Category Archives: V Block

New Years Star

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

This fabulous pattern, “New Year’s Star” by Deb Tucker is fun to make using your V Block & Tucker Trimmer I tools. It can be made in 3 sizes: 50″ x 66″, 66 x 82″ & 82 x 102″. I love pink and aqua & retro fans. I guess you can say the photo above shows my fan club (HAHAHAHA).

I chose 4 fabrics from Northcott’s “Strokes of Brilliance” collection. The colors are so deep and rich.

Pinwheels: Making the pinwheels begins by making half square triangles using the 3″ dark & medium squares. Trim to 2 1/2″ with your Tucker Trimmer. Arrange the trimmed squares into pinwheels.

Use Care Here!. The blocks should spin exactly as shown in the pattern instructions.

V Block High/Low:

I have cut my background squares and side triangles for unit construction.

Following my pattern instructions I trimmed the background square and stitch a side triangle to it.

Press toward the side triangle, add the square to make the second low side triangle and trim.

Trim using the V Bock tool as shown above. Rotate and trim again.

By placing the high/low units around the pinwheels we get a great looking wonky star!

Framed Squares:

Make 8 of these easy framed squares.

Combination Units:

Using the Magic Wand draw 2 diagonal lines on the back of the 5 1/2″ the background squares and align with the medium squares, stitch on lines.

Cut apart and press toward the darker fabric.

Using the Magic wand draw 2 diagonal lines on the back of the half square triangles (HST). Center the HST’s on a dark 5 1/2″ square, stitch on the lines, cut apart & press toward the large triangle.

Trim using your Tucker Trimmer, rotate and trim again.

Each set makes mirror image combination units. Both are used in the pieced inner border. It is a good idea to keep the units organized into left and right groups. You’ll be glad you did.

Lay out your units.

Stitch into rows.

Add your inner borders.

Add your pieced inner borders and your final outer border.

I love the backing too. This quilt was completed with Quilters dream Batting! Thank you Northcott for letting me create with your beautiful fabrics. The description I’ve shared in this post does not answer every question you may have. Please feel free to contact me with questions.

#northcottfabrics #strokesofbrilliance #debtucker #studio180design #tuckertimmer #vblock #newyearsstar

Great Outdoor Blog Hop Week 4

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Wow, the last week in August gets so busy! Have you visited Island Batik for week 4’s project reveals? There are two more days to go next week then it is over. Here are links to this weeks reveals:

Monday, August 27 – Globetrotter
Pamela Quilts, Curliecue Creations

Tuesday, August 28 – Jungle Cruise
Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting, Little Bunny Quilts

Wednesday, August 29 – Lavendula
Carole Lyles Shaw, Masterpiece Quilting

Thursday, August 30 – London Calling
Quilt in a Not-Shell, Lizard Creek Quilting

Friday, August 31 – Spirit Rhythm
Steph Jacobson, Whispers of Yore

If you follow my blog you know I have a female chihuahua named “Tucker”. Tucker is definitely in charge!

Tucker keeps a close eye on everything I’m doing. All that supervision makes her sleepy. She will climb on my head to get me to go to bed by 7:30 at the latest. I’m not ready to sleep that early, so I am usually on my laptop. Last night I was playing with EQ8. I was drawing the BlockBuster patterns by Deb Tucker. It is so much fun seeing what the blocks will look in quilt.

One of the blocks I was playing with last night BlockBuster 10 Twisted Pinwheel. This block has a 4 patch in the center, High/Low units & Sidekick units made with the V Block tool and Sidekick High\Low Technique Sheet. I was able to load fabric scans of Island Batik fabrics into the EQ8 software.

I decided to design the quilt with 12″ finished blocks, on point, adding sashing with 6″ Twisted Pinwheels as cornerstones and Piano key outer borders. What a nice way to end summer! Have a great weekend everyone!

#greatoutdoorbloghop #islandbatik #Iheartislandbatik #DebTucker #Studio180Design #EQ8 #BlockBusters

A Field of Popped ‘V’s”

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The Island Batik Ambassador’s Challenge for July is “Pattern Play, Secondary Pattern”. I chose a simple design using BlockBuster 18 A Popped V pattern from Deb Tucker which uses Studio 180 Design V Block & Corner Pop tool and the Side Kick High/Low technique sheet.

Last year I made four Popped V blocks and loved the secondary pattern that came from putting together the blocks. Notice the nice sharp points?

I love my bright orange & green Island Batik fabrics. But, this time my blocks looked a little different…there’s a story there! I don’t know about you, but when I’m at a quilting retreat with my quilting buddies I’m usually talking way too much and that’s how mistakes are made! My in-attention to detail led me down the primrose path of error!

I was organizing my fabrics, I decided to make twelve 12″ blocks. When making a quilt block, we refer to Finished & Cut size units. The Finished size is the what the unit measures after it is sewn into the block, the Cut Size measurement is the size of the unit before it is sewn into the block. The Cut Size is what size you trim the unit to before sewing it into the block.

Checking the size chart in my V block instructions, I needed to cut 5″ strips to make 4″ finished V Block units. So far no problem. I pop off the corners of my V Block units with my Corner Pop tool and replace the corners with my beautiful orange Island Batik. I popped off the corners of the center squares and continue on.

Here was my downfall, I had not cut the starter strips for the Sidekick units. Instead of checking the technique sheet, I grabbed the Blockbuster pattern and looked at the “Cut Size” of 4 1/2″! Drat!!!! I cut all the background squares smaller than they needed to be. I continued to trim the squares for the replacement side triangles. I stitched the side triangles to squares, thinking “this doesn’t look right”, but I still kept yapping away, going down the primrose path of error.

Needless to say my sidekicks lost their points! That makes me “Pointless”, something I try to avoid at all costs! I did not have enough fabric to make new sidekick units. My secondary design has dull points, but it is a lesson learned to pay attention!

The moral of this story is, when you find yourself wandering through “A Field of Popped V’s”, don’t end up pointless!

These beautiful fabrics are all from Island Batik and stitched with Aurifil thread. Quilt measures 45″ x 57″.

#islandbatik #aurifilthread #Debtucker #studio180design #VBlocks #CornerPop #Quiltersdreambatting

Scrapodopolis – BlockBuster’s #1 – #9

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I just finished my quilt containing Deb Tucker’s BlockBuster patterns #1 through #9! Scrapodopolis seems like a pretty good name.

I used the Tucker trimmer 1, Wing Clipper 1, Square/Squared, V Block & Four Patch Square up tools from Studio 180 Design. I was encouraged by fellow Certified Instructor Sarah Furrer to try a block layout a little outside the box, and I totally did!

This is the layout I chose. I did change it up a little.

My blocks are 12″ when finished. that indicated that my Square/Squared units would finish at 6″. I Needed 16 square/squared units and decided the center squares would be cut from 16 different fabric pulled from the blocks & the side triangles would be the same background fabric used in the blocks. The 3″ rectangles on either side of the square/squared units would match the border fabric. The outer borders would finish at 6″ also. I added a 3″ border outer border to enhance the four square/squared units in the border.

Don’t do what I did. I started in the center and stitched the outer square/squared units to the center blocks, (they had to be un-sewed and sewn to the borders pieces). In each of the corners, I stitched a 12″ block to a square/squared unit & stitched a square/squared unit to a 6.5″ square and then stitched it to the block. The two blocks on either side of the center were stitched to a square/squared unit

This is much better. Now there are 3 rows of blocks in the center ready to be stitched together & the border square/squared units are pieced to the border strips.

Once all the pieces were stitched together I decided I needed to add a 3″ outer border so all the units appear to be floating.

I am so pleased with how it came out! My finished quilt measures 67″ x 67″.

I can’t wait to start the next quilt with BlockBuster #10!

BlockBuster #9 – Three In One

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This block requires your Tucker Trimmer I and V Block tools. BlockBuster 09 Three in One provides 3 different possible block layouts. The block is made up of V Block, Combination & Quarter Square Triangle units. I’m making Block 1 as a 12″ block, with 4″ finished units.

All of the units in these three blocks are the same (and placed in the same location), yet just by rotating the units and changing your fabric placement, you’ll get three very different blocks.

These are my fabric choices. I will be making Block 1. I decided where I wanted my fabrics in the block by looking at the colors in block 1 and assigned my fabric choice for the units.

I need four V Block units with the center triangle cut from the background fabric and the side triangles cut from each of my four fabric colors. For a 4″ finished unit I cut a 5″ WOF strip of the background and each of the four fabric color groups. (check the Size Cutting Chart in the tool instructions and on the tool itself.)

The center unit is a Quarter Square Triangle made from each of the four fabrics. I cut a 5 1/2″ square from each of my four fabrics. ( Check the Size Cutting Chart in the tool instructions.)

The corner units are Combination Units. Each combo unit is made from fabrics that match the side triangles on either side of the V Block units and the background fabric. Cut 2 each 5 1/2″ squares from each of the four fabrics and four 5 1/2″ squares from the background fabric.

V Bock Units

Everything you need to know for making V Block units is in the tool instructions. I’m starting with the V Block center triangles. To cut the center triangles, layer no more than two layers deep. Fold the ends deep enough to accommodate the slanted cut for a 4″ finished unit and finger press it.

Position the tool on the strip so that the dashed line labeled “Fold Line for Center Triangle” is aligned with the fold and the correct size line of the tool is against the bottom edge of the strip. Trim along the slanted edge of the tool and unfold to reveal the center triangle pieces.

Move the cut triangles to the side and flip the strip over from top to bottom. Align the center triangle trim line with the previously trimmed edge and cut your next pair of center triangles. For this block you need four center triangles.

For the Side triangles. place the strips facing each other, either right sides or wrong sides together on the cutting mat. Locate the bold solid line on the tool that reads “Cut Line for Side Triangles”. Position that line against the trimmed end of the strip and the proper size line against the bottom of the strip. Trim along the slanted edge of the tool.

Cut one set from each of the four fabrics.

Lay out the V Block units, making sure you are lining up the long edge of the side triangles with the edges of the center triangle. Position pieces right sides together lining up the slanted cut edges “tip to tip” and stitch one side triangle to the unit. Press toward the side triangle. Position second triangle, stitch & press as shown. Repeat with the other V Blocks.

Lay the V Block unit on the cutting mat with “V” pointing toward you. Lay the tool on the unit aligning the “Finished Size” measurement with the seam lines. Trim up the right side and across the top. (For left hand cutting directions see tool instructions.)

Lift the tool and rotate the unit. Reposition the tool on top aligning the correct “Cut Size” measurements with the previously trimmed corner and “X” with the sewn seam intersection. Trim up the right side across the top.

Quarter Square Triangle – Center Unit

Check the Size Cutting Chart to determine size of the starter squares. For 4″ finished units cut one 5 1/2″ square from each of the four colors. Make half square triangles (HST) by marking two diagonal lines on the back of 2 of the fabric squares with your Magic Wand, stitch on the lines and cut apart. Press seams toward the darker fabric. Do Not Trim. Check your fabric placement choices to determine which fabrics to make HST’s out of.

Note: When making half square triangles, combination units and quarter square triangles, you will be making two units at a time. You can make two blocks or save the units for something later.

On the back of one of the HST’s, use your Magic Wand and mark two diagonal lines. Position the HST units right sides together, carefully nesting the sewn seams. Stitch on the lines, cut apart and press swirling the center.

Position your Tucker Trimmer over the pieced unit. Carefully align both the common diagonal and the size diagonal lines over the sewn seam lines. Trim up the right side and across the top. Lift the Tucker Trimmer tool and rotate the unit. This time be sure to position both the common diagonal, the size diagonal lines and the outline of the square to the exact measurement desired. Right hander’s trim up the right side and across the top, while left hander’s will trim up the left side and across the top.

Combination Units

Check you fabric placement choice to group your fabrics for making the combo units. There are three 5 1/2″ squares (one background & 2 darker fabrics) for each combo unit. Start by making half square triangles (HST) by marking two diagonal lines on the back of one of the darker fabric squares and placing it right sides together with the other dark fabric square. Stitch on the lines and cut apart and press. Do Not Trim. Do this for each color group.

Mark two diagonal lines on the back of one HST. Place one HST on one background square centering it and stitch on the lines.

Cut apart and press toward the large triangle. When you make combination units with this process, you are making mirror image combo units. You will only need one set of combo units for one block. Deb Tucker has a Non Mirror Combo Technique Sheet that shows you how to make only the combo units you need.

Position the Tucker trimmer over the unit, carefully aligning both the common diagonal and the size diagonal with the stitched seams. Right hander’s trim up the right side and across the top, while left hander’s will trim up the left side and across the top. Lift the tool and rotate the unit. This time line up both diagonal lines and the outline to the exact measurement desired and trim as before.

Lay out your units and stitch into rows, pressing as shown.

Stitch your rows to make your block. I now have BlockBuster’s #1 – #9 completed! Time to make a quilt!

BlockBuster #8 54-40 or Fight

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BlockBuster # 08 54 – 40 or Fight is a fun & easy block. It requires Deb Tucker’s V Block tool. This block also has four patch units, which you can make by cutting individual squares. I made my four patch units by using Deb’s Tucker’s new Four Patch Square Up tool. The cutting chart gives you options for making a 6″, 9″ or 12″ block. I made a 12″ block.

I chose the 3 fabric colors shown above.

V Block Units

Everything you need to know for making V Block’s is in the tool instructions. I’m starting with the V Block center triangles, I chose a dark fabric for my star. For a 12″ block the cut size of my units will be 4 1/2″. The Size chart and/or the tool itself tells me that for a 4″ finished unit, I need to cut a 5″ strip. To cut the center triangles, layer no more than two layers deep. Fold the ends deep enough to accommodate the slanted cut for a 4″ finished unit and finger press it.

Trim along the slanted edge of the tool and unfold to reveal the center triangle pieces.

Place the strips facing each other, either right sides or wrong side together on the cutting mat. Locate the bold solid line on the tool that reads “Cut Line for Side Triangles”. Position that line against the trimmed end of the strip and the proper size line against the bottom of the strip. Trim along the slanted edge of the tool.

To make the next cut, keep the fabric in the same position on the mat and rotate the tool as shown above and cut. Rotate the tool back to the first position and cut again. You will need four mirror image sets of side triangles for this block.

Lay out the V Block units, making sure you are lining up the long edge of the side triangles with the edges of the center triangle. To sew position pieces right sides together lining up the slanted cut edges “tip to tip” and chain stitch one side triangle to each unit.

Press all seams toward the side triangles.

Position the second side triangles and stitch onto each unit as before.

Have you ever tried to sew with a Chihuahua on your lap? I don’t recommend it.

Press toward the side triangle. Lay the V Block unit on the cutting mat with “V” pointing toward you. Lay the tool on the unit aligning the “Finished Size” measurement with the seam lines. Trim up the right side and across the top. (For left hand cutting directions see tool instructions.)

Trim all four V Block units. Remember for more help, there are free video’s for each of Deb’s tools at Studio 180 Design.

Four Patch Units

I love Deb Tucker’s new Four Patch Square Up tool, because four patch units are easy to make, so I save them for last. By then I’m tired and my brains have fallen on the floor somewhere. I know for this block I need four 4″ finished four patch units. I simply go to the size cutting chart that came with the tool. I cut one WOF 2 3/4″ strip from each of my two color choices. Position the strips right sides together and stitch them together along the long edge. Cut the sewn strips in half crosswise and press toward the darker fabric. Reverse one half of the strip over the other so each color is opposite the other color. Nest the seams well.

Sub-cut into units the same size as the width that you cut the strips. In this case my strips were 2 3/4″ wide. Chain stitch down the long side of the layered pair.

Swirl the centers and press.

Locate the desired Finished Size circle on your Four Patch Square Up tool and position this circle over the seam intersection of your four patch unit. Line up the dashed lines radiating from the center with your seams. Trim up the right side and across the top.

Lift the tool and rotate the unit. Realign the finished size circle with the center and the dashed lines with the seams. Also make sure the outside trimmed edges of the unit are aligned with the solid cut size clean up lines. Trim up the right side and across the top, and presto you have a beautiful perfectly square Four Patch unit!

Cut a 4 1/2″ center square that matches your star points. Lay out your V Block and four patch units.

Sew the units into rows and press as shown. Join the rows, stitch and press away from the center.

Check out the other color options on the supply list. One more BlockBuster block and I will put together my sampler quilt.

OBW #60 and so much more…..

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It’s December 15, 2016. I haven’t blogged in 3 months as there was an illness in my family that took precedence. My family has received quilts from me for Christmas for many years. I hadn’t done that in a while, but this year I wanted to show my love for them. I made my son Josh a One Block Wonder (OBW). Josh is my very own Grizzly Adams. This is my 60th One Block Wonder and is named “Camping with Friends”. Camping with Friends was made with Alexander Henry Fabric with a 12″repeat .

Camping with Friends

Josh called me last night. He loves the quilt. It has grizzly bears on the back.

I finally completed a King size “Yellow Brick Road” or my oldest son Jason. He was thrilled. He waited a long time for this quilt.

Jason’s King Size Quilt.

As you can see, Tuck is always near by. I made my youngest Granddaughter Samantha, a Minnie Mouse Quilt. That prompted my sister Mary to get her a Minnie Mouse. So, I made Minnie a smaller scale quilt like Sam’s. The label says “This quilt made for Minnie Mouse, By Sam’s Grandmother Jackie O’Brien”. Of course everything fit into a tote with Minnie Mouse embroidered on it.

Sam & Minnie’s Quilt

I had the great pleasure to spend a few days with several Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors at Bridle Creek Bed & Breakfast in Hamilton, NY. We were hosted by Barb Hipsley, proprietor extraordinaire. What a wonderful time we had. the photo below shows us all in our Minion pants.

The “Minionettes” from right to left: Barb Hipsley, Connie Farland, Debbie Thomas, Diane Marvin, Donna Hanley, ending with myself.

This time was totally devoted to quilting. I was able to make some small quilts for my sister Mary. She loves to put them on tables.

This quilt measure 39″ by 49″. It is from Deb Tucker’s book Hidden Treasures. I made 5″ blocks using the Hunter Star Petite tool. This size hunter star makes a great baby quilt.

Curveball

Looks great on this old trunk.

I named this “Mary’s Stars. It is my original design. I’m very pleased with it. I used Studio 180 Design V Block & Corner Pop tools. The 6″ finished star blocks are the same block, I just reversed the colors. It measures 39′ by 45”.

Looks great on this coffee table.

This one is called “Game Board” from a book of antique doll quilts. It is only 22″ square. Of course I Tuckerized it and used my Wing Clipper 1 to make all those Flying Geese.

Game Board

Tucker

Happy Holidays to you all from Tucker and me.

Trim Your Trees With Tucker Tools

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I love Christmas Tree quilts and wall hangings. I’m always looking for ways to make Christmas tree quilts. Two years ago I made “I Believe” for my youngest Granddaughter Sam’s first Christmas.

I Believe

I Believe Christmas tree Quilt was made using the Studio 180 Design V Block tool and of course I had to add machine embroidery.

This year I wanted to try some new techniques. I absolutely love this wall hanging made with the Studio 180 Design Split Rects tool.

Split Rect’s Christmas Tree

This Split Rects Christmas Tree was made with 1 1/2″ x 3″ finished units, but you can change the size of this quilt by using any of the 8 sizes provided in the Split Rects instructions.

I had some lime green dupioni silk and decided to make Kermits Swamp Spruce by using all 10 sizes of my Studio 180 Design Wing Clipper 1 tool.

Kermit’s Christmas Tree

As you know when making flying geese with the Wing Clipper you make 4 at a time. So I only needed to make 3 size groups to get all 10 flying geese for Kermits Christmas Tree. These wall hanging can embellished easily by adding beads or costume jewelry. Don’t we all have Christmas pins collected over the years.

Of course if you need to whip up a gift quickly just make one set of the 5″ x 10″ flying geese and trim them down.

Wing Clipper Christmas

The Wing Clipper Christmas Tree wall hanging is very quick and easy.

Just click on any of the links provided and start trimming your trees. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Victorious

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I just finished quilting and binding my Studio 180 design pattern “Victorious” I’m on my quest to branch out and try other battings. Of course my preference is any batting by Quilters Dream. This time I used the “Blend”, 70% cotton & 30% polyester, needle punched onto an ultra light scrim base. It was created especially for machine quilters.

It was very nice to work with. It didn’t stretch out of shape at all. It stitched beautifully. It held its shape throughout the washing and drying process.

Victorious is a beautiful traditional quilt pattern that uses the Deb Tucker V Block tool and the Squared2 tool for units in four corners of the border. The V Block tool was also used to create the diamond shapes in the border. Although, now Deb has created the Diamond Rects tool that could also be used to create the border units.

Victorious – V Block

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I just finished another class sample. Victorious is a companion pattern for the Studio 180 Design V Block and Squared2 tools. It measures 55 1/2″ x 55 1/2″. Three simple fabrics, one fantastic quilt.

V Block units are used to create the stars with the added interest of the diagonal chains of small squares tying the stars together. V Blocks are also used to construct the diamond pieced border. The Squared2 units are used in the corners of the border. This is a good skill building quilt.