Newest Design will have to wait . . .

Just a quick note to let you know that my newest finished quilt for Quilter's World, won't be up here on the website until January, 2014.  I was hoping to be able to show you the quilt in October but they decided to hold it over for the Spring, 2014 issue rather than the Winter, 2013 issue.  It really does make sense to me because it is more spring than winter.  I think you will like it though, it is really easy and fast.  So just a little longer wait but hopefully worth it.

I do have a couple of other fun things that I can't show here right now because I am submitting them for publication next year.  I think in the mean time I will put some patterns up here like I did the Ring Toss Block  and of course, I am still pondering publishing patterns for sale individually, not in magazines.

What do you think?  Would individual patterns be a good thing?  Would you like them to be downloadable as well as traditional paper patterns?  

I would love to hear from you.

Whacky Ring Toss Tutorial

This block is a really fast and fun block that I put together for a block exchange group that I am participating in, Simply Solids on Flickr, but I hope you all enjoy it as well.

The measurements here will result in an unfinished block that measures 15”.  The size of the starting squares can be increased or decreased to change the size of the block to suit your purposes.

For this block you will need:

2 each         9” squares dark (in the pictures I have used a purple hand dyed)

2 each         9” squares light (in the pictures I have used a lavender solid)

Feel free to use whatever light and dark you desire.  This is a great scrap buster block.  I have chosen to use the 9” squares to start because that make is really fat quarter friendly.  You can get 4-9” squares from a single fat quarter which will give you two of these blocks.

1.  Stack the four squares right sides up in one stack on your cutting table.

2.  Using a ruler and your rotary cutter make two cuts on either side through all layers.  Angle the cut and use a width that appeals to you cutting the stack into approximate thirds.

3.  Next cut the center strip in thirds.  Again, using a rotary cutter and a width which appears pleasing and at an angle.  Your angle may be slight or more pronounced as you desire.  There is no right or wrong on this block.

4.  Move the top fabric from the center piece to the bottom of that stack which will rotate the fabrics showing on the top.

5.  Assemble the unit as it is sitting on your table, putting the three pieces of the center strip together and then the side strips.  This method does not involve a great deal of matching and the pieces, especially the sides, will be larger than the center strip.  After the unit is assembled, trip down to 7.5” square.

6.  Continue assembling the other three units until you have all four done.  At this point you and twist and turn until you have a pleasing arrangement and then put the four units together for the completed block.  Every block will be a little bit different.

  

This block and this method is really fun to play with.  Choose your favorite colors and jump in, no stress, no waste, no matching.

Here is a picture of a table runner that I did using this technique and this block just to try is out.  Hope you enjoy this !!

May Block Swap Done

OK, here is what I wanted to show you today.  I finished up the monthly blocks for the Simply Solids swap that I am doing and thought I would post a picture here.  This is going to be a stunning quilt when Ginny gets is all done. She chose a design called Gemstone which you can see the tutorial here 

http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2012/07/tutorial-gemstone-blocks.html

Here is a picture of the pattern complete in greens and purples, love this:

(Images courtesy of Cathy @ Blueberry Patch)

The block is really a two for one type thing and the tutorial is there at the link above.  It is really easy to do and the quilt above is really eye catching.

What do you think??  I love it.

Anyway, here are the pictures of the two blocks that will to be my contribution.

 She is using several different colors but the ones she sent me were blues and browns.  Nice.

Well, that's it for now.  More soon and hopefully some pictures from Market and quilt shops in the surrounding area.