Tag Archives: Northcott Creator’s Club

The Tree of Wisdom – OBW #74

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

I just couldn’t help my myself. I love trees, and these are my colors!

When I saw this panel I just had to make a One Block Wonder (OBW). The Tree of Wisdom fabric line was designed by Kerry Darlington for Northcott Fabrics. Tree of Wisdom can be found at your local quilt shop and at Keepsake Quilting.

When I approach making a OBW using panels, the first thing I want to know is how wide the panel is. This panel is 24″ including the borders. I did not want to include the borders, I prefer the panel to merge with the hexies as seamless as possible.

The strip width you choose to determines the finished hexagon size:

3.75” strip width = 6.0” Finished Hexie

3.50” strip width = 5.5” Finished Hexie

3.25” strip width = 5.0” Finished Hexie

3.00” strip width = 4.5” Finished Hexie

2.75” strip width = 4.0” Finished Hexie

2.50” strip width = 3.5” Finished Hexie

2.25” strip width = 3.0” Finished Hexie

2.0” strip width = 2.5” Finished Hexie

When I measured the panel without the borders it was 20″. Therefore I cut my aligned strips 3.25″ wide for 5″ finished hexagons.

I start designing around the panel until I get a design I like. Because I know my finished hexies will be 5″ wide, I know there will be 4 hexies across the top and the bottom of the panel. That is why the second photo is offset, so I know which row of hexies will be on the right side of the panel.

I stitch my hexies into four goups: the left, right, top & bottom. I never trim my panel until I’m ready to attach the hexie sections.

I started with the top of the panel. I did not want to trim off my points, so I turned the edges under 1/4″ and pressed well, top stitching the hexies to the panel.

I match up the dog ears at the top and stitch the right side leaving a partial seam. This allows me to match up the dog ears of the right section with the bottom section of hexies. I decided not to trim these hexies either, so I Pressed under the edges to prepare for top stitching.

I have now completed the partial seam on the right of the panel and can now match up the dog ears on the left side of the panel at both the top and the bottom.

As you can see, I need to camouflage where the bottom hexies hit the bottom of the panel.

Can you tell where the bottom hexies hit the panel? To find out how I do this, download here:

using-panels-for-a-obw-copy-1 Download

Thank you Northcott fabrics and Kerry Darlington for this beautiful fabric.

#northcott #treeofwisdom #aurilthread #therstripstick #reliableirons #quiltersdreambatting

Deck the Halls

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I love Christmas Tree Quilts. I’m always looking for quilt blocks that look like Christmas Trees.

With this block and the Deck the Halls fabric that Northcott gave me to make this quilt, I have a winner.

What can be easier than Half Square Triangles made with Studio 180 Design’s Tucker Trimmer I & Flying Geese made with the Wing Clipper I!

I love designing with EQ8. Having the option of auditioning the actual fabric I will be using is awesome!

Perfect for cuddling up under in front of a warm fire. You can make this quilt using your Studio 180 Design Tucker Trimmer I & Wing Clipper I tool instructions and these fabric requirements:

deck-the-halls Download

#northcottfabrics #studio180designtools #Aurifilthread #quiltersdreambatting

Rockets Red Glare

Calm Seas

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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

New Years Star

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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

Crossfire

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The fabrics in the post were generously given to me by Northcott Fabrics.

I chose Northcott fabrics from the Sew Musical Row by Row Palette 2018. When I choose my fabrics from Northcott, I get so excited when they are delivered. As soon as I touch the fabric, I feel the quality. These colors are luscious with just enough texture to give depth and interest.

Crossfire is a Studio 180 Design pattern designed by talented Certified Instructor Sarah Furrer. It is a companion pattern for the Large Square/Squared tool.

The block featured in this quilt is called “Bird of Paradise”. The pattern describes this quilt as “whirling stars with accents and chains of black and grey. A new fun variation of a Flying Goose makes for a star with loads more sparkle”, and it does.

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If you follow me, you know I love to organize my quilt making process by labeling paper plates for my block pieces as I cut them out. I never get lost or forget what the pieces are for. All my block pieces are cut and ready to put together.

Star Blocks: You will be making 8 star blocks, they will be made in pairs. Each pair will contain the same colors, but their arrangements will give you two different looking blocks. Label one of the colors in each pair as Color 1 & Color 2. If you follow the instructions in the pattern you wont have any trouble. After construction the diamond square units are trimmed to the cut size of 6.5″ x 6.5″

Beautiful, perfectly trimmed units leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance, so I will not lose my points. After all…no one wants to be pointless!

Next, we make half square triangles and perfectly trim them using our Large Square/Squared tool.

Lay out your trimmed half square triangles and the and two white triangles as shown. Work with one triangle at a time, stitch & carefully press toward the white triangle as not to distort the shape.

Laying Out the Blocks: Pay close attention to Step 10. Split your pieced geese into two piles of four. Lay out your side triangles so that on one pile you have four Color 1 side triangles on the right side & four Color 2 side triangles on the left side. The other pile will have four Color 2 side triangles on the right side & four Color 1 side triangles on the left side. If you lay them as I did above for every color combination, you will be fine.

It is very important to pay attention to Step 11: Position the right side triangle so that Color 1 shows a bit beyond the white along the top edge. Stitch and press toward the side triangle. Trim the units according to pattern instructions and put your blocks together.

Crossfire is a fun, skill expanding pattern. Finished quilt measures 60″ x 84″.

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What’s on My Design Wall Today!

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I am having so much fun! I don’t even have all the blocks designed yet, I keep going to the design wall. This panel is Artisan Spirit, Water Garden by Northcott. I am making it as part of Northcott’s Creative Club. I can’t wait to finish it! Have you ever made a One Block Wonder using panels?

Prism

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

I have been chosen to participate in Northcott’s Creative Club. If you have not used Northcott fabrics before you will be pleasantly surprised. Just like their logo says “Cottons that feel like Silk”!

I chose to make Prism, a pattern created by Pam Goggans of Sager Creek Quilts. Prism is a companion pattern for the Studio 180 Design Split Rects Tool.

One of my favorite Disney movies is “Pollyanna”. Remember this scene when they discover “rainbow makers”? I do, and that is the inspiration for my version of Prism.

My fabrics are from Artisan Spirit Shimmer By Deborah Edwards Northcott Studio. Aren’t they just yummy, looks like a rainbow to me!

I am a purveyor of paper plates! I use them to stay organized throughout the quilt making process. I cut everything out but the borders (I save that till the end so I can verify my measurements) and place them on their labeled paper plate. I can stack them up in a tub or place them in gallon size storage bags when I’m not working on them.

Split Rects Units

To make mirror image split rects units, lay the fabric strip “right sides together OR wrong sides together. Position the ruler on the strip with the broad black line against the trimmed end of the strip and the desired finished size guide and trim along the slanted edge. For the second cut, rotate the tool one half turn and align the small second trim “nub” line on the long edge of the strip and the “Second Trim” guide along the just-trimmed edge. Trim along the straight edge of the tool.

I am right handed, so my strips are placed horizontally and I cut from left to right. Left hander’s would place their strips vertically. See tool instructions for complete left handed cutting.

Continue to cut all the pieces for the split rects units.

Lay out the pieces as they will be stitched together. Stitch the elongated triangles by placing them right sides together with the long, bias edge of the pieces aligned. Center the two pieces with just a bit of overlap at the ends.

Press the seams either toward the darker fabric or open. As you can see I press mine open.

Align either the “Common Diagonal” or the “Size Diagonal” with the seam you have sewn. These will vary depending on the slant of the seam in your unit. Check to make sure that the fabric unit is completely contained within the trim down lines. For right hander’s trim up the side and across the top.

Rotate the unit and reposition the tool on top. Align the correct “Cut Size” measurement with the trimmed corner and the same diagonal line used in the first trim. Trim the remaining two edges of the unit.

Above I have laid out my trimmed mirror image split rects units.

Double Split Rects Units

After trimming the split rects units to the correct “Cut Size” choose 24 mirror image units to make special Double Split Rects!

According to pattern instructions trim away the excess of the colored triangle. Make sure to position the left leaning units right side up and the right leaning units right side down.

Using the Split Rects Tool, cut triangles from the accent fabric according to pattern instructions.

Lay out the trimmed units and the replacement triangles.

Stitch the dark triangles to the trimmed units. I press my seams open.

Trim as before. Place right leaning unit right side up and left leaning unit wrong side up.

I laid out my units on the design wall, and then I noticed two units were missing! Tucker my Chihuahua decided I had ignored her long enough. This is her way getting my attention. I found the units upstairs by a guilty grinning Tucker!