One pattern - many names

I can't believe it. When I posted my last blog on the NQC FaceBook site it generated 3563 looks in just one day, less than 24 hours. And ... now I know what that unit/quilt-pattern is called:

Cat's Cradle
Grandmother's Choice
Shaded 4 Patch
Mary's Triangles

Thank you to all who contributed that information. Another reason to like today's gadgets.
I have googled on all of them and was amazed about the diversity. What a find!

And here is the funniest part: The very first quilt I have ever ever EVER made is done with LOTS of these. Actually nothing but these. We lived in Singapore for a short time and I had just met this group of wonderful ladies who were quilters and met every Thursday in each other's houses. To be invited in a foreign country to privat houses is the ultimate treat for me. Living in Paducah, Kentucky, I had said that I would never be a quilter because I am a lacemaker. Well, what can I say? I got infected. One in this group showed us all how to do this pattern. We brought our machines and actually did sew. I still have the pattern. It is not copyrighted and I can not find it anywhere on the internet now. It has the big headline of Scrappy Numbers on top. Underneath: By Ann Herrick. And then: No.1 Goosefoot

And this is it! Number 1 of 9 quilts I pieced in Singapore in 1 year. Quilting came much later. Some I quilted myself like this one, some I quilted by check.

You can see more of my Singapore efforts HERE!

NQC Block # 6 update

I love learning new techniques and how to do things easier and better. 

I don’t know what this is called but when I wanted to make units like that for this challenge blog I had quite a time to figure out how to make it. I think I might have done it the hard way.

My friend Janet has brought to our quilting group a (not copyrighted) handwritten pattern from a person who taught her the beginnings of quilting. It too had this unit in it. The making was described with drawings. She told us that it was a "few" years old.

I wondered whether there was a formula because my unit was a different size. I tried it out and YES, THERE IS! I wrote it down so I remember what I did if I ever need it again in another challenge.

The pattern told to cut this:

The one with the yellow square is from Janet’s pattern. 

Size  3 1/2 inches square unfinished

made from (makes 2 - - - double cuts for 4 units)

yellow: cut 2 - - -  2 x 2 inches

B+W: cut 2 - - -  2 x 2 3/4 inches

white: cut 1 - - -  3 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches

And this is what you do (but the photos are from my trials):

Sew the 4 pieces as shown in photos (I finger press not to distort), snip the long seam in the middle so you can press to different sides. 

This photo shows making 4 units.

Use the 45’ line of the ruler (marked with red in picture on the left) to line it up on the left side so you can draw on the cutting edge from the upper left corner to the right side.  You will see that the line comes close to the square corner.

The line does not end at the bottom corner but on the side. Turn the piece around and draw another line from the top left corner to that side. Some rulers have 2 lines for 45 degrees angles = left side and right side. You just have to look.

Sew on the lines, cut in the middle and press. Done!

The above two were made trying a different size.

This seems to be the formula to make 2 of these units: (size 5” finished here)

Cut 2 of the corner blocks you need 

(mine cut 3 inches square for 2 1/2 inches finished)

Cut 2 for the small triangles the same size as the corner blocks but one side + 3/4 inches (mine 3 x 3 3/4 inches)

Cut 1 for the large triangles (the size the rectangle will be when the 4 pieces are sewn together as shown in the photos with the yellow squares, mine 5 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches - - - wide: 3 + 3 minus seam in middle = 5 1/2 - - - long: 3 + 3 3/4 minus seam in middle = 6 1/4)

Adding the 3/4 inch seems to work for all sizes!

That seems to be the whole secret!

If you would like to print this for your notes, HERE IS A PDF!   I don't know what this is called so I called it HST with square.

If you found this helpful, please leave me a comment.

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - March

Here is the link to this Row of the Month March block!

Just finished my row. I used a different background and NOT red and green as for the first two rows. I find this a bit difficult to decide since we don't know the whole picture. I am taking risks. I used two blues for 5 stars and two different blues for the other 5 stars and alternated them when I sewed them together. You don't really see that in the photo.

There were 40 corner triangles to sew (the light blue smaller star tips). I drew no lines as it was suggested in the pattern but used my method (link)  which you can also find in the QuiltTutorial/Patterns tab on the top of the blog.

I would love to know how you like this tip. You could leave a comment.

Für meine Deutschen Freunde (es ist ja schließlich ein Muster von einer Deutschen Seite) jetzt der Tip in Deutsch:

Ich ziehe keine Linie wie im Muster beschrieben sondern lege das Quadrat für die Ecke auf wie es sein soll. Man kann es gut mit Nadeln feststecken (mache ich aber nur bei größeren Quadraten). Dann lege ich ein Stück steifes Papier drauf wo die Linie sein würde, Fuß hoch und schiebe den Anfang unter den Fuß bis ich mit Papier und Stoff an die Nähnadel stoße. Fuß runter und zwei Stiche. Dann kontrolliere ich ob das Papier noch richtig am Ende liegt und nähe den Rest. Da ich ganz ein wenig neben dem Papier nähe paßt die Ecke haargenau wenn ich es Umbügel denn das Falten nimmt ja etwas von dem Stoff weg. Ich muß ganz selten trimmen und es geht flott. 

Manche bügeln einen Kniff rein anstatt der Linie aber den kann ich meistens nicht sehen. Oben hinter dem Quilt Tutorials/Patterns Tab könnt Ihr diesen Tip mit mehr Bildern sehen (All those corner triangles!).

Ich würde mich freuen von Euch zu hören wie Euch dieser Tip gefällt. Ihr könntet einen Kommentar lassen.

I am not sure about the color choices of my first two months ... but we will see ....

And now I will have a look and enjoy all those link on that German website.

NQC Block # 6

Yes, yes, yes. This is not the only thing I am behind. But last night I finally got around to finish block #6. As always I did my coloring first and this is what I came up with.

8 flying geese 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches made with background rectangles and 2 1/2 inches corner blocks.

4 flying geese 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches made with a blue rectangles and 2 1/2 inch background fabric corner blocks.

4 background 2 1/2 inch squares for the corners and 1 center 4 1/2 inch square .

4 squares 4 1/2 inches assembled a bit more complicated:

The dark blue 5 inches square.

The light blue 2 squares 4 1/4 inches cut diagonal each.

Add the 4 triangles to the square and cut diagonally into 4 new triangles.

Cut from the third fabric 2 squares 5 x 5 and cut diagonally. Attache the 4 triangles to the other 4 triangles. Trim to 4 1/2 inch squares.

Make 4 squares 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches with background 3 1/4 square and corners.

From 2 different blues cut a 3 inch square each and cut diagonally. 

All those triangle corners. First I fumbled with them to get them lined up properly. Good gracious, at one point the lightbulb went on. 

Fold the square on each side to make a crease in the middle of each side.

Fold the triangle and make a crease on the alongside.

When you make sure that the "ditch" is on the top side of the square and the underside of the triangle they nestle really nice into each other (right sides together). It makes the whole thing so much faster.

And here are my 6 blocks (of the 9) so far. 16 inch blocks (finished) are really large. They take a lot of space on my design wall. But I need to look at them when I try to figure out the next one.

NQC Block # 5

Happy Saturday! Lucky I have some time to sew. I will attempt to make Block # 5 of the National Quilters Circle Challenge. All 9 blocks are now out. If you would like the free blocks, click here.
I have a lot to catch up.

And here it is! I am quite pleased with it. Unfortunately the colors in the photo are not as nice. I guess the lighting at 10 pm in my sewing room is not conducive to taking photos.

I had a dilemma though when I wanted to start. The pattern was different from the original drawing of the whole quilt. Decision, decision.

I find it always helpful to do some coloring.

And here is my cutting chart:

First sew the two strips from the first two fabrics together. Then cut into 4 sections 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. These are the bases for the Flying Geese.

To make sure I fold the squares for the star points and pin them (roughly) into place. This makes the chain sewing so much easier. 

Next take the 4 squares from the first fabric and second and sew the corner stones and put aside.

Sew the triangles to the center square. Do opposite sides, press, sew the other opposite sides, press.

Trim to 6 inches.

Add the other triangles from the two different fabrics. 

Now this square should measure 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches.

Assemble as shown.

Perfect square 16 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches. 

If you would like to print this out, here is a PDF! Disclaimer: when I write a pattern, I usually immediately use it to make that item again. This time I don't have time to do that. Should you do my pattern and find something unclear or a mistake, please let me know.

Charity Blocks

Somehow I came across the Covered in Love blog and the Love Block Drive!

Did you go to the links and read about it? Good, I don't have to write the details then. It is a very good cause. I thought it would be nice to help.

This block drive will run until the end of April. Any one can participate and you can pick and choose the block drives throughout the year that you want to do, there's a new one every 2 months!  If you'd like to send in blocks please leave a comment or email me to get the address (coveredinlovetx@gmail.com) and have them in the mail by May 1.

I looked at the directions and they are very easy. But ... of course ... I immediately thought that I would do it differently. Every block has many ways to do it (just like meatloaf ha-ha).

This is the first block I sewed. Btw all of them are done with stash. All of it is blue. Sorry the photos are not very good.

It's so quick to make that I decided to take photos to write "my" directions.

For the charity you are supposed to use blue. Any and all shades of blue.

For each blog you need only two fabrics, one print and one solid.

From each fabric cut: 

1 square 6.5 inches and

1 square 7 3/4 inches 

Use the two large squares (one from each fabric 7 3/4 inches) and make 8 HST using the 8HST-at-a-time method. I have a link under the Tutorial tab at the top. 

If I am doing the sewing and cutting and pressing carefully I don't even have to trim the HST except the little tips.

But I guess you could cut the large squares a little larger and then trim each HST if you want to.

Lay everything out like the picture and sew. The sewing of this one I have to do tomorrow though. Time to go to bed. It's after midnight.

Sewing the squares together is fast. I wished I had the time to make a whole quilt right now. If I had a fourth block the star in the middle would be obvious.

I made a PDF to have printable directions. CLICK HERE if you would like it.

NQC Block # 4

All I can say is: what a difference it makes when you spray the fabric with starch and iron before you cut your pieces. The corner meet so much easier that way.

The colors in the photos are not quite true. I like the real thing much better.
The block goes together quite easily.
4 large flying geese (4 at a time no waste method)
4 smaller flying geese (4 at a time no waste method)
8 HST (at a time)
and then the different squares - a fun project!

Since there will be 9 in this challenge - only 5 to go (ha-ha).

NQC Block # 1 and 3

I have blogged about my NQC block # 1 HERE!

After I had done block # 2 (I blogged about that too) I had to do # 1 again in the colors of "the quilt". I have to say that I was rather pleased about it.

After quite some time I just was finally able to tackle block # 3. And the making stretched over several days whenever there seemed to be a minute.

I got stuck here. Which way to turn the HST in the middle? I was leaning towards one idea but asked James for his opinion. He keeps claiming that he has no artistic ounce in his body but I just plainly asked "what do you like better". He (luckily) had the same idea as I. The left side. He even offered a reason: "It is more interesting making another square.

Yes, not bad.

And here are the first 3 on the design wall. I am "only" 5 blocks behind because they are being posted every Thursday.

Btw. they are 16 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches square (unfinished).

Off to tackle block # 4.