odds and Ends” by Julie Comstock for Moda fabrics. Jelly rolls make 2 1/2″ strips easy, but they are also easy to cut yourself. I love my Shape Cut Pro Strip Ruler by June Tailor. It has slots for my rotary cutter so I can’t go wrong cutting my strips. Here are a few tips and tricks to look out for while following this pattern:

When trimming your selvages at the end of strips, trim just enough! If trim too heavily, you will not get enough cuts out of each strip.

Use a scant 1/4″ seam when piecing strip blocks! When you press open the strips we lose a little of our fabric in the fold. By making our seam slightly less than 1/4″ (about the width of one thread)our piecing comes out more accurate. Notice the picture on the left the line of thread is just out side my 1/4″ , and the pic on the right the line of thread is included within my 1/4″.

After sewing your first two strips together, press seams to one side and then measure to make sure you are keeping the proper width of your strips. If you are off on each of the four strips it can make the block WAY off! If you are new do this for the first few blocks to make sure everything is going smoothly. It is easier to fix a strip or two than 18 blocks:)

Notice the picture on the left…the seams are all pressed to the right. It doesn’t matter which direction, just all the same within the block. The finished strip block on the right is 8 1/2″ x 10 1/2″. Check with your ruler and trim any excess to square up block. If block is too small…check the width of your seams or you may have not pressed seam all the way open. There you go…blocks done!

Let me know if you run into any road blocks and I would love to see your pics!

Happy Quilting!

Stay tuned for Part 2—>Piecing your blocks and rows together:)

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