Building Blocks

I had a comment from Kit Kat on my last blogpost,

wondering if I had any hints about making my scrappy 

rainbow blocks.

So I thought I would share my process with you.

Firstly I find all my small pieces, either squarish or 

rectangular. 

Notice that they are not perfectly straight.

I start chain piecing three or four 'units'.

I don't press or trim at this early stage, preferring to 

give a good finger press while I build my block.

I'm aiming for a block that is about 9" square,

so I use the ruler on my machine table to keep things 

on track.

Time to press and trim!

Not everything will fit together perfectly, but trimming

doesn't worry me.... 

they are scraps, after all!

As I knew the block was wide enough, I just kept 

piecing to make another 9" wide unit.

I just needed one last narrow unit to get the block up to 

size.

I try to keep the small pieces in the middle of the block.

I don't want them trimmed off to make my block the 

correct size. 

Or lost in a seam allowance once it is pieced with its 

rainbow neighbour.

(If you still have questions, please leave me a comment, but make sure you are not a 'no-reply commenter', or leave your email address in the comment.)

I'm still making scraps, trimming up fabric from my 

Bessie Creek Rd quilt....

Most are larger and may be stored separately, for 

foundation paper piecing or a Scrappy Sandwiches quilt 

perhaps?

I've celebrated my scrap organisation by treating myself 

to some new fabric,

including some new Monika Forsberg!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Scrap busting.....again!

We all have scraps, no matter how hard we try to 

control them!

I recently sorted out my small box of scraps that sits on 

my cutting table, slowly multiplying since the beginning 

of the year.

 After trimming them into pieces with straight edges,

 I started mindlessly piecing blocks!

The blocks finish at 9"

Then I found LAST year's scraps!

So more sorting was required.

I now have a rather full tub of neatly trimmed scraps of 

all sizes!

 

 Enough for many more blocks!

I imagine this will be a long-term project, 

in between piecing, quilting and sewing other things!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Always Learning!

 I had little idea of how rulers worked with machine 

quilting, so its been a big learning curve!

But I'm having fun in the process!

After only one lesson, and plenty of YouTube time, I'm 

enjoying trying out many designs.

The four week, 20 hour quilting course was very 

reasonably priced.

Having to buy seven rulers to start was not so good!

That's why I am trying to educate myself.

There's no way I am going to be talked into more 

rulers!

(Besides, the teacher took too much time helping 

a student learn how to use her fancy new machine,

or selling threads to other students!)

There are so many great videos out there to help you.

This one  (linked) by Angela Walters might inspire you!

All you really need is a ruler foot and a quilting ruler.

The ruler foot needs to be either a low or high shank 

one, depending on your machine.

Quilting rulers are made by many, many companies!

You may notice there are two different looking rulers 

here...

solid straight and curved ones,

The stickers are there so the rulers don't get mixed up in class.

and ones with cut outs.

And there are little rubbery bits of tape attached to help with grip

I haven't quite worked out which ones are better or 

which I prefer yet...

So I guess I'll just keep practising!

Still some wonky sewing happening!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

A Lull...

 in the quilt-making at least!

While I wait for my Blossoming Blooms quilts to be 

professionally quilted,

I have not been inspired to start a new quilt.

That's not to say I haven't been dabbling in other fabric 

related pursuits...

I visited a small Vintage textile/garment exhibition and 

these two dresses caught my eye...

An unusual floral arrangement with pomegranates and 

cauli-flowers!

I also finished my Whittaker pinafore, all except for the

buttons and buttonholes!

The front...

The back...

I will need to get some 'glamour' shots when it is 

properly done!

I have also been enjoying a change of pace working on 

this jigsaw puzzle! 

While it is not fabric, it is designed by Monika Forsberg.

She designs fabric for Gorman, a favourite dress shop in 

Australia...

 AND for Anna Maria Horner's Conservatory range.

In fact, Blossoming Blooms is made primarily from her 

fabric!

Finally, I prepared blocks and a table runner for a 

"machine quilting with rulers" class I'm starting on 

Friday!

I really love this colour palette!

Maybe this will become my next quilting project?

Happy days!

SUZ