Fall Decorating . . .

I got a few of my early fall quilts out the first of the month.  I thought I better blog about them before I get out the late fall quilts!

Route 44 is hanging in the living room.

I love this quilt.  The polka dot fabric, the fall colors, the pattern, the quilting, it's all good, and so me.  It makes me smile to have this quilt hanging again.  

Every now and then I get a note from someone who mentions that they don't have any quilts, they've given them all away.  I think everyone needs at least one quilt in the house that they've made, that they love, and that makes them smile.  I'm lucky, I have more than one, that's even better.

James River Blues is currently on my bed, on top of a cream coverlet that makes swapping out quilts and using smaller quilts a breeze.  No more king size quilts on my To Do list!

I was browsing Red Crinoline Quilts website and ran across this kit, 

James River Blues

in RED!

Don't you love it!

(click here for link to Red James River Blues kit, check out my Lifetime Quilt List for any questions on Route 44 or Blue James River Blues)

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The Long Road Home just got Longer . . .

So I thought I had everything all figured out for this quilt.  The pattern called for 90 nine patch blocks, 9 blocks across by 10 blocks down.  I decided to make my project 8 blocks across by 9 blocks down for a total of 72 nine patch blocks.  I got all the blocks on my design wall but somehow, when I started connecting the nine patch blocks and the setting blocks I got off, and ended up making the larger version by accident.

Connecting those rows for blocks set on point sometimes throws me off.  

So I'm making 18 more nine patch blocks and going with the original pattern size.  I'm sure it will all be fine in the end, which is near!

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Tools Tuesday - Triangle in a Square Part II

So here we go, the second part of my Triangle in a Square ruler comparison.  

This is what prompted me to start purchasing triangle in a square rulers,

the sunflower blocks in this pattern, Desert Bloom.

Last week I blogged about the Quilt in a Day Triangle in a Square ruler set, 

I loved everything about these rulers except their size limitations, you can only make 3" and 4" finished blocks with this set.  To read my review of these rulers click here.  

This week I'm testing out the Tri Tool and Recs Tool ruler set by Darlene Zimmerman and Joy Hoffman for EZ Quilting.  I'm happy to report that this ruler worked out so much better than my Petal Ruler experience, which was also a Darlene Zimmerman ruler.

So here are the rulers you need to make the block.

To cut the triangle portion of the block, strips are cut the exact width of the unfinished block.

Since I'm making a 3 inch finished block, I cut my strip 3 1/2 inches wide, very easy, very straightforward.

Next you cut the outer sections of the block, these strips are also cut the same width as the unfinished block.  The like sides of the fabric must be folded together.  This is a very important step.

Another very important step is to trim that corner off the left side of the strip.

Then you align the pieces and sew.

This is a closeup shot of how to line up the pieces.  See why cutting off that corner is so important?

That top piece just fits perfectly on top of the bottom corner.

Align the second size and stitch.

Here are the two finished blocks.  The one on the left was made using the Tri Recs rulers and the one on the right was made using the Quilt in a Day rulers.  Both blocks are 3 1/2 inches, exactly.

Both blocks came out perfectly.

There is a great tutorial on the Simplicity website explaining how to make the triangle in a square block  using the Tri Recs rulers.  (click here)

I prefer the Quilt in a Day method, I think the outer edges of the Quilt in a Day ruler were easier to cut, (no corners to trim off like the Tri Recs) and I like being able to square them up to get the correct size.  So if I'm making a 3 or 4 inch finished block that's the ruler I"ll use.  But the Tri Recs was also easy to use and makes a great block in so many other sizes, so I'm keeping both sets of rulers.

Dawn, at First Light Designs, left a comment last week saying that she prefers the Deb Tucker V-Block Trimmer to make these blocks, so keep that one in mind also as you shop. 

Bottom line, there are several great rulers out there to help us with this block, I no longer have an excuse for avoiding patterns that use it, and that's a good thing!

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BOM Rehab, Memories of Provence

Here is my 6th block of my Memories of Provence BOM, I think it's my new favorite, although I do realize I say that with every block.

Technically it's block number 8, but I'm not going in order.  I'm loving these colors, they are very rich, it's a good fall project.

Here's all 6 blocks together, only 6 more to go!

Thanks Sinta for hosting this BOM Rehab!  It's a real motivator to squeeze in a block once a week to have something for your sew along.

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It IS a Long Road Home . . .

All the 9 patch blocks for Long Road Home by Paula Barnes for Red Crinoline Quilts are done.

And here they are on my design wall.  I'm making my quilt smaller, I'm going with 72 blocks.

And here are the 9 patch blocks with the neutral alternate squares.

I was a little uncertain of my fabric choice, not the fabric so much as the lack of scrappy-ness, only going with 37 different prints in 5 different colors, but I think it's going to be OK.

Looks like I have some assembling to do!

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Still on that road . .

These blocks are almost done, just a few more strips to go!

Since this doesn't make for very interesting blogging, how would you like to hear about a project I hope to start on soon?

As Nicole blogged about here, when we were at the Buggy Barn we both picked up kits for this project,

Halloween 1904 by Blackbird Designs.  

This pattern was released in 2009. When it first came out I just fell in love with it, but since I didn't know how to appliqué I just put it on my list of quilts to always admire but never make.  Last year, when I was in Utah, I ran across this pattern in a quilt shop, and last year I learned how to appliqué, so I picked up the pattern, now all I needed was some fabric and I would be in business.  Well picking out fabric is hard for me for two main reasons, first, I'm not surrounded by wonderful quilts shops that I can stop into every time I'm out of the house, I have a good 45 minute drive just to hit one shop.  So that makes shopping for a whole range of fabrics for a Halloween quilt hard.  Two, I'm sort of a fabric shopping nut, nothing ever looks quite right in the store, I'm very picky, I get overwhelmed.  It's hard for me to buy fabric off the bolt.  But a kit, that's right up my alley.  Give me a kit as a starting point and I can swap out and add to that kit until it hardly looks anything like it did when I brought it home. And that's what I plan to do with my Buggy Barn Kit, I'm going to add some blacks for greater variety, swap out some rusts for some oranges, and completely change the background fabric.

I'm so excited to get to make this quilt,  a few weeks ago I didn't know when I would get to it, and now, it will be on my list of first 100 quilts, maybe around 96 or 97, depending on my Schnibbiles productivity. You just never know about some quilts, when or how they will work their way into your life!

BTW, last time I checked there were still some kits available at the Buggy Barn, click here for more information.

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Tools Tuesday - Triangle in a Square . . .

Part I

I bought this pattern ages ago, it's Desert Bloom by Bread and Butter Quilts.  I always think I'll get to it at the end of summer, when sunflowers are blooming like crazy around here.  One of the things stopping me are those triangle in a square blocks that make up those sunflowers.  

Knowing that I needed to make that type of block, I was on the lookout for a ruler to help me out. Somewhere along the line  I bought two but never used them, never even played with them.

This is the Tri Tool and Recs Tool made by EZ Quilting.  

And these are Eleanor Burns, Quilt in a Day Triangle in a Square rulers.

First up, the Quilt in a Day rulers.  You can make two different size blocks with this ruler,  3" and 4" finished blocks.

To make the "square" part of the block you cut a strip of fabric one inch larger than the unfinshed size of the triangle in a square block.  Fold the fabric so like sides are together,  cut the strip a specified width, which is provided in the instructions, and cut that rectangle once, on the diagonal.

Using this ruler, you cut the triangle  portion of the block.  The width of this fabric is the same as the width you used above.

Then you sew each side on to the triangle, lining up the piece like this, with that point hanging over the top.

Press, then attach the other side in the same manner.

Press 

This is my favorite part of this ruler, you take the other template and use it to square up the block.

First the top . . .

then the bottom.

Perfection!

The instructions that accompany the templates are wonderful, clear, easy to follow, and with wonderful illustrations.

 I'm a make it bigger and square it gal so this ruler really suits me.  I wonder why I was so hesitant to make this block, it's easy!  The only draw back that I see is the size limitation of these rulers.  The rulers are still available and run $14.95. (click here)

I love this ruler set and am anxious to compare it to the EZ Quilting set, which I'll do next Tuesday since this post is already long and picture heavy.  

As always, these tools posts are more informative when folks who have actual experience with them, good or bad, leave comments, feel free to pass along any information you may have about a Triangle in a Square ruler or block.

Thanks so much!

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BOM Rehab, Memories of Provence . . .

Now that Northern Lights is finished it's time to move on to another BOM for Sinta's BOM Rehab.

This is my 5th Memories of Provence block but technically it's block 7.  I'm picking the ones I want to work on and not going in order, which isn't like me at all, but I was in the mood to make this block so I did.

Just a few squares and rectangles put here and there and you're done.  I just love the movement in this block, it may be my new favorite.

Just in case you've forgotten, here's the finished project.  Memories of Province was designed by Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts and was offered only through quilt shops.

Additinally, all my Long Road Home 9 patches are done!

Tomorrow is Tools Tuesday, be sure to stop by, I'll be testing out TWO rulers!

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Still starting down that Long Road Home . . .

So I've made a few 9 patches, not all that I need but a good start.

To change things up a little I decided to work on the sashing for some of those 9 patches.

And make a few inspiration blocks . . . 

So far so good I think!

This is what I'm aiming for,

The Long Road Home by Paula Barnes for Red Crinoline Quilts.

I'm planning on enjoying some football, some chili, and some nice fall weather this weekend.  I hope you enjoy your weekend too!

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Quilt Classes at the Buggy Barn . . . .

I added a little more information to yesterday's connector post based on some questions I got.  Mainly, how to make a ruler wider and where to go to get more helpful information.  The Guidelines 4 Quilting website is a wonderful resource on how to connect  and use the tool.

Also, the Possibilities pineapple ruler for the most part got good reviews, so I'll give it a try.  Several of you are wanting to make a pineapple quilt too.  Joanna at Fig Tree is hosting a sew along for her new Pineapple and Figs quilt, check it out if you've not seen it. It has a different look to it.

Now, on to today's topic, Nicole and I signed up for two quilt classes at the Buggy Barn retreat, both classes were taught by Paula Barnes who designed the patterns.

One class was Victory Stars.    Here's the one block I made in class.

I think it's a great block!

The other class was Hill Country Baskets.

Here are the two basket blocks that I made in class.

I love them too!

So while I love the patterns, and the blocks that make up the pattens, I'm not 100% sold on the fabric provided in the kits.  I've usually looked at, drooled over, and fondled the fabric for a pattern several months, if not longer, before I start a project.   I've just not had a chance to warm up to the kits, so until I'm very comfortable with the fabric provided I'm going to sit on these two projects.

But meeting Paula Barnes and seeing all her lovely quilts on display got me in the mood to work on a Bonnie Blue quilt.  I've had this pattern for ages and figured this would be a great time to get it out and work on it.  I'm especially eager to work on this pattern after enjoying my neutral Northern Lights quilt.

I have a nice stack of neutrals just waiting to be used.

For the print fabric I've decided to use Civil War Reunion by Barbara Brackman for Moda.

I had a fat quarter bundle that I cut up for a project over a year ago,  then I decided it didn't work as well as I thought it would.  But the strips and pieces that I cut will work fine for this pattern.  I'm hoping the 37 different prints will give me enough variety, when I go scrappy, I usually go super duper scrappy.  But I like these prints and they go well with the honey beiges that I have, so we'll see how it goes.

 

I'm already going to town on my 9 patches.

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