Graceful Points Final Instructions

Today is the release day for the final instructions in the Graceful Point QAL.  The download for the finishing instructions can be found HERE. 

Be sure to read the Downloaded Finishing Instructions to get the correct cutting and trimming sizes for the King Size that are indicated in (Blue) parenthesis.

The below instructions are for the Wallhanging, please read the Finish Instructions for how to assemble the King Size.


Quilt Layout Assembly

Once you cut all the Background squares, Center Fill rectangles and make the Half Square Triangles we can begin assembly of our quilt top.  When assembling the wallhanging, please pay close attention to how the quilt is assembled.  

Center Section

We start with building a border around the center block Blockbuster #26

Begin by adding background rectangles and Half Square Triangles that will surround the center block.  Note for the King Size, you will add an extra row of background rectangles and Half Square Triangles.

Next, you will add BG rectangles, Block 4, and Block 17 to the sides of the Center-Block.  The center section is now ready to make Top and Bottom Inner Rows.

The Top inner row:  assemble two Bonus Blocks, BG Rectangles and Block 18 together.

The Bottom inner row: assemble two Bonus Blocks,  BG Rectangles and Block 2 together.

Attach them to the Center Section and press according to the instructions.  Now we have the Center complete we are going to add two outer side rows.

The outer rows will use BlockBuster #9, BlockBuster #12 and BlockBuster #1, and Background Squares.  

Finally, we add the top and bottom rows to finish off the quilt.  The top row consists of the following Blockbuster #8, #10, #22, and #7 Blocks.  The Bottom uses Blockbuster #6, #25, #20, and #9 Blocks.  

All we have to do now is to add the borders, and you have a completed quilt top. 

This is the King Size, done in different colors.  

Just love how both of these quilts turned out. I hope you enjoyed this Quilt Along and your finished quilts. Please share your photos in the comments section below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  Additionally, you can post your blocks on Facebook or Instagram, making sure to use the #gracefulpointsqal and/or #quiltingaffection designs.

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"

Graceful Points Block 15

Are you ready? It's time to release the next block and final block in the Graceful Points Quilt Along.  Today we are releasing block 15, Blockbuster #26 "Cactus Bloom." 

For this block, we will be making Popped Corner Beam, Corner Beams and Flying Geese units with the Studio 180 Design, Corner Beam®, Corner Pop®, and Wing Clipper® tools. 

Make sure you download both of the Block 15 and Blockbuster #26- "Cactus Bloom" Instructions, which are required to make your blocks.  

Please remember that the pictures used in this tutorial are for the 12" block for the Wallhanging.  Be sure to read the Downloaded Block Instructions to get the correct cutting and trimming sizes for the King Size 18" block, which are indicated in (Blue) parenthesis.

Unit A: Corner Beam Popped

We are going to start off the Corner Beams by cutting our center beam first.  Placing your square on the cutting mat.  Position the Corner Beam® tool, so the dashed line labeled "Center Beam Trim #1" and the Finished Unit Line with the other edge of your fabric square.  Trim along the slanted edge of the tool.

Next, lift and Reposition the Corner Beam® tool, aligning the dashed line labeled "Center

Beam Trim #2" with the previously trimmed angle and trim along the slanted edge again. 

Cut 4 Center Beams

Now we are going to cut the side triangles:

Right Handed

Left Handed

Gather your BG strips.  Position the Corner Beam® tool on the strip so that the Bold line labeled "Side Triangles Trim #1" aligns up against the trimmed end of the BG Strip and the Finished line against the bottom of the strip.  Trim along the slanted edge of the tool.

Right Handed

Left Handed

 Rotate your tool, one quarter turn counterclockwise.  Positioning the line labeled Side Triangle Trim #2, against the slanted edge on the previously trimmed edge, making sure the bottom of your strim is lined up along the second trim line and trim.

Cut 4 Side Triangle Pairs.

Arrange your Side Triangles and Center beam pieces. Assuring the short end and the angles align with the Center beam.

Position a side triangle onto the Center Beam, placing them right sides together, assuring to offset the tip of the center beam about 1/4" above the side triangle.   Stitch the center beam on top of the sides triangle with a 1/4" seam allowance.  

Press seams toward the side triangles.

Position the other side triangle on the other side.  Stitch with a 1/4" seam and press seam toward the side triangles.  

Right Handed

Left Handed

Position the unit on your cutting mat.  Right-hand cutters place your point of the corner beam right side (see above), and Left-handed cutters place the point of your corner beam to the right side.  

Aligning the "Seam Line Placement" guidelines with the diagonal seams of your unit.  Trim the two sides.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Rotate your Corner Beam unit 180°.  Making sure to align up the Finished size guidelines and the seam intersection nests in the "V" and the corner to corner diagonal seams fall right along with the points of the "V"s.  Trim the remaining sides of the units.

Next, Popped Corners

Start off by cutting the small squares diagonally in half to yield 2 triangles.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Position the CB units right side up on the cutting mat.  Find and Position the Cut Away Corner Line that is indicated in your Block instructions on the outer Beam as shown.  Trim.

Take one of the replacement triangles and center it with the long side of the Corner Beam that was just trimmed.  Stitch with Corner Beam on top using a 1/4" Seam allowance.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Position the Corner trim Down Line fo the Corner Pop tool over the newly sewn seams.  Make sure to align the diagonal line with the seam, plus the edges of the unit with the edges of the tool. Trim the corner.

Make 4 Popped Corner Beams

Unit B: Corner Beams

We will be making smaller Corner Beams for Unit B.  So we will be following the steps above just we won't be popping the corners this time.  These Corner Beams will be smaller in size, so refer back to your block instructions for the correct sizes.

Make 4 Unit B's

Unit C: Flying Geese

Since we have made Flying Geese units several times in this QAL, I will just remind you of the placement of your Wing Clipper® I tool.

Position your Wing Clipper® I on your Flying Geese unit.  Aligning the diagonal guidelines on the Wing Clipper® I with the seams of the unit.  When doing this, you will be automatically be centering the tool over your pieced unit.  Trim the sides and across the top.

Rotate your unit 180° and reposition the Wing Clipper® I to align the previously trimmed raw edge with the cut size of your unit and "X" at the top with the intersection of the seams.  Trim the remaining sides.

Assembly

Now that you have all your units complete, its time to lay out Block #15.  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.

To start the assembly, you will want to stitch your 2 different Flying Geese units together first. Then assemble the four Unit B Corner Beam units together.  

Once your Flying Geese and Corner Beam Center are complete. You can stitch all units together to make your block. 

Block 15, "Cactus Bloom" is now complete.  

But now I have added a Bonus Block that is part of the QAL.  This Bonus Block is not a Blockbuster, this is something I designed to fill in four corners around the quilts.  I'm providing this block ahead of the Finishing Instructions that will be released in a couple weeks.  You will be making 3 Square Squared units.  Download your Bonus Block Instructions now. 

I look forward to seeing your Blocks, and I hope you will share your photos in the comments section below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  Additionally, you can post your blocks on Facebook or Instagram, making sure to use the #gracefulpointsqal and/or #quiltingaffection designs.  I can't wait to see your blocks.

On Friday, August 30th will be the release date for Final Quilt Instructions in our quilt along.

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"

Graceful Points Block 14

It's another Friday, and it's time to release another block in the Graceful Points Quilt Along.  Today we are releasing block 14, Blockbuster #25 "Winged Four Patch."  This block is so easy using the Four Patch Square up© tool, by Studio 180 Designs.

For this block, we will be making Two Colored Flying Geese with the Studio 180 Design, Wing Clipper® tool, and Four-Patch units using the Four Patch Square Up© Tool Squared and square units to complete this block.   

Make sure you download both of the Block 14 and Blockbuster #25- "Winged Four Patch" Instructions, which are required to make your blocks.

Please remember that the pictures used in this tutorial are for the 6" 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 start with the Two-Color Flying Geese 

When making a multi-colored Flying Geese, the process is the same as a normal Flying Geese up to Step 6, when you change up the color of the small squares.  Let walk through the steps.

1. Gather all your pieces.

2.  Mark two lines 1/4" away from the center diagonal on the wrong sides of the small squares.

3.  Position the red squares diagonally on the larger square.  Remember to nudge the smaller squares toward the center about 3 or 4 threads from the raw edge of the larger square.

4.  Stitch on the lines, then cut apart between the lines.

5.  Press toward the small triangles.

6.  Using the Gold small squares position the squares on each of the units. Again remember to nudge the squares.

7. Stitch on the drawn lines and cut apart between the lines.

8. Press toward the small triangles.

Right Handed

Left Handed

9. Align the diagonal guidelines of the Wing Clipper® I with the seams of the Flying Geese unit.  Centering the tool over the size specified in your directions. Trim the side and across the top.

Right Handed

Left Handed

10. Rotate your flying geese unit 180° and reposition the Wing Clipper® I to align the previously trimmed raw edge size and "X" at the top with the intersections of the seams.  Trim the remaining sides again.

Make 8 FG units. 

Four Patch

1.  Gather your Strips. 

2.  Pair the strips (BG and C2) and (C1 and C2) and Position them with right sides together.

3.  Stitch down the length of the strips with your best 1/4" seam and press toward the dark fabric.

4. Cut your strip in half crosswise.  Placing the two halves with right sides together and the colors are opposite of each other, so they nest nicely.

5. After squaring up the end subcut along the strip into the width that you cut your strips.  Refer to your Block Instructions for sub-cutting sizes for your blocks. Leave your subcut units.

6. Gather your paired subcut units with right sides together and stitch down the long side of the layered pair. 

7. I suggest for this project pressing the seams open.

Right Handed

Left Handed

8.  Locate the finished size circle on the Four Patch Square Up© tool.  Position this circle over the seam intersections of your four patch unit.  Aligning the dashed line coming from the cirlce line up on the seams.  Trim the first two sides.

Right Handed

Left Handed

9.  Rotate your Four-Patch unit 180° degrees and repositioning the finished size circle and the cleanup lines.  Trim the final two sides.

Make 2 Red and Gold units

Make 2 Red and White units

Finishing

Let now stitch the Four Patches units together. Press the seams open to make 1 center unit.

Next, Stitch the Flying Geese units together.  Make sure to stitch two that have the red on the left side together and the other 2 with the gold on the left side.  Pressing the seams open to make 2 Red Flying Geese units and 2 Gold Flying Geese units.

Take the 2 red flying geese units and stitch two squares on the ends and press the seams open.  This will become the top and bottom of the block.

Stitch the 2 gold flying geese sides of the center unit and press open.  Then finish off the block with stitching the top and bottom on the block and press the seams open.

Your Block 14-Blockbuster #25 Winged Four Patch is now complete. I look forward to seeing your Blocks, and I hope you will share your photos in the comments section below or on the Graceful Points Facebook Group.  Additionally, you can post your blocks on Facebook or Instagram, making sure to use the #gracefulpointsqal and/or #quiltingaffection designs.  I can't wait to see your blocks.

Come back on Friday, August 16, where we will be making the final block #15, and I will be releasing a special bonus block.  Then on August 30th, I will be releasing the final assembly instructions to this QAL.