Wind chill factor is 21 degrees here today . . .

Making it the perfect day to stay inside and work on a QOV project.

Alycia has posted instructions for a new QOV block that she is collecting and there's a contest to boot.  So hop on over to her place and check it out.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Introducing Block B

Begin with 4 blue (5-1/2") squares and 8 white (light) (4-1/4") squares.

Blue squares can be of the same fabric or a coordinating pair, as you see here.

Press white / light squares in half along the diagonal.

 Sew along the inside of the fold line.  Leaving a 1/4" seam, trim off corner triangle.

 Fold and press.

 Repeat with white / light square on opposite side.

Sew a 1-3/4" folded and pressed red square at each blue point along fold line.

Trim end triangle leaving 1/4" seam allowance, fold, and press.

Assemble 4 blocks together and trim.

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For 24 B Blocks, cut the following:

Blue (5-1/2") squares - 96

White / light (4-1/4") squares - 192

Red (1-3/4") squares - 192

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Some folks have inquired if prints or plain muslin can be used for the background fabric.  I suggest that if using prints, be sure they have a geometric pattern, as opposed to flower sprigs or hopping baby bunnies.  

If using plain muslin, choose warmer blue tones for a muted effect.

If you have any questions, just e-mail me.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

The News You've All Been Waiting For . . .

I've spoken to many of you about our upcoming QUILTS OF VALOR sew-a-thon.

The quilt top we'll be doing this year is from McCall's Quilting Magazine, December 2004 issue.

Below are the instructions for Block A.  (I'll post Block B this weekend).

You may choose to bring your pieces kitted up and ready to sew or you may choose to bring your finished blocks ready to put together.  It's entirely up to you.  If you have time to join us for 2 days, that's great.  If only 1 day is available, that's fine also.

Here goes . . .

Cut 4 white squares - 5-1/2" square
Cut 8 blue squares - 4-1/4" square

Press blue squares in half along the diagonal.

Align 4 blue squares along 4 white square corners.

Sew just inside the fold line.  Trim off 1/4" outside sewing line.  Fold over, iron flat.

Sew 2nd set of 4 blue squares to opposite white square corners.  Trim and press flat.

Cut 8 red 1-3/4" squares.  Fold in half and press.  Pin to white corners of each square.

Sew along inside of fold line.  Trim off inside triangle, fold, and press flat.

Sew 4 squares together, creating white X in the middle.

Trim so square is even.

Please be sure to pre-wash all fabrics and test for dye loss.  Place fabric in dryer for adequate shrinkage.

Tear and align edges of all fabric for straight of grain.  For further instructions, refer to this posting: Straightening grain.  (My dear friend Louise, are you listening???)

Be sure to starch fabric well so it's stiff enough to have body, but not like cardboard.

It's perfectly okay to use up left over pieces of white.  You can throw in some tone on tone white if you have that also.  So long as everything is torn on grain, starched, and trimmed straight it will work out fine.

Repeat process with BLUE fabric.  And RED.

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For block A, you'll need 24 sets of 4 - WHITE (5-1/2") or 96 squares.

And 24 sets of 8 - BLUE (4-1/4") or 192 squares.

And 24 sets of 8 - RED (1-3/4") or 192 squares.

Just e-mail me if you have any questions.  And on behalf of our veterans, thank you for joining in on this year's QOV sew-a-thon.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

And Sew-On . . .

Whew, talk about a whirlwind week.

 Several friends came for lasagna last Sunday.  You know your dinner party is a success when there's a lot of laughter and everyone has plenty to eat.

My mother's china has only been used 4 times since she gave it to me in 1986.  Now that I'm living in one place for years instead of months, and it's finally unpacked, I hope to use it more often.

The Christmas decorations were kept to a minimum.   Just enough to add splashes of color here and there.

An old Country Living magazine photo was the inspiration for my latest quilt.  Warm browns for the churn dash block, bordered by an even warmer red.  The background print is a shirting from Whittles.com.

Just need to add the borders  . . . .  still deciding what width they need to be.

Here's the block recipe:

2 warm brown 3-1/2" squares
2 background 3-1/2" squares.
(Layer, draw a diagonal line through the middle, sew on each side creating 4 triangle blocks.  Trim to 3")

2" x 13" piece of warm brown.
2-1/4" x 13" piece of background print.
Sew together down the 13" length.  Press the seam towards the dark side and cut into 4 - 3" long sections.

The background print needs to be wider on that unit so the block trims down more easily once assembled.

The center background square is cut at 3".

Sew skinny 1/4" seams throughout and you'll end up with a trimmed 8" square.

Red sashing strips are cut at 3".

This quilt works best with a variety of light, dark, and medium prints using one print for each block.  Add some with stripes for visual appeal.  Most importantly starch fabric heavily before cutting out your strips and squares.

Dolly and I would like to wish you all a very happy and sew-full New Year.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear

but a furry, floppy-eared bunny whose name is Buttons . . .

coming along to tell Santa what she wants this year.

 Buttons knows she's not allowed in the house, but evidently could not resist a chance to see if Santa is truly real.

 I got my wish early and actually set up my sewing machine last night.  It was put away when the carpet cleaners came and that was what, 5 months ago.  Horrors!

Currently working on this baggie project, simply because it was easy to find amongst all the reorganization.

Until then, keep stitchin'  . . .