Category Archives: One Block Wonder

Enchanted by QT Fabrics

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Below is a quick video showing what I am working now!

Enchanted by the Morris Creative Group for QT Fabrics is in quilt shops now.

@QTFabrics #Enchanted

Creepin It Real Again!

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I am teaching at The Quilt Crossing in Boise Idaho in June. The owner of the shop is a fan of my work. She commissioned a One Block Wonder from me last year. Laura really loves Halloween and made an offer on QT Fabric‘s “Creepin it Real”.

I accepted her offer. She had 7 more “Creepin It Real” panels. These panels would enable me to make it again.

It is fun to see the differences. With the first “Creepin It Real” I cut my strips 3.75″ for 6″ finished hexies. With “Creepin It Real 2″, I cut my strips 3.25″ for 5” finished hexies. That gave me 31 more hexies than I had with the first one. The first “Creepin It Real” measures 90″ x 70″. The second “Creepin it Real” measures 74″ x 74″. Even though I had extra hexies, I did not use them all.

My new favorite ruler for cutting out my hexies is Deb Tucker’s First Choice Rulers.

TIP: I tried something different this time. Once I attached the top section, I attached one row from the left section. It was much less bulky determining where the bottom section should be attached. Then I added one row from the right side. Once the remaining left & right sections were stitched together, it would be easy to attach them to the center section.

I’m just so happy that I still have a “Creepin it Real” in my collection. I’m Looking forward to meeting Laura in June.

@QTFabrics @TheQuiltCrossing @Studio180Design #FirstChoiceRulers #Star60Tool

Studio 180 Design’s First Choice Rulers & OBW’s

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I made a short video to share with you about Deb Tucker’s new First Choice rulers.

@Studio180Design @DebTucker #FirstChoice

Get your First Choice rulers at Studio180design.net

Blooming Bouquet OBW #115

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I unlocked the door and stepped into the room. The full moonlight shone through the window, illuminating a small table with a beautiful blooming bouquet of flowers. I saw the vase reflected on the French doors. I stepped onto the balcony and looked to my right and saw the Eiffel Tower lit up above the rooftops.

I always try to find the story the fabric is telling me. The Blooming Bouquet panel designed by Suzanne Allard and QT Fabrics transported me to Paris.

The colors were so vibrant I didn’t want to distract from them. I added Star 60 units in pink (31244P), blue (3144B) and gold (31244O). I used coordinating fabrics of purple (31244V) on the left and green (31244H) on the right.

I used the rest of the fabric for the quilt backing. Blooming Bouquet measures 82″ x 65″. Blooming Bouquet will be in quilt shops September 2025.

@QTFabrics @Studio180Design #BloomingBouquet #OmniThread #QuiltersDreamBatting

Blooming Bouquet by QT fabrics

Spirited – OBW #114

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The Spirited panel was designed by Elise Genest for Northcott Fabrics. The panel measures 24″ x 44″.

I cut my strips 2.75” which yields 4” finished hexies. There were 210 hexies. I let the design tell me what it needs to tell a good story. After cutting my strips I had about 2.25” strip left. This allowed me to cut diamonds and make 11 kaleidoscope Star 60 units. I added 4” finished Hollow Cube 60’s and a 12” hollow Cube with 4” cubes inside it to represent the stables.

Spirit was left in the corral far too long. It began to rain and she jumped over the fence and headed for the stables, where it was dinnertime. Spirited measures 71” x 68”.

Spirited was made for The Quilt Crossing quilt shop in Boise, ID. They have invited me there to teach a 4 day Sleep in your Own Bed One Block Wonder Workshop, June 18 – 21, 2025. Maybe I will get to meet you there.

@northcottfabric @studio180design #Star60 #HollowCube60 #DebTucker #Spirited

One Block Wonder Workshops: A Trip to Kentucky and Tennessee

Create a Stunning Quilt with Bohemian Sunrise

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Does anyone remember an old song from the 40’s called “I got the Sun in the Morning “? It was written by Irving Berlin in 1946 for a musical called “Annie Get Your Gun”.

I’ve been humming that tune while working on this great panel designed by the Morris Group for QT Fabrics. The panel measures 36″ x 43″. Bohemian Sunrise will be available in early 2025.

I was at a quilt retreat last weekend with my friends the Turtle Crew. I took off the borders which left me with a width of 28″ for the panel. I cut 2.75″ strips that yielded 190 – 4″ finished hexies.

I picked coordinating fabrics from QT Fabrics Color Essence line and Morris Group Bohemian Sunrise line for making adding stars and cubes to my design.

Using a set of equilateral triangles for the center and light orange from the Color Essence line and stars fabric from the Bohemian Sunrise line, I made 2″ finished Star 60 units that were stitched to the equilateral triangles to make diamonds. I then made 2″ finished Capped 60 units that I used as side triangles for pieced diamonds. This made a 8″ finished star.

Using a light, medium and dark fabrics from the Color Essence line I made 4″ Hollow Cube 60 units.

I began designing in the upper right corner. I placed hexies 7 across and started going down the left side until I passed the bottom of the panel. Then another 7 hexies across the bottom and up the right side of the panel.

Once I have the four sides established, I can then add hexies until I am please with the design.

I added half hexies on the sides and half rectangle triangles to the top and bottom of each row and numbered my rows.

I used 4″ and 8″ finished hexies in my design. I stitched the 2.5″ rows together above and below the 4.5″ half hexies so they could be stitched to the 4.5″ half hexies. Then joined all the rows on the left side.

The photo above shows the top, bottom and left section attached to the panel, and how much shrinkage there was when the hexies are joined into rows.

Bohemian Sunrise measures 78″ x 63″. OBW # 113, not yet quilted.

“Got no diamond, got no pearl. Still think I’m a lucky girl. I’ve the Sun in morning and Moon at Night”!

@QTFabrics @TheMorrisGroup @Studio180design #BohemianSunrise #Star60

Unboxing QT Fabrics: Bohemian Sunrise & Autumn Smiles

Mysterious Kitty, OBW # 112

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If you follow me you know I love my Chihuahua Tucker.

But, These cat panels by Rubin Design Studio, exclusively from eQuilter are just fabulous!

Mysterious Kitty panel measures 43.5″ x 29.5″. I decided to cut my strips 3.25″ yielding 168 – 5″ finished hexies.

I decided to start my design at the top of the panel, choosing the upper right corner to start, and placing 8 hexies across the top before going down to start the left side.

Above is the design I settled on. The edges of the panel range from black to dark blue. I didn’t think the green from the eyes would show up much, so I added Framed 60 stars to the upper right corner. They make the Kitty’s eyes sparkle more. I added Star 60 units to the left side in orange and blue made using the Star 60 Tool.

Above shows the top and bottom sections attached to the panel. Notice how much it shrinks when stitched together. We know we lose 1/2″ between straight seams. But, when stitching the hexies into rows we lose 9/16″ between seams. Depending on how many hexies are in your row, you lose about 3″ or more.

There are always two opportunities to tweak the design. The first is while designing with the hexies. The second is after you finished designing and the rows stitched are together. The photo on the right shows the top stitched together un-tweaked. I needed to soften the dark corners on the bottom of the panel. The photo on the right shows the top tweaked. I added appliqued Star 60 units on the lower right and left corners of the panel in different sizes and colors to created more of a curve I was looking for.

In my OBW Supply List, I show you a method to create appliqued hexies using fusible knit interfacing. This time I tried something different. I used Steam-A-Seam. I traced the fabric unit on the Steam-A-Seam paper, and then cut it out at least 1/4″ smaller. Following the Steam-a-Seam directions, I attached it to the back of the fabric unit. I removed the paper and finger pressed the raw edges under 1/4″. It was now ready to be attached to the quilt top. Once I have all my appliqued units attached to the top, I top stitch them down using Superior Monopoly clear thread.