Category Archives: Diamond Rects Tool

Calm Seas

The fabrics featured in this post were given to me by Northcott Fabrics.

A Storm at Sea quilt has been on my “need to make list” for a long time. I especially love the kind that use graduating colors. Lucky for me, fellow Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor Michelle Hiatt created her pattern “Calm Seas“. This fabulous pattern offers you a choice of 3 sizes; Throw, Double or King. I chose to make the Throw size (62″ x 72”). Calm Seas is a companion pattern for Studio 180 Design’s Large Square/Squared, Diamond Rects & V Block Tools.

I chose to use the fabulous fabrics from Northcott’s Canvas line. I needed 12 graduating colors in 2 different values each. Canvas is richly textured and has a depth of color that is gorgeous!

Definitely use your best organizational skills when making this pattern. Michelle has made it much easier for us to conquer a storm at sea.

If you know me…you know I use paper plates to keep myself organized. I snipped a piece of each fabric and pasted it to the paper plate, writing down all pertinent info to keep my brains from falling out.

I was very fortunate to spend a few days at Bridle Creek Bed & Breakfast for an annual mini quilt retreat with friends. I managed to get all my diamond rects, large square/squared and small square/squared units done!

Following the pattern instructions, I laid out my units in the proper color order to achieve this beautiful flow.

I numbered my rows and pinned them together to begin stitching them together,

A little precision pinning goes a long way when it comes to nice crisp points.

After four days of hard work I finished the top. Thanks to Michelle’s pattern Calm Seas & Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design tools I have checked another awesome quilt off my bucket list!

#northcottfabrics #NorthcottCanvas #debtucker #studio180design

Evening Elegance Blog Hop

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This is day 3 of Studio 180 Design’s Evening Elegance Blog Hop. Deb Tucker has launched her own fabulous signature fabric collection, Twilight Chic, with Island Batik and fabric designer Kathy Engle.

Below are the links to everyone participating in the blog hop:

Monday November 5th – Karen Overton – The Quilt Rambler” https://thequiltrambler.com/blog/

Tuesday November 6th – Tammy Silvers – Tamarinis – http://www.tamarinis.typepad.com/

Wednesday November 7th – Jackie OBrien – If These Threads Could Talk – https://ifthesethreadscouldtalk.com/blog-posts/

Thursday November 8th – Tina Dillard – Quilting Affection Designs – http://quiltingaffection.blogspot.com/

Friday November 9th – Studio 180 Design – https://deb-tuckers-studio-180-design.myshopify.com/blogs/news

Check back on Friday to see one version of the Evening Elegance quilt completed. The quilt was designed using BlockBuster Patterns: 1 Ohio Star, 7 Whimsy Turndash, 9 Three in One, 16 Peaks & Valleys, 20 Stellar Collision, 21 Around the Block, 22 Square Dance, 26 Cactus Blossom and 34 Evening Shadow.

I was assigned BlockBuster 9 – Three in One, using the V Block and Tucker Trimmer I tools.

Unit A. V Blocks: Make 4 V Blocks.

Unit C. Quarter Square Triangle: Make a Quarter Square Triangle with the fabrics that match the V Blocks, remember to swirl the center.

Unit B. Combination Units: Combination units begin by making half squares triangles (HSTs). The fabric for the HSTs must match the side triangles in the v blocks, so I began by laying out the starter squares next to the V Blocks and then making them into the combination units.

When making Combination units, you are making two at a time, a left & a right. Choose the units that will match the side triangles in the V Blocks as shown above.

Sew the units into rows then join the rows into the block.

My second BlockBuster was 16 Peaks & Valleys using the Diamonds Rects Tool and V Block Tool & the Sidekick, High Low Technique Sheet.

Unit A. Diamond Rects: Cut your precision diamonds & side triangles per the Diamonds Rects instructions. Stitch opposite side triangles, press toward the side triangles. Stitch the other opposites side triangles.

Make 4 diamond rects units and trim.

Stitch using a partial seam to the center square. Stitch the second diamond rects unit and so on to finish the block center.

Unit B. High Low Left: Following the instruction the in technique sheet cut your squares and trim, add the replacement side triangle. Mark and stitch the square for the low point and trim.

Make four High Low Left Units.

Unit C Sidekick Right: When making a Sidekick Right, position fabrics face down for cutting. Cut and stitch replacement side triangles.

Peaks & Valleys block unit layout.

Stitch units into rows.

Join the rows to complete the block.

I love the Twilight Chic fabrics from Island Batik and I can’t wait to show you one of the finished quilts!

#islandbatik #debtucker #twilightchic #studio180design #blockbusters

Refraction

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As I was preparing for an upcoming Tucker University Diamond Rects Class I though I would make Deb Tucker’s Refraction. It is a companion pattern for the Diamond Rects tool.

This is a great pattern to make to expand your skill at using your Diamond Rects Tool. Using six 2 1/2″ strips & background fabric this table runner is fun and quick to make.

I chose six 2 1/2″ strips from Island Batik’s “Spoolin Around” Island Strips pack & Cotton Egg-White for the background.

Cutting the Diamond

I opened my strips and positioned 3 strips right sides up ( you can stack more if you are comfortable), aligning the raw edges. I am right handed, so the selvedges are to the left. Align the guidelines of the ruler with the raw edge of the strip. Cut along the angled edge and across the top.

Rotate the first piece around to make the second diagonal cut near the selvedge edge.

Continue to make cuts until you have 7 diamonds from each strip.

Layer 3 more strip and continue to cut as before.

Cut 6 squares 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ from the remainder of each of the 2 1/2″ strips.

Cutting the Side Triangles

Cut your rectangles from the background fabric per pattern instructions.

Position the Side triangle Cutting Section of the ruler against the raw edges of the stacked rectangles and cut along the slanted edge of the ruler.

Stitch, Press, & Trim

Always lay out all the pieces right sides up as they are going to be stitched. Stitch two opposite side triangles to opposite edges of the center diamond. I align the raw edges, but instead of centering the diamond over the side triangle, I personally nudge my side triangle toward the thicker point of the center diamond. This gives me extra when it comes to the trim down process. Press toward the side triangle and away from the center diamond.

Align and stitch the remaining two side triangles to the raw edges of the center diamond as before. Press away from the center diamond.

Place the stitched and pressed unit on the cutting mat. Position the trim down side of the ruler on the unit, aligning the “X’s” and the dashed lines with the seam intersections and the sewn seams. Trim up the side and across the top. Rotate the unit and reposition the ruler, this time align the clean up lines on the previously trimmed sides along with the “X’s” and the dashed lines. Trim up the side and across the top. See tool instructions for left hand cutting.

Complete all your diamonds.

Layout the pattern pieces, stitch into rows and add borders per pattern instructions.

This was quick & fun! Finished project measures 16″ x 51″. Proudly stitched with Aurifil thread and completed with Quilter’s Dream Blend Batting.

#studio180design #debtucker #islandbatik #aurifil #diamondrects #refraction

Perfectly Paperless Piecing

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Not that I have anything against paper piecing, but…if I can get the same results without having to paper piece, I’m all for it! Earlier this year Deb Tucker introduced her new tool “The Large Square Squared” and it is teriffic! It operates like the original Square Squared, but the original was limited to 6 sizes whereas the large Square Squared gives you high precision for 12 different size units from 1″ to 12″. As always it offers minimal waste and right & left handed instructions. With it’s improved guidelines it takes two tools, Part A and Part B to accomplish all this.

But wait, there’s more! Deb has a new pattern about to be released called Peach Melba. It is a Studio 180 Design companion pattern for the Large Square Squared tool that makes a beautiful pineapple block.

I only have one block done so far. But with this great Kaffe Fassett fabric I can’t wait to finish it. This is a 12″ finished block. The Large Square Squared tool made the process easy. I would never have guessed I could make a pineapple quilt so perfect with out paper piecing! The pattern gives you the choice of Lap, Twin or Queen size quilts.

I did finish “Filigree” another Studio 180 Design companion pattern for the Large Square Squared & Corner Beam tool. It was design by fellow Certified Instructor Sarah Furrer. This pattern also gives you the choice of Lap, Twin or Queen size quilts.

Filigree

I made the Lap size, 54″ x 70″. I love this pattern. It is a great way to get to know your new Large Square Squared tool.

There are only two blocks. The first is the Snail Tail that uses the Large Square Squared tool, the second uses the Corner Beam tool.

See why I call it perfectly paperless piecing? What a beautiful back of a block! Both Peach Melba & Filigree are not yet released, so be sure to sign up for the Studio 180 Design Newsletter at www.studio180design.net so you get news first.

Fellow Studio 180 Design Certified Instructor, Michelle Hiatt has also just released a new companion pattern for the Large Square Squared and Diamond Rects tools called Jenn’s Journey!

You can find Jenn’s Journey at many local quilt shops or go to Michelle’s Etsy shop “Sew On the Go“.

I have my fabric picked out and ready to cut for Jenn’s Journey!

Smooth Sailing with Sugar & Spice

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I tried two new quilt patterns in October. The first one was Smooth Sailing by Pam Goggans.

Smooth Sailing

Pam designed this as a companion pattern for Studio 180 Design’s Diamond Rects and Square Squared tools. I had never made a Storm at Sea before and I was very pleased with this pattern. Using the Diamond Rects & Square Squared tools made it easy. The pattern makes two sizes, 49″ x 58″ and 89″ x 107″. You can buy Smooth Sailing from Studio 180 Design or from Pam Goggans at Sager Creek Quilts

I just finished making Sugar & Spice by Deb Tucker. I love, love, love the Lemoyne star. This is a companion pattern for the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star and Tucker Trimmer 1 tools.