Friday, September 25, 2009

Speed Pieced Geese

Speed Pieced Geese
Tutorial by Jessica J.E. Smith

“This method for flying geese is awesome because it doesn’t waste any fabric and is very accurate.”
- Sally, Golden Shores, AZ


A Few Goose Rules

÷ Finished Flying Geese are twice as wide as they are tall.
÷ This method creates four Flying Geese each time you complete the steps.
÷ You need one large square and four small squares for each set of four Flying Geese.
÷ The large square will make the “goose” and the small squares will make the two “sky” pieces.
÷ LARGE SQUARE SIZE—Add 1-1/4” to the desired finished width of Flying Geese.
÷ SMALL SQUARE SIZE—Add 7/8” to the desired finished height of Flying Geese.

Example

÷ To make four 6” wide x 3” tall Flying Geese you will need:
One 7-1/4” square (to be the “goose” triangles)
Four 3-7/8” squares (to be the “sky” triangles)
÷ Right sides together, layer one small square in the top left corner of a large square and another small square in the bottom right corner of the larger square. The small squares will overlap each other a bit. Mark a line on the diagonal of the two small squares. Sew a scant 1/4” on either side of the marked line, and cut on the marked line. Press open the flaps, seams toward darker fabric, to make two heart-shaped pieces. Trim dog ears.

÷ Right sides together, layer a matching small square in the corner of one of the heart-shaped pieces. Mark a line on the diagonal of the square, sew a scant 1/4” on either side of the marked line, and cut on the marked line. Press open the flaps, seams toward darker fabric and trim dog ears, to make two Flying Geese. Repeat with the other heart-shaped piece for a total of four Flying Geese.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Quick Hot Pan Holders

Quick Hot Pan Holders
by Jessica Smith
Materials (for each):
2—8.5” squares of Fabric A
1—8.5” squares of Fabric B
1—8.5” squares of Fabric C
1—8.5” squares of Insul~Bright batting (0r a similar product)
2—8.5” squares of muslin (or backing of your choice)

Instructions:
· Make a ‘sandwich’ from 2 pieces of muslin and the batting, muslin pieces facing out. That is, layer one muslin square (face down), then the batting, then the other muslin square (face up).
· Take 2 squares of fabric A, and one square each of Fabric B and C. Fold each in half and finger press.
· Lay the Fabric B piece on top of the Muslin/Batting sandwich, raw edges facing out with the fold of Fabric B running the length of the middle of the sandwich. (All of the raw edges, muslin, batting, and fabric, will line up on the edge.)
· Lay one of the Fabric A pieces on the next edge to the left of the Fabric B piece. Note that the Fabric A piece will cover half of the Fabric B piece. Again, your raw edges will align and your fold for Fabric A will run through the middle of the sandwich.

· Lay the Fabric C piece with raw edges on the next side edge to the left on the sandwich. It will cover half of Fabric A.


· Lay the other Fabric A piece on the final edge, half covering the Fabric C piece you laid down. Tuck the other half of this Fabric A under the Fabric B that you laid down, so that the four Fabric pieces are woven on top of and under each other. (Like you would do with the top of a card board box to secure it closed without tape.)


· Pin all layers together. Sew around the edge of the sandwich, using a quarter inch seam allowance.

· Trim the seam allowance a bit at the corners if you want a bit sharper corners (if you want rounded corners, don’t bother) and turn the sandwich inside out… voila!


· You can stick your hands inside the folded bits of fabric, to better protect yourself.

Quick Wine Glass Coasters
Use the same instructions as the Hot Pan Holders, but use 3.5” squares. You can wrap these coasters around the base of your wine glasses and it will help your guests identify which glass is their own.










Saturday, September 5, 2009

It's Autumn...

It's Autumn time already, this year is just zinging by. The weather here in California is still warm, but reminders of the turning seasons are everywhere. School has started and stores are carrying Halloween candy.

Over on the forum we have picked out are Fall table runner partners and are learning about our new friends. Deciding what kind of table runner to make for them.

Over in the store, Jess has some beautiful Fall leaf material. It's rich, vibrant colors just call out to you. Who wouldn't want to decorate with these beauties?



You can find them here:

http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=598695734205986&Store_id=691&Page_id=17&categ_id=56&parent_ids=0,1f




Another beautiful choice for those Fall table runners or maybe a lovely wall hanging, is Connie's hand dyed fabrics. These are gorgeous, and so soft.










You can find them here:

http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=598695734205986&Store_id=691&Page_id=17&categ_id=84&parent_ids=0

Then before you know it, the Christmas season will be upon us. Jess already has some lovely fabrics in the store for this too.

I don't know about you, but I am ready for the cooler weather. I love sipping hot cocoa in the evenings, while snuggled up in front of the fire. And having a warm quilt laying over my legs, as I hand quilt it, is just the perfect ending to a day.

Come on over and visit us, pull up a chair and browse the store. Then come on over to the forum and share with us your love of quilting.

Till next time...

Dorian