USA and German collaboration!

Yeah! I finished it. The top is pieced. The needle is still hot. Question to my husband: Should I attempt to quilt it myself or should it be done properly? It is a keeper. It's going to a longarmer!

The 9 blocks in the middle was a BOW project from the National Quilters Circle. The blocks are 16 inches finished and were available on their FaceBook site: NQC Quilt Block Challenge

This quilt was called Pleiades (something about the universe). 

The group has 43,561 members. I had to join but I enjoyed very much to see everybody else's color choices. I learned so much. The designer's quilt looks totally different.

After I had finished the 9 blocks I didn't know what to do ... make 3 more to have a rectangle? Didn't want it square. I was sure about that. Set the blocks "on point"? I put them aside for a while.

Then it was time to finish an UFO.

As you have seen on my blog I am also participating in a German BOM. Actually it is a ROM. You can look at all my 6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) postings. I am looking forward to that every month. Again, I learned so much. The patterns can be found HERE and you don't have to join.

Thanks to Nadra, Gesine, Verena, Andrea, Katharina and Dorthe.

There is also a FaceBook group Quilt-Along 6Köpfe-12Blöcke.  

So, long story short ... I used the months March (stars) and July (zigzag).

For the stars I used my new method of making a tube first and then cut the HST. What a time-saver! And so accurate. For both rows I used my method to sew corners. Another time-saver. That was a lot of fun. Both of my helpful tips you can find behind the tab on top: Quilt Tutorials/Patterns.

If you use those, please leave a comment for me. I would love some feedback. Are my explanations clear enough?

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - August - again!

Every block you make, every pattern you attempt, has so many possibilities! Somehow its a blessing and a curse. So, no surprise, I started thinking ...

Yes, Nadra's lifesaver row. You need 10 blocks. If you use the same fabric for the whole row you need 40 HST. That means you have to trim 40 to the correct size because you make them a little larger.

We all know there are several ways to make HST.
~   Make 2 at a time... (as suggested in this pattern by Nadra. Perfect if you make every block in a different color.
~   Make 4 at a time.
~   Make 8 at a time (you can find the link under my Quilt Tutorials/Patterns tab above).
With all you really should trim them afterwards.

Here is another way!

Cut two strips WOF (width of fabric) from your two colors.
To know how wide to cut these put your ruler with the line of the size you need on your cutting mat. For this pattern we want 3 1/2 inch squares. You can see that the tip goes to 2 1/2 inches. Add two seam allowances and you know you need 3 inch strips.

Btw the ruler I am using for this is Debbie Tucker's Trimmer. I am sure there are others around too but I got this one and I would not want to be without.

Right sides together sew both sides so you have a tube. Press it nice and flat.

Now you can cut your half square triangles by lining up the ruler line with the sewing line. I am right handed so I usually cut the right side first. 

When you want to cut the next HST flip the strip and cut another.

Don't be too stingy with the material. Sometimes I find I have to trim a little on the left side too. Happens probably because the width of the strip is not totally correct. If you find the tip goes straight to the other sewing line you might just gently have to nude that one stitch appart after cutting. It happened to me when I tried my method on 3 inch HST.

In this case I got 16 HST out of one strip. Only a little waste from the beginning and end.

And none need truing up. Press open. Make sure you pile them up the same way so that you sew your larger square always in the right corner. Don't you love chain sewing?

As another participant on FaceBook said: it makes sense to do all the larger squares first. Otherwise a mix-up could easily happen.

And here is another time saver!

To make corner triangles (like flying geese or this one here) I neither draw a line or iron a crease. I take an index card!!! You find the helpful hint also under that tab Quilt Tutorials/Patterns.

The four parts are sewn together. 

I have a confession to make. The white fabric was so flimsy that I left it double. I only cut the blue back away. It worked really well and looked so much nicer.

Time to do the outside corners. Same technique. Index card!

Another confession. I am not sure what I was thinking when I made the first block. Flimsy white fabric in the middle but I cut the other two layers away. I wasn't happy with it at all. I decided to appliqué a heart. My boo-boo gives it just a little bit more interest. It's ok.

I think that is all. I hope you find this useful. 

And I would be very happy if you would leave a comment.

Another tip: The 4-at-a-time method and this method will produce HST with bias edges. This is not a problem for me because I use starch (Best Press) before I iron and cut. This makes the fabric nice and stable and easier to sew. 

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - August

Lifesavers!
This design is from Nadra and you find it HERE!

Thank you for another cool pattern. This too would make a good border. Probably all 12 of them since they are rows. It was fun making.

I had made one and liked it. Oh oh, not enough fabric. That's the problem when you make a mystery quilt from stash. 

I had enough for 5 blue ones and then made 5 red 'lifesavers'. But then I was not sure about the arrangement.

I decided to 'audition' it with a couple of finished rows and decided on the second arrangement.

Oh well, the whole quilt will be an experiment anyway ... since I ran out of certain fabrics.

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - July

I can't believe I forgot to blog about the July row. The designer is Gesine and this is her blog.

I love, love, love this design. It would make a perfect border for a quilt one day ... where the background fabric flows into the border.

I tried to arrange the now 7 rows. It is definitely difficult to use scraps when you don't know the overall design. There are 5 more rows/month to come and I ran out of several fabrics like the beige background with the little flowers. Gone. No more.

But so far I am very happy because I have learned a lot.

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - June

I have not sewn much lately. If you follow my main blog you know why. My knee is really giving me problems right now and I can't hike or even have a walk in the neighborhood (I am trying to do something about it though). So, there is my excuse to sew instead doing other work!

First thing I did: Do the last project for this year's Cotton Robin. Deadline is when we are gone so it had to be done before we leave. The center with 2 borders needed to be layered, quilted and bound (with hanging sleeve). It is done and will be mailed today. Tough part: I can't show any photos of it ... or my center ... or the first border I did ... or the second border I did ... before the BIG REVEAL. Had to keep quiet about all of that. It was so much fun!!! (The doing not the waiting)

So, with that finished I tackled the June Row from Germany.
You find the pattern of the HALF RECTANGLE TRIANGLES here.

The patterns are all written and explained very well. The photos are almost all you need. This time I had a senior moment though. Just couldn't see something until suddenly it jumped out at me. I did change though how I arranged the row. Another participant (thank you, Andrea W.) had shown her row on FaceBook and that's how I wanted to do mine too ... and did!

January to June so far:

If I had to start over again I probably would choose different colors. But not knowing what the next block/row will be and/or the whole thing will look like does make that a bit difficult I think.

I always have to keep in mind that the 12 rows at the end will not be assemble in month order and most likely have sashing in-between. But I think it is quite interesting.

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - May (and April update)

Yes, the update first. GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all who have given their opinion to my April question ... as comment to my blog and on my FaceBook post. I think Christiane hit the nail on the head with her inside that I probably wouldn't have asked if I was totally comfortable with my work. So, I did change it !!! All the windmills are twirling in the same direction. I did have to use a different blue fabric though (because I had no more of the other) and made another red one. Just to add a little more interest. I like it.

And my May blocks are ALMOST done too. I just have to trim the blocks. Too late tonight. Tired people make mistakes. And of course then sewing the row together.

The rows are still separated though. Have to see all 12 rows to decide on that. Right now they are laying by months. Pretty cool. Wondering what will be next ???

Thank you, Katharina. The tutorial was excellent and it is a cute block. You find it HERE.

Oh yes, I also run out of the green fabric. Ha-ha, happens when you make scrappy quilts, my preferred.

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - April

Ha-ha, I am late but it is still in the month. The picture is a little dark. Sorry. This row needed 15 of them.
The April block was designed by Andrea and here is the link.   Of course this is a German blog but the directions are very clear with lots of photos and measurements are in inches. You don't really need the words with it I think.

I left the monthly rows in their sequence. January is top row and then down to April. I find it a little difficult to know what fabric to choose not knowing the whole picture but so far I am o.k.

Did you notice that I made a mistake? I had made a few and had cut out all the fabric rectangles. Yesterday some of my friends had a sew-in and I had made the slanted cut and sewed it in her house. When I was back home I noticed they were twirling the other way.

How did this happen? I had marked the first one on the front because the marker had showed up so I could cut accurately. Yesterday I had marked on the back because the marker I had was too week. However, I decided to go with it and leave the mistake.

What do you think about that mistake? Honestly!!! Leave me a comment please. Should I change it? It wouldn't be a big deal to do.

Meine Deutschen Freunde!

Was denkt Ihr über meinen Fehler? Soll ich es ändern? Bitte ganz ehrlich einen Kommentar schreiben. Es wäre keine große Sache die paar noch mal zu machen. Würde mich freuen Eure Meinung zu hören. DANKE!

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.

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (ROM) - February

Fun! Got February done. Hope I can keep it up.

This block was provided by Nadra. Thanks!

Again, lots of different possibilities. I enjoy seeing what others have done.

I had never done a partial seam block. This was a good lesson for me. It was really easy and perfect for chain sewing. For the row you need 15 blocks.

January and February!

I am not so sure about my colors any more but have to see what I can do with the next month.

I am linking to Nadra.

6 Heads / 12 Blocks (BOM)

Actually it's 6 Köpfe / 12 Blöcke, a German blog.

I stumbled over this side. Yes, Germans are now quilting too (it's a newer thing) and this is a BOM challenge. Actually it's a Row of the Month. I love the idea and, of course, have to participate.

Check it out. I don't think one needs to know German to understand. The pictures really tell all.

https://www.ellisandhiggs.com/6-koepfe-12-bloecke-quilt-along-2018/

6 quilters are taking turns to post a pattern on their blog with great details. At the bottom participants post their link to what they have done. Lots of samples. Lots of inspiration. 

(Now I do have to figure out how to do the linking)

Here is my version. I am traveling and just packed some fabric from my stash. I mainly do quilts from stash. Unfortunately the fabric for the background was too flimsy. It really needs to be pitched. I was very disappointed that I couldn't work on this project but ... when we went to a meeting in Paducah KY on Thursday it took me 10 minutes to dash into Hancocks, pick some fabric, had it cut, pay and dash out. Yippee!

It really was fun and I am looking forward to next month!!!

Since I am going to link it to the German blog .... oben rechts ist ein Knopf "Translate" (Übersetzung). Darunter kannst du die Sprache suchen. Die Übersetzung ist manchmal ziemlich lustig aber ich glaube es hilft.

*  *  *  *
This block was provided by Gesine. Thanks!
I linked to the heart pattern:
http://allie-and-me-design.blogspot.de/2018/01/6-kopfe-12-blocke-2018-januar-tutorial.html