Thursday, May 15, 2025

Block Party Block #58 - Crossed Patch


Block Party Block #58—Crossed Patch is a fun and simple quilt block that uses only two units: the Shaded Four Patch and the Four Patch. To create these units, you will need your Tucker Trimmer, the Four Patch Square Up tools, and the Shaded Four Patch Technique Sheet.

This tutorial will guide you through making the units for this block. It does not replace the tool instructions and technique sheet. I used scraps from Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design Bubbles, Curves, and Corner fabric that I have left over. I chose four different fabrics from the collection and white for the background.

Before we begin, download your free Block Party Block https://bit.ly/BPB58CrossedPatch.

Determine Block and Unit Size

First, decide on the block and unit size you want to create. Then, refer to your tool and technique sheet along with the cutting charts to find the starting strip sizes for the units you will be making.

Shaded Four Patch


For this unit, we will use a strip piecing method to make our units two at a time, and then we will trim them down with our Tucker Trimmer. Please cut your strips and rectangles according to the chart on your technique sheet. To clarify their roles in the unit, the Narrow Strip corresponds to the light teal fabric square, the Wide Strip represents the blue triangles, and the Rectangle is made from the white background fabric.


Now that we have our strips, let’s piece the narrow and wide strips together by stitching them lengthwise. You can create two strip sets or just one and cut it in half to make two sets. Press toward the wide strip.

Right-Handed


Left-Handed

Next, place the two-piece strip sets right sides together on the cutting mat, ensuring the narrow strips are opposite each other. Make sub-cuts the width of the narrow strip, keeping the paired sub-cuts together. Each sub-cut will yield two Shaded Four Patch units. Cut as many as you need according to the pattern.

Stitch

Snip

Stitch each pair together along the long side. 
Cut the center of the stitched pairs between the two squares, cutting close to the seam allowance or just beyond it. Press your seams in the opposite direction.


Now, select a ruler with a long 45-degree angle; I suggest using the First Choice Ruler for this part. Find the 45-degree angle dashed line on the ruler used for marking. Place both 45-degree lines on the small square's seam lines, ensuring you align with the corner where the seams meet. Draw a line along the angle. Rotate the unit and repeat on the other side to draw another 45-degree line. Center the large rectangle over the unit with right sides together.


Stitch along both drawn lines. Cut ¼” away from the stitched lines on both sides, and press toward the large triangle.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Using your Tucker Trimmer, align the Sizing Diagonal line with the sewn seam and the common diagonal along the other seam. Trim up and across. 

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Rotate your unit 180 degrees, replace the Tucker Trimmer, realign the sizing and cleanup lines on the previously trimmed edges, and trim the final two sides of the unit.

You will need to make a total of 8 Shaded Four Patch units.

Four Patch Units


Next, we will create the four patch units using the strip-piecing method. Using the tool instructions and cutting chart, cut your strips based on the unit size you will be making. I recommend using the ¼” increment line, as it allows for slightly more room for trimming and makes it easier to cut 1/4” than 1/8”.



Once you cut your strips, pair your colors together to make two different-colored strip sets. Place the strips right sides together and stitch down the long side. Press the seams to one side or open.


Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Now, take the two-piece strip sets and place them right sides together on the cutting mat, making sure the colored fabrics are positioned opposite each other and nesting the seams. Sub-cut along the strips, keeping the pairs together.


Stitch the sub-cut pairs together and press your seams to the side or open.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Using your Four Patch Square Up, align the finished-size circle over the seam intersection of the Four Patch unit. Line the dashed lines radiating from the center with your seams, then trim up and across the unit.

Right-Handed

Left-Handed

Rotate your unit 180 degrees, reposition the Four Patch Square Up, and align the finished-size circle with the center and dashed lines on the seams. Make sure the trimmed edges are aligned with the cut-size clean-up lines. Trim up and across the unit.

You will need to make 8 Four Patch units for this block.

Block Assembly


Layout two Shaded Four Patch and Two Four Patch units as shown in the picture above. Stitch this quarter of the block together, and repeat three more times. Press as desired.


Position and lay out the four block quarters as shown. Stitch them together and press as desired to finish your Crossed Patch Block.


Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Island Batik Ambassador Drunkard’s Path Challenge – Tick Tock




This month's Island Batik Ambassador project theme was Drunkard’s Path! We were tasked with designing quilts that featured the timeless Drunkard’s Path block, which needed to be at least lap size or larger.

Misty Morning

Dark Grey and White Solids

For my project, I used the Island Batik Misty Mornings fat quarter bundle. I also incorporated solid white and dark gray fabrics, with the dark gray being a perfect accent.

Black Accent

Dark Grey Accent

I selected the design I had created a couple of years ago, but had never used. My original design featured 6-inch appliqué units, but since the challenge rules specified that no appliqué could be used, I had to adapt my approach to strictly curved piecing.

Wonder Curve Ruler


Drunkard Path Units

While working on the Starry Nights quilt, I experimented with the Sew Kind of Wonderful Wonder Curve Ruler. I used that pattern's instructions to create my Drunkard’s Path units. The Wonder Curve Ruler allowed me to cut the inner and outer curve pieces quickly and efficiently. Once the units were sewn together, I could easily trim them to size, making the process straightforward.

Corner Popped Drunkards Path units.

Next, I aimed to add a pop of color to the units against a white background. I utilized one of my favorite tools, the Studio 180 DesignCorner Pop II tool. I trimmed away the colored fabric one side at a time and added solid dark gray replacement triangles, pressing toward the replacement triangles. Then, I cut the unit to size before repeating the process on the other side.



Once I had assembled my project, it was time to baste the quilt in preparation for quilting. I used Hobbs Heirloom Natural Cotton Batting and the Kimberbell Clear Blue Titles method to quilt it on my BERNINA 700 embroidery machine. This was my second quilt using this method, but it was my first lap-sized quilt. I really enjoyed using this method.



I finished off the quilt with a multicolored binding.

The following sponsored products were used to create the quilt top:

 - Fabric: Misty Mornings (Kate Colleran Collection) for Summer 2024 from Island Batik in collaboration with Lumin Fabrics.

- Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Natural Cotton.

- Sewing supplies: Aurifil 50 wt cotton thread, Schmetz Microtex needles, and the Oliso M3 Pro Iron.

 I purchased all the other products mentioned in this blog.

List of all of the Island Batik Ambassadors for 2025.

Saturday, April 5, 2025

Forest Flora Blog Hop - Field of Leaves Block Party Tabletopper


Welcome to the Forest Flora Blog Hop! During this blog hop, several other Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors and I created a nature-themed project featuring Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design's latest Forest Flora fabric collection by Island Batik for Lumin Fabrics. 


This beautiful collection captures the essence of fall and is now available at your local quilt shops.

9 Fabrics from the Forest Flora Collection

Today, I'm excited to share a table topper design called the Field of Leaves, which is also this month’s Block Party Block #57. You can find the download link below. This topper measures 30” by 30” and features nine different fabrics from the Forest Flora collection. To create it, I used several Studio 180 Design tools: the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star, Tucker Trimmer, Four Patch Square Up, Square Squared, and Wing Clipper. These tools make the process quick and easy.

Block Party Block #57; you can download this free Block Party now by using this link: https://bit.ly/bpb57-fieldofleaves.

Let me walk you through the units and tools I used to create the Field of Leaves.

Stacked Square

First, I used the Square Squared tool to make the centerpiece of the table topper, which is a Stacked Square unit from the Studio 180 Design Stacked Square Technique Sheet.

Most units in this topper were finished at 3 inches, so I used the Studio 180 Design Pint Size tools to trim them down.

Quarter Square Triangles

Shaded Four Patch

The Pint Size Tucker Trimmer was employed to create the two different Quarter-Square Triangle units and again to trim the two different Shaded Four Patches units.

First Choice Rulers

Speaking of the Shaded Four Patch units, the new First Choice Rulers are designed to assist with various units. By using the marked side of the ruler, you can accurately place the marking line on the back of your units, eliminating second-guessing when marking those 45-degree lines. The First Choice rulers have quickly become my preferred rulers.

Sub-cutting with the First Choice Rulers

I also used the First Choice ruler to sub-cut all Four Patch strips. I trimmed the units with the Four Patch Square Up tool, achieving perfect results every time.

Pint Size Wing Clipper

To add more color to the table topper, I made two flying geese units and trimmed them using the Pint Size Wing Clipper Tool

Lemoyne Star and First Choice Rulers

sub-cutting

The Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star tool and First Choice rulers are ideal for making the initial and secondary sub-cuts for the Lemoyne Star units. 

Lemoyne Star Quarter Units

The Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star tool helped me produce flawless Lemoyne Star Quarters, which I then trimmed using the Tucker Trimmer.

Center Block

With all the units completed, it was finally time to assemble the quilt topper. I began with making the center block.

Added Lemoyne Border

Next, I added Lemoyne Stars and Flying Geese units around it to form a border encompassing the center block. 

Assembly

After that, I constructed corner blocks using Lemoyne Stars, Shaded Four Patches, and Filling Four Patch Blocks made from Four Patches and Squares. I also assembled a Quarter Square Block consisting of a Quarter Square Triangle and a Square.

I placed two Filling Four Patch Blocks on each side of the Quarter Square Block and repeated this process to create four rows. To form a long row, I added two Corner Blocks to one of these rows, which allowed me to create an even longer row. These ended up being the top and bottom rows of the quilt. I stitched the shorter rows to the sides of the center block and then added the final long rows to complete the quilt top.

Border

I added a border that provided the finishing touch the quilt needed.


Quilting in the Hoop

I quilted the topper using my Bernina 700 embroidery machine. I chose a fall-themed design that really made the quilting stand out. 

Block Party Block #57-Field of Leaves

I absolutely love the design of this new topper! The Forest Flora fabric collection really makes the Field of Leaves table topper stand out and captures that cozy fall vibe. I can't wait to use it on my table this fall.


New Pattern

I'm excited to share a new pattern featuring the Forest Flora Collection that utilizes the Studio 180 Design Star 60 tool. Flora Bouquet, which measures 58” x 57 ½”, is a beautiful wall hanging that is easy to construct with the Star 60 tool. This pattern has absolutely no Y-seams. It uses a combination of Star 60 units and Capped 60 units to create those unique divided hexagon lines.


This pattern is now available on my website, Quilting Affection Designs. You can also ask your local quilt shop to purchase the pattern for their shop.

Thank you for joining me and my fellow Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors this week as we showcased our nature-themed projects. If you would like to revisit the other blog posts or view the projects again, please click the links below.

Saturday, March 29th - Studio 180 Design Kick Off




Thursday, April 3rd - Kathy Tucker of K&S Quilting 

Friday, April 4th -  Diana Mann of Murgaboo Quilts 

Saturday, April 5th - Tina Dillard of Quilting Affection Designs (Today) 

Monday, April 7th - Studio 180 Design Wrap Up