Latest from The Quilted Hen:
My most recent project
Firstly my sincerest apologies to those waiting patiently for the next installment of the quilt along. I just wanted to check in and say... I'm still alive and have been thinking about you all!
I've been spending daylight hours working on renovations which are taking longer than expected and between that and work I have been so very tired. I don't even know what happened to the last week. It was over far too quickly! I hope to get back on track this week, however please take this opportunity to catch up if you need to.
Rotary Cutter Blade
I know when I first used my rotary cutter I fell in love with how easy they are to use and how quick they make cutting your pieces. I have a 45mm standard Olfa rotary cutter and earlier this year I realised how dull my blade had become. I don't know what it is like in other countries, but here in Australia it cost me $10 to purchase one replacement blade.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered a pack of 5 on ebay for barely more than I spent on one!! I knew I had to see if the seller was up to scratch.
Well if you use a rotary blade, Birdbrain Collectibles and Scrapbooking is a seller you should add to your bookmarks! I ended up buying a couple of things from her as she responded to my questions within the hour. Generally I am happy if I get a reply by the next day, so I was astounded by her prompt and polite service. My package of goodies arrived in a timely manner. I purchased a pack of 5 rotary blades which should last me a while yet.
She informed me she doesn't carry all stock all the time, however she does seem to have a regular supply of rotary blades in her store so I am sure she will keep getting them in if people keep buying them.
She sells in packs of 5, 10 or 15 and between her prices and her amazing service I am sure you will be pleased.
Block #8 - Snowball Nine Patch
We'll do this one nice and quick using some strip piecing methods to make up the nine-patch!
Select 2 fabrics + your base for each block.
Cut 1 : 3.5" squares from colour 1
Cut 1 : 6" x 1.5" from colour 1
Cut 1 : 3.5" squares from colour 2
Cut 2 : 3" x 1.5" from colour 2
Cut 2 : 6" x 1.5" from your base colour
Cut 1 : 3" x 1.5" from your base colour
Cut 8 : 1.5" squares from your base colour
Sew together your 6" strips with the colour in the middle, then sew together your 3" strips with the colour on the outside. Press seams towards the base colour then cut into 1.5" strips.
Take the 1.5" strips (each should have the colour and base) and sew them in rows to form the 2 nine square sections. Press and set aside.
Mark the diagonal on all of the 1.5" base squares. Stitch along the diagonal in all 4 corners of your 3.5" squares. No base colour should overlap. Press seams open.
Stitch a 9 patch to a "snowball" to form rows, press and join together to finish the block.
Repeat to make 4 blocks with different fabrics.
Jump to the Start of the Raid the Stash Quilt Along
Post your Progress in the Flickr Group
Sewing Machine Feet
I have a new toy to play with! I am saving it until after I've finished my current projects though so it can have a fresh start. The foot on the right is the one I normally use. It has a centre guide line and a line that is good enough for a 1/4" however it is not always perfect... I am getting better though.
The foot on the left is a specially designed 1/4" foot for my Janome. I bought it on ebay because (unfortunately) it was half the price of the ones I could get from my local store. The black guide bar on the right of the foot allows the fabric to be guided through easily and on my test piece I had a perfect 1/4" seam over a 5" length! I didn't even have to think about guiding the fabric accurately.
I'm sure this foot is going to make things easier. Perhaps I should just start using it straight away, although I have it in my head that if I do that now my current quilts will end up with an obvious difference in them - a perfect half and a not so perfect half. I am probably just being silly though!
Stitch and Press
Being self-taught, I have experimented with different pressing and joining techniques. While I prefer pressing seams open as I feel it gives a flatter result, there are times when pressing to one side helps you to obtain a perfect corner. This is one of those times and we can use this technique in this weeks blocks.
I'm joining my 1.5" squares together, so first I join a black to a colour with a 1/4" seam. You can use the chain piecing method to make this go faster if you like. Next I press the seams towards the black with my iron.
Line up the Seams
Now we need to line up our centre corners. When you take your two pieces and put them together you will notice that the seams are facing opposite directions. When the corner is lined up correctly you will feel that they seem like the pieces are interlocked. Initially I found it helped to pin at this point and I still do pin when sewing a larger project - for example I used this method to line up the rows from my rainbow basket weave quilt. With something as small as this I find pinning unnecessary.
Stitch...
Of course we're using a 1/4" seam to join these blocks together as well. Don't be afraid to unpick your stitching and have another go if you are not happy with the results.
Open up and Check
Have a look at your work! If you are happy with it, press the seams open. You can see that the corners have lined up perfectly. Enlarge the photo and have a close look if you like.
I hope this helps you with your piecing. Time for me to get on with my other blocks from this week...
Oh Dear!
February 28th, 2010My most recent project
Firstly my sincerest apologies to those waiting patiently for the next installment of the quilt along. I just wanted to check in and say... I'm still alive and have been thinking about you all!
I've been spending daylight hours working on renovations which are taking longer than expected and between that and work I have been so very tired. I don't even know what happened to the last week. It was over far too quickly! I hope to get back on track this week, however please take this opportunity to catch up if you need to.
Rotary Blades
February 14th, 2010
Rotary Cutter Blade
I know when I first used my rotary cutter I fell in love with how easy they are to use and how quick they make cutting your pieces. I have a 45mm standard Olfa rotary cutter and earlier this year I realised how dull my blade had become. I don't know what it is like in other countries, but here in Australia it cost me $10 to purchase one replacement blade.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered a pack of 5 on ebay for barely more than I spent on one!! I knew I had to see if the seller was up to scratch.
Well if you use a rotary blade, Birdbrain Collectibles and Scrapbooking is a seller you should add to your bookmarks! I ended up buying a couple of things from her as she responded to my questions within the hour. Generally I am happy if I get a reply by the next day, so I was astounded by her prompt and polite service. My package of goodies arrived in a timely manner. I purchased a pack of 5 rotary blades which should last me a while yet.
She informed me she doesn't carry all stock all the time, however she does seem to have a regular supply of rotary blades in her store so I am sure she will keep getting them in if people keep buying them.
She sells in packs of 5, 10 or 15 and between her prices and her amazing service I am sure you will be pleased.
Raid the Stash Week 8
February 13th, 2010Block #8 - Snowball Nine Patch
We'll do this one nice and quick using some strip piecing methods to make up the nine-patch!
Select 2 fabrics + your base for each block.
Cut 1 : 3.5" squares from colour 1
Cut 1 : 6" x 1.5" from colour 1
Cut 1 : 3.5" squares from colour 2
Cut 2 : 3" x 1.5" from colour 2
Cut 2 : 6" x 1.5" from your base colour
Cut 1 : 3" x 1.5" from your base colour
Cut 8 : 1.5" squares from your base colour
Sew together your 6" strips with the colour in the middle, then sew together your 3" strips with the colour on the outside. Press seams towards the base colour then cut into 1.5" strips.
Take the 1.5" strips (each should have the colour and base) and sew them in rows to form the 2 nine square sections. Press and set aside.
Mark the diagonal on all of the 1.5" base squares. Stitch along the diagonal in all 4 corners of your 3.5" squares. No base colour should overlap. Press seams open.
Stitch a 9 patch to a "snowball" to form rows, press and join together to finish the block.
Repeat to make 4 blocks with different fabrics.
Jump to the Start of the Raid the Stash Quilt Along
Post your Progress in the Flickr Group
New Toy - 1/4" Foot
February 9th, 2010Sewing Machine Feet
I have a new toy to play with! I am saving it until after I've finished my current projects though so it can have a fresh start. The foot on the right is the one I normally use. It has a centre guide line and a line that is good enough for a 1/4" however it is not always perfect... I am getting better though.
The foot on the left is a specially designed 1/4" foot for my Janome. I bought it on ebay because (unfortunately) it was half the price of the ones I could get from my local store. The black guide bar on the right of the foot allows the fabric to be guided through easily and on my test piece I had a perfect 1/4" seam over a 5" length! I didn't even have to think about guiding the fabric accurately.
I'm sure this foot is going to make things easier. Perhaps I should just start using it straight away, although I have it in my head that if I do that now my current quilts will end up with an obvious difference in them - a perfect half and a not so perfect half. I am probably just being silly though!
Piecing Perfect Corners
February 7th, 2010Stitch and Press
Being self-taught, I have experimented with different pressing and joining techniques. While I prefer pressing seams open as I feel it gives a flatter result, there are times when pressing to one side helps you to obtain a perfect corner. This is one of those times and we can use this technique in this weeks blocks.
I'm joining my 1.5" squares together, so first I join a black to a colour with a 1/4" seam. You can use the chain piecing method to make this go faster if you like. Next I press the seams towards the black with my iron.
Line up the Seams
Now we need to line up our centre corners. When you take your two pieces and put them together you will notice that the seams are facing opposite directions. When the corner is lined up correctly you will feel that they seem like the pieces are interlocked. Initially I found it helped to pin at this point and I still do pin when sewing a larger project - for example I used this method to line up the rows from my rainbow basket weave quilt. With something as small as this I find pinning unnecessary.
Stitch...
Of course we're using a 1/4" seam to join these blocks together as well. Don't be afraid to unpick your stitching and have another go if you are not happy with the results.
Open up and Check
Have a look at your work! If you are happy with it, press the seams open. You can see that the corners have lined up perfectly. Enlarge the photo and have a close look if you like.
I hope this helps you with your piecing. Time for me to get on with my other blocks from this week...
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- Oh Dear!
- Rotary Blades
- Raid the Stash Week 8
- New Toy - 1/4" Foot
- Piecing Perfect Corners
- Using Every Scrap
- Raid the Stash Week 7
- Raid the Stash Week 6
- More Fabric!
- Raid the Stash Week 5
Recent Comments
- You certainly sound busy....but in the long run al...
- Sleep first, take care of yourself first.
- I also use my sharpening stone that we normally us...
- Scarlett Burroughs, thankyou very much for the fea...
- SandyQuilts - another tool I haven't seen here as ...
- Michele, that is quite a bargain! You won't need t...
- I let my readers know about your success in buying...
- You might want to consider buying a Rotary Cutter ...
- I recently picked up FIVE 5 blade packs - that's 2...
- Sure! The seller was Cynthia Craft (Victoria, Aust...
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