Making grapes...and some progress!

Some moments of original thinking and creativity are returning to the quilt cave, thank goodness!  I hate the creative constipation that can come when life gets a little too complicated. 

I finished the 12 hand-appliqued nine inch blocks some time ago ("Folk Art Applique," Lori Smith, From My Heart To Your Hands Designs), but was not happy with the original pattern's outer border. 

Her vines are sweet in her border, but I wanted the piece to be a little bigger and I really wanted to experiment with some other border treatments.

I have always wanted to try an appliqued scallop border, so I decided to deploy one as the inner border on this project.

Maybe if I had turned the scallop the other way...with the straight edge to the outside and all the waviness to the inside...I could have stopped right here and called it done. 

It took several days to just decide on the color for the scallop. 

When I sewed all the finished blocks together, all I could see was green (from all those funky leaves and such), so I knew that I needed a stand out color statement.



I auditioned all the different fabrics I used for the blocks one by one, but when push came to shove I just picked my favorite color (fabric choice is my least favorite thing!).  The red, hot pink, orange and yellow were a little too hot bold, and I thought they pulled the eye away from the blocks.  I just wanted this little border to keep the outer border design from running into the blocks, basically to just keep the peace.

 
 
I will applique hearts, stars, or moons...one or more of the motifs from the inner blocks...in the corners before moving on the the outer border.

I've been thinking about many different things for the outer border...symmetrical/not symmetrical, vines with fruit, flowers, both?  When grapes popped into my mind, I thought they would work for many reasons: 

• fun to make
• gives me an excuse to enjoy a glass of wine while working
• not overly done in projects I've seen lately
• purple is another one of my favorite colors, especially when placed near blues
• the purple will seem subtle, like the blue inner border, and not overpower the strong statement made by the inner blocks
• I would need green leaves and vines to grow grapes on...third favorite color, especially when blended with blues and purples
• I could use LOTS of different purple fabrics meaning NO FABRIC CHOOSING! Win-win situation, I would say.

I will not make it a continuous border...I will break it up into pieces so that it doesn't overpower the blocks.  I've got LOTS of little grapes to make! 

My buddy Ola just gave me those scissors pictured above.  They are Karen Kay Buckley's scissors and have wonderfully large openings for hands and fingers and really, REALLY sharp, micro-serrated blades that are simply fabulous for trimming around applique shapes.  The tiny little teeth just seem to pull the fabric into the cutting process instead of trying to slip away from the blades.  They are my new favorite scissors!  (These are the 7.5 inch size - she also has a 4 inch version.)

I also got to use my blue flexible curve to help me to draft the vine segments on my pattern.  And the forceps help me pick up/manipulate the little grapes and remove the ironed-on freezer paper, after I use the glue stick method to turn under the fabric edges (curious about the glue stick applique method?  check out the tutorial on my blog tool bar). 

Having the right tools to use makes the project easier and makes me a happy camper!

I would love to get some input about irons.  I am not happy with my Rowenta.  It is the second Rowenta I have bought, and they both have LEAKED.  It also doesn't seem to get hot enough for me (especially since I have to use it "steamless," due to the leaking...).

The iron shown above is a really small, older Black & Decker travel iron that was my mother's (handle actually folds over to make it pack flatter - and it doesn't leak, even though it folds!). 

Other features I applaud are that it gets REALLY HOT and it doesn't turn off.  I wish it had a little more weight on it's "butt" so that it wouldn't fall over so easily.  Weasley caused it to fall over and bump into my flexible curve, which now has a permanent "melty" place in it.

I had a Black & Decker YEARS ago when I lived in Galveston, TX, that got nice and hot, but it disappeared during a weekend quilt retreat (whoever you are, I hope you've enjoyed how amazing that cheap iron was!). 

I'm a little afraid to just buy another Black & Decker iron, hoping they are still hot, and just about every iron shuts off now.  Any suggestions about something you use that is marvelous?? 

I don't want a lot of bells and whistles...I'm mostly interested in heat, but having it not shut off would be great.  I am totally used to turning off and unplugging the iron when I leave the quilt cave, so I'd probably be happier with one that wouldn't automatically shut off.

I guess I have a few grapes to make...

My next post will be a tutorial of sorts about how I organize my quilt cave.  I taught a Lunch Lessons mini-seminar at the shop where I work on Stash Organization/Scrap Maintenance last week, and the pictures will be a good reference for the people who came to listen.  So, it may be a repeat for those who endured my guest posts on Stash Manicure some time ago...sorry! 

In stitches,
Teresa  :o)

TUTORIAL: "X" MARKS THE BLOCK (free pieced strippy quilt)

"X" MARKS THE BLOCK - THE TUTORIAL

Are your strippy scrap bins or bags stuffed to bursting?  This is a great scrappy project to help you reduce some scraps and ALL WITHOUT A PATTERN (sometimes a project without a pattern is like a day without pantyhose...ahhh...).

OVERALL DIRECTIONS:

I don't use a paper or fabric foundation when making these blocks...mostly because I am too lazy to reproduce the foundations, then later peel all those pieces of paper off my sewn blocks.  If you would like to use a foundation, go right ahead...it's all good.  But I challenge you to try one block without a foundation to s-t-r-e-t-c-h yourself.

Here's the ONE I tried with a 8.5 inch paper foundation...it was really harder than doing it without one, believe it or not...

This block/quilt uses mostly "strips" and "chunks."  I define strips as anything from 3/4 - 2-1/2 inches wide.   I try to keep them separate in my quilt cave - that way I don't have to dig through all my scraps just to find strips.  Chunks can be odd-shaped, cut-off chunks of leftovers or wider strips, maybe even extra triangles or squares. 

If you are careful and use fatter strips at either end of the central pieced section,  you don't have to fool with using chunks.  We just don't want to trim down our final blocks and find too many seam allowances in the corners where blocks meet.

The focus fabrics that form the "X" need to contrast the rest of your general scraps.  I used blacks with brights.  You could use something light as well, or maybe a color.  Your "X" strips can either be scrappy like mine or all one fabric/color.  Medium to dark batiks with light "X" strips would look cool.  Maybe red and neutral scraps with green "X" strips for a holiday quilt.  The sky is the limit! 

 

I cut my "X" strips 1 - 2 wide.  The variation just adds to the wonkiness and draws attention away from the fact that the "X" strips don't line up between blocks.  You can see below how the scrappy black strips are different widths and don't match up precisely...charming!  Sometimes, my strips are wider at one end than the other...even MORE charming!

After looking at my available strips and chunks, I chose to make blocks that would finish eight inches square.  I had some short, stubbly strips that were 3.5 to 4 inches long, so I decided on a center diagonal strip that would finish about 3 inches wide.

After looking at your scraps, you may decide to make smaller or larger squares, of maybe even rectangles, triangles, or other shapes.  I will show you how I figured out the rough dimensions of my units, then you can apply what I did to your size block.

Here is my 8.5 inch square ruler with a 3 inch wide ruler on top (which represents my central pieced strip).  See how I have allowed roughly a half inch at each end?

You can see, from the pictures above, that the unfinished length of that initial, central pieced strip needs to be at least 13 inches, once it is pressed.

In my quilts, the strips that define the edge of the central pieced strip and make the prominent "X" design are scrappy black.  Yours could be light, dark, or a certain color.  They can be scrappy or cut from one fabric.  You can see in the pictures above and below how to determine the minimal length of these setting strips.

Each strip added to the central pieced strip needs to be at least a half inch longer in each direction than the edge of the ruler.

Now you can vary the size of your blocks and central pieced strip to please you.  Just be sure to allow adequate overhang of strips so that when you square up your blocks you won't have any holes!

Just because you see brights and blacks in my tutorial doesn't mean that is the only color option possible.  Look at your scrap stash, then decide how YOU want to proceed.  You can even do it without a contrasting color for the "X" strip.

Look at the backside of this finished block to see how you should press your block as you progress.  I pressed the central pieced strip only after piecing the whole thing, then pressed the seams in the same direction, either way. 

Then starting with the black focus strips, I pressed each added strip to the outside.

Now just fill some bobbins, put in a new sewing machine needle, replace your rotary cutting blade, and let's get started!

STEP 1:

I do not cut the short strips to 3.5 inches before chain-piecing the little strips together into a long section...as long as they are at least 3.5 inches long, it's OK of they are a little longer.   

Some of these strip sets have a triangle or chunk at either end, sometimes just a piece of a wider strip.  I do this to avoid an accidental seam too close to the corners where 4 blocks will meet.

Start with a chunk, wide strip or triangle at one end, then chain-piece strips together, matching up one end of your irregular, variable in length, short strips.  Do not worry about pressing after each addition of a strip.  Check the length of your pieced strip as you go.  This central pieced strip needs to be at least 13 inches long...make sure you stop in time to place another chunk, wide strip or triangle at the opposite end.

Turn your strip sets over and press ALL the seams in ONE direction, either way.

STEP 2:

Now you are ready to sew on the contrasting focus "X" strips, right sides together.  These should be at least 10 inches long (1 - 2 inches wide), CENTERED along the edge of your pieced central strip. I place the first strip along the "straightest" edge of the strip set, lining up the edge of the shortest strip (the cow strip in the following set). 

Even though this is wonky sewing, I still maintain a quarter inch seam allowance when I can (old habits are hard to shake...).  A consistent quarter inch seam allowance is not critical while making the blocks, but will be very important when sewing the blocks together into a quilt top.

After stitching, trim away extra seam allowance with your rotary cutter or scissors (trim the uneven end of the central strip set even with the quarter inch seam of your "X" strip).

Press strip to the outside.

(I like to chain stitch several of these units, then sew on the opposing strip before stopping, trimming and pressing.) 

Place this opposing strip. face down and centered on the other side of the strip, with the help of a ruler (or just "eyeball" this for extra wonky-ness).  Your stitching line should be at 3 inches (or the outer edge of this strip should be 3.25 inches from the opposing seam).

After stitching, trim away extra seam allowance with your rotary cutter or scissors.  (Would you believe I save some of these longer cut away leftovers?  That will be the subject of another liberated tutorial project!).

Press strip to the outside.  (Again, chain piecing really saves time with this method.)

STEP 3:

Now we can start adding strips, one on each side, building our block, chain piecing and pressing to the outside after the addition of each new pair.

As you continue centering strips (chain piecing), adding strips to each side, notice that they are getting shorter and shorter.  Press toward outside before adding the next pair.

Just make sure the strips are long enough so that when you trim down your blocks there aren't any surprise "peek-a-boo" holes.

Please notice the left side of the block pictured below.  The white-ish strip just under the left corner of the ruler is a little too wide and would cause there to be a seam too close to the corner of the block.  Just slice or cut some of it off so that your last strip will form a larger triangle after the block is trimmed down.  You may need to make a few of this kind of adjustment as you go.

Place your block on a small cutting mat.  Square up your block by placing the 8.5 inch ruler on top, centering the ruler's diagonal line in the middle of your center strip set and sliding the ruler back and forth until the end triangles are centered and all seams are solid under the ruler (no "peek-a-boo" holes...).

Cut away each side, turning the MAT, not your block, as you go.

A small rotary mat works OK, but I like trimming these blocks on a revolving rotary mat, like this Brooklyn Revolver.  It has a 'lazy Susan' mechanism that allows you to easily rotate the block as you trim each side away (I just LOVE a good gadget...).  There are other versions of the revolving rotary mat out there...here's the Olfa offering from Joann's Fabrics online (use your coupon on it!). 

Ta-da!!!  You did it!  Now you can make as many or as few blocks as you want.  For each of the quilts pictured at the beginning of the post, I set 8 blocks across, 10 blocks down, with a 1.5 inch (finished) stop border and outer borders of either 6 or 5 inches (finished).  The green-bordered quilt measured 79 x 95 inches and the one with red borders, 77 x 93 inches.

I recently taught a class on this block at my LQS.  Janet S worked with her medium to dark, earthy scraps, with a consistent light "X" fabric (she cut her light strips the same width throughout).  She ended up cutting her remaining setting strips more consistent in width, while keeping her central pieced strip wonky. 

 

Lori L used fun, colorful scraps with lime green "X" strips.  I've never seen such a fun bag of colorful, happy scraps (I admit it...I had scrap envy!)  Both had stunning results!

When it comes down to piecing the blocks together, sew in rows, pressing the seams to one side, alternating direction every row.  This way the seams will nest nicely for beautiful, accurate piecing.  Remember that the edges of your strips are most likely bias edges, so handle them carefully until they are seamed in and stable to they won't stretch.

ENJOY!

In stitches,

Teresa  :o)