Tutorial: Feathered Cross-Hatched Block

It's here! Today I am going to show you the tutorial on how to create the block from the Green Vintage quilt I showed here. And the best part - it's all continuous - not a bunch of starts and stops to complete this look.

 So here it is. This block looks more complex than it really is and don't forget to check out the whole quilt to see how it creates a secondary pattern. I'm from the mindset of "work smarter not harder" and this block works perfectly in that plan. Let's get to it!

 I used my Quick Curve Rulers to create the outer curves. You can use whatever curved ruler you have, it just depends on the size of the block and the depth of the curve you'd like to create. I started by going all around the block with the curved line and then across from one corner to the opposing corner. (I guess I should note I started this in the bottom right corner because that's where I ended too and then I quilted the adjoining block too without another start and stop)

 I honestly don't remember exactly what size this grid was, but I want to say the lines were 3/4" apart. It really doesn't matter, it's more the technique I'm sharing here but then I traveled to the upper right corner following the curve as needed and stitching spaced lines.

 From that corner I then went to the bottom left corner.

 As before I went back and forth in alternating directions and stitching along the curved line as necessary to get to the top left corner.

 Then I finished off the one direction of lines going back to the bottom right corner.

 And finally I finished the grid going to the bottom right corner where I started.

 After that I started with the feathers traveling along the outer portion of the block. I do the bump type feathers - I quilt a starter feather, then another that tucks in behind the first, I travel back along the edge of the second feather and make a third backwards. I guess that might be better explained in another tutorial for another day.

 Continue around the block creating the feathers as you go. And done! Like I said above, I started this block in the bottom right corner so that I could then quilt the adjoining block without having to start and stop my threads again. The less starts and stops, the better. It saves a bunch of time and saves your fingers if you bury all of your threads like I do.

But here it is! This is how that block looked in the finished quilt. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out and it's so much easier to complete than you'd think. Sometimes especially with a cross-hatch pattern, you have to rethink the attack on completing it. By breaking the design into smaller bits and working in sections it gets done faster, easier and more accurate. Sometimes I have to keep that tidbit in mind when I'm planning a quilting design because it can be so easy to overlook the simple and obvious answer.

I joke that sometimes I figure out the best way to do a quilt when I'm either half done or almost done. It's one of those things where you learn as you go and sometimes you just have to do it a bit before the better alternative jumps out at you. I can drawn and doodle and plan for weeks and sometimes I'm just hours into a quilt when a better plan emerges. It happens that way and it's okay. It's all about the learning and growing process and evolving creatively.

Scrap Quilt Challenge

Today I have some exciting information for you about a Scrap Quilt Challenge you can join and use up some of those scraps in your stash! This is an exciting group of creative ladies that you can find by visiting the main Challenge page here:  http://www.fabricsnquilts.com/scrapquiltchallenge/ or you can read more about the challenge on their blog here: http://fabricsnquilts.blogspot.com/2015/07/join-us-for-scrap-quilt-challenge-5.html.

Basically all you have to do is create a scrappy quilt within the last year and post the picture to a Flickr group by October 15th! You can see the Flickr group here:  www.flickr.com/groups/scrap-quilt-challenge-5/ and don't forget to use hashtag #SQC5 when posting to Instagram (if you'd like to show off your scrappy creation there too!)

Now, there are minimum requirements and some teeny tiny rules to follow, but I know you all can handle those. Please find them at the links above for the main Challenge information. Oh, and did I mention there were prizes to win?

So, without further ado, my job today is to give you all a scrappy fun block that you could make and turn into a quilt you could enter into this challenge. Now, I didn't get a chance to sew mine up, I sprained my ankle earlier this week and it's my "driving" foot so I'm trying to give it a rest, but I can share with you how to make this none the less.

Plus, I have a great idea to make a bunch of baby quilts using this block and it gives me time to figure out what colors and themes to plan for!

 I came up with this fun scrappy plus type block that finishes at 10" (honestly it's bigger than I usually like to work with, but to get the most scrappy pieces I could, this was the right size)

 So basically, the block is a fun plus in the middle that you'd want to make bold and exciting. Then use a more subtle but coordinating print to frame the plus in the block and surround it all with scrappy HSTs. I would keep the HSTs more subtle too, but there's room to play and be creative!

First you're going to make the 8 HST units. Use whatever technique you'd like (there are several) but if you need a tutorial on how I like to make them, you can view that here. Use the 4 background 3.5" squares and the 4 HST 3.5" squares you picked out. Each HST unit should measure 2.5" when complete.

 Now we're going to construct this block in sections. First take the HSTs and some 2.5" background squares to make the corner sections. Press the seam allowances as shown.

 To make the plus, create two ends and the center as shown above. Remember to use all the same coordinating fabrics in these pieces.

Also, follow the pressing instructions I provided and you should have an easy time constructing this block. All of the seams should "nest" well together.

 Construct the block using the sections laid out as shown. Play close attention to the direction of the corner sections as you lay out the block.

And there you have it, a block that should measure 10.5" once constructed (10" finished).

I came up with a few different layouts for this block and they each create a different secondary pattern. The first layout is just the blocks sewn to each other.

 Next I added in some sashing but to keep the scrappy look a little more toned down, I used the same 2.5" cornerstone each time. For this sashing you would need to cut 2.5" x 10.5" strips.

 And to change it up just a bit more (if you're a super scrappy enthusiast) you can make each of the cornerstones a different 2.5" square and it would give the quilt a whole different look.

With the sashing, rather than a secondary diamond, you create a shoo-fly instead. There's no right or wrong with this block, but almost too many options to pick from.

I just can't get enough of the plus blocks around at the moment and I thought this would be a really neat scrappy version to make.

Well, that's my little tutorial, I hope you like the block and I hope you get to participate in the Scrap Quilt Challenge. You're probably making scrappy quilts already and taking pictures, so why not upload a picture, share what you've done and possibly win some prizes while you're at it? And if you just need that swift kick in the rear to get inspired and bust into your stash, the inspiration you'll find on the Flickr page may just be the ticket to get you going!

Thanks for dropping by and have fun quilting scrappy!

Charleston by REVIVE Blog Tour!

Hello and welcome! Are you enjoying the tour so far? I sure hope so. If you have yet to visit the earlier blog stops, you can get to them all quickly with the links at the end of this post. And trust me, you'll want to visit them all!

I will be sharing with you today how to make this Scrappy Disappearing Four Patch. My quilt is still a work in progress, but come on back next week to see my thoughts on attacking the quilting. Then in the following week I will show how to create a striped binding cut on the bias. It's one of my favorite bindings to make!

But first, let's get back to the fabric and the goodies!

If you're an art history buff like me, you'll love this line. If you like Art Deco, you'll love this line. If you like sparkles and metallics - you'll love this line! This collection combines the true essence of the Art Deco movement beginning in the 1920's and captured everything a quilter would love about this period into luscious fabrics. By using designs and colors that touch on this "Golden Age" of Hollywood filled with extravagance, these fabrics are the perfect balance of glitter and gold. The colors are so rich and vibrant and they work hand-in-hand with the metallic sheen that graces most of the line. Some fabrics are more subtle and some are a bit more bold, but together it's just magic!

So would you like to win some of this beautiful fabric? The good news is - YOU CAN!!!

Three lucky winners will win the Grand Prize - this 28 FQ Bundle featuring each fabric in the line. To win this bundle, head on over to the SewTimeless blog here and enter the Rafflecopter. Winners will be drawn 7/27.

Otherwise, stay tuned for my own little giveaway here! And let's make that quilt!

 Here's what you'll need to make this quilt:

8 - 5" squares of each fabric (all 28) in the line (1/4 yard of fabric is more than plenty of each fabric)
4 yards for backing
5/8 yard for binding (or 1 yard for bias cut binding I will show soon)

That's it! This method has minimal waste so you don't need a ton of fabric.

 To begin, cut the 5" squares from each fabric. Separate the fabrics into even piles of lights and darks (14 different fabrics in each pile) - use your best judgement on some of the more "medium" fabrics like gold and coral that could go in either pile.

 Pair up fabrics to create a block. You'll need two of the same dark fabric and two of the same light fabric. Contrast is key!

With certain prints that may be directional, pay close attention to the direction of the print as you sew, stitching both pairs together so they look exactly the same. Press the seams towards the darker fabrics.

 If you've paid attention to the direction of the prints, when the block is sewn together they should all run in the same direction as shown. Now, for prints like this floral on the navy that run in just one general direction, I placed them so the base of the print was centered in the block. You could also arrange the block pieces so that both squares are based in the same direction... The choice is up to you, there's no right or wrong here - just preference.

*Note - when sewing these blocks together, always sew the pieces in the same manner. What I mean is - if you sew each piece feeding the dark fabric through on top first, do that for all of the blocks. We are going to be spinning the seams for easier construction later on, and if you don't piece them all the same, you may have some seams going in the wrong direction.

 Stitch the block together and clip the seam in the middle of the block up to, but not through the stitching. This will allow you to spin the seams of the block. Press the seams following the direction of the previous seams.

 Now here's where it gets fun and interesting... Cut the block twice horizontally and twice vertically measuring 1 1/2" from the center seams. It's helpful in this step if you have a small cutting mat you can rotate or a mat designed to rotate like a lazy susan (yes they make them).

 Leave the corner squares and the center block alone. Don't move them an inch! Now, take the center section of each side and move it directly to the space on the opposite side. Don't rotate the pieces as you move them. Here's the best part, the seams are already pressed so each piece should "nest together" beautifully.

Here's where it can get a little tricky, but go slow, breathe and you'll be just fine.

Stitch the rows of the blocks together. Press the seams for the top and bottom rows of the blocks in the same direction as the center seam of that row. Clip the seams in the center row to press each half of the seam allowances in opposite directions of the seams in the adjoining rows.

Then, sew the rows together to create the block clipping the seam allowance at the marked X in the diagram above to complete the rotating seams. I know this may seem like a lot of extra work now, but later on it will be worth it, I promise! You'll have 56 blocks measuring 8 1/2" square at this point.

 So why on Earth did you clip all of those seams and press this way and that way? With rotated seams, you can line up your blocks dark-to-dark and light-to-light without worry of the seams being too bulky. No matter which way you lay out the blocks and rotate them all you like, the seams will match up on all four sides each and every single time. I promise it'll make stitching the top together so smooth! That's the key to this layout, match dark corners together and light corners together. That's it! Lay out the blocks in a 7x8 setting.

Another little tip for you, when I finished all of my blocks I threw them one-by-one into my dryer for a few minutes without heat. Then I pulled them out and started laying them down. I didn't change a thing! The dryer automatically tosses the blocks and mixes them up for a more random look without the work!

From this point I sewed the blocks together in rows pressing the seams in opposing directions from row to row and then sewed the rows together.

And there you have it, a 56" x 64" top ready to be quilted.

 I love how the look of the quilt changes depending on the distance you view it from. Up close you notice the glitz and glam and metallics. A bit further back you see the rich and vibrant fabric colors, but from far away this quilt almost looks "rustic" or "cozy" if I may...

 Now to think of a quilting plan... I have one of the gold prints ready to go for a backing, but I think the quilting needs to fit the Art Deco vibe. Come on back next week to see my thoughts and my quilting plan. Then don't forget I will be sharing how to cut, prep and make bias-cut binding the following week. It'll be wonderful!

But the only thing more wonderful is a chance to win some fabric! Leave a comment below to be entered to win a yard of Charleston fabric (you get to choose the fabric). Tell me in the comment which fabric you'd choose - you can view them here - and don't forget to leave me your e-mail address so I can tell you when you win!

Visit all of the stops on the Blog Tour for more chances to win fabric and to see some amazing projects using this new line of fabric:

Monday, July 20:

Shayla Wolf, Sassafras Lane Designs

Tuesday, July 21:

Leslie Meltzer, 50 Sq Ft Studios

Kim Buffington, Make Something/Dritz

Wednesday, July 22:

Rebecca Silbaugh, Ruby Blue Quilts (that's me)

Thursday, July 23:

Kim Brackett, Magnolia Bay Quilts

Lee Chappell Monroe, May Chappell

Friday, July 24

Jessica VanDenburgh, Sew Many Creations/The Straight Stitch Blog

If you'd like to read more about this new line of fabric, head on over to the SewTimeless blog here. It's really an interesting story! Also, to see more inspiration with this line, and seriously, like you really need another excuse to peruse a bit more on Pinterest, head on over to the mood board for Charleston by REVIVE here!

Don't forget to comment below to enter to win some fabric! A winner will be chosen this Saturday! And make sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway on the SewTimeless blog to enter to win a Fat Quarter Bundle! That's a lot of chances to win! But, if you're not feeling lucky or you just can't wait to get this fabric in your hands, check for Charleston at your LQS. It should be at a store near you already! Thanks for stopping by and have a great day! -Rebecca

Crickets

Sorry I haven't posted, it's been a crazy week around here and as much as I love chatting with you all, I just haven't had enough energy at the end of the day, but don't worry; I have plenty more to share in the near future!

So, did you listen to Pat Sloan's Radio show earlier this week? I had such a nice time chatting with her, but I always do!

If you listened to the beginning of the show, for some weird reason my phone kept echoing everything Pat was saying. Right in the middle of the show instead of chatting with Pat, I'm instead talking with the technical guy at the radio station trying to figure out what's going on and testing my phones. We ended up having to switch phones completely and I was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off trying to get it working so I can get back to chatting with Pat. I'm not going to lie, it was kinda stressful, but it's one of those situations where now looking back I can laugh and listening to the show afterward, Pat did a wonderful job "covering" me.

If you haven't listened to the show, you can listen to it on iTunes if you search for American Patchwork & Quilting Radio or you can visit Pat's website and scroll through the shows each week and listen to them right on your computer. She also has links on her website to download the shows onto your Android device and much much more for other players and devices too.

Head on over and get a chuckle if you haven't listened yet but now know the backstory.

Pat and I talked about:

My little cheat sheet for Precuts, you can find the original post here.

My newest book, Seems Like Scrappy.

And how I organize my stash, you can read more and see pictures here.

Have a great weekend, I'm off to get some quilting done and I will be back soon with more to share!

-Rebecca

Quilting Game Plan

I promised I would show you all how I managed to quilt the border of Amy's quilt and keep it all organized. Let me tell you, as I was working on the quilt, I honestly wasn't sure how to quilt the border. I didn't have a plan until I was almost done with the center of the quilt.

 With the border being pieced, I didn't want to treat it as a completely separate section. I felt it would seem like an afterthought if it was quilted differently and it wouldn't share the same flow as the rest of the quilt.

Before I go any further, if you'd like to read more about this quilt, see the original post here.

What I decided to do in the end was to continue the same star pattern that is in the background areas of the quilt. Not having contrasting fabrics to be my guide, I had to get creative... And that is why masking tape is my friend.

 I tried marking the design with chalk, but to be honest, it's so time consuming and it still wasn't the right solution for me. Then I had a light bulb moment and used strips of masking tape to mark of the areas where the stars would go.

 With the star segments marked off, I knew I shouldn't quilt in those squares and I was able to quilt the curved line design in the rest of the border without worry of quilting where I wasn't supposed to.

This picture is at the top of the quilt, first I quilted the center and tacked down the edges of the quilt. Then I started along the bottom edge of the border and worked my way up the sides and finished at the top. It normally doesn't work this way, but for this particular quilt, I was able to work on the center while still figuring out how to quilt the borders and by tacking down the edges, I wouldn't have to worry about the quilt shifting while being rolled.

 So with my stars marked in masking tape, I first quilted the curved lines on the left side of the star. Then I jumped to the other side (leaving the masking tape in place) and filled the space between the stars with the curved lines. Quilting on both sides while leaving the masking tape in place gives the borders I need to know where the star should be without guessing. Anytime you have to guess while quilting, you will inevitably quilt where you're not supposed to. Ask me how I know...

 So, once the curved lines are done on both sides, I removed the masking tape (I kept the strips hanging on the side of my desk so I can reuse them again and again) and quilted in the star. I wasn't able to quilt a full star, one of the points is cut off on the side of the quilt, but you can see the star in the picture above.

 Then I moved right along with this method quilting between the stars, removing the tape to the left and finishing the star. It made the process so smooth and fast.

Remember this if nothing else - quilting isn't about where you are now, it's where you're going next. Think of this masking tape like bumper bowling. You can bounce around as much as you want in between the lines, but you can't cross the bumpers.

 Here's a better shot of the star in the border. It really turned out nice and looked amazing on the back of the quilt. I still feel that this was the best idea for this particular border on this quilt since it was so similar to the center of the quilt.

So this is what the quilt looked like while I was working on it. I marked off the areas and was able to work much more efficiently and quickly. That is always my main goal at the end of the day.

And if you're wondering why I chose masking tape... This is a 1" wide tape. I have tried painters tape in the past, but I don't feel it sticks well enough to the fabric. Masking tape sticks so much better and you can reuse each strip about a dozen times if needed. And it doesn't leave any gooey residue.

I actually use masking tape when I quilt on my domestic machine to get straight lines. It's so easy to quilt cross-hatched diamonds and diagonal lines using tape. I don't like marking my quilts if I don't have to and any of the disappearing markers scare me. I've heard stories and I've seen marks that won't disappear when they're supposed to. Plus, I'm a quilting purist at heart and anything chemical added to quilts scares me of the long-term effects over time. I'd rather avoid marking if I can, but I have used markers in the past and I know I will again in the future. Sometimes it's the only way to see where you need to quilt.

I hope this post helps you think of alternate ways to tackle a quilting plan and maybe encourages you to put a roll of masking tape in your quilting toolbox.

I can honestly say that it took me longer to think of how I was going to quilt this border than actually quilting it. I was trying to figure out if chalking the design first would be best or what about this or that??? It was one of those moments where I actually put this quilt out of my mind for a moment and the idea for the masking tape hit me like a brick to the face. Duh... I'm so glad I thought about it and it worked out so wonderfully.

Please, if you have any questions about the quilting process or how I plan my quilts, ask! There aren't college courses offered in quilting. There isn't a manual on how to do this type of a job. It is a LOT of trial and error, some days with a lot of errors. But at the end of the day I have learned a lot and I would love to share what not to do. I've made the errors and I'd love to teach you how not to make the same mistakes I've made. I will try and post more "behind the quilting" posts like this.

Plus, I have some quilting fun ideas for the future. Let me keep working on the details and I will share more soon! I hope you all have a great day and get prepared for quilting overload this week. I've been quilting like a mad woman recently and now I can finally share more posts with you. Stay tuned!

Clarence the Christmas Goose (free printable)

Now, some of may know, many may not, but I used to draw... A LOT. I took every art class offered at my school (which wasn't much, it's a small school) and I went to college for graphic design. Well, i still dabble from time to time with some sketches and a few years ago it dawned on me as we were pulling out Christmas decorations, that I didn't have a stocking... My hubby had 5...

Now, I have stockings at other houses where we do get togethers at the holidays, but I didn't have one at home and it was about time I changed that, so I came up with Clarence the Christmas Goose!

He's pretty darn cute if I do say so myself and I decided to put him on a stocking for myself... Well, there was one slight issue... Now that he's done and finished, that stocking is the smallest one by a long shot! Oh well, it's one of those things when you're in the heat of the design and it looks great on the computer...Then in real life it's dwarfed from the idea you had in mind...

Well, Clarence is actual sized in the printout below to the stocking I made. Feel free to increase or reduce his size to fit your needs. I also included the design for the berry branch on the cuff of the stocking.

For the design I only used black and red threads, black for the main areas (I did a backstitch, it's my go-to stitch) and where you see a little "o" I made a french knot with the red thread for the berries. Oh, I lied, there's a bit of green for the holly leaves! If you don't like french knots you can do whatever you'd like instead like add buttons or use another stitch.

I did not include the stocking in the printable as I said, it's just too small and to get it to a decent size, I'd have to break it up into four pages or so, so instead I'd recommend tracing a stocking you already own or free handing your own to get the size you prefer.

Alrighty, to get to the printable design, click here. Now, I've had some questions with the other printouts I've had in the past... When you click on the link. You can either click the printer at the top center of the page to print the design, or click the arrow to download it. It's that easy.

Well, I hope you like Clarence as much as I do and I'd love to see what you plan on making with his little sweet self on it! I have another pillow I made with a saying on it, but I have no clue where it is and it's still not stuffed... So if I find it, I'll show it some day.

Maybe some of you with the fast fingers will have your own Clarence in time for Christmas... I'll be lucky to get all of my presents wrapped in an orderly fashion at this point! Have a great weekend (or what's left of it) and I'll be back with more posts soon!

Candy Sweets Quilt (A Free Tutorial)

I had the amazing opportunity to work with the folks at Timeless Treasures Fabrics and they asked me to come up with a fun Christmas-y quilt... Well, this is what I came up with:

 The great thing about this quilt, well there's a few:

1. It's fast, fun and simple.
2. It uses 5" squares and minimal yardage (so you probably have all of the fabrics at home already)
3. It can be used for Christmas or any get together for a little quilty decor. I had in mind that it would look great at the dessert table or at a cookie exchange!
4. It's small enough to be used as a wall hanging, but big enough to make an impact!!!

I had so much fun making this quilt and I hope you do too. You can head on over to Timeless Treasures blog here to get the tutorial! It actually posted Friday and I was stuck in the whirlwind of quilting deadlines that I actually forgot it was posting that day... Ooooppppssss. We set this tutorial up a few weeks ago and I lost track of time!

That's actually the reason the blog has been so quiet. Between the unexpected trips to the dentist and trying to meet the quilting deadlines for Christmas and Farmpark, I have been a quilting fool. Seriously, my goal today is to wash AND DRY my hair for the first time in forever. It takes so much time I usually towel dry it as best I can and then throw it up in a messy bun and run out the door. It's the little things, isn't it?

Well, I hope you enjoy the tutorial, I'd love to see pictures if you make your own version of it! Last night I took a quick break to finish up Christmas shopping, so far this morning I've pulled out a few decorations, and it reminded me that I have one to share with you here. To make up for my lack of blogging, I'll post again later today with a little embroidery piece (I'll share the design as a free printable too!) that I whipped up. Until then, have a great weekend!!! I've got a little bit more quilting this week to finish up, so I'll be out there a bit later today, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! It's a good thing because Christmas isn't that far away!!!

Trying something new

I am entering the Blogger's Quilt Festival for the first time! I'm super excited and you should join too! For more information about the festival, visit Amy's page here for all of the details you'll need to either enter, get inspired, or vote for your favorites (voting starts this weekend!)

 When I started thinking about entering the Blogger's Quilt Festival this year, I was in the midst of working on this quilt. Little did I know at the time it would soon become one of my favorite quilts ever and so much more than I ever imagined!

 It's hard to believe, but this is how it started. I cut up a bunch of pieces from my stash and added in a few colors here or there to get a nice mix. I liked it but I wasn't in love. When I paused to grab a drink and was glancing at the quilt, I got this crazy idea to shift the colors within the quilt and fade from one to the next. Keeping 98% of the original fabrics and adding in minimal pieces to blend the colors well, I ended up with this:

 As soon as it started to come together, I knew I was on the right track! Granted there are a few places that I wish the transition was a bit smoother, but it still works well for me.

Also, if you're a regular reader of my blog and you're sick of seeing this quilt, I swear after this it will go away, but I'm still in love, so....eh. If you're new to the blog, welcome and it's good to have you! Alrighty, back to the quilt.

So then it was time to quilt it. I only knew when I got started that I wanted to quilt paisley feathers somewhat down the middle-ish and then have it branch off from there to both sides of the quilt. I was just going to echo around it to fill in the remainder of the quilt... But then I got bored. Quick.

So that's when I started adding in pebbles and alternating the direction of the echo.

When that got boring I added in some traditional feathers and swirls, and why not - I added in some woodgrain. There's so much quilting going on but it works. The colors make your eye move around the quilt and the quilting keeps it interesting as you look.

 So then in a weak moment of insomnia I stayed up waaaaayyyyy too late to create a scrappy binding to match the colors of the quilt... It was the most complex binding I've ever created, but my favorite! Oh, and all of the binding pieces came from my binding stash (in the egg basket to the left of the quilt in the above photo).

And then before you knew it, it was done and quilted and bound and washed and crinkly and I love it. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do and if you like it enough that you'd like to make your own, I have created a tutorial for the quilt complete with printable instructions, just click here to go to that post.

So, that's my quilt I'm entering into the ROYGBIV category. Even though it's scrappy, I think it fits here the best. I hope you all like it and I can't wait to see what everyone else has entered. Remember to head over to amyscreativeside.com for all of the information on the Blogger's Quilt Festival!