Tulip BLocks for May

Here is my tulip block the quilt will be so adorable when it is all done- my Quilt Club ladies loved it.  I'm sorry for the wrinkle but I had already packaged it and then I forgot to take a photo of it so alas the wrinkles.

Tulips for May!

There's a lengthy post on my blog which you can see here.

This is what you'll be making for May:

Don't worry it's not as complicated as it looks. It kind of goes together like a log cabin block. I can't wait to see the finished blocks! We'll be using Hunky Dory and Kona Cotton in Snow.

March on for Lesly

At last I have got around to sewing my blocks for March.

I really enjoyed making these blocks and as Lesly gave us a free rein in how we chose to make up the block as long as we had the green centre of the Granny's flower garden and also kept the colour scheme monochromatic it was great fun.

The background fabric was linen which I had not worked with before but I found it really nice to sew.

Hope Lesly likes them as much as I do. Just longing to see the finished quilt.

Could I Ask a Favour

So I am still short a few blocks but I was messing with fabric today and put these together. Could you please tell me which fabric you like best (please ignore the 1/2 a** photos)?

I have my favourite but am not sure if it is the best to go with the blocks.

Would you let me know what you think?

Thanks.

L

PS - the other option is no sashing whatsoever. Just a hodge podge of all your beautiful blocks.

PPS - I love my blocks. I am in love with the quilt already.

Oh the Possibilities

So I decided to do a few mock ups before cutting into Lesly's fabric. Thank goodness for EQ6! Which ones do you like?


try to ignore the colors (they are just representational of value.) I think I have my 2 faves picked out but would love to hear your opinions!

Hooray for March!

Ladies, my apologies for not getting this fabric out to you sooner, but it is going in the mail today.  Here are the specs - I am also including this information in the package you will receive.

The block is called Granny's Flower Garden, and it is a traditional block from Marcia Hohn's Quilter's Cache site.

Size:  This is a 14” block, and I am asking you to please make me two blocks.

Colours:  You will receive a set of swatches in two colour families, and I would like a monochromatic block from each one.  I have packaged up swatches in reds, yellows, oranges and pinks.  You are welcome to supplement from your stash to the extent that you like.  Just please stay monochromatic – if there are yellow and red fabrics in your pack, please make one yellow block and one red block.  You will also receive Essex linen/cotton blend in Putty for the background of each block, and some blue/green cotton for the centre square. 

Block Construction:  The original block is made of strips, but there are many other ways you can draft the block.  I have put some samples up on the Flickr page and in this post, to help me explain what I mean.  I also encourage you to let your creativity run wild and come up with your own!

You will see via the standard instructions that the original block (see the red block below) is made with 2.5” strips of various lengths, the longest strip being 10.5” (red strips next to the centre strip).  I have not included any fabric that is 10.5” long, so either you will have to supplement from your stash if you want to make the block according to the standard pattern, or do some interim piecing to come up with a strip that is 10.5” long.  

But you could also make an inner border around the green centre square by mixing squares and strips (yellow block below).  The smallest unit is a 2.5” square, and you can calculate how big you need to cut your strips by figuring out how many small squares you would need to make them.  For example, the inner border in Block B would require two strips at 6.5” x 2.5”, plus two 2.5” squares. 

A third option is to consider the whole “flower” area as made up of 2.5” squares (pink block below).  Here is one area where you need to be really careful about the scant ¼” seam, because if you are even a bit over it will quickly get out of hand with all the seams that you have in a block like this. 

The last example below is one where you carve out larger chunks and then build them back into the flower motif (orange block below).  In the one that I did, I constructed a biggish improv panel and then cut out two 4.5 x 6.5” rectangles, since this is the size that is represented in the big pieces below.  The rest of the flower was 2.5” squares. 

Please Note:  In order to give a unifying structure to the quilt, I would like to keep the background pieced in 2.5” strips.  Think about this when deciding how to construct the blocks.

Things that need to be in the block: 

(a) Blue-green centre square

(b) background of Essex cotton/linen blend constructed with 2.5” strips

(c) monochromatic (touches of additional colours that appear in the fabric are fine, of course)

Cautions: Two things popped out for me as I was constructing the sample blocks.

(a)   The more pieces you have in your block, the more important it is to sew a SCANT ¼” seam (this is true in general, and you probably already know this).

(b)   The Essex linen/cotton blend stretches like mad on the bias, worse than any cotton I have ever seen.  So be careful with your stitching, but even more important, be careful when pressing. 

Also, if you wouldn't mind returning any extra fabric, it will help me make up the remaining blocks and the pieced border.  This is especially true for the linen, as I cut it on autopilot and pretty much distributed it all among the 11 packages, leaving very little for me to work with.  D'oh!

The most important thing of all is to please have fun!  The sky’s the limit with these blocks, as simple or as mad as you like. I can’t wait to see what you do with them!  I really hope you enjoy making them!

February Blocks

The other day I got to play with these lovely fabrics:

To make these lovely blocks:
Believe it or not these are my very first ever log cabin blocks! I don't know why I've never made them before but I must say that I am now hooked. They were so easy and turned out so beautiful and perfect {trust me they are 100% square and not wonky at all despite what the picture shows!} It's funny because I kept thinking I had somehow messed up the order of the next strip but I guess I did all right! These blocks are now on their way to good ole Canada!