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Friday, February 15, 2019

Graceful Points QAL Block 2

Wow, two week goes by so quickly, how did Block 1 for your Graceful points QAL go for you?  I hope you had fun. If you miss Block 1, you can catch up by reading all about it through the Graceful Points QAL Kickoff Post.



Well let's get started with Block 2- BlockBuster #2 – Crowning Glory.  We will be making the following block sizes depending on your quilt size; 9" Finished (wall) and the 12" Finished (King).  

This block consist of making a 3-colored Quarter Square Triangles and Shaded Four Patches for the corners.  So you will need your Tucker Trimmer® 1, and Quilter's Magic Wand, if you need these you can purchase them from my website.  The Shaded Four Patch uses the Shaded Four Patch Technique Sheet, which can be purchased through the Studio 180 Design website.  The Technique Sheet is great to add to your Tucker Toolbox.  If you don't have the sheet for this block that's fine I will be walking you through the process in the Block Instructions and this photo tutorial.



Also, you will need the following Fabric Colors: C1, C2, C3, and Background (BG) to make your Crowning Glory block. 

Before we start make sure you Download your Block Instructions, and Blockbuster Block, remember both are required to make you block.

Please remember that the pictures used in this tutorial are for the 9" block for the Wallhanging.  Be sure to read the Downloaded Block Instructions to get the correct cutting and trimming sizes for the 12" block, which are indicated in (Blue) parenthesis. 


Let's get started making our Crowning Glory Block

Suggested: Before we start making our units, use the Cutting Chart from the Download Block Instructions cut all your strips, rectangles, and squares you will need to make this block.

Unit A: Shaded Four Patch

We are going to make 4 Shaded Four Patch units.

1. Gather your (2) C2 Strips (Narrow Strips), (2) BG Strips (Wide Strips), and (2) C3 rectangles.

2. Take a Narrow Strip and Wide Strip and stitch them together along the long side.  Repeat with the other strips.  Press them toward the Wide Strip.



3. Pair the two pieced strips with right sides together with the narrow strips on opposite sides so each narrow strip faces the wide strip.

Right Handed
Left Handed

4. Cut the strips into sections, according to the width of your Narrow Strip. Refer to your Downloaded Block instructions for width.  Keep the cut paired pieces together after cutting.

5. Stitch the paired pieces together along one long side. Snip the seam allowance at the halfway mark between the two squares all the way to the seam.  Don't be afraid to cut the seam allowance.




6. Select a ruler with a 45° angle on it. Your Tucker Trimmer would work great for this, just use the Bold Common Diagonal Line that runs down the middle.  Use the 45° angle line, place on the edge of the unit and draw a 45° angle sewing line from the top to bottom. The line should be through the corner of the square where the stitching lines meet.  Repeat the process for a second drawing a 45° angle sewing line. 




7. Center the unit over your C3 rectangle and Stitch on both of the lines.



8. Cut Away from 1/4" from the two stitching lines on both sides.  Pressing toward the larger triangle.

Right Handed

Left Handed
9. Position the sizing diagonal of the Tucker Trimmer® 1 over the unit so that it lines up with the diagonal seam line of the Shaded Four Patch and assuring the common line passes through the corners of the square at the center of the unit.  Trim the first two sides, up and across. (Note: the trim size used in these pictures are for the 9" block only)

Left Handed
10.  Rotate the unit 180° and line up the Tucker Trimmer® 1 over the unit again, aligning the diagonals and cut sizes lines with the previously trimmed edges and trim the remaining sides. Making sure to line up the sizing diagonal aligns with the diagonal seam of the unit and the center corner of the square match up with the common diagonal line.  (Note: the trim size used in these pictures are for the 9" block only)

Note: if you need more help with making the Shaded Four Patch Units, please watch the this YouTube Video on the Shaded Four Patch.   

If you are Lefty, you can Download the Left Hand cutting instructions for your Shade Four Patch Technique Sheet 

Make 4 Shade Four Patch units.

Unit B: Quarter Square Triangles

These 3-Colored quarter Square Triangles are made the same way as we did in Block 1. Except for colors and cutting sizes.


11. Gather your (1) BG Squares, (2) C1 Squares, and (1) C2 Squares.

12. Mark two stitching lines on either side of the center diagonal line using your Quilter's Magic Wand on the wrong sides of the two C1 Squares.

13. Position the C3 squares on squares on top of the other cut squares, as indicated in your Block 2 instructions.  Making sure to line up all the edges and points.  

14.  Cut down the middle and Press according to your instructions, the C3 fabric. Remember Don't trim these units down to size just yet.  We need to finish first.


You will have two different sets of the Half Square Triangles, BG / C1, and C2 / C1 units. 


15. Next, position a BG / C1 on top of the C1 / C1 units, assuring the C1 fabrics are the opposite of each other.


16. Using your Quilter's Magic Wand Mark two more stitching lines on the back of the one the half square triangles.  Stitch and Cut down the middle as we did before with the Half Square Triangles.  Press the seams as indicated in the instructions. It is recommended that you spin your Quarter Square seams to make sure they lay flat. 


Right Handed

Left Handed
17. Position the Tucker Trimmer over the Quarter Square Triangle unit, carefully aligning the sizing diagonal line with the stitched seam line of the fabric square.  Trim up and across the top. (Note: the trim size used in these pictures are for the 9" block only)


Right Handed

Left Handed
9. Rotate the unit 180° and line up the Tucker Trimmer and trim the remaining sides. (Note: the trim size used in these pictures are for the 9" block only)

Make 4 Unit B Quarter Square units.

Block Assembly



To finish your Block 2 follow your Blockbuster page Download to make sure you lay out the units correctly.  Be sure to watch your unit placements, especially for the Quarter Square Triangles.

Again, I'm leaving the pressing to your preferences so you can either press your units open or to the side, so they nest together. I have supplied a pressing diagram that is located on the last page of the block 2 instructions.

Have fun making Block 2-Crown Glory and  I hope you will share your photos in the comments below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  

The next Block will be posted on Friday, March 1st.  We will be using the Tucker Trimmer® 1 and the WingClipper® 1.  You can purchase them on my website.

Have fun with the block and a great weekend!


Tina
"Designs to Inspire"


Monday, February 11, 2019

Island Batik Magnificent Minis


The first project for the 2019 Island Batik Ambassador were challenged with was to make a Magnificent Mini that measured 24" x 24 or smaller.




For my project, I wanted to make a modern looking mini out of my Studio 180 Design tools and some of the fabrics from my Island Batik Ambassador leftover blender and basic fabrics from previous years. I also used four 5" x wof strips from my Stash builders bundles that I received in my Island Batik Ambassador Box.



My mini blocks were 3 1/2" unfinished,  I needed to make  1" finished units from my Studio 180 Design following V Block® trimmer and the Tucker Trimmer® 1 tool.  Many of you are probably asking can I get blocks that small with my Studio 180 Design tools.  Well, of course you can make units that small with the Studio 180 Design tools.  That why I love these tools they are so versatile with so many sizes in one tool.



To make the blocks used in my mini, I started off making a total of 36-1 1/2" unfinished V Block units out of two different stash builder strips.



Next, I made 36-1 1/2" unfinished combination units using my Tucker Trimmer® 1. 



Once all my units were made, I cut 9-1 1/2" squares for the center of my blocks. 




Time to lay out the blocks and sew them together. Each block measure 3 1/2" unfinished.  A helpful tip if you make a miniature quilt is to press all the seams open so you will not have a lot of bulk in your seams.



All I have to do now was to add a border and quilt it.




Speaking about quilting,  I was just about finished quilting my last project on the longarm, I had enough backing and batting fabric to quilt my mini.  So I added it to the end of the project and did a quick stipple and it was complete.



My modern mini measures 12" x 12" and is really cute. 

Make sure you check out the other Island Batik Ambassador Magnificent Mini Projects this month. Already planning out my March project with Vintage Reimagined.


Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen
Gene Black ~ Gene Black
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Connie K Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River
Anja Clyke ~ Anja Quilts
Becca Fenstermaker ~Pretty Piney
Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter
Barbara Gaddy ~ Bejeweled Quilts by Barb
Dione Gardner-Stephen ~ Clever Chameleon
Sarah Goer ~ Sarah Goer Quilts
Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts
Joanne Hart ~ Unicornharts
Mania (Magdalini) Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for Quilts
Carla Henton ~ Creatin in the Sticks
Stephanie Jacobson ~ Steph Jacobson Designs
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Joan Kawano ~ Moosestash Quilting
Kim Lapacek ~ Persimon Dreams
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Leanne Parsons ~ Devoted Quilter
Bea Lee ~ BeaQuilter
Toby Lischko ~ Gateway Quilts & Stuff
Bill Locke ~ Studio Bill Locke
Denise Looney ~ For the Love of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack's Blog
Kathleen McCormick ~ Kathleen McMusing
Carol Moellers ~ Carol Moellers Designs
Karen Neary ~ Sew Karen-ly Created
Jackie O’Brien ~ If These Threads Could Talk
Laura Piland ~ Slice of Pi Quilts
Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde
Vicki Schlimmer ~ Vicki's Crafts and Quilting
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sherry Shish ~ Powered by Quilting
Anita Skjellanger ~ Quilt in a not-Shell
Laticia "Tish" Stemple ~ Tish's Adventures in Wonderland
Jennifer Strauser ~ Dizzy Quilter
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Terri Vanden Bosch ~ Lizard Creek Quilts
Alison Vermilya ~ Little Bunny Quilts
Sandra Walker ~ mmm! quilts
(Debora) Anne Wiens ~ Seams like a Plan
Geraldine Wilkins ~ Living Water Quilter
Janet Yamamoto ~  Whispers of Yore




See you next month with Vintage Reimagined, should be some exciting projects.


Tina
"Designs to Inspire"




Saturday, February 9, 2019

Twilight Chic Week


Welcome to the final day of the Studio 180 Design Twilight Chic Week. There have been so many great projects from the Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors that featured Deb Tucker's Signature Collection "Twilight Chic" by Kathy Engle for Island Batik this week.  Today, we are finishing off the week with two more projects from my fellow Studio 180 Certified Instructor Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler and myself.



Today, I would like to show off my newest pattern "Getaway." These lovely butterflies are taking a flight to “Getaway” from the busy world around us.  This quilt that measures 45” x 45” when complete features the Studio 180 Design Square Squared® 6”, Split Rects®, and Rapid Fire® Lemoyne Star tools.  

I originally designed this project especially for Island Batik Ambassador "Getaway" blog hop to that showcase the Twilight Chic fabric collection. You can read about the original quilt, HERE.   So, when I was asked to be part of this Studio 180 Design Twilight Chic Blog Hop, I thought it was a good time to write the "Getaway" pattern because I had so many requests for it. 


Additionally, I wanted to test it out with another color version using the rest of the Twilight Chic Collection I had leftover.



My original Getaway quilt used colors from half of the collection which are more the purples, blues, and tans in the quilt. The colors in this half of the Twilight Chic fabric collection are so vibrant and bold. 



The second quilt I made uses the other half of the collection, which features more of the golds, and greens of the Twilight Chic collection.


This version makes the purples and greens really pop out.   





I love making this pattern, it is so much fun and easy to put together.  The only hard part about making this quilt is choosing the fabrics and making sure the block orientation is going in the right direction.

I really can’t decide which quilt version I love the best. The fabric collection is perfect for both versions.  Which one is your favorite? 


If you are interested in purchasing "Getaway", it is currently set for release next Friday, February 15th.  Please sign up for my newsletter to receive notification of the pattern release and upcoming events going on with Quilting Affection Designs.

Make sure you sign up for the Giveaway, for a Twilight Chic Fat Quarter Bundle.  Just Click on the image below to enter.


Blog Hop Giveaway
Also, If you have missed any of the fabulous projects displayed this week you can catch up now:

Monday, February 4

Tuesday, February 5
Thank you for joining me for this exciting blog hop day. 


Tina
"Designing to Inspire