no waste flying geese

As I mentioned previously I thought I'd try using different methods to make up the component pieces for my next batch of swoon blocks. Cutting out is my least favourite part of quilting so anything that  helps on that front is very welcome. I do have a Sizzix Big Shot , lots of folks really seem to get on well with using these instead of rotary cutting but  I have very few dies at the moment. Something to look into at some point regarding which dies would be most useful.




The swoon blocks use HST and Flying Geese blocks, the HSTs I have down pat now but flying geese  -  not so good.  I remembered Toni recommending the 'no waste flying geese' method so I thought I'd give that a go. This is the tutorial by Melissa at The Happy Quilter that I used and I have to say this method is definitely on my thumbs up list.

So to make four flying geese with unfinished dimensions of 6 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" tall I cut

1 x  7 1/4" square =  Large triangle or Goose

4 x 3 7/8" squares = Small triangles or Sky 

Everything went swimmingly until I was trimming them up at the end that I realised I'd ignored one vital part of the very clear instructions, sad face :(



Yes the part where Melissa very says,

"Clip your threads and then align your ruler along the drawn center line.  Cut your pieces apart along that drawn line."

I for some reason just casually trimmed with scissors which I never really do so why I did it this time I have no idea. Anyway lesson learned I now realise that although you can get away with trimming like that on some blocks with these you need to be accurate or you'll end up with wonky edges like I did. Those funny little edges where I've circles above are where the edges of my blocks should be.

Not to worry since this method uses less fabric I had enough left over to make a new set of these colours which I cut properly and they came out very splendid indeed. I only remade one set though as I'm keen to get these sewn together so fingers crossed the ones with the wonky edges won't give me too much grief when piecing.

So alls well that ends well and when I next follow a tutorial for the first time I might just switch off the telly and concentrate properly but the again most likely I won't ;)

Now.... tonight do I get these sewn together or do I take up 3 sets of curtains?

Bye for now




no waste flying geese tutorial

Dimensions for flying geese for swoon block, unfinished 6 1/2" wide by 3 1/2" tall
cut 1 x  7 1/4" square =  Large triangle or Goose
cut 4 x 3 7/8" squares = Small triangles or Sky

A busy old week

This week started rather brilliantly with a night out, yes a night out on a Monday, how decadent!! Last year myself and my pal Karen threw caution to the wind and bought tickets to go and see Paloma Faith in Glasgow. Those of you who know Glasgow won't be surprised if I say it was chucking it down with rain and blowing a gale but we didn't let that spoil the night. I have to say that Paloma was absolutely brilliant, absolutely amazing! I tried to take photos as we had a really good view of the stage but they didn't really work out so I don't have any to show you. I still have the songs whirling around in my head even now, boy she puts on a great show, she's very sweet, funny, very dramatic and can't half sing.

So on to this weeks sewing escapades....

This week I have swooned so that's me up to the grand total of four blocks, not bad for a years work eh! This block may be my favourite one yet but then I'll probably say that about the next one too.




Please try and ignore the hideous red carpet (and associated threads and fluff) in this photo, light is very hard to come by at the moment so this was the only place big enough with some form of daylight to take a photo today.

Also this week I've been doing a bit of last minute catching up with the Sisters' Ten Block of the Month run by Gen X Quilters. I'm so glad to be finally cutting into my Flea Market Fancy stash, it was one of those 'must have it, no idea what I'll do with it buys' so it's good to put it to use.

January's block is Grandmother's Frame which went together pretty quickly. I did do the HSTs slightly differently from the instructions so for each set of 4 HSTs I cut 2 squares of fabric at 5.25" sewed all the way round at 1/4" from  the edge and then diagonally cut the square into 4 triangles.

 

So that means I'm up to date for a very brief spell of time on the BOM front and made a teeny tiny bit of progress on the Finish-a-long list. Still got plenty to do though and I have a couple of commissions to do as well so plenty to keep me busy.

Bye for now