Dancing Nines in Oliver Springs!

Yes, I know – this post is late this morning.

I stayed up way too late sewing last night, and enjoyed a quiet Monday morning sleep-in since the noisy guests in the next room had checked out and there was no one staying in that room last night! HA!

((Talk about wild romance past 1am the night before?? I’m way too old for these kind of shenanigans!!))

I still have 50 some flying geese strips to finish before I can call this project DONE and start assembling, so that is my goal over the next week while in Pigeon Forge.  I’ll get as far as I can on these!

As for yesterday’s half day workshop – what a FUN quick project to work on!

When Anna said they wanted to do Dancing Nines as their workshop, I got really excited! That would be so fun and so easy, everyone could get so much done in just a little bit of time..and then it hit me…I didn’t have a class sample on hand.  Uhoh.

Both of the quilts I made are living with my 9 month old nephews out in Utah – and I didn’t have time to whip up another sample.  Anna to the rescue!

Anna’s Dancing Nines!

She said “Don’t worry – I’ll sew up like 1/4 of the quilt so we have an example to go by.”  When I got here, she had the WHOLE THING done – stating that it was so fun, fast and easy that she couldn't stop and before she knew it, it was together.

She’s used all batiks and a crisp solid white as her dancing sashings…isn't it great?

You’ll find the free pattern for Dancing Nines under the Free Patterns tab at the top of the blog.  Print it, and get started!

There was a bit of learning at the beginning of the class.   These 9 patches need to measure 5” unfinished.  Not 4 3/4”  or even 4 7/8”  So we did a test.

Sew 2 2” strips side by side.  The height of this strip set needed to measure 3.5” before going any further.  Adjust the seam allowance until it does.

Now add a 3rd strip to the strip set and press.  3  2” strips sewn side by side need to measure 5”.  If they do, you are good to go on and chain piece yourself into oblivion.  If not…FIX THE SEAM until you can sew three strips together and get a 5” strip set.

We heard whoops and hollers of gladness when those who had always struggled a bit with units coming out just “that much” too small found where the ‘sweet spot” is for their desired 1/4 inch seam and 9 patches could then be sewn easily and happily and come out the right size.

Click the image below if you can’t view the slide show on your mobile device.  You’ll be taken to the photo album for viewing.

Dancing Nines, Oliver Springs TN 2014

I am packing it up and headed to Pigeon Forge in about an hour!  I hope to be seeing many of you there -- it promises to be a great week at Mountain Quilt Fest!
Tonight I'll be drawing for the 2 winners of my new book release, MORE Adventures with Leaders & Enders!  Did you leave me a comment yet ON THAT POST ONLY  to enter yourself into the drawing?  
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