Triangle Thursday #22

Right and Left

This design is number 2406 in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. This is from Ladies Art Company which began publishing quilt patterns some time in the 1890s. This design was in number 195 which means it was probably published anywhere from 1889 to 1895. Click here for a printable version of this block. 

 

All of our previous blocks have used triangles that were cut by cutting once across the diagonal of a block.  The resulting blocks would then be sewn on the diagonal which put the other two sides as either straight of grain or crosswise grain.  In other words, the bias would be along the long seam.  Today I’m using triangles that would be considered part of quarter square triangles.  I actually have a bunch of these but they are much to big to end up with a 6” finished square so I cut these triangles to fit the required block size. The long side of the triangle is on either the straight of grain or crosswise of grain.  Having a non-bias edge on the outside maintains the integrity of the block.  

Cutting directions are for 6”

Fabric	Number to cut	6”
Squares to make Triangles, 2 light and 2 dark	2 of each	4 ¼” squares, sub cut on the diagonal twice to make 4 triangles.
Square	1	Cut 4 ¾” square. Remember this will be on the diagonal.

When you cut the diagonals do not move your pieces until after the last cut.  The triangles should look like this. 

Here are the pieces that will make up this block.

Sew two short sides of the triangle together.  When you sew the triangles be consistent.  In my case, I always sewed with the dark side up.  That way all of the finished pieces were the same. (Ask me how I learned this!!)

Lay out the pieces to match the finished block. To get the triangles unit in the center of the square fold the square in half and finger press the center.  Do it again folding the opposite way.  Then, match the triangle seam to the finger pressed spot. Pin and sew, right sides together. (Which, I assume you all know to do which is why I don’t mention it much!)

I ironed the seams toward the triangles on all sides. 

I enjoyed centering the flower in the middle of this block. I can imagine a lot of cute fabric highlighted in the center of this block. And, I was happy it wasn’t all that hard of a block to make.  I can see more of these in my future. 

Happy Quilting All! 

 

Design Wall Monday 8-26-13

My design wall has a lot on it this week. 

Here are two more of the blocks I made for Jenny.  We were auditioning a gray for leaders and enders... nope, this one won't work.

Are you doing Bonnie Hunter's split 9 patch challenge?   I really perked up when I saw Bonnie's challenge.  I was a step ahead of the game. I knew I had bunches of half triangle squares already made. I rummaged around for them (actually I knew exactly where they were even after moving the whole sewing room!)  And, there right with them were 3" squares, bunches, already cut out.  It was kismet.  So I've been using them as my leader ender project.  Ugh, did I actually start a new project without even realizing it? Um. Er. Uh, I guess so.  

Next I happened upon Karen Combs' book Combing Through Your Scraps. She shows lots of ideas and patterns to use blocks like the split 9 patch. If you can get your hands on a copy take a look at it.  Now, as I finish a block I add it to my design wall as I build a quilt from the book.  It is fun to be able to put a big quilt on the wall.  I'm looking forward to using a LOT of those half triangle squares.  

These blocks will be going to Fran, in New Zealand, who is a member of the FCQ Equilters.  She's going to make hearts out of the units we're sending her. 

I added more to the lotto blocks for the retreat in October.  Er, I sure don't like the orange/purple blocks.  The contrast is too low.  I'll include them because whoever wins might like them.  I'm probably making one more pair of blocks but I will use higher contrast fabrics. 

The weekly goal report is great.  

Week of August 19, 2013

Make Jenny’s Block√

Make more lotto blocks & FCQEquilter blocks√

Mail Pam’s blocks√

Sew the binding on Chinese Coin quilt√

Make backing for Bumble Bee quilt√

Load Bumble Bee quilt and start quilting

Enjoy the grands if they stop by √

Week of August 26, 2013

Finish making Fran’s blocks & mail them off

Load Bumble Bee quilt and start quilting

Hand sew down binding on Coins quilt

Put away “stuff” for long arm

Cut 10” squares for retreat drawing

Pick a UFO to work on

Hand quilt on 1800s quilt

Last, but by no means least, here's Natalie. Look at her curls!  She gets them from me. (Well, and from Brian's side of the family.) They stopped on their way to visit Brian's sister who has moved to the south. 

Since it is Design Wall Monday it's time to pop over to Judy's blog and visit design walls across the world!  

Happy Quilting All! 

Thread Storage

I've found some place new to store my long arm thread.

This is an old media storage shelf.  We used to keep videos and dvd's on it.  Our great room just doesn't have all that much room for furniture and Raggs used to grab the videos off the shelves.  Really, why am I letting that dog run my life? 

These are large cones and luckily the unit holds all of my collection.  I had a good time putting them in rainbow order.  

Pat made some risers out of left over wood so I can easily see the front and back rows of the thread.  And, because he stained the wood to match the shelving unit you can't really see the risers.  

Here's a closeup of a shelf with two spools out so you can see the riser.  (I had the two cones out as I was quilting with them at the time the photos were taken.) I am really happy how well this worked for me.  If I had lots of thread I'm not sure this would have been so successful.  But as you can see I have room for at least 16 more king cones.  And, no sun light will hit where this is.  

As I put these up I realized I need a few more colors -- like a bright orange! This will be very convenient for me to keep up with what I might need at any time. 

I'm off to spend more time in the studio -- mostly sewing but I hope to spend a  half hour or so putting more things away.  We'll see if I succeed.  

Happy Quilting All! 

Design Wall Monday

Monday rolls around again. And more has been done on the studio.  Today making and installing the design wall is my Design Wall post.  Here's what happened... 

This is a light weight insulating board.  I hope it holds up to a few pins too.  The flannel had to be ironed a bit. 

I used a staple gun to adhere the flannel to the panel.  By the way, we had these cut at Lowe's so we wouldn't have to do it. 

One covered, on to the next.

Pat installing the first board, the second is ready to go. 

Both panels installed and in action. 

You might notice there is another design wall behind the ironing board.  That is one we moved from the previous studio.  I should be able to get most of my quilts on the big design wall.  I don't make huge quilts all the time.  I still like those black, white and bright blocks! 

I wasn't very successful on the weekly goals.  But I did read two or three books this week.  (Which might explain the goals being left undone.) 

Week of August 12, 2013

Finish quilt on Ruthie√

Make more lotto blocks and FCQEquilters blocks√ at least the FCQ blocks

Mail blocks off to Pam and Sue√ mailed Sue’s

Make Jenny’s blocks didn’t even open the package

Pick a UFO to work on um, no, didn’t do this either

Enjoy field trip to Ikea√

Week of August 19, 2013

Make Jenny’s Block

Make more lotto blocks & FCQEquilter blocks

Mail Pam’s blocks

Sew the binding on Chinese Coin quilt

Make backing for Bumble Bee quilt

Load Bumble Bee quilt and start quilting

Enjoy the grands if they stop by 

That's it for my Design Wall Monday post.  Make sure you visit other design walls by going to Patchwork Times.  

Happy Quilting All! 

Triangle Thursday #21

Next Door Neighbor

This design is number 1337 in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. This is from Gretchen Gutchen’s book The Perfect Patchwork Primer published in 1973. Look for a printable version of the directions here. 

Cutting directions are for 6”

Fabric	Number to cut	6”
Triangles both light and dark	12 each	Use 1 ½” template
Squares (dark)	4	Cut 2” x 2” squares

In the big move from the old studio to the new studio my templates for my waste triangles are missing in action.  So instead of cutting and sewing these half square triangles I used half squares triangles I had already sewn.  Several were already trimmed to 2” unfinished.  For the others, I took 2.5” or 3” squares and trimmed them to 2”. 

Here are the pieces that will make up this block. 

I laid the pieces out two different ways.  I took the photos last night and, frankly, this morning I didn’t immediately see the difference. The top pic is totally scrappy.  

This next pic has the geese made from the same color triangles. 

Decide whether you want the blocks scrappy (above) or if you want the flying geese unit color matched.  I chose to match the goose colors.

Sew the pieces into rows. It's best to nest as many seams as you can but I can't tell you which way to iron the half square triangles to succeed, as I didn't succeed very well! 

I ironed the top and bottom row seams to the left and the middle row to the right. Sew the rows together.

It’s almost magic the way this comes together so fast. (Especially if the triangles squares are already done!)   

Happy Sewing All! Bonnie