Block Party Block #20 - Ice Flake

It was release week for another fun and exciting Block Party Block. With this month's block, Ice Flakes, we take the Studio 180 Design V Block and Corner Beam units and combine them with the Corner Pop tools. 

This tutorial will show you how to use the Studio 180 Design Corner Pop II to pop the side triangle corner on Corner Beam units.

If you're popping any corners, you need to trim your units to size first. Be sure to read your tool's instructions before you start.

The first thing you've got to do is cut the corner off the Corner Beam unit. To begin with, you'll need to determine which size to remove. This example uses a 2" finished cutaway.  

You will need to find the Cut Away Corner section on the tool, locate the label "Cut Away Corners." Each number represents the finished height of the cutaway line, so we are planning to use the 2" cutaway lines for this tutorial.  

We will begin with a Type 1 cutaway, which is a slant to the left. In Type 1, the units are put on the cutting mat right side up and trimmed down with their wrong sides up.

Now, let's place our Corner Beam unit with the right sides up on your cutting mat. Using the bottom left corner of the Corner Beam unit, align the 2" lines along the sides. Once you have the lines aligned, make a slanted cut. The slant cut will give the seam a proper 1/4" allowance.

Using the cutting chart in the tool instructions, we can find the replacement triangle strip width for a 2" finished unit, which is a 3" strip. To get replacement triangle pairs, fold your strip in half and place it on the cutting mat. Then trim the ends.  

Locate the Replacement Triangle Cut Line. It will be a bold line next to the Cut Away Corners. You will need to place the 3" line at the bottom of your strip as well as the Bold line at the trimmed end. You will need to trim up along the slant to make the first pair of triangles on each side.

Using the top edge of the tool, you will make the next cut for the replacement triangles. Position this top edge of the strip on top of the strip. The first 1/2" dashed line will align with the point of the slant side of the strip. Cut across to the top of the tool. Repeat until you have all the pairs of triangles. 

Placing the slanted left replacement triangle on the left side of the Corner Beam unit is the next step. To do this, flip the triangle over, center it, and stitch it. Then press the seams open.

Reposition the pressed unit on the cutting mat, and place the replacement triangle in the upper right-hand corner. Corner Trim Down Section: Position the corner trim down section and locate the 2" cutting line on the seam of the replacement triangle. Check that the unit is square by using the dashed lines on the tool, then cut the two sides. Leave the unit on the mat.

It is now time to create Type 2 which will slant to the right. The unit will be placed on the cutting mat with the wrong sides up, and the trim will be placed right side up.

Now that the unit is wrong sides up, we have to find the 2" cutaway line again, align the lines on the bottom left corner, and remove the corner. 

Place a slanting right replacement triangle on the side of the unit that you just cut off. Flip the replacement triangle over, right sides together. Then flip the unit and triangle so that the replacement is on the bottom and sew it together. Then press the seam open.

Put the unit down on the cutting mat one more time, right-side up, with the replacement triangle in the upper right-hand corner. Using the same technique as the opposite corner, align the 2" Corner Trim Down line on the seam line. Align the dashed lines to square up the unit. Make the final two cuts.

When you are finished, you will have a beautiful corner popped Corner Beam unit. Try out Studio 180 Design Corner Pop II and III, you will get addicted as I did. Download this pattern for free HERE. Additionally, you can sign up for my email newsletter to receive the Block Party Block every month on the 15th. 

Day 5 - Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design Bellingham Bay Blog Hop

Greetings, and Welcome to the Final Day of the Bellingham Bay Blog Hop! I am Tina Dillard, a Certified Instructor, Author, and Quilt Pattern Designer under Quilting Affection Designs. In addition, I have founded Precision Block Academy, where you can learn and achieve Perfect Points every time with Studio 180 Design tools.

I hope you've enjoyed the Studio 180 Design "Bellingham Bay" Blog Hop. "Bellingham Bay" is Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design's first Original Fabric Collection with Island Batik. This collection is arriving this month at your local quilt shop, so check with your favorite shop. If your shop doesn't have it, request it. Three other Certified Instructors and I are showcasing these beautiful, earth-tone fabrics in quilts. These quilts also feature the Rapid Fire Hunter Star Tool and Studio 180 Design Fundamental tools.

Click on the links below to see and read more about these fantastic quilts.

Day 1 - Studio 180 Design

Day 2 - Terri Welch of Quilter's Journey

Day 3 - Gail Renna of Quilt Haven Threads 

Day 4 - Beth Sidley of Tucker University

Day 5 - Tina Dillard of Quilting Affection Designs

Today, I'm excited to wrap up this blog hop with my quilt. Several elements combine to create this gorgeous quilt. If you are not familiar with my designs, I love to play with the Corner Pop II and III Tools. We were challenged to design a quilt around the Rapid Fire Hunter Star tool and add the fundamental tools. I knew I wanted to add them to my design.

The Bellingham Bay collection is perfect for the Hunter Star Blocks with all the beautiful earth tones in the collection.

Let me introduce you to my quilt, Hunters Point, which is currently under development. This quilt uses several of the Bellingham Bay fabrics to make it stand out. We have a Background, Light, two medium fabrics, and two dark fabrics. 

Many of you will look at this quilt and say that it seems way too complicated to make. This blog will break down each element in the quilt to show that it's not so difficult. Hunters Point uses Studio 180 Design tools: Rapid Fire Petite Hunter Star®, Wing Clipper®, Corner Pop® III, and the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star®.

Let's Start with the Rapid Fire Petite Hunter Star® tool. For the Hunter Star units, I made up three different color combinations. Each of the units used the same color trapezoids and the star points. What makes each of the Hunter Stars different is the Half Square Triangles. One used just the light fabric, background fabric, and the last units combined the two fabrics.

The next thing I want to show you are the Popped Flying Geese units. These units will bring in some of the Spikey Points to the center of the quilt. These units start by making the Non-Waste Method Flying Geese and trimming them with the Studio 180 Design Wing Clipper®. Then combine the two different units with the points heading north.

Then, I used the Studio 180 Design Corner Pop® III tool and removed the bottom left and right corners. Next, the corners were replaced with a new replacement triangle, dark fabric. After the Replacement triangle was stitched and pressed, I trimmed the replacement triangles with the Corner Pop® III tool. 

Once these units were made, I combined the Hunter Stars and the Popped Flying Geese Units to make the main blocks of the quilt top center.

Once I made four blocks, I needed to add a top and bottom row to finish the quilt.

Now I need to finish the top and bottom with some Lemoyne Star quarter units that I made with the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Tool. These units were put in between two Hunter Star blocks. The Lemoyne Star Quarter units allow the point to extend the quilt in different directions.  

The final touches to this quilt were adding the borders to the quilt top. Hunter's Point is now complete.

My longarmer, "The Quilted Ginger," quilted the top with the "60 Degree Triangles by Sweet Dreams using Isacord 5664 thread.

I'm glad you're here today, and I hope you liked the Studio 180 Design Bellingham Bay Blog Hop. I had a blast designing and featuring these original fabrics. You can purchase Hunters Point in the near future. Click here to sign up for my newsletter if you'd like to be notified when the pattern becomes available. Additionally, if you would like to see more of my patterns and my book, "Poppin With Wings," visit my website, www.quiltingaffection.com. Finally, check out my Precision Block Academy to learn how to use Studio 180 Design tools and so much more.

The Studio 180 Design Technique Sheets!

One thing I like about Studio 180 Design is how they expand the ways you can use your tools. Not only through their beautiful pattern but in their Technique Sheets.

Many of you are wondering what a Technique Sheet is? They are single laminated hole punch sheets. Each technique will expand your use of the tools and broaden your skills for more design creativity. Each of the Technique Sheets will provide you with detailed instructions, cutting charts, and drawings.

There are 31 Technical sheets for all Studio 180 Design tools, except for the Rapid Fire Hunter’s Star and the Diamond Rects.

Technique Sheet Header

Let's walk through how to read a Technique Sheet. Start at the top of the sheet, and you will see the name of the Technique Sheet. On the right-hand side of the name, you will see stars in a green ribbon. These stars indicate how difficult the technique will be. The stars range is 1 to 5; the more stars, the more complex the technique is. Next, you will see a purple ribbon. This section includes the name and image of the tool is related to that technique.

Instructions

Under the title section, you learn how to make that particular technique. Each sheet starts with a brief description of the Technique. Next, you find that there are two sections; Cutting and Process. The cutting section is where you find cutting charts and how to prepare your fabric pieces. The process section is where you will learn how to assemble and trim the units.

The trimming includes images showing you how to align your tool on your units. Note, these images are right-handed only due to space on the sheets.

Downloadable Left-Hand Technique Sheets Diagrams

Additional trimming diagrams for Left-Handers are available. They can be found on the Studio 180 Design Download page on their website.

If you are looking for a way to expand your use of the Studio 180 Design tools. Then check out the Studio 180 Design Technique Sheets. They are a way to learn and broaden your quilting skills.

If you need additional assistance with the Studio 180 Design tools and technique sheets. Then check out the Studio 180 Design YouTube Channel. In addition, you can ask a Certified Instructor in your local area. Finally, check out the Precision Block Academy. This academy is designed to teach you the Studio 180 Design tools and Technique Sheets each month.