Quilts for the Teachers 2011

Every year I make a lap size quilt for my son's teacher. In the first year of school they have two teachers.
Mrs S received the Christmas Ribbons Quilt ( the one I made for ModaBakeShop ) and Mrs Mac received a scrappy string quilt made from the new Bella Solids and Kate Spain's Good Fortune collection.

The children all wrote their names on the Robins Egg Solid pieces.  

Add a pieced backing and swirly all over design and Voila - one colourful quilt.

Thank you Mrs S and Mrs Mac for making my sons first year at school a wonderful year.

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Block 22 Ornamentallist

Welcome to week 22 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is about adding appliqué to create an illusion of a curved block. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

(N.B Due to time and date differences, guest bloggers posts do not always coincide with my post)

My guest blogger this week is the ever lovely and talented Melody from the House on the Side of the Hill blog. Melody has created a scrumptious ice-cream block. Make sure when you visit Melody you have a look around her blog and see her wonderful hexagons.

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Ornamentallist

The tree branches hang low to ground, weighed down by the ornaments that adorn it. The ornamentallist looks for even the smallest space to attach another. 

Materials

• 4 - 5 1/4" squares for background
• 10" square for curved appliqué
• 3" square for fussy cut centre circle
• Light fusible webbing ( Heat n Bond Lite )
• Templates found here

Assembly

• Place 2 - 5 1/4" squares right side together. Draw a diagonal line.
• Sew 1/4" either side of the line

• Cut on line. Yields 2 blocks
• Press open seams
• Trim blocks to 4 1/2" square
• Repeat
• Arrange 4 HST ( Half Square Triangles ) into a pinwheel block
• Sew blocks in pairs and then join the rows
• The background block will be 8 1/2" square

• Trace Piece A onto dull side of fusible webbing. 
• Cut around the trace line leaving 1/8"all around
• Cut out inside of Piece A approximately 1/4" wide

This leaves enough fusible webbing to attach appliqué and prevent fraying
without making the block too stiff and heavy

• Press onto wrong side of fabric
• Cut our Piece A on trace line
• Using a cooler iron, press onto background block

 

• Trace piece B onto dull side of fusible webbing.
• Cut out leaving extra 1/8" all around
• Press on wrong side of 3" squares
• Cut on trace line
• Press onto centre of background block

• Using your favourite appliqué stitch, sew appliqué to background block.

Hint: For this block I used a straight stitch 1/8" from edge of piece. If I was making a whole quilt using this block I would prefer to use needle turn appliqué. If using this technique add 1/4" seam allowance around Piece A and Piece B.

Let's Play

The Block

Horizontal Layout

On Point Layout

On Point with solid alternate blocks

On Point with solid replacing the patterned fabric

I hope you enjoyed this festive block. Next week I will be bringing you the third instalment in the DHWQ blocks festive series.

*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

The Twelve Moda Days of Christmas

November 25th  -December 6th 2011

Moda is hosting a fabulous festive giveaway.

The Rules:

Visit The Cutting Table Blog each day for that days Stocking Stuffer.

After visiting the Blog, head over to Facebook and leave a

comment to be entered to WIN* that days giveaway!

*TO WIN:

1. Be a Facebook FAN of United Notions

2. Comment on FACEBOOK about the Stocking Stuffer of the Day
3. Stop by our guest post-ers website to say hi! (on the days we have one!)

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Block 21 The Star

DHWQ goes Festive

Over the next 6 weeks I will be sharing Festive blocks that do not use Christmas fabrics. I will be exploring Christmas quilting designs that combine any colours, textures or patterns used with the shapes and concepts familiar to this celebration.

Welcome to week 21 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is about foundation piecing. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

(N.B Due to time and date differences, guest bloggers posts do not always coincide with my post)

My guest blogger this week is Sharon from Craizee Corner Blog. Sharon has created this wonderful festive block that is nameless. Visit her blog and find out why.

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The Star

The Star that illuminates our life and brings Hope to all that follow it.

Techniques explored

• Foundation Piecing

Materials

• Small scraps of fabric no smaller than 2" x 9"
• 5 " x 5" square of feature fabric for centre circle
• 5" x 5" Square of Heat N Bond Lite

Block Assembly

• Print the foundation template here - 8" version. Please remember not to 'Fit to Page' or Scale when printing.

(I have also included a 12" finished version here).

• Make 4 of section A and 4 of section B

• Join the sections

1. Layout the pieced sections

2. Group the pieced sections into 2 sets of three and sew together.
3. Sew the remaining pieced sections to one end of each group.

4. Sew halves together.

• Trace the circle template onto dull side of fusible web
• Cut 1/4" away from trace line
• Press to wrong side of fabric and cut on trace line.
• Peel off backing and place on centre of block. Press.
• Applique circle to block.

Let's Play

The Block

Horizontal Setting

Horizontal with solid setting blocks

On point with 2 variations of the same block. Different colour placement.

On Point one block

I hope you enjoyed this weeks festive block. Next week will be dressing up the tree.

*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

Remembrance Day

The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month. At this moment we all bow our heads for a minute of silence. The Last Post plays.

I would like to share with you this beautiful video of a choir immortalising in song the stirring poem - In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae 3 May 1915.

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Block 20 Talkin' Turkey

Welcome to week 20 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is about piecing and curves. . It has unlimited possibilities. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

(N.B Due to time and date differences, guest bloggers posts do not always coincide with my post)

This weeks guest is John Adams from Quilt Dad. Everyone's favourite home boy. Be sure to check out his great block - Spinout and while you are there have a look at his featured block in the new edition of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 4. 

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Talkin' Turkey

It's Thanksgiving soon in the Northern Hemisphere. Turkeys are hiding. People are coming together and reflecting on how lucky we really are. We have much to be thankful for.

Techniques explored

• Curved piecing - Applique technique

Materials

• Fat eight each of red, black and yellow fabrics
• Freezer Paper

Cutting

Red fabric

• Cut 6 strips 1 1/2" x 4 1/2"
• Cut 1 strip 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"

Yellow Fabric

• Cut 6 strips 1 1/2" x 4 1/2"
• Cut 1 strip 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"

Black Fabric

• Cut 8 squares 1 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Making the block

• Place a black square, right sides together with yellow strip. 
• Draw a diagonal line

• Sew on line
• Remove excess and leave 1/4" seam

• Repeat on opposite side of piece.

• Repeat for pieces shown in image below. Please note the direction of the sew line.

• Add remaining strips to row 1 and 2.

• Join Rows

• Trace the template on the non shiny side of the freezer paper and cut out. Make 2.

Template found here. Remember do not 'Fit to Page' or scale when printing.

• Press the freezer paper ( shiny side ) to back of black fabric.
• Cut around template adding 1/4" seam allowance

• Iron seam over curved edge of template and starch well.

• Gently remove freezer paper. 

• Repeat for second curved piece.

• Place curved pieces on block and topstitch or hand appliqué to block.

• Carefully, trim excess fabric underneath, leaving 1/4" seam.

Stand back and admire your beautiful block.

One unfinished 8 1/2" block.

Let's Play

The Block

Horizontal

Horizontal with Rotation

Horizontal with Rotation

Horizontal with Rotation

On Point

On Point with Rotation

On Point with Rotation

I hope you have been thankful for this weeks block. Next week I will get in the Christmas Spirit.

*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***

The Desperate Housewife's Quilt - Block 19 Lightning

Welcome to week 19 of the 'The Desperate Housewife's Quilt'. Todays block is about foundation piecing. I cannot get enough of this technique. It has unlimited possibilities. Remember, this is not a quilt-a-long. Just follow the blog every week and pick and choose which blocks you would like to make. I will be injecting some uniqueness into traditional blocks, applique, three dimensional, crazy and thread-art blocks. If you make a block please post it on the Flickr group for everyone to enjoy. Also, I have this nifty button under each post that allows you to save the post as a PDF.

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Be sure to visit this week's Guest Blogger and their wonderful block.

My guest this week is Lauren from I Want to Cut you blog. Lauren has made this fab block called 'Burst'

Make sure you pop over and have a look at this great block.

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Lightning

The storm season is upon us. Unplug your computers, store the torches and candles.

Techniques explored

• Foundation Piecing

Materials

• Small pieces of blues and yellows. 

Making the block

In previous blocks I have shown the technique I use for foundation piecing. The important steps are:

• Use a very small stitch so you can rip off the paper easily when done
• Cut your seams back to 1/4"as you go
• Press with a dry iron as you go

The foundation template for the block can be found here . Remember, do not scale or 'Fit to Page'

Let's Play

The Block - 8" finished

On Point with rotation and colour play

Horizontal Layout with rotation

Horizontal with rotation

I hope you have enjoyed this weeks block. Next week it will something to be thankful for.

*** Copyright 2011 Jane Davidson. Please remember that these blocks and any blocks designed by guest bloggers should not be used for commercial purposes ( sold as a pattern, published etc) without the written consent of the owner ***