Island Batik Ambassador - Try it Challenge

The month of June's Challenge was called "Try it!"  I wasn't sure what project I was going to do until Spring Market. Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design announced the newest tool, "Wedge Star," and I was going to learn how to use it at the Certified Instruction annual training event in June.  Then I knew what I wanted to do right away for my challenge project.

So, I looked through my Island Batik collection of fabrics and found four different fabrics I needed to make for the Free pattern located on the back of the instructions of the new tool.  All four fabrics colors are from the Island Batik Basic Collection.  The colors I used in this project are Valentino, Plum, Mardigras, and Grey.  All the fabrics except for the grey were purchased at "Annie's Quilt Shop" in Shelton Washington, while I was visiting my mom in February.  I just fell in love with the fabric combination.

The Wedge Star™ Tool was designed to make traditional Kaleidoscope Blocks.  You can make 22 different sizes, ranging from 3" finished to 24" finished.  The Instructions comes with instructions on how to make three basic blocks.  

Using the tool is very easy to cut out your wedge and Diamond Shapes.  I like to use paper plates to organize my pieces and fabrics for my projects. 

Once you have all your diamonds and small wedges cut out it is highly recommended to lay out your pieces so you can easily access them and keep organized as you piece the diamond and wedge shapes together.  

Not only is the tool used for cutting out your shapes. It is also used for trimming down your oversized pieces.  The process is very similar to your Rapid Fire® Lemoyne Star pieces.

Another block you can make is the Mixed Block Wedge Block where you sew Large Wedges and Diamond Wedges together.  You finish up the block with adding triangles around the corners and trimming to size using your Tucker Trimmer® III Tool.

The Wedge Star™ Tool is a fun tool to use, and I love making the blocks with the great Island Batik Basic Fabrics. I hope you will give it a try sometime, you can purchase the tool from your local quilt shop or visit the Studio 180 Design website.   I should note when making the projects that I use Auriful 50wt thread. I finished my quilt using Hobbs Heirloom Natural Cotton Batting.  

Now it is time to start thinking about my next Island Batik Project for the July.  Also, be sure to check out the other Island Batik Ambassador blogs list below. 

Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen

Gene Black ~ Gene Black

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Connie K Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River

Anja Clyke ~ Anja Quilts

Tina Dillard ~ Quilting Affection Designs

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

Lori Haase ~ Dakota City Quilter II

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

Lisa Nielsen ~ Lisa Lisa and the Quilt Jam

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

Suzy Webster ~ Adventurous Applique and Quilting

(Debora) Anne Wiens ~ Seams like a Plan

Geraldine Wilkins ~ Living Water Quilter

Janet Yamamoto ~  Whispers of Yore

See you next month,

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"

Graceful Points QAL Block 11

Today I'm releasing another block in the Graceful Points QAL, block 11.  We have just 4 more blocks before we finish up the QAL.  I can't wait to see all your finished quilts when we are done.  

Block 11 is also called in the Studio 180 Design Blockbuster #18, "A Popped V."  For this block, we will be using the BG, C1, C3, and C4 fabrics, so please refer to your color chart found in your general instructions. You will also want to download Block 11 and Blockbuster #18 "Salem Star" Instructions, both are required to make your blocks.

No new tools are being introduced this week for block 11. We are going to practice some of the techniques we have learned in previous weeks. With Block 11, we are going to make Popped V-Block, Sidekick Right, and Popped Center blocks.  So you will need your V-Block trimmer and Corner Pop® tool.  Please remember that you should read the tools instructions before starting if you are not familiar with this tool.  We will be making a 9" blocks for the Wallhanging and 12" for the King Size.  

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.

Unit A:  Popped V-Block

Let's do a quick review of the V-Block assembly and trimming of the V-Block.  First Layout your blocks as shown.  Making sure the long end of the side triangles match the short end of the center triangle and the bias edges lay next to each other.  

Then take the right side triangle and flip on top, so the right sides are together of the center triangle's slanted edges.  Stitch with 1/4" seam and press toward the side triangles.  Repeat for the other side triangle.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Position the V-Block® Trimmer on the unit and aligning the finished size measurement with the seam line.  Trim along the first two sides.

Rotate the unit 180° Position the V-Block® Trimmer again lining up the cut size measurement with the previously trimmed edges and "X" with the seam line intersections and trim.

Next, we are going to add the color pop to our V-Block units. This is what makes the Corner Pop® a fun tool.  

First, cut the small replacement squares diagonally once to yield two triangles.

Next, we are going to use the Cut Away section on the Corner pop® tool.  Find and Position the size line that is indicated in the pattern on the bottom right corner of the V-Block unit.  Trim along the slant.

Center the replacement corner along the long size on the trimmed corner.  Stitch with the unit on top using an accurate 1/4", press seams toward the small triangle. 

Right Handed

Left Handed

Using the appropriate, position the Corner Trim Down line of the Corner Pop® tool over the newly sewn seam.  Align the diagonal line with the seam and the edge of the unit with the edges of the tool. 

Repeat on the other side with the Cut Away, Replace, stitch, press the unit just as we did before.  

Make 4 Popped V-Block Units. 


Unit B:  Sidekick Right

Right Handed

Left Handed

We are now ready to start the Sidekick units, and we want the sidekick part to be on the right side.  So please remember when you cut out your base squares and side triangles with the rights sides face down on the cutting mat.

Layout the Base section and the side triangles just like the image above. 

Position a side triangle and base section with right sides together, aligning the edges and stitch.  Press seam away from the based section.

Position the V-Block® tool on the unit, lining up the side triangle with the guideline on the tool and trim.

Rotate the unit 180° and lining up the cut size measurement with the previously trimmed edges and "X" with the sewn seam line intersections.  Trim the remaining sizes.

Make 4 Sidekick Rights.

Unit C:  Center

For the Center, we are going to start with a base square and replacement triangles. Refer to your Block 11 instructions to get the sizes.

Find and Position the appropriate Cut Away Corner line on the Corner Pop® tool on the raw edge of the base square.  Trim away the corner.

Repeat for all four corners.  Tip: Place a pin in the fabric that needs a replacement triangle as a reminder for the corners that need to be replaced.

Position the replacement corners with the right sides together.  Assuring that the triangle long side is lined up on the trimmed corner.  Stitch with the base center is on top using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press away toward the small triangle. Repeat on all four corners

Using the appropriate mark, position the Corner Trim Down line of the Corner Pop® tool over the newly sewn seam.  Align the diagonal line with the seam and the edge of the unit with the edges of the tool.  Trim the corner, and repeat for all remaining corners.

Make 1 Center

Assembly

Once you have all your units complete, its time to lay out Block #11.  Please follow Blockbuster page Download to make sure you lay out the units correctly.  Double checking you have the correct placement of all your units.

That completes Block 11, the next block will be released on Friday, July 5th.  We will be adding the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star® tool into our next block, can't wait. 

Tina 

"Designing to Inspire"

Garden Enchantment BOM Block 3

Welcome back to Block 3 of the Garden Enchantment Block of the Month. 

Block 1

Month 2

To recap Block 1, we used our V-Block, Square Squared, and Tucker Trimmer to make the following SideKick & High/Lows, Diamond in a Square, and Half Square Triangles units.  Block 2, we introduced the Wing Clipper tool to make Flying Geese units.  If you missed the first two blocks and would like to catch up, you can do so by clicking HERE and don't forget to purchase your pattern also.

Month 3

Month 3 

Month 3 is now available for purchase.  You will also need the following Studio 180 Design tools to make this month blocks; Tucker Trimmer® I, and Wing Clipper® I.  

This block will consist of the following, Half Square Triangles, and Flying Geese units.  

This month we are going to make 4 blocks that will measure 9" square finished, so gather your fabrics and tools and let's get started making this fast and easy block. 

Half Square Triangles 

We are going to start with making our Half Square Triangle units. Since these units were discussed in Block 1 part 1, I will be only doing a quick overview of the process in this blog post. If you would like to review to process in full detail, please read Block1 part 1 blog post.  

Gather all our Half Square Triangle pieces that are indicated in the Cutting Instructions in the pattern.  Using your Quilter's Magic Wand mark two diagonal lines on the back of the White and Light Purple squares.  

Layer your squares with the coordinating color you are making, ensure the right sides are together.  Stitch on the drawn lines.

Cut down the middle between the stitched lines and press to the dark.

Trim the units to the size indicated in your pattern using the Tucker Trimmer® I.  

Repeat to make all your Half Square Triangle unit variations needed to make your blocks.

Flying Geese

Now we are going to on to make Flying Geese units.  I will be only doing a quick overview of the process since we just went over them in last month's blog post in block 2. If you would like to review to process in full detail, please read Block 2.  

Start off by gathering your large squares and small squares.  On the back of your smaller squares mark two diagonal each 1/4" from the center diagonal using your Quilter's Magic Wand or your ruler.  These diagonal lines will become your stitching lines.

Position 2 green squares diagonally in opposite corners on the large square.  Making sure to nudge the small squares toward the center about 3 or 4 thread from the raw edge of the larger square. 

Stitch on the drawn lines, then cut them apart between the lines of the stitching on the center diagonal.  Press toward the outside to make two wings.

Position one small square on each unit and Nudge 3 or 4 thread from the raw edge of the larger triangle section.  

Stitch on the drawn lines, then cut apart between the lines of stitching.  Pressing to the outside again.

Trim your oversized unit with your Wing Clipper® I to the size indicated in your pattern.

Repeat to make all the units combination indicated in the pattern.

Dual Color Flying Geese

Now I want to show how to make Dual Color Flying Geese.   Start off with one large square and four small squares, broke up into two different colors (For Example we will be using two white and two purple squares.)  Mark your two stitching lines as you do in making regular flying geese units.

Position the first two of the same color small squares on your large square.  Remembering to nudge your small squares 3 to 4 thread toward the center and stitch on your lines.  Cut apart down the center and press toward the outside.

Now with the position the other color squares on each of the units.  Again remember to nudge the small squares 3 to 4 threads toward the center and stitch on your lines.  Cut apart down the center and press toward the outside.  

Trim your oversize unit using your Tucker Trimmer® I tool.  Like you did in the regular Flying Geese units.  

Now that all your units are completed, its time to start assembling your block.  Follow your pattern instructions.  

This completes Block 3, remember you will need to make 4 blocks.  See you on July 15th for Block 4 release and tutorials.

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"