Tag Archives: quilting

A Walk In Frida’s Garden, Part II

Well, I finally finished my hexagon quilt based on artist Frida Kahlo (born July 6, 1907 -died July 13, 1954 in Coyoacan, Mexico), fabric by Alexander Henry. I think I like it. I can’t stop looking at it. I used the original fabric on the left side only. I love the 2002 movie based on Frida’s life. Frida was played by Selma Hayek.
A Walk in Fridas Garden

Printed on the fabric are two quotes made by Frida Kahlo & printed on the fabric in spanish. I machine embroidered them on the borders in english. On the top border, embroidered is “Feet, what do I need them for when I have wings to fly”. She survived a terrible bus accident where she was impaled by a steel post, but was in pain most of her life.
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The second quote I embroidered along the bottom border: “I Desire to Live, I have already begun to paint”.
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In the top right corner I added a skull with a butterfly super imposed over it. (Design by http://www.urbanthreads.com)
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I wanted to play with cubes on this hexagon quilt.
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I had left over blocks, so I reduced their size and appliqued them in several place on the quilt’s edge as if they were spinning off onto the border.
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The Backing is also by Alexander Henry, called “Contigo”.
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Let me know what you think.

A Walk in Frida’s Garden, Part I

I’m working on my 52nd Hexagon Quilt. This one is cut from Alexander Henry’s fabric “Frida’s Garden” for Frida Kahlo, a Mexican Artist born July 6, 1907, died July 13, 1954. Below is one repeat of the fabric.
Fridas Garden

Fabric cut into equilateral triangles.
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Frida Block
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Another Frida block, fun!
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I decided to incorporate cubes into this hexagon quilt. You choose 3 colors for your cubes. A light, intermediate and a dark fabric. I chose these three colors taken from the block fabric.
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We make two kinds of triangles, striped and V triangles. For the striped triangles sew the strips into 6 sets of 3 fabrics each. Cut 14 strips of each shade – light, intermediate, and dark. All the strips are 1 ½” x the width of the fabric. Press all seams open! (Confession, I forgot and pressed to the side the side, I had to go back and press my seams open).

Striped Triangles – Sew the strips into 6 sets of 3 fabrics each as follows:
Light – dark – light
Light – intermediate – light
Intermediate – light – intermediate
Intermediate – dark – intermediate
Dark – light – dark
Dark – intermediate – dark
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Using a Clearview Triangle ruler, align the 3 ¾” line of the ruler along the bottom edge of the light-dark-light assembled strip, and cut along both sides.
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Note: the point is missing on the cut triangle. This is not a mistake. That missing point
will be absorbed in the seam

To cut the second triangle, flip the fabric over and cut from the wrong Side again using the 3 ¾: line.
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V Triangles: Sew 4 of each value of the remaining strips together in pairs as follows:
Light – intermediate
Intermediate – light
Light – dark
Dark – light
Intermediate – dark
Dark – intermediate
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You will have 6 strip sets – 2 each of 3 color combinations. Press seams open.

Align the 2 ¾” line on the Clearview rule along the bottom edge of the assembled strip, and cut along both sides. Note again that the point is missing.
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Flip to the wrong side and continue cutting as before. The 2nd triangle is a reverse of the 1st one cut, no problem, we will need both.
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From the 4 remaining strips of each color, cut 3 ¾” trapezoids using the Clearview Triangle ruler
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Sew a trapezoid to every 2 ¾” triangle, matching the color of the trapezoid to create a V triangle.
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You can quickly chain sew triangles to trapezoids.
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All seams are pressed open
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From the Striped Triangles, V Triangles and trapezoids you can make these five different cubes:
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I placed Frida’s Garden on the design wall. When I had a design I was satisfied with I started to play with the cubes. I simply replaced hexagons with cubes.
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This is part one. I want to use some machine embroidery and broderie perse in the borders. First I need to sew blocks into rows and then join the rows so I can audition my ideas.

Getting Hexed in Harrisonburg

I attended a “Meet the Artist” function at the Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, Virginia this past Saturday. It was great fun. The exhibit consisted of quilts made from hexagons, both old and new. The museum is in a wonderful old house in downtown Harrisonburg. There is a lot of great antique shops there. The exhibit even has a quilt made by former President Woodrow Wilson’s wife (it was started by the first wife and finished by the second wife). Getting Hexed will be on exhibit through August 24, 2013, so don’t miss it.

Getting Hexed in Harrisonburg
This is Neva Hart, Quilt Appraiser and Mary Kerr, quilter, teacher and author.

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Mary Kerr, curator of the exhibit Vintage Revisited and many of the artists were here autographing copies of the exhibit’s book.

03 I dropped my Basket
My attempt at taking a vintage block and re-imagining it. It was a basket block that I gave a twisting falling down appearance, and then machine embroidered around the border the saying “I dropped my basket yesterday! That’s a polite southern term for, I went bat shit crazy for no, apparent nor discernible reason.”

04 Jackie and Meegan Carr Directer
This is Meegan Carr, Executive Director of the Virginia Quilt Museum.

04 Star Struck by Cheryl See
Award-winning quilt artist Cheryl See was on hand discussing her quilt, Star Struck, that won Best Hand Workmanship at the 2012 AQS Paducah Quilt Show. This quilt is a stunner, you must see it up close. It took Cheryl over 2 years to make this quilt.

05 Jackie and Wilma Gerald Board Members
Jackie and Wilma Gerald and board member.

06 Jackie explaing OBW
Here I am giving a demo on how to make a Hexagon Quilt.

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I gave donated this quilt to the Virginia Quilt Museum. They will be raffling or auctioning it later this year.

A Tote For My Featherweight

I’m getting ready to go to the NC Quilt Symposium, May 23rd thru the 26th. I decided to take my Singer 1939 Featherweight sewing machine. It is lightweight and won’t take up too much room. So I cleaned, oiled, and lubricated her, changed the needle. I have the original carry case, but it smells musty, it adds weight and takes up room. So I decided to make her a padded carry tote. I made it the same way I make all my totes. I have a tote making lesson plan under “Class Descriptions, Supply Lists & Stuff.

I cut a canvas outer fabric and lining fabric 20″ by 40”. I cut a 20″ by 40″ piece of Quilters Dream Fusible Batting.

The 1940’s style Lady embroidery design is from Embroidery Library. I embroidered the design, fused the batting to the back of the outer fabric, sewed up the sides and then made an 8″ gusset by measuring down 4″ to make my sewing line (see lesson plan for details).

Now I feel my Featherweight is protected. She will be placed in a roller cart with other items but won’t get scratched up.

Featherwright Tote

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One Block Wonder Fabric Selections

What fabric makes a good Hexagon Quilt? Some say a 24″ repeat is key, but I do not necessarily agree. I made a hexagon quilt from a fabric that had a 24″ repeat, but the print was not that large. Although it was still a pretty quilt, I thought the colors were a little muddy (Natures Chorus). So I say get as big a print as you can find with colors that you like. Keep in mind that once the repeats are layered you will be cutting them into 3 3/4″ strips. If your print is flowers that are only 3″ across, you will not be taking them apart very much and your blocks will end up looking a lot like the original fabric. Whereas if the print is 6″ you will have a better chance of your blocks looking nothing like the original fabric.

I ignore the print itself and go for something large with colors I like, then I know I will have fun. When I made “Inside the Twister” from the Wizard of Oz fabric in sepia tones, it was only a 12″ repeat. I could have cut 6 repeats of a fabric 12″ each, but because the print was big enough, I chose a design element that was easily identifiable and when it came up again at 12″ – I skipped it and went to the next one. Now I had a 24″ repeat. When you do this you may have blocks that repeat themselves, but remember you have 3 design choices with each block.

To make a good lap-size, twin, or full size quilt, 4 1/4 yards for your blocks. 6 repeats of fabric at 24” each, is exactly 4 yards (24 x 6 = 144; 144/36 = 4). I ALWAYS BUY at least 6 Yards so I have the option of a 9 OR 10 inch outer border with the original fabric.) It is fun to see a slice of the original fabric along with the quilt. DO NOT PRE-WASH THE FABRIC!!!!

Below are some of my hexagon quilts waiting to be born. I still have another 20 or so 6 yard pieces I didn’t show you.

OBW Fabric
Just Lion Around by Alexander Henry

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New York City at Night

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Red Sunflowers

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Route 66

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Ocean Fish

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UPS Men

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Construction Hunks (I love cutting up people)

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New York, New York

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Under the Rainbow, I used this fabric for “Inside the Twister” it had a 12″ repeat

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Over the Rainbow

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Paris Pin Ups

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Frida’s Garden

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Georgia O’Keefe

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Large Leaves by Alexander Henry

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Parrots in the Jungle

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Kaffe Fasset same fabric 3 color ways

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English country Side by Sue Beevers

Chevron Quilt – More fun with Half Square Triangles

After having fun making the Big Square Quilt with Layer Cakes I wanted to make a Chevron quilt with Layer Cakes or 10″ squares. It looks even better with all blues and whites or reds and whites, but I was working with what I had in my stash. My goal was to provide a decent lesson plan for a beginner quilter. As with the Big Star Quilt, the Chevron quilt can also be made with charm squares.

Chevron Quilt
Everytime I look at this quilt it reminds me of the poem about the “Crooked Little Man” (see the label at the end).

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I cut 30 solid color 10” squares to pair with my 30 printed layer cakes.

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With right sides together sew ¼” seam around all 4 sides of your layer cakes.

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First Cut diagonally

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Second Cut diagonally

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You now have 4 half square triangles. Press open toward the dark fabric

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Square up your blocks to 6.5” I love my Tucker Trimmer I for squaring up. Note: I found that my layer cakes were not always square nor a consistent 10” square. So, I felt it was well worth the time it took to square up these blocks. It made the top go together nicely.

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Time to go to the design wall. When laying out your blocks remember to match solid to solid and print to print. I initially had 42 Layer cakes and 42 solid 10” squares. Which meant I had 168 – 6.5” half square triangles (HST) for a 12 by 14 layout. I could not fit them all on my design wall, so I decided to make mine 10 across and 12 down. When the HST were sewn together it measured 62” by 74” before the borders were added.

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Once you get it all laid out, number your rows with row 1 on the left side, so when you join your rows the top gets bigger moving out from the inside of your sewing machine.

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Sew your blocks into rows using a ¼” seam allowance. I alternate direction when pressing the seam of the sewn blocks. Row 1 I pressed going down. Row 2 I pressed going up so that when I joined the rows the seams nest nicely. I chose 2.5 strips for my inner border. I like to rip one piece outer borders. So I added 10” wide outer borders. You can always change it up for your quilt, making your borders larger or smaller.

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Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star – Quick & Dirty

I am a self-proclaimed Deb Tucker Groupie! I love the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler – NO “Y” SEAMS. This post is not meant to replace Deb Tuckers instructions. It is meant to encourage you try her ruler. The instructions that come with the ruler are very detailed and easy to follow, and also include instructions for Left handed people. You can purchase Deb Tucker products from their web page at
http://www.studio180design.net

Each block requires two background strips and two star point strips. I cut two background strips the width of fabric and mark one “A” and One “B” at the top.
Lemoyne star Cuts

Cut two star point strips. Place a star strip on Strip “A” right sides together down the same distance as the background strip is wide. Do the same with Strip “B” as shown below. Sew both with 1/4″ seam allowance. Notice you are sewing strip “A” on the right side and strip “B” on the left side of the strip.
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Press star strip “A” toward the background strip. Press star strip “B” toward the star strip.
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Place strip “A” & “B” right sides together with strip “B” on the bottom, nesting the long seams.
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Line the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler edge along the stitching line and bumping another ruler against the angled edge. This will give you your 45 degree angle. Cut off the staggered end and discard.
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Continue making cuts the same width as your Star Point Strips. In this picture my star point strips are 3 1/4″ wide, so I continue to cut 3 1/4″ wide units.
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Continue to cut your units.
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Second cuts. Position the ruler edge at the tip of the star strip and trim straight up.
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This shows the parts placement to 1/4 quarter of your block. With right side together center the triangle you just cut off on the side of the unit and sew together.
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Place the two units in front of you with the star points facing toward you. “A” is on the right and “B” is on the left. Press “A” toward the star point and press “B” toward the background.
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Place the unit right side up pointing the diamond toward 2:00 (for ease in cutting both directions). As you can see in this picture I did not position it correctly. Align the desired block size lines with the sewn seam lines. Trim along both sides of the ruler.
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Place two units together nesting the seam and starting at the star point and sew together.
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Press seam open.
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Join the quarters together and sew, then sew the halfs together. Press seams open.
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Square up using the Tucker Trimmer III
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Lemoyne Star Class at TQG Spring Fling

I just got home from teaching a Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star class at my local quilt guild; the Tidewater Quilters Guild in Virginia. Every year we host a Spring Fling by the guild members for the guild members. It is an all day celebration of classes, food and prizes. We had a blast. I taught the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star to 17 lovely ladies and 1 brave gentleman. I wore a shirt I made incorporating strips that would be used to make a Lemoyne Star on the front and embroidered directions above each strip: “Strip A, press toward the background, Strip B, press toward the star point. I had a finished lemoyne star on the back. It was a really fun day, with great students who learned a new technique.

TQG Spring Fling

02 Jackie front 2

03 Jackie Back 2

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Sheryl Sugg 2

Sheryl Sugg 3

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Big Star Block

I was on YouTube looking at quilting tutorials and I saw one being demonstrated by “The Missouri Quilt Company called the Big Star Quilt. I thought it would be a great quilt for beginners to expand their skills. The block is 24″ finished and is made from Layer cakes or 10″ squares. So, I went to my stash. I don’t have a lot of layer cakes so I decided to use some of my Wizard of Oz stash (I only have about 6 tubs of Wizard of Oz fabric stashed away)!

I love their method for half square triangles. Place two layer cakes right side together and sew a 1/4 inch seam around all 4 sides of the square. Then cut diagonally, twice. You now have 4 half square triangles. I am in the process of making a lesson plan for this quilt. I’m making twelve – 24″ blocks with sashing. This quilt will measure about 94″ x 120”. Each block requires 6 layer cakes, 2 light, 2 dark and 2 background, plus four 5″ squares for the snowballs. The only part I hate is squaring up the half square triangles. I had 144 half square triangles, it only took an hour and a half. The quilt will be so much happier because I took the time to square up, and of course using the Tucker Trimmer makes it easier. This quilt can be made in miniature also by using charm square packs.

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Big Star Block

Soho Sunflowers, Number 51

I have just finished my 51st hexagon quilt. This one is being donated to Quilters Dream Batting, Hopes & Dreams Challenge. Hopes & Dreams raises funds for ALS Reasearch (Lou Gerigs disease). 100% of all funds raised by Quilters Dream Batting goes to ALS Research. If you think you, your Bee or local quilt shop would be interested in donating quilts please go to their website http://quiltersdreambatting.com/HD/ALS.htm for all the details.

Soho Sunflowers OBW

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