Those wonderful Tula Pink Blocks

Sew.............

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Our local Modern-ish quilt group is sewing blocks from Tula Pink's

 "City Sampler 100 Modern Quilt Blocks"  

 If you are unfamiliar with the book, it was published in 2013 and has been very popular with ALL quilters.. 

The blocks range from "very easy" to "pay serious attention!"

 All the blocks finish 6 inches square. They lend themselves to some fun fussy cutting and using up small pieces......

I have 25 blocks made from Tula's fabric collection 

"Slow and Steady" (rabbits and snails, of course!)

 and I plan to use them in a spring table topper..

(check back and see if I do!)

But, this past month I have been have a great time, resizing the blocks to 3 inch finished and making a doll bed quilt.. 

The fabrics are a fun mixture of vintage feed sacks, vintage tablecloths and hand towels,

 and hand dyed solids from http://cherrywoodfabrics.bigcartel.com/ and http://www.starrfabrics.com/. 

I fussy cut some of the embroidery from the vintage linens.

 If you are unfamiliar with fussy cutting...watch this....

How to "Fussycut" Fabric for a Quilt - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS3BCfko6B

The white linen sashing is from a curtain that I bought at IKEA.
 (I don't recommend using this..it is a very loose weave which is great for curtains, but  difficult to handle for quiltmaking).
I fussy cut some of the embroidery from the vintage linens.

The white linen sashing is from a curtain that I bought at IKEA and had to shorten..
 (I don't recommend using this..it is a very loose weave which is great for curtains, but  difficult to handle for quiltmaking).
I fussy cut some of the embroidery from the vintage linens.

The top is done, and I have been considering how to quilt it..  My friend Julie who I have worked with for 20 years, convinced me that hand quilting in a simple pattern is the answer. I wasn't planning to spend that much time, but, she is right...

 Sew... How do you resize? The math is simple, and the easiest thing to do is make a reference chart.  
Sample:
Cut size             less 1/2" (seam allowance)     Divide by 2           Add  (1/2") seam allowance

 1"                        1/2"                                            1/4"                          3/4"

1 1/2"                     1                                               1/2"                           1"

and so on up to 6 1/2" 

Then..there are the measurements for triangles
Cut size             less 7/8" (seam allowance)      Divide by 2          Add  (7/8") seam allowance

1 7/8"                   1"                                              1/2"                     1 3/8"
and so on..... 

Mini blocks are a bit more difficult to handle.. 
I like to use a scant 1/4" seam, and a finer thread 
(auriful 100% cotton, or Mettler 60wt also cotton are my favorites for minis). 
Press carefully without stretching....
Some quilters use spray starch or sizing  before cutting.... it is helpful if you are having trouble keeping things straight..

Have a great week....Sew something new.. and  Go, Eagles!

The Blue and White Quilt!

SEW...this is the photo from the original pattern...

And this is the one I made with 20 different blues and white... the top is finished and is being quilted by my friend, Kris Cooper.
 She chose a paisley quilt pattern that I think will look great....
 The quilt will be offered as a class at Early Girl Quilts at Assemble in Haddonfield...

Pattern is by  Jean Ann Wright for Cut Loose Press....Also available at EGQ at Assemble. 

New year....new projects!

Sew... the holiday decorations are put away and it's time to move on with some new and fun things!

My family is laughing at me a bit ...
I spent an hour watching You Tube videos on how to make doll shoes and boots for the Wellis..
.I also spent significant time watching "How to change the windshield wipers on my 1998 Subaru Outback".. but that is a whole other story.... 
I have done neither of these things!

Sew.. I read thru the December blog posts and it seems I promised to explain about the Christmas dolls... 
I bought Olive "Willa" a Welli Wisher doll made by American Girl.. I received the doll in November and used her as a fit model for some clothes I made (several items features in past posts). 
The Wellis have a TV show on Amazon,(of course, they do!), and Olive and I watched a few episodes... One day in December, she asked for the "Camille" doll for Christmas. After she mentioned Camille several times, and I suggested that maybe Willa was cuter..and then..
I bought the Camille doll for her.. (no surprise here)
Christmas morning we BOTH got dolls and now we play with them together!

Willa and Camille in their jeans  and Go Gator tshirts...

Willa is wearing a cashmere sweater  (Camille has one in purple)

 I made them  from old sweaters that were no longer wearable.

The sweater is made using Football Jersey pattern..

just changed a few things so it opened in the front instead of the back 

 https://www.pixiefaire.com/products/relaxed-fit-football-jersey-14-5-doll-clothes-pattern

Next Post....The Blue and White Quilt

Stay Warm and Safe..... Mimi