Block Buster #16

 BlockBuster #16 Peaks and Valleys

Studio 180 Design has lots of free patterns to download on their website under "Free Downloads".  They are called "BLOCKBUSTERS".  September several CIs (Certified Instructors) used BlockBuster #16 Peaks and Valleys to show on their social media.  I was able to show the fabrics I picked, but then things got really busy at the quilt shop and I didn't have time to post the Sneak Peak and the Reveal.  I did get my block finished.  I actually made three blocks and have pieces for a few more.  I made two different sizes...one 12" (finished) and two 6" (finished) blocks.  They turned out very well, as you will see later.

The fabrics are from a Moda line of fabric called Shoreline.  The blues are beautiful and the greens are also beautiful, too.  Here are the fabrics I choose with the BlockBuster pattern.

This pattern uses the Diamond Rects and the V Block tools, as well as the Sidekick & High/Low Technique Sheet, all by Studio 180 Design.

I cut my fabrics, but cut some of them incorrectly, so had to re-cut.  Finally got my fabrics cut.

Ready to sew!  I did not take any more photos until the blocks were done.  Again, the shop was busy!

This is the 12" (finished) block.

And the 6" (finished) blocks with the 12" block.  Love the 6" blocks!

Not sure what I will do with them, but I have a couple more months to make some more blocks.  

Maybe a wall-hanging.  We will see what happens.

Happy Quilting!

Terrie

July Studio 180 Design Block Challenge

 Some of the Certified Instructors are participating in a Block Challenge.  We are given a Block or Tool to use to make a block.  July was the first month.  Every Thursday of the month we post a picture on Instagram and tag the other CIs who are participating and tell a little bit about what we are doing.  The first week we show the fabrics we are using (Fabric Pull).  The next two weeks we show a sneak peak of the block (Sneak Peak #1 and Sneak Peak #2).  The fourth week we show the block (Reveal).  

July Challenge was the Four Patch.  I used the Four Patch Square Up tool.  What a difference it makes to make your blocks a little bigger and then trim them down!  It is worth all the extra effort.  This post is about my progress in the Block Challenge.  I made a baby quilt.  I do not have the binding finished because I want to hand stitch it down.  It is ready to stitch, but I had another quilt to finish last night (which I did finish).

Fabric Pull

These are the fabrics I chose.  They are baby prints from QT Fabrics.  They are now in the Sale Room at Quilters Journey.  

I made Four Patches with the gray and green prints.  I made them over sized.  I trimmed two sides with the green in the corner.  These are the two sides the I will sew to the other units.  I must trim the sides that will be sewn to the next units.  I trimmed with the center at 3, which would be for a 3" block.

Sneak Peak #1

Here is the pile of trimmed units.  I don't remember how many I made. 

I sewed these units to larger squares of the large print fabrics.  I did not take a photo of those, but you will see the block later.  I was pressing these units and laid them on my bed.  Sadie is guarding them.  I thought about using this photo as one of the Sneak Peak photos, but I didn't.  The caption would have been "Sadie doesn't want you to see yet!".  

Sneak Peak #2

A close up of the center of the Four Patch Block.

After sewing the units together, I trimmed them to size using the Four Patch Square Up tool by Studio 180 Design.  The center is at the 6 for a 6" block.  This time I trimmed all four sides.  I trimmed the right side and top, rotated the block, and then trimmed the other two sides.  They are now perfect 6" blocks to sew together.  

I decided all the blocks had to be laid out and sewn together the same direction.  The stripes in the circles all had to go the same direction.  

I sewed the blocks together into rows.  

I chain pieced to make the process go faster.  

After the rows were together, I pressed the seams.  One row I pressed the seams to the right and the next row I pressed them to the left.  This will make it easier to sew the rows together because the seams will "nest" together.

Then I sewed the rows together.  I pin at the seams between each block to make sure they line up correctly.  I remove the pin when I get to it and do not sew over the pins.

Reveal

Here is the quilt top, ready for quilting.

Here is a closer photo of the quilt top.  

I sewed before church one Sunday morning.  This is a photo of my shirt.  I was covered in threads.  Had to get the lint roller out to get them all off.  

The quilt top is on the longarm, ready to be quilted.  

I quilted it with a pantograph (all over design) using my computerized machine.  I used the pantograph called "Baby Curls".  It looks really cute.

Binding.  Striped fabric from the same line by QT Fabrics.  I cut it on the diagonal to get the stripe I wanted.  I use a walking foot to sew my binding on.  It helps feed all those layers of fabric through. I sewed the binding to the front of the quilt.  I will turn it to the back and hand stitch it down.  

Just have to finish the binding.  I will post a photo when I get it done.  Then it will be ready to go to a special baby.  I don't have one in mind yet.  One of the quilt guilds I belong to collects baby quilts for donations.  I can always find a place for it.  Baby quilts are usually quick and easy to make.  There are several places that need them.  So, there is always a need.  We have a new homeless shelter in my home town.  They are focused on young mothers, so this may go there.  For now, it will be another quilt in my Studio 180 Design samples.  But, first, I have to finish it!

Happy Quilting!

Terrie

Instagram:

@terriecamdenwelch

Hextravaganza Quilt

 Today I started piecing the Hextravaganza Quilt that is the free pattern that comes with the Star 60 tool by Studio 180 Design.  I have made one before.  It was the smallest size I could make with the tool.  This time I wanted to make to largest size I could make with the tool.  The diamonds are 9" finished size.  I cut the pieces yesterday, but didn't have any time to piece them together.  Here are some photos I took as I worked on the quilt.  It went together really fast.  

This is the photo on the back of the instructions that come with the Star 60 tool.  

Star 60 units are pieced and need to be trimmed.  I two different fabrics for the diamonds of the Star 60 units.  I trimmed all for them so I could piece them together into a hexagon.  All of the Studio 180 tools give directions to oversize the units and then trim them to size.  The first photo shows the Star 60 tool placed, ready to trim.  The next two photos show the units trimmed and the amount of fabric that was trimmed off.  Not much to trim.

Here are all the pieces for the center Hexagon for the quilt.  The Star 60 units have all been trimmed and the pile of scraps is from trimming those units.

I pieced pairs together.  Three of the units have the green on one side and the peach on the other.  The other three units are opposite.

I added the third Star 60 unit to make a half hexie unit.

One set has two green diamonds and one peach diamond.  The other set has two peach diamonds and one green diamond.

I sewed the two halves together to make the hexagon.  NO Y SEAMS!

I trimmed the outside edges to add the companion triangles.  On three of the hexagons, I trimmed where the peach diamonds are and on the other three I trimmed where the green diamonds are.

Then I sewed the companion triangles where I trimmed.  The green triangles went next to the peach diamonds and the peach diamonds went next to the green diamonds.

I laid these on the floor to take a photo, because they are so big.

I had to trim the triangles so they would fit nicely together.  I did not take photos of trimming these units.  They were big and it took a little figuring it out.  

I sewed two pairs of two units together.

Then I sewed a third triangle to the two units.  This made the half hexagon.

I sewed the two halves together to make the hexagon center of the quilt.  

Tomorrow I plan on sewing corners to the hexagon and borders as the pattern shows to make it square.  I have a peach polka dot that I am going to use.  It is a little darker shade than the fabric I already used in the quilt.

Love this pattern!  Thank you, Studio 180 Design for adding this pattern to the instructions of the Star 60 tool.  Can't wait to try some more ideas that a floating around in my head.  

60 Degree Quilts

 60 Degree Quilts

I have started doing some research on 60 degree quilt patterns.  Why? you may ask.  Good question.  

I am a Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor.  The newest Studio 180 Design tool is the Star 60.  I attended the Reunion last month and we worked with the new tool.  Sarah showed us SO many things you can do with the tool.  It is not like any other 60 degree ruler.  There are some similarities, but there is so much more with the Star 60 tool.  So, we made some blocks and made some projects with the tool.  I LOVE IT!!!  

When I got back home there were other things that needed to be done...deadlines to meet and family stuff that was going on.  But, this week I have some time to play.  I just want to cut lots of fabric and start sewing.  But, I need a plan.  So, I started looking at some quilt designs.  I thought about the Seven Sisters block.  I wondered if I could make it simpler with the Star 60 tool.  I looked on Pinterest.  I found some photos and also instructions that I could print out.  Then I did a search of 60 degree quilt blocks.  There are so many quilts!  So many patterns!  So much to think about!  So much that I want to do!  Where do I start?  Where does it end?  (Actually, I hope it doesn't end.)  There are so many things you can do with this tool.  I hope you will check it out.  

Here are some photos of the blocks we worked on and the two projects I completed.  Hope you enjoy them.