Modern Tradition Quilt Bee

Tulip BLocks for May

2010-06-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-04-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-02T16:56:00.001-07:00

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.

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

2010-03-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-03-02T04:44:00.000-08:00

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

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

2010-02-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

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!

Leanne's Log Cabins

2010-02-20T06:28:00.000-08:00

I was really pleased with how these blocks have turned out, although like Lesly mine are slightly larger that 12.5 ins but hopefully Leanne will be able to trim them as she likes.
Isn't it amazing how different the blocks all look with our individual arrangement of the fabrics.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished quilt Leanne.

Two valentines for Leanne

2010-02-12T06:55:00.000-08:00

And here are mine! I feel like I'm pretty slow off the mark for February, and I still have two more bees to make blocks for!

The blocks are a bit more the 12.5", but I left them for Leanne to trim as she likes. I really enjoyed working with these fabrics. I have a whole whack of AMH Good Folks and Garden Party that I haven't been able to cut into, but these worked up so nicely that I think I can manage to do it now.

In the end, I didn't add any solids, since I didn't think anyone else had, and I thought it would look better if the blocks were a bit more uniform in that respect, since they are so lively. But I don't think solids were needed; I think the fabrics are just gorgeous that they make the blocks great as is. I can't wait to see this one made up!

Leanne's blocks

2010-02-06T21:19:00.001-08:00

first off, happy birthday (soon!) Leanne! I had to keep from drooling over your fabrics, they are just SO fantastic. I had so much fun making these - I love how vivid and bright they are; I CAN'T wait to see the final quilt!

To Leanne Love heather

2010-02-03T17:27:00.000-08:00

Here are my blocks for Leanne- they are already in the mail- I thought since I had to go there anyway I would just get these colorful blocks finished and save myself a trip- going to Canada it will take a little while to get there- I can't wait to see how this quilt turns out! When is March coming I'm having way to good of a time just playing with new fabric and new ideas. I can be distracted and bored with a project easily- so this 1 and 2 block thing is a fabulous idea for me. I don't sit there thinking I have to make another one- that's what I a felt like when I made my son's snowball quilt- i thought I would never finish. This really is so much fun!

Here's Mine

2010-01-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

This block was finished weeks ago but alas I am slow to post- I hope you like it and it fits in well. I'm hoping to get mine in the mail tomorrow. I just got my log cabin fabric yesterday during the monsoon that was hitting the north east- i'm so excited to get started maybe I will post them in a more timely manner. Happy Quilting.

One for Melissa

2010-01-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

Finally finished the block. Hope it is OK. Will be in the post first thing tomorrow morning.

Blocks for Melissa!

2010-01-23T20:36:00.000-08:00

I finished Melissa's blocks on Thursday, and stuck them in the mail on Friday. It said it should take 3 days to get there, so hopefully you will get them Tuesday. I ended up making 2 - the only fabric I needed to go get more of was 4" of the Kona cotton Snow. :) Can't wait to see them all together!

Adding a Solid to the February Blocks

2010-01-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Lesly asked me if she could add some of her solid colour stash to my blocks and, of course, I said, yes! If you want to add a small amount of solid colour to the block from your stash, by all means, go ahead. BUT please do not feel obligated to use your own fabrics for this block - there should be plenty of fabric for you in the packages and the blocks I did don't have solids (but I may need to make more w/ some solids added in - great idea, Lesly).

Again, it is a whatever goes kind of block.

This quilt is going to be a favourite of mine, I just know it. (I think I've said that a million times already - can you tell how much I am loving this Bee?)

Thanks so much - and if you have any other questions, just let me know.

Leanne

One for Melissa

2010-01-18T07:13:00.000-08:00

Here's my block for Melissa. I was so nervous cutting into the white fabric because of what Greta experienced, but she said I should cut the large squares first, and then I should have no problem fitting the smaller squares. So, armed with that advice, I set out to cut the largest square: 7 1/2". Yes? No! Dang it - it was supposed to be 7 3/4"! I got the fraction confused with the smaller square: 6 1/2". Have you ever done that - known that you only had one chance to do it right, get yourself all organized and set out, and then flub it anyway? Comes from overthinking it, I'm sure. Anyway, this story has a happy ending - as you can see, I fit all the pieces, even with that minor flub. Thank goodness!

You can see the pink from my stash a little better here. It's from Lila Tueller's Woodland Bloom collection. I wanted something with a bit more pizzazz, but all the pinks I had in my stash seemed to have more of a blue undertone, like fuschia and magenta, and I was afraid they wouldn't go well with the pink, orange and yellow that Melissa had chosen. So this is the one I chose, and I think it makes a nice soft complement to the orange.
Good block choice, Melissa! This was fun to do - the instructions were good and fabric was nice to work with!

Easy Peasy

2010-01-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

Ladies,

The February blocks are in the mail! There aren't many guidelines but here we go:

If you could make 2 blocks, that would be fantastic. I made my blocks from 11 pieces and had leftovers but I have put 12 pieces in your packages so you'll have 1 full one left over. The pieces measure 4" by 18" or 22". There should be more than enough fabric and no need for you to use your own. And keep the scraps - no need to send back.
I made my centre block 3.5" before sewing and my strips were 2.5" before sewing.
The final block should be around 12.5" but I am not super worried that they are perfectly 12.5". If you get around the 12.5" mark, perfect! My plan is to sash the blocks so that I can show off everyone's blocks but I don't plan to do it in perfect horizontal and vertical rows - more of a staggered sort of thing so if we are off a little bit, no problem.
As you can see from my blocks, I didn't do the whole light side/dark side thing and you don't have to either. I would much rather people just did whatever they wanted with the fabric - whatever order they think the fabric should go in. And all of the pieces are 4" so you can pick the centre block - again, whatever appeals to you will work for me.
My whole focus for the blocks is just to have fun with the fabric. I really wasn't super exact with anything when I did my blocks (confession - when I sewed the strips, I just sewed them to the block and then measured 2 1/4" from the seam and trimmed - yep, I was that lazy). I didn't even iron the block until the very end.

I am really excited to see what everyone does with the fabric. With quilters like the lot of you, I think that this quilt has the potential to be beyond gorgeous.

If I have missed anything, please let me know. I really really hope you enjoy making the blocks.

Leanne

PS - I hope no one thinks that just because my guidelines for the blocks aren't super specific that I won't take care in following yours or making your blocks - I really will, I promise.

February Blocks

2010-01-08T12:24:00.001-08:00

I just posted a little teaser on my blog ....

http://quiltsabit.blogspot.com/2010/01/bees-sequel.html

Hope you like it!

Leanne

What's Your Day Like?

2009-11-18T03:48:00.000-08:00

Sandra saw this post on my blog where I wrote about my typical weekday. I did this in response to an invitation by Amy of Park City Girl, who invited her readers to share moments that made up their lives. I have enjoyed reading about bloggers beyond their quilting adventures - it makes everyone a little more real! Like Thelma, I think it would be great to know a bit more about you all. Anyone care to share?

Inspiration

2009-11-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about what pattern I want to use for my month and I found a really comprehensive website with so many traditional block patterns. You may want to have a look around for some inspiration. I have decided to make 12" blocks, so I was happy to see there's an option for looking at blocks by size. One thing to point out is that each block pattern has a "page 2" link, where there's a schematic of how the whole quilt would look, which is often quite startling in comparison to the single block. I still have some time to decide, since my month is March, and I love looking around. Have you all found any good sources of inspiration? Share them!

special thanks

2009-11-10T18:28:00.001-08:00

Special thanks to Rachel for making this ADORABLE header, and to Sherri for thinking of the awesome headline!

Yay for our wonderful group :)

Welcome to our quilt bee blog!

2009-11-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

This is the place where the gals of the Modern Tradition Quilt Bee strut their stuff and show off their skills! To see even more pics, go to www.flickr.com/groups/moderntradtionquiltbee