Strippy Runner Tutorial

I have had many, many requests and questions about the pattern I use to make my strippy runners.

I don't have a pattern and kind of just "wing it", but I wrote a tutorial over the weekend.
You can find it here.
Please email me if you have any questions. It was kind of hard to write.

If you want to make this particular runner, I've assembled a little kit, which includes all the fabric except the backing and batting. It's in the store for $6.75.

Quick Strip Pieced Nine Patch Tutorial

We're getting ready to start the three by three nine patch swap, so I thought it appropriate to quickly post a little tutorial for strip pieced nine patches.

There "seams" to be a nine patch revival in blogland right now.

These instructions are for 6" finished nine patches, but to calculate the strip width for any size, just divide the finished size of your nine patch by three and add 1/2" to the result. For example, for the 6" nine patches, it would be 6 divided by 3, which is 2, plus 0.5. Strip width 2.5".

For the purposes of this tutorial (and the swap), each nine patch will be constructed from only two fabrics.

Cut the fabric into 2.5" strips. The length and number of strips will depend on how many nine patches you wish to make. If you're using scraps, remember that for each block you will need 5 strips of one color and 4 strips of the other, each at least 2.5" long.

Sew the strips together along the long sides as below. If you're making all your blocks identical, you will need twice the length of one strip combination as the other. If you alternate fabrics, you can use even lengths of strips.

Press the seams of one strip set toward the outside and the seams of the other toward the inside. This will reduce bulk when you sew them together.

Cut each three-fabric strip into 2.5" sections.

Lay out the blocks...

...and sew the strip sections together.

Freezer Paper Foundation Piecing Tutorial

It was quite a setup.

I like freezer paper foundation piecing more than traditional paper piecing mostly because you use MUCH less fabric this way. I don't like wasting fabric. With the traditional method there's a lot of guessing involved so you have to cut your fabric much larger than necessary just to be safe.
There are 40 photographs in the tutorial, so I created a separate web page just for it.

You can link to it over here. (Our server is a little slow today, so please be patient if it takes a while to load.)

I've also added a "Tutorials" section in the sidebar because I think I have a couple more up my sleeve.

I'd be really, really grateful if you could give me some feedback should you decide to try this out.

Four-Patch 101

I know experienced quilters out there already know this, but since I'm still working hard on completing some projects before embarking on the Dear Jane journey, I thought I'd offer a refresher course.

If you need to make a bunch of identical Four-Patches, there is a better way than sewing four little squares together. Now, if you need random Four-Patches like in the quilt-a-long quilt's borders, you'll probably need to cut a bunch of little squares.

In the example we're making 4"x4" finished Four-Patches, i.e. four 2" squares per block. We're making 2 color Four Patches.
Cut a strip of fabric 2.5" wide by the length required to make the quantity of Four-Patches you'll need. Then cut another 2.5" strip exactly the same length out of the second fabric.
To calculate the length of the strips: No. of Four-Patches x 2 x 2.5"
If you need 2 for example, you'll need to cut the strips 4 x 2.5", i.e. 10" long.

Sew the two strips together length-wise and press the seam to one side.

Cut this strip into sections 2.5" wide. There will be 4 sections for our 2 Four-Patches.

Turn two of these sections 180 degrees and sew one to each of the other 2 sections.

Press.

Voila, you have two lovely Four-Patches!

You can make 4 color Four-Patches by cutting four 2.5" strips and sewing them together in pairs. You will have to give some thought to the final result you desire in order to determine which fabrics to sew together.

You can also make a checkerboard border by joining as many Four-Patches as you need to get to the desired length.

And, of course, you can change the size of the squares to anything you like. Just add 1/2" to the total size of the squares you want in your block and use that measurement instead of the 2.5" measurements I used.

Make an Easter card today

This is what I'm doing for Easter cards this year. Since I've had a lot of interest from people about my little flower card, I decided to post some easy instructions for an Easter card.

Supplies:
scraps of fabric for bunny and “grass”
1 card blank
white card stock
colored or patterned paper for mat
glue
1 button for bunny tail
sewing machine
very sharp scissors
needle and thread

1. Cut a 3 ½” x 4 ¾” rectangle out of white card stock.
2. Cut a 4” x 5 ¼” rectangle out of colored paper.
3. Click on the bunny template to show it full size, print it (I recommend that you use card stock for durability and ease of tracing), and cut it out.

4. Trace bunny shape onto back of fabric and cut out using sharp scissors.
5. Cut a 2” x 4 ½” rectangle out of grass fabric. Use scissors to cut waves along one long edge.
You should now have this:

6. Position bunny on white card stock rectangle using photo of card as a guide. Temporarily adhere it to the card stock using a non-tacky glue to avoid slipping while sewing. I like Zig 2-way glue or a glue stick.
7. Set sewing machine so that needle will stay in the fabric when you stop sewing. Carefully sew bunny to card stock about 1/8” from the fabric edge, raising pressure foot and turning fabric when needed. Pull thread ends to back, knot together and clip.

8. Position “grass” on card stock using photo as a guide and temporarily adhere it (see 6.). Don’t worry about the edges sticking over the ends – they will be trimmed later. Sew 1/8” from the top edge of fabric, following the wavy edge.
9. Using a rotary cutter and ruler (or scissors if you don’t have one), trim the fabric level with the edges of the card stock.

10. Position and sew button on bunny.
11. Center bunny card on colored paper rectangle and temporarily glue together. Wait a couple of minutes for glue to dry before proceeding or paper might move while you stitch.
12. Sew along edge of white card stock a scant ¼ “ from edge through both layers of paper. Pull threads to the back, knot, and clip.

13. Adhere completed bunny sheet to front of card using strong glue or double sided tape.
14. Write a message inside and mail it to someone special. (I preprinted my cards with the message “Wishing you a “Hoppy” Easter”).

A solution

I cut the borders for my little log cabin quilt last night and thought the little pile of scraps on the coffee table looked kind of cute. They're now in my new header. A little grainy, but, I think, better than the standard text header.

Today I have a solution to a problem some of you might have in your decorating efforts: the ugly laundry room sink.

I love my house, but the laundry room is not the best part of it. Linoleum floors, stock white laminate cabinets, and, worst of all, the plastic, beige, UGLY sink!

So, here's what I did:



1. Measure the width, as well as height from the floor on both the front and sides of the sink.
2. Purchase both self-stick and sew-on hook and loop fastener (Velcro) to run wall to wall around the front and sides of the sink.
3. Make a panel for each of the two sides, as well as the front according to your measurements, i.e. 3 panels.
4. Also make two panels, 7" wide by the height of the sink for the corners. These are the floral ones in the photos.
5. Lay the 3 big panels face down on the floor side by side, touching each other.

6. Lay the 2 smaller panels on top, face down as well.

7. Pin the soft layer of the sew-on Velcro across the top of this and sew it on. REMEMBER: this is all on the "wrong" side of the fabric.

8. Stick the hard part of the self-stick Velcro to the top of the sink, along the rim.
9. Affix your fabric panel to the sink, and Voila!, the sink is covered, looks much better, and, bonus!, you can store stuff under it unseen.