Thursday, December 22, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Finishing

Quilt Sandwich

  1. Backing & backing should measure at least 60 inches by 75 inches.
  2. Place pressed backing right side down on a flat surface large enough to lay flat; tape in place at sides, then corners.
  3. (Optional) Lay batting on top of backing and smooth wrinkles; tape in place at sides, then corners. (If using slippery batting, spray baste to baking and top.)
  4. Put pressed quilt on top right side up.
  5. Smooth borders and blocks square, pushing excess toward middle. Quilting will take up slack and quilt will hang better.
  6. Pin baste 3 to 4 inches apart in quarters down length and width. Finish pin basting each quarter 3 to 4 inches apart.
  7. Quilt as desired.

Binding

  1. Lay 2 binding strips right sides together and sew short edge with a ¼ inch seam. 
  2. Repeat with remaining strips to make a continuous strip. 
  3. Fold and press strip lengthwise in half wrong sides together. 
  4. Place binding strip on quilt top lining up raw edges and begin sewing leaving a 5 inch tail using a ¼ inch seam. 
  5. Stop ¼ inch before corner with needle down and pivot work as if to sew next side and reverse sew off quilt top. 
  6. Fold binding back creating a 45 degree fold, then fold forward matching fold to previously sewn side. 
  7. Continue sewing binding and repeat #5 and #6 for each for each corner. 
  8. Stop sewing at least 5 inches from beginning. 
  9. Trim ends to overlap about ½ inch. 
  10. Unfold binding ends, match right sides together and sew short raw edges with a ¼ inch seam. 
  11. Refold binding and finish sewing to quilt. 
  12. Trim backing and batting close to quilt top edges.
  13. Wrap binding around quilt edge to the back side and hand sew using a blind stitch.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Border

Cut 6 strips 4½ inches wide. Sew border strips together with a ¼ inch seam end to end to form a continuous border strip. Press seams to one side.

Cut 2 pieces from continuous border fabric strip the length of quilt top measuring from middle of quilt top.

Sew borders to sides using ¼ inch seam.

Press toward border.

Cut 2 pieces from remaining continuous border fabric strip the width of quilt top measuring from middle and including previously sew side border pieces.

Sew borders to top and bottom using ¼ inch seam.

Press toward border.


Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Sashing

When choosing a sashing fabric pick a color that stands out from quilt blocks but doesn't over power them. Darker colors will set blocks back and lighter colors will bring blocks forward. The cornerstones can stand out and glitter.

Cornerstone Fabric: Cut 4 strips 2 inches wide. Sub cut 7 rectangles at least 18 inches long.

Sashing Rectangle Fabric: Cut 6 strips 6½ inches wide. Sub cut into 6 rectangles at least 18 inches long and 56 rectangles 2 inches by 6½.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 48 - Autumn Tints

The Autumn Tints quilt block is made with squares and four patch units using 4 fabrics set in a 2 by 2 square grid layout.



Friday, December 9, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 47 - Bachelors Puzzle

The Bachelors Puzzle block uses 4 fabrics of squares and half square triangles set in a 2 by 2 square grid layout.



Friday, December 2, 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 45 - Broken Pinwheel

The Broken Pinwheel block is made with tri square triangle units using 3 fabrics and is set in a 2 by 2 square grid. There is a subtle difference between quarters of this block, so pay careful attention to how the quarter square triangles are sewn together.


Friday, November 18, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 44 - Whirlwind

The Whirlwind block uses half square triangle and quarter square triangle pieces to make a sailboat unit or what I like to call a tri square triangle unit. You'll need 2 fabrics, a half square triangle ruler and a quarter square triangle ruler to make this block.


Friday, November 11, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 43 - Windblown Square

The Windblown Square block is set in a 2 by 2 square layout using 4 different fabrics and half square triangle units.




Friday, November 4, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 42 - T Block

The T-Block quilt block is made with half square triangles and squares and uses 2 fabrics. It's set in a 3 by 3 square grid layout.

A fabric and instruction calculator is available at www.myquiltgenie.com for your own projects using the T-Block.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 41 - Pineapple Star

The Pineapple Star block is constructed with squares, square goose (a.k.a. peaky and spike) units and a square in a square unit.

You can design your own projects with the Pineapple Star calculator setting variable sizes and quantities.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 40 - Economy

The Economy block uses squares, half square and quarter square triangles and works best with block sizes that are easily divisible by 2.

Visit the Economy block calculator for your own projects of various sizes and quantities.

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 39 - Diamond Star

The Diamond Star block is set in a 4 patch layout with each quarter foundation paper pieced and using 3 fabrics. You'll need to print 4 copies of the foundation template printed at 100%.



Friday, October 7, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 38 - Signature block

The Signature block can be made using between 2 and 12 different fabrics and is set in a 2 by 2 square grid layout.


Friday, September 30, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 37 - Contrary Wife

The Contrary Wife block is made from squares and half square triangles unit, set in a nine patch layout and uses 3 fabrics.

You can use the Contrary Wife block instruction and fabric calculator to create your own projects. The calculator allows you to change the piecing & cutting method, the block size, the number of blocks to make as well as the fabric size you're cutting from to give you a custom instructions and fabric requirements.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 36 - Box Kite

The Box Kite block is set in a 3 by 3 square grid layout of half square triangle and square units using 3 fabrics. Choose a background with 2 accent fabrics, medium to dark.

A Box Kite instruction and fabric calculator is available for different sizes and number of blocks as well as piecing methods for your own project.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 35 - Nine on Point

The Nine on Point quilt block pattern uses 3 fabrics, background and 2 accent fabrics. When working with angles, it can be difficult to get exactly a 6" inch finished square. Check your work and square up to 6½ inches (including seams allowance) being sure to trim all sides equally as needed.


Friday, September 9, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 34 - Clown's Choice

The Clown's Choice block is made with 2 fabrics using quarter square triangle units and squares. Clown's Choice calculator is available for different size and number of blocks as well as piecing methods for your own project.


Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 33 - Tree Everlasting

The Tree Everlasting block is set in a 3 by 3 square grid layout made with half square triangle units using 2 fabrics - a background and accent fabric.


Friday, August 26, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 32 - Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania block is a 3 by 3 square grid layout with squares and four patches. We'll be using 2 fabrics, a background and accent fabric.


Friday, August 19, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 31 - Road to Oklahoma

The Road to Oklahoma block is made with squares and half square triangles and uses 4 fabrics. All pieces are cut from 2 inch strips.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 29 - Centers in the Corners

Centers in the Corners is a log cabin style block. Strips are 1½ inches wide from a background fabric at least 25 inches long and an accent fabric at least 18 inches long. Centers in the Corners calculator is available for different size and number of blocks as well as piecing methods for your own project.


Saturday, July 30, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 28 - Prairie Queen

The Prairie Queen block has four patch and half square triangle units. We'll be using 3 fabrics, the background plus 2 accent fabrics. This block could easily be done using Jelly Roll and Honey Bun fabric strips. The background could be the same fabric or use different similar backgrounds for a scrappy look.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 27 - Shoo Fly

The Shoo Fly block is an old classic and fits a 3 by 3 square grid. Ours will use 2 fabrics, although this simple blocks doesn't have to be simple.

Shoo Fly calculator is available for different size and number of blocks for your own project.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 26 - Formal Garden

The Formal Garden block uses 3 fabrics with half square triangle units and a square. The block fits a 3 by 3 square grid layout. Choose a background fabric plus a medium and dark fabric of 2½ inch strips.

A Formal Garden calculator is available for different size and number of blocks for your own project.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 25 - Attic Window

Week 25 is the Attic Window block which fits a 3 by 3 square grid layout and uses squares and half square triangles. You'll need 4 fabrics for this block, background and a light, medium and dark are what I've chosen.

An Attic Window calculator is available for different sizes, number and methods of blocks for your own project.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 24 - Card Tricks

The Card Tricks block is made with half, tri and quarter square triangle units using 3 fabrics. This block fits a 3 by 3 square grid layout. We'll be using right triangle rulers to cut from strips.

A Card Tricks calculator  is available for different sizes, number and methods of blocks for your own project.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 23 - Sawtooth Square

The Sawtooth Square block uses 2 fabrics (background and accent) with squares and half square triangle units. We're going to use half square triangle rulers to make the units so all strips can be cut at 2½ inch strips.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 22 - Birds in the Air

Birds in the Air has half square triangles and squares and uses 2 fabrics.

A Birds in the Air calculator is available for different sizes, number and methods of blocks for your own project.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Forest Path table runner

The Forest Path block is a pinwheel with a cornerstone border. This pattern is for a 36 by 15 inch table runner using 4 fabrics or mix it up as you like.

Fabric 1: Cut 2 squares 3⅞ inches. Cut 12 squares 2 inches. 
Fabric 2: Cut 2 squares 3⅞ inches. Cut 3 strips 2 inches wide. Sub cut into 8 squares of 2 inches and use the rest for the border.
Fabric 3: Cut 12 rectangles 2 by 6½ inches.
Fabric 4: Cut 10 rectangles 2 by 9½ inches.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 21 - Double Pinwheel

Because I didn't really know the name of this block, I've been calling it a Double Pinwheel block. However, recently I've found a similar block referred to as End of the Day block or Whirligig for Your Child. Regardless of what it is called, this block is super easy and the blocks can be used together in 1 quilt or it can be a 2 for 1 quilt.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 18 - Mariners Compass


This simple eight point Mariners Compass block is a paper piecing project. You will need to make sure template is printed at 100% for accurate sizing. Download the Mariner's Compass Template PDF and print 2 copies for the block. You will need 5 fabrics for this block, the background and 4 other fabrics, a medium and dark from 2 color groups.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 20 - Clays Choice

Clay's Choice is made with half square triangles and squares and uses 3 fabrics.

A Clay's Choice calculator is available for different size and number of blocks for your own project.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 19 - Old Windmill

The Old Windmill block is made up of 16 half square triangle units using a background with another fabric.
The instructions will use the square method of making half square triangles by adding ⅞ inch seam allowance to the desire finished square size of 1½ inches. You may round up your cut square measurement to 2½ inches, then just square up units to 2 inches.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 17 - Jacobs Ladder

Jacob's Ladder is a nine patch grid layout block using four patch units and half square triangle units. Use 3 fabrics, background and accent fabric plus an additional coordinating fabric.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 16 - Starflower

The Starflower block is a traditional block and we'll be using half square triangles to make it. It uses 3 fabrics, background and accent fabric plus another coordinating fabric.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 15 - Bird of Paradise

The Bird of Paradise uses four patches and what I call a Square Goose block also known as "Peaky and Spike". We will be using background and accent fabric plus 1 additional coordinating fabric for this block. Cut out templates below adding a ¼ inch seam allowance on all sides to use in cutting fabric.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 14 - Nine Patch

The nine patch block can be made with any combination of 2 to 9 different fabrics. In this version we'll be using 3 fabrics: background, accent and 1 complimentary fabric.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 13 - Four Patch

This Four Patch block uses 4 different fabrics, background, accent, plus 2 more complimentary fabrics. A four patch can use any combination from 1 to 4 fabrics.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Sampler Quilt 2011 - Week 12 - Ohio Star

The Ohio Star block is made from squares and quarter square triangle units. There is more than one way to make quarter square triangles, however, in order to use the strips as efficiently as possible, I'm using the companion angle ruler to cut triangles from strips. You'll be using the background and accent fabrics.