tip #46, make and use a master block

When starting multi-block quilts I make about 6 blocks to work out my piecing and pressing decisions, making assembly of blocks, and, later, the top easier. I may try several different sequences before settling on one.
Sometimes the logical piecing/pressing sequence is not the optimal, so I like to sort this out early. Because, once I've made a dozen or so blocks I know I'm not going to go back and re-do them.

Once I figure out my block piecing and pressing sequence I commit. I choose a higher-contrast block as my master block. It is used from then on as a reference for the rest of the block making. I place pieces on the reverse of the block itself to keep me consistent.
In nursing I teach my students to hold the medication package right next to the printed words on the screen/paper to compare and ensure the correct medication is given as our minds play tricks on us and we will read what we think is there and not what is really there.
The same phenomena happens with piecing. We think we have it in the same direction as earlier blocks when we do not.
By having my pieces placed over the master block, I keep my consistency when piecing and pressing.

In these basket blocks I pieced them into quarters. Then placed the quarters over the master block again.
You will see that the final seam is not pressed. In my planning I found that seam would be pressed different directions in alternate rows, so my master block again reminded me to not press that seam.

I try to honor this work-horse block by putting it in a good place in the quilt! This delightful fern block will be the bottom left block.

ladder, top completed

 

Ladder
96 by 84 inches

A simple block.

Block finishes 4 by 12 inches, 168 blocks

Blocks are put into 4-block units which finish 12 by 16 inches (rotate every other block)

Set 6 block units into 7 columns, 42 units

Cutting

Solids: cut four 1 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch rectangles

Prints: cut four 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch rectangles

Pressing

Press blocks to the side that ends with a print

Wait with pressing block units until all 7 columns are sewn together

Then, press every other column up or down, all seams will nest

My design, use your your pleasure.

Ritz crackers!

four blocks into one 4-block unit

35 years

So glad to celebrate 35 years together.

With sadness this year with my mother's death.

Henrietta Scholten Dykstra 1929-2019

Pictured sewing my wedding dress 35 years ago this week.

evening star, top completed

Maybe I should rename this morning star.
I got up at 5 o'clock this morning to see the crescent moon with Venus and Jupiter. 
The air was so clear and it was -21 degrees when I stepped outside.
Here in the city we don't see many stars so I like to take advantage of the planets.

I did some work (we have an inclement weather day so campuses are closed) then finished putting together this top. It is with more lighter fabrics than what I have been working with lately and shows and feels lighter in reality--a winter quilt!

Block finishes 12"
Set 7 by 8 blocks
Top measures 84 by 96

Solids cut from 2 1/2 inch strips
Prints cut from 4 1/2 inch strips

My design, use at your pleasure.

at the dorm

After a semester abroad, Seth is back on campus. It is fun to see which quilt they choose to take to the dorm
This one was made for Seth's 7th birthday.

Be a good roommate, Seth.

dog!

This sweet dog is in our lives.

ladder

Ladder

Finishes 4 by 12 inches
A simple block

I will sew these into 4 block units of 12 by 16 inches finished.

4 block unit

I plan to set 7 by 24, (7 by 6 units)
168 blocks (42 units)
84 by 96 inches

Cutting:

Solid: four 1 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches cut

Print: four 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches cut

Pressing:
All pieces to the side that ends with the print rectangle.
Every other block will be flipped so the seams will nest.

Units will be pieced into columns, so all up or all down every other column, all units will nest.

My design. Use at your pleasure.

basket

Basket
Finishes 8 inches
A complicated block
Mainly in the pressing. I'll include my pressing plan at the end of this post.
Fabric choices easiest with non-directional unless you don't worry about such.
I will save most of my directional fabrics for the setting triangles.

The block is scaled up from the AQSblog 2017 Christmas Countdown. I also changed the body of the basket to a single piece.

Block finishes 8 inches (about 12 inches on point).
I don't know how big I will go with this quilt. I'll post about the setting pieces when I decide that. (This may be months away from now.)

Cutting:

Solid:
-four half square triangles cut from 2 1/2 inch strip with Easy Angle or Bonnie Hunter's triangle tool
-two shapes (some call it a chisel shape)  cut from 2 1/2 inch strips using a tool cut so they are finishing 4 inches; from the equivalent of a 4 1/2 inch piece. It will measure 4 1/2 inches from the blunted point along the long edge.
I will demonstrate below.
(If you don't want to cut the chisel shape, replace each with one square and one triangle.)

Print:
-three 2 1/2 inch squares
-four half square triangles cut from 2 1/2 inch strip with a tool
-one half square triangle from 4 1/2 inch strip; or from the corner of the yardage.
I will demonstrate below.

cutting chisel shape using Easy Angle

blunt point

cutting the bottom triangle from yardage corner

Pressing:
Chisel shape: press solid to the print.
Press chisel units to the print rectangles
Top triangles: press to the solid, then press to the print squares.
Press to the center so the print triangles of this unit and the chisel unit nest.

Base: press triangles to the square, press base to the print.
Quarter blocks: press towards the chisel units
Half block: along the equator, press half of your blocks north and half of them south so all blocks will nest.

batik

For Christmas my friend Sharon gave me three fat quarters of lovely Turtle Hand Batik. It has a different feel and look from most batiks on the market.
I have used it all up! It will show up in several quilts in progress.
There were a few scraps remaining to cut down for my squares bin, so there will be little jewels to come upon in the future.
These stars finish 12 inches.

tip #45, cut reverse side of fabric

I usually cut on the right side of the fabric so I can enjoy it while I work with it.
There are times though, to flip the fabric to the reverse for cutting.
It is easier to see green and purple fabrics when they are lighter as they are on the reverse. Also, when cutting down uneven edged garment making scraps, the grain lines are more evident on the reverse.

letterbox. top completed

This quilt is based on one my friend Erica made with all batiks.

A simple, quick, and fun sew.

Block finishes 6 by 12 inches.

Solid: one rectangle cut 8 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches

Print: two rectangles cut 8 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches, two rectangles cut 6 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches

Sew three blocks into a unit that finishes 12 inches by 18 inches.

Two 3-block units

I made 120 letterbox blocks, then put them into 40 three-block units, setting them 8 by 5.
Top finishes 90 by 96 inches.

Merry Christmas 2018

Merry Christmas 2018

evening star

I loved the open look with the solid used only for the star points of the friendship star quilt I made a few months ago and decided to keep that feel with an evening star.
I decided to make it a floating star with the triangles coming off squares rather than make from flying geese.

Block finishes 12 inches
I plan to make 56 blocks set 7 by 8
84 by 96 inches

You can use any folded triangle method. I wanted to conserve my solid fabrics so I cut them separately as triangles.

Solid: 8 star points, I used the EZ angle or Bonnie Hunter's triangle tool, cutting 8 from a 2 1/2 in strip
Print: 9 squares cut 4 1/2 inches. 4 of the squares have two corners cut off with Doug Leko's Folded Corners ruler.

I stack up 4 of the print squares and cut off the corners using Doug's ruler. Be careful to cut the correct ones if you are dealing with directional fabric.

Sew the triangles to the trimmed squares and press to the triangles. I placed the solid triangle point at the top of the block, using the blunted point to help position the triangle on the side.

Press pieced sections towards the unpieced print squares.

Press top and bottom row to the center row. Rotate every other block and the seams will nest.

My design. Use at your pleasure.

binding

Star

Flicker

Barn

It has been a busy fall semester and will be a busy spring semester too. Final grading is this coming week.
I have three more quilts ready for binding work. I try to do handwork every Sunday evening.
For the first in a very long time I have nothing at the quilter. Several projects started at LeClaire remain, and a few begun here. I will need to organize myself so that I have sewing ready to go when I can fit it in.