Wordless Wednesday....

thinking of Eloise...

mary

A Refresher

A few posts ago, I mentioned a little quilt I am working on for someone special....

This is simply a triangle quilt...using an equilateral triangle ruler...

but sometimes triangle quilts are anything but simple.

I am using a method for piecing that I think works very well with triangles.  If I remember correctly, I saw this technique the first time in a quilt book by Sandy Klop.  I think it deserves repeating...

First determine the size triangle you want to use....I am using a Fons and Porter triangle ruler.

Following the grid on the ruler...cut a strip from two different fabrics the size required for your triangles.  I am cutting my strips 5" by the width of the fabric.  Stitch the strips together {right sides facing} on both long edges.  ** I like to cut my strips in half so I have a 22" strip.  That way I can mix up my fabrics.  In other words, I don't necessarily always want the same two fabrics next to each other**      

Begin on the left side of your strips, and placing the ruler so only half of the triangle is along the edge make a cut.  This cut is just to get the angle for cutting more sets.  

 

 Simply flip the ruler and match the left hand side along the previous cut and cut again...on the right hand side....repeat...

Now unpick the small tip of the triangle set...

       

Your triangle will look like this...

 

I like to press the seams open.

Once you have sets stitched an cut, it's time to piece them together in diagonal rows.

I have found that piecing these in diagonal rows helps to keep the points nice and pointy.  A single triangle will need to be added to the beginning and the end of each row.

Of course, each row added will be longer than the previous row...

 

As you keep adding rows, you will begin to decrease the triangles in the rows once you have the width...I like to lay it all out and number the rows before stitching everything together...

Once all your rows are stitched together, you will need to trim up the sides to make them straight.    

I like this method...give it a try or tell me if you have used this method before...

  

Hopefully, I will have a finished quilt to show you before long! Yippee!

happy monday!

mary

Liberty Unicorns....

The shop is having a birthday celebration....

 

 

every year the theme is different...

this year it is Unicorns and Rainbows...

 

I happened to run into a couple of Unicorns in Target

 

but they lacked the proper frill for a celebration...

 

 

so, armed with a lovely bundle of Liberty scraps and some Mod Podge...I gave my Unicorns a coat fit for a party!

 

 

I then peppered their tails and horn with a majestic gold sparkle...

and mounted each noble steed upon a vessel full of the most scrumptious treats!

 

 

and this is how the Liberty Unicorn came to be...

let the party begin!

mary

Working on Something Sweet for Someone Sweet....

Sorry to be a tease....

I've started on a project for someone special...

Using an equilateral triangle ruler {tutorial refresher to follow}

The fabrics are very low volume and equally as sweet as the recipient...

more to come...

mary :) 

Returning to the Web....

Some time ago....before my mother became ill...I began a spider web quilt.  My quilt is based on the pattern by Kathy Doughty in Material Obsession 2.  

 

 

 

But of course, life got very busy and I folded the quilt up for another day.  I would pull it out every now and then to stitch a few lines.  

 

It isn't an easy one to pick stitch. The strips are sewn to a fabric foundation....so it is very heavy and very thick.  

 

 

I really didn't have much left to do....

so I pulled it out last night before the Oscars.

 

The quilting is finished and the binding is on!

 

  

Just in time for my binding class tonight!  I will be able to show the class a quilt ready for hand stitching the binding to the back!  Yippee!

 

 

As I held it on my lap quilting last night....I thought about all the little pieces of fabric in this quilt.  Some of them are long gone but well loved....

 

 

Maybe these bright colors will entice Spring to make an appearance!

happy monday!

mary

Wordless Wednesday....a little hand piecing

these little 4.5 inch blocks are from Suzuko Koseki's book Playful Patchwork

a little sugar to add to all this sweetness ;)

mary

Liberty and Linen = Love

Have you noticed my new header?

  I love this Pinched Pincushion that I designed for my own little Valentine's Day Celebration....

I love pincushions!  They are quick to make and so appreciated when gifted to a stitchy friend!

Today I put together a little tutorial so you can make your own Pinched Pincushion or make one for a friend!

First you need a heart.  My heart template is about 3.5 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall.  I traced my heart onto Freezer Paper.

gather the supplies

1. Freezer paper or card stock for heart template

2. Linen or fabric for the base...a FQ or a quarter yard is plenty

3. little piece of Liberty for the heart

4. Perle cotton or embroidery floss for the decorative stitching {I love Valdani}

5. Cotton stuffing or Fiberfill for stuffing the pincushion and a small piece of batting

6. Needle for hand stitching with Perle Cotton...my favorite is Fons and Porter Utility Needles

6. General sewing supplies

Make heart template and cut out....press the waxy side of the Freezer Paper to the right side of the Liberty fabric.

carefully cut out around the template and peel the template from the Liberty...now you have a Liberty heart.

Cut out the parts for the pincushion {Linen}.  You will need {2} 5 inch squares....and {4} 3" X 5" rectangles
I also cut a 5 inch square of low loft cotton batting

    
Use a dab of basting glue or just a pin to secure the heart to the center of one 5 inch square and a few more dabs to secure your 5" square batting to the wrong side of your heart square.

Stitch around the inside of the heart with perle cotton to keep your heart in place...

 
and stitch around the outside if you like!

Once the top is stitched you are ready to work on the sides...
take the 4 sides pieces {3" X 5"}.  Begin with two sides, right sides together, and stitch the short ends leaving a 1/4 inch open at the top and the bottom of the short end.  This process will be familiar if you have made a fabric cube.

  

 Remember to leave a 1/4 inch open at the top and the bottom of the short side...and backstitch to reinforce the stitching at both ends.
Add all four sides together in the same manner and, finally, stitch the first side to the fourth side to link all the sides together.

   
Press each seam open.

With right sides together match up the top of the pincushion {with the heart} with one of the sides.  Do not begin stitching at the corner....rather begin 1/4" in from the corner and end 1/4" from the other corner...back stitch both the beginning and the end of this line of stitching

    
Keep stitching along each side of the top square, matching the sides to the top and leaving a 1/4 inch open at both corners.  You do need to stitch each side separately...you can't just travel around the square and pivot at the corner.  The stitching needs to begin a 1/4 inch from each corner and end a 1/4 inch short of the next corner.  You will not have a hole at the corners because your stitching will meet as long as you keep accurate seam allowances.
Once you have finished the top, place the bottom 5 inch square on the bottom of the sides and continue in the same manner...the only difference being that you must leave a 2 inch opening in the middle of one side!                  

This is very important for stuffing the pincushion!
You should now have something that looks like a deflated linen cube!

  

Stuff the cube full of stuffing. Hand sew the opening closed. 
Now the fun part!
Pinch the top edges of the cube {a little less than a 1/2 inch} and using a running stitch...stitch up a little pinched edge!  I didn't even bother to bury the knot...just leave it on the outside and trim the tail close.

     
Go all the way around the top - pinching and stitching.  Then do the sides and lastly the bottom....pinch and stitch, pinch and stitch!

   
How cute is this?  I love it!
If you make one, I would love to see your pincushion!

happy pinching!
mary :)