Yesterday's round of sewing in the QPO Studio had me back building up the needed variety in another endless round of half-square triangle construction -
The *next* tile floor inspired quilt is moving along and I can't wait to share it with you.
But for now - it's requiring a multitude of half-square triangle units - and some with very low contrast, as in these "Dark Chocolate and Caramel" versions here.
I've been using strips and my Essential Triangle Tool to cut these -
My biggest hint with half square triangles? Cut them with fabrics already matched right sides together so all of the pair matching has been done BEFORE you cut. This saves oodles of time and improves accuracy.
My second biggest hint? Keep your chains in manageable lengths. In this case I'm cutting in lengths of 8 units which fits the top of my ironing board and stops a big ball of hundreds of chain pieced units from tangling and knotting up which then pulls on the stitches as we try to unscramble them.
Believe me - shorter chains are your friend!
And then the chain pressing comes in. If you feed them all through the machine in the same orientation, you can press down the chain, from one unit until the next with them all pressing the same direction.
If you cut them all apart first you have to pick up one at a time and place it on the ironing board in the right orientation and then set that one aside to pick up the next and do them individually.
Try chain pressing. It keeps everything in order.
And from here I just clip the chaining threads and trip the dog ears and stack them up uniformly.
After yesterday's refill.
I made enough to allow me to make some more block units, but as of going home time I know that my next sewing opportunity will have to begin with making more of the chocolate/blue ones.
When things are super scrappy like this one is, I just sew enough to keep me going for a while, and as things start to sew down to where I can't go any further, I make some more.
It's a good way to do "A bit of this, a bit of that" and things don't seem so tedious.
I'll be showing you this one soon - the jury is still out on whether it becomes a hand quilting project or if I'll machine quilt it and keep going on the hexies in the evening.
This popped up in my facebook memories!
Remember when I was making these Cabin Corners blocks?
I had to laugh at the sandals. I haven't seen them in a couple of years. I left them behind in Vietnam after my episode with the water buffalo. LOL!
I love this quilt. It also uses everything and is all paper pieced. If you've started one, why not pull it back out and work on it?
Trees are beginning to leaf out!
I took this photo this morning off of our front porch -
It won't be long now until that curtain of green keeps me from seeing any mountain ridges at all through the summer.
It was almost warm enough to enjoy my coffee out on the front porch today - but not quite.
Still. Soon.
Thank you for the great response to yesterday's Dogwood Daze PDF pattern release!
I am so thrilled with the response, and so happy that the dogwoods are blooming at the same time. It's Kismet!
And yes - there is introductory pricing AND a Gift-Away!
I have placed a 25% automatic discount on Dogwood Daze through 4/30/25 - no coupon code needed.
I will be drawing for two winners who will each receive a Dogwood Daze
PDF Pattern from me and a Notable Neutrals roll from Cotton to Quilts!
They also have pulled gorgeous fabrics in colors inspired by Dogwood Daze to enhance your stash. Check them out!
Each fabric roll includes 20 different fabrics approximately 8'' X 22'' - a great variety!
Get your entry in on THAT POST.
Today: I'm heading out with a friend - Antique Mall wandering, perhaps a stop at a quilt shop, and the highlight of my day - Chinese for lunch!
Dave, being gluten free and an extremely picky eater is never up for Chinese food, so this will be a treat for me.
He can stay at home and do whatever puttering he wants to do, and I'm having a girls afternoon. Whooowhoo!
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
Sometimes just keeping my mouth shut and remaining silent is truly the best response!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Send lots of pictures from the Antiques Mall. I love seeing them!
ReplyDeleteI recently made a brown and teal/quilt top. I really likebthat color combo. Dogwoods are in their glory here (St. Louis) right now but I really like the white ones. I have one in my yard that was planted to remember my sister-in-law who died of cervical cancer. Unnecessarily I should say. She didn't like going to doctors and one Papp smear would have saved her.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day out and about. I love me some Chinese food too! Today I'm cleaning house. One week from today, my beloved longarm - a Gammill with the Statler stitcher is leaving me. I have to sell it because I get so worn out just loading a quilt onto the frame. I haven't quilted anything in a long, long while. So now I've got to take a backwards step and look at a sit down longarm, which involves a whole new learning curve of moving the quilt under the machine rather than the other way around. But, I'm thinking I will invest in one that can be converted to a moveable frame, and a machine with a large enough throat space, at least 18 to 20 inches, to do a good area. I'm waiting for the manufacturers to make longarm tables that can be lowered to a truly sit down height. Even the new Bernina hoop table, which is not even out yet, only goes down to 32 inches and a video from a store that already has one says even at the low point you need a stool to work on it.. I can't sit on a stool. I need a regular chair height. So I'll get a sit down machine and table, then wait. Perhaps manufacturers will think a little more about us old folks who can't do things we used to do when we were young. Maybe I'll live long enough to get my wish.
ReplyDeletePlease take lots of pictures at the Antique Mall. I love seeing those!
ReplyDeleteBetty Giles
Have a wonderful time with your friend today, Jenny
ReplyDeleteI agree, your Essential Triangle Tool is the best. Shorter strips is a great idea too. That tangle of triangles is a mess when pressing when they are long! Making multitudes of Blue hsts still for my Ocean Waves Quilt.
ReplyDeleteHappy Saturday. We have Rain.
Great tip about chain pressing! And I relate: my hubby is allergic to onions so Mexican restaurants are my go-to for girls day lunches!
ReplyDeleteIt certainly sounds like a great weekend. I hope you find lots of treats! I am really intrigued by the new quilt, and can't wait to see it! I am working on my Dancing 9 patch, and then piecing the backs together for quilting. I hope you had a restful weekend and can't wait to see what you find! :-)
ReplyDelete