Island Batik Ambassador: Top it Off

I finally getting caught up from the preparing and excitement at being at the Houston Quilt Market and Festival. 

My first goal once I was recovered was to get my October Island Batik Project finished for you all to see. And today, I have finally finished it.

October's task was to make a Holiday table topper and have some applique worked into the project.  So after I looked through my Island Batik Fabrics, I decided on a few fabrics that would make my project look have a Christmas feel. 

This project was going to be made from some of my favorite tools, the Studio 180 Design Square Squared Tool, and the Sue Pelland Designs Leaves Galore Template. 

 I started with making some Little House units for this project.

Next, I needed to cut out some leaves for the center of the Little House units. Next, I prepared my leave fabric by applying MistyFuse Fusible Webbing on the back.  Once the MistyFuse had cooled, I used my Sue Pelland Design Leaves Galore "Norme" Template to cut out 3" Leaves using my 28mm Rotary cutter.  With to passes, I had enough 3" leaves for my project.

Then using a straight ruler, I found the bottom middle and the bottom 1/4" mark. These would be my placement lines for the tips of the leaves.

At the ironing board, I placed the tips of the leaves on the placement lines.  Once the leaves are in proper placement, I fused them to the fabric and stitch them in place.

Next, I need to add some "S" And "Z" shapes using the same Leaves Galore Template. With the MistyFuse down on the cutting mat, I start cutting out the "S" Shapes.  For the "Z" Shapes, I would place the Fused side up.

Now I need to mark some 1/4" placement lines in the corners of a square.  These lines will be used for the placement of the "S" and "Z" Shapes.  

At the Ironing Board, place the shapes tips to match up across two corners and inside the 1/4" marks.  Once in place, fuse the shapes in place and then stitch them in place.

Once I had them everything ready, I put the blocks together and stitched all my table runner together. Then it was time to quilt it. For the quilting, I used my Leaves Galore, and Iron off chalk I some quilting lines and began quilting away.

Here is the finished product, I just love this table runner.  What a fun project and love how piecing and applique can work together. The Sue Pelland Designs Leaves Galore templates to make the cutting so much easier.

Stay tuned for the Novembers Island Batik Ambassador project.

Tina 

"Designs to Inspire"

Graceful Points QAL Block 5

Hello Everyone!  Today we will be starting block 5 in our Graceful Points QAL.  But before we begin, I would like to recap the first four blocks we have completed.   

Block One - Ohio Star Variations

Block 2 - Crowning Glory

Block 3 - Capital T Variation

 Block 4 - Rolling Stone

All these blocks are so much fun to make, and I just love the various fabric colors that people are using in our Graceful Points Quilt Along Facebook Group. 

Now let's get started with our next block!  Block #5, is Studio 180 Design Blockbuster #7 - Whimsy Turndash.  In this block, we will continue to use the Square Squared tool to make the center block unit and the Little Houses Units based on the Studio 180 Design Little House Technique Sheet.

We will be using four colors for this block, BG, C1, C2, C3, please refer to your color chart found in your general instructions.   

Before we start, make sure you Download your Block 5, and Blockbuster Block #7 Whimsy Turndash Instructions, remember both are required to make you block.

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.

Whimsy Turndash

Unit A - Square Squared 

For today's block, I will not be jumping into the full walk-through since we built this in our last block, Rolling Stone. Last time, I walked you through how to use the Square Squared Tool and the process of making the block. If you would like a refresher, please pop over and read the blog post.  You can also watch the Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design Video on the Square Squared tool also.

Unit B - Little Houses

Now let's start working on the Little Houses, which are an extension of what you can do with your Square Squared tools.  You can view the full instructions and cutting charts on the Little Houses Technique Sheet.

Step 1. You will gather two small squares and one large square that you cut out according to your block instructions.

Step 2. Mark one single stitching line along the diagonal of the reverse side of the two small squares.

Step 3. Position one small square on one of the corners of the large square, with right sides facing each other, making sure the diagonal is aligned across the corner of the larger square.

  

Step 4. Stitch on the marked line, then trim 1/4" away from the stitched line. Press away from the large square.

Step 5. Position the second square on the large square next to the one you just finished.  Making sure to align the diagonal across the corner.  

Step 6. Stitch on the line, Trim and Press just like you did in the other corner. 

The trimming process is similar to the way we trim our units down in the Square Squared units.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Step 7. Position the Trim down Section of the Square Squared tool over the unit. Focus on aligning the "X" for your finished block size unit over the sewn seams.  Trim from South to North and across the top.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Step 8. Rotate you Square Squared unit and reposition the Square Squared tool. Again lining up the "X's for you finished block size, and also lining up the cleanup lines on the tool with the previously trimmed edges.  Complete the second trim.

Make 4 Little House Units.

Unit C Half Square Triangles

Step 1.  Gather your squares you cut according to the block instructions.

Step 2. Using you Quilter's Magic Wand tool, mark two stitching lines 1/4"  on either side of the center diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter fabric.

Step 3. Layer your dark fabric and light fabric squares with right sides together.

Step 4.  Stitch on the drawn lines, and cut down the middle.  Press seam toward the darker fabric.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Step 5. Position you Tucker Trimmer® tool over the unit, carefully aligning the common diagonal and sizing diagonal line with the cutting size you will need for you block your making.

Right Handed

Left Handed

Step 6. Rotate the unit 180° and line up your Tucker Trimmer® tool again, and focusing on the common diagonal and the sizing line is aligned on the cut size of your unit. 

Make 4 Half Square Triangles