One Block Wonder Part II: Rethink

 Though I have some wonderful blocks, I think that my fabric has too much background.  I feel like I have better single blocks.  As you can see from the first pic below I'm having some trouble figuring out a layout. 


Here's a single block below:



I "squared" the  block off.  I used my Clearview 60 degree ruler to cut 1/2 triangles (with needed seam width).  I must confess, that I initially tried to put a square cut on a diagonal!  DUH! DOH! These are hexagons which have a 60 degree angle, not 45! If anything, quilting is geometry.  Had I made an octagon, it would have been fine.  The Clearview 60 has more markings than other 60 degree rulers.  I was easily able to get just what I needed, which brings me to my public service announcement.

Rulers are only as good as the acrylic they are made from and the markings that they have.  I have two June Taylor rulers.  Their quality is sub par.  I will not buy anything else branded under that name. The acrylic is noticeably thinner and softer than other rulers.  I have a Binding Buddy ruler and the Equilateral Triangle Ruler.  I bought the latter to get a smaller than 10" ruler than my Clearview. It has  shading that is so dark it is hard to see the markings against darker fabric.  I bought it because it was cheaper.  Yes I could  use it, but it was a struggle to see.  Further it is thinner than other acrylic.  My Binding Buddy ruler's acrylic is so soft it splintered against

When you are starting out, you just don't know.  Without experience I have found that I have deficient markings on some rulers and too many markings on others.  Finding the Goldilocks ruler is hit or miss.  Being able to cut companion angles (e.g. set in half triangles) with requisite seam allowances is very helpful.  If you have triangle markers without a center line and 1/4" lines on either side, it is not so helpful.  

There is a but...too many lines can be distracting when you are just cutting triangles...it makes it harder to see the simple line. If you are doing lots of cutting, it is worth having the perfect ruler...because a bad cut (or a series of disastrously bad cuts) will cost you material and time.

I plan to square my blocks off  and put sashing in between.  I think that will showcase some of the really fun blocks.  I'll post my progress.



One Block Wonder: Make the Cut!

 I think that the hardest part of the OBW is cutting the fabric.  There are many great videos on this process, but my trepidation ran deep for actually getting my cuts made.  I spent much time afraid of making a mistake.

It gave me confidence that I had auditioned my fabric using the One Block Wonder Designer Helper.  I knew that would end up with wonderful blocks.  I think that the key is not to over think it.  I finally took the leap and made the cut.

I want to share some tips that some may find useful beyond finding your repeats in your fabric.  (I tore my fabric straight down the middle lengthwise so that I had a strip about 22" in length (North/South) with the width (East West) the repeat (plus some)

  • Matching your repeats across 6 layers. Lots of great information out there.  I did a little MacGyver trick.  I threaded a largish needle with dental floss.  I made hanging loops on each end of the fabric near the selvedge (and through a fabric feature) so that I could put my thumbs through and shake my fabric straight.  The weight of the fabric ensured that the weight pushed downward on the loop in one place.  (Gravity is a wonderful thing).  I then made tack points throughout by double using two strands of dental floss knotted on one end (I made about 3 knots on top of each so it would not pull through).  With the knotted end on the top, I pushed the needle through the fabric feature I planned to match on each of the 6 layers.  I pulled the floss through until the knot sat on top of the first layer.  I then cut and knotted flat to the back of the 6th piece.  It worked beautifully.  Each tack was snug and secure and did not move a hair.  The beauty of floss v. pins is that you can cut through them (and you don't stick yourself).  I should note that I starched my fabric on both sides very liberally.
  • Cutting. I used the standard 3.75" strip width.  I did not overthink that.  If you don't have a 60 degree ruler, I think it makes sense to get one.  Sure you can use your 60 degree line on your regular ruler but you are doing twice as much ruler movement for each cut.  Therefore, your productivity and accuracy will suffer relative to the ease of having the right ruler for the job. This ruler is one that you will use for many things. (I had a large Clearview 10", I opted to get a smaller ruler for $12.)  I used my Martelli 60mm rotary cutter with a fresh blade.  It sailed through the cutting. 
  • Marking straight of grain. When you cut your triangles, there will be one straight edge (top/bottom of strip) and 2 biased edges.  If you want to keep your straight of grain edge on the outside (and I wanted to), when you cut your triangles, place a fabric clip on the top right edge of the point (and the bottom is straight of grain) or at the straight of grain edge (so the top is your middle).   (Yes, you can tug and find straight of grain, but do you really one to stretch it?).  I have a terrible time with triangles; and I'm not a confident sewer of them without aides.
  • Sewing:  I laid out each of my hexagon pieces in a full pie with the slices in the middle. I laid out about 5 at a time. I picked up two pairs from each pie and sewed them together.  I do not plan to open my seams but spin them.  If you spin your seams, you need to spin them all in the same direction on each piece.  Otherwise, adjoining pieces will not lay in opposite direction.  I pressed and pushed all of my seams to the left with the center in front of me. I DID NOT sew the centers together.  If you do, you cannot do straight line row sewing. On my practice blocks I noted that I had one with seams going one way and another the other...no way they were going to fit nicely.  I find that spinned seams lie flat.  I'm too lazy to press seams open when I feel I get a good result with spinned seams.  My blocks lay very flat.
  • Thread:  I used Wonderfil Decobo 80wt cottonized thread.  With all the seams, a light weight thread with the same strength as a 50 wt keeps bulk down.

This techniques is lots of fun.  I'm glad that I got over the hurdle of getting my fabric prepared, made practice blocks, got the spin correct and mostly got my pieces in the right order.  I did have to unpick two triangles.  I stack the halves together.  I'm working my way through.

 

Stack and Whack | One Block Wonder

 Though reminiscent of pancake eating, I have recently become enamored in interest (not done one yet) of the "stack and whack" a/k/a "One Block Wonder" method of quilt making.  Essentially, you take one piece of fabric, find a repeat, cut it in strips and then subcut it, and then resew pieces.

There are plenty of places to learn about this technique if you have not heard of it prior.  To help you visualize what your fabric might yield, there are 2 tools:

  1. One Bock Wonder Design Helper allows you to upload a photo of your fabric and then can provide you with where the subcuts will be and what the hexagons will be.  MOREOVER, you can double click on the hexagons to get a single one rotate (3 rotations to each block as each wedge is 3 sides).  Or, you can get them all to rotate at once.  It is free; fast; fantastic.
  2. Marti Michell Magic Mirror.  It is less than $14 on Amazon, and well worth giving you a quick view at your sewing space.  It is 2 non glass mirrored acrylic that are attached (smoothly/professionally) with duct tape that serves as the hinge.  You could make it yourself but not without a lot of fuss and muss.

As I became captivated with the design concept, I was wondering what fabric I could use.  I recently purchased some fabric on sale at Hancock's.  It occurred to me that it would do quite well.  Here is the fabric:

 



 And here is the refashioning of it using hexagons at 3.75 inches:



I plan to utilize this method.  On your design board you can move around your stuff...but even this rendition 



Really intriguing (addicting even!) techniques.  I'm satisfied that I can make something pretty cool with this fabric so I will embark on making a quilt in this fashion.  No need to futz about with matching colors.  An this method is a great way to get rid of ugly fabric.  (I love this fabric, and I don't consider it ugly!)


The other great thing about the Design Helper, you can click on the hexies and move them about.

 


Getting Things Done

 Getting Things Done or GTD by David Allen is one of the most workable and inspirational methods of organizing one's life.  I am not naturally organized.  The GTD method is the one thing that I have been able to follow--albeit intermittently.

No, this isn't a post about GTD, but rather a passing tangent to open up about my manic push to complete my "Sparkle Magic Shine" Quilt tops and thinking about the GTD way for quilts. (And I love Karen's Just Get it Done Quilts).

Below is an example of the quilt top.


The border is from Wilmington prints.  I bought 10 of them (or so) from Paducah.  I transformed the panel into a quilt top using diamond windows from fabric that I had about.  The Diamond Windows are from the Daisy Baby Quilt Pattern from Piper Girls.  You can see that quilt here.  

I made these quilt tops in 2019.  I serged the edges which works great to keep them from unraveling. They were all folded up; and within the last couple of weeks I have been finishing them.  I working on my last one.

My quilting finish became less elaborate on these last few.  I simply took a long ruler and some chalk and made a diamond grid following the side diamonds. The chalk washes away perfectly, but it makes a strong line to follow.  My walking foot has a sole plate that has an edge marker at the center.  It is great for following lines as well as following the edge of the binding for finishing the quilt.

My diamonds were made from 2.5" strips.  You can see my modified methodology for making this charming block here.  I found this block to be easier to execute using this method; easier= faster, more accurate.  No room for lazy, wobbling 1/4" seams or sloppy ironing.  But you can use up scrap 2.5" strips.  I think that on their own they make a charming border for a panel.

The other quilt top I finished was this one.

 


I made this with several fat quarters of Anna Maria Horner's fabric that came in the Free Spirit Mystery Bundle (offered at a ridiculously low price on Amazon...but not always in stock).   I was inspired by a quilt made by Susan Gray featured by Karen of Just Get it Done Quilts on one of her You Tube Videos on how to make a scrappy quilt.  I used a dark grey fabric backing for the back and the binding.   It turned out so beautiful, and it was a lovely way to showcase these beautiful desaturated colors.  To fill in, I used other complementary fabrics.  

The quilt is a throw size, and frankly I don't see myself making bed sized quilts. . . rather, I prefer making "more intimate" sizes.  I have a domestic machine with a regular sized bed--throw size is just fine.

Keeping Fabric Costs Down

 I approach my fabric purchases as I do everything else in life:  I look for a bargain and find a way to use it.  For fabric, I frequently shop Hancock's of Paducah.  No place online has better fabric deals (that I have found).  

This a.m. I was perusing and I found two great fabrics:

Dear Stella Moonscape Marshmallow

Dear Stella No Place Like OM

When I see white fabrics on sale I grab them.  At 15 yards buy more get more, I picked that fabric up for 3.19 a yard.  The No Place like OM, $3.99.

I had some Timeless Treasures fabric that was a white on white print (much like the Moonscape above except non directional) .  I used that in lots of quilts.  The floral was so faint (and sometimes I got the front and back flipped!) I could use it anywhere.  I was dismayed when it was gone.  It was so versatile; so lovely; so cheap.  I have a fat quarter bundle of moonscape fabric, so this marshmallow is going to get incorporated into that.

The OM fabric will make a great backing for quilts (who will see my quilting mistakes?), or used in its own right in piecing.  Further, fabrics such as this make great, fun binding.  Though I will say that directional fabrics have less flexibility in piecing, and you have to exercise care in use/placement.  

I like buying fabric at 70% discount!  So I have 30 yards of Fabric for $108 (includes tax).  I call that a win.


Quilt Finishes; Lost Quilts; Quilt Basting

Quilt Finishes:  The long July 4 holiday provided an opportunity to get some stuff done.  I finished two baby quilts (basting, quilting, binding).  I don't do any fancy quilting on them--they are utility quilts.  Accordingly, I take pains in piecing and binding, but for quilting I follow the seam lines or do wavy quilting.  I also basted the top of my large Hunter's Star quilt to the batting, and I began piecing the back.  I had several orphan blocks from the Hunter's Star as well as some practice blocks for LeMoyne Star (the non-cheater way) that I could nicely fit in a a couple of banded rows on the back.

 Here's an old quilt top that I paired with adorable elephant print for backing.  It is hard to beat the quick assembly of an alternating patch for baby quilts. You've also seen me substitute a 4 patch for the solid square which makes it a little less plain.  My quilting was simply stitch in the ditch which makes for a fast finish.  I don't feel apologetic for plainness.  To make a plain quilt is still an investment of time and money.  Plus plain quilts such as this really show off cute juvenile fabrics. 



I have a portable monitor and a fire stick.  I shuttle the monitor between the kitchen and my sewing area.  I have old PC speaker systems that sound quite nice in both places.  A cheap and efficacious way to enjoy watching stuff while working.  It takes a bit of the drudgery out of repetitive tasks.  Yes, I could use that time for mindful mediation....but most times I don't!

Lost Quilt Top:  My Hunter's Star baby quilt was supposed to be in my quilt finishes but I cannot find it.  Good reason to tidy up! (It has since been found; quilted; needs to be trimmed and bound)

Basting:  To baste my quilts, I use fusible webbing.  I have both Stitch Witchery (on the bolt) and MistyFuse.  I buy both in bulk...but it is an investment--both in good results and less frustration.  I have a large 24x48" ironing surface that I use to fuse.  I was able to do my 60 x 72 quilt fairly easily, and baby quilts are a breeze.

Fusible web comes in many package sizes.  I buy the bolt--it is something that I use in quantity, so I buy in quantity to get the best price that I can. Bolt widths for both Stitch Witchery and Mistyfuse are 20".  I found that in bulk, Stitch Witchery (is about 10% cheaper than Misty Fuse in bulk.  I will pull off a length from the bolt about 18".  I then keep folding the product until I have a tightish roll and cut in 1/2-1" sections.  (Yes, you can buy this in the size already, but you pay dearly for that convenience.) 

I place these in a container and then take them to my ironing station.  I unroll a length and place it on the batting in a continuous line, spaced about 2-3 inches apart vertically.  You could also make squares and treat it as a "pin".  You could also fuse the whole thing...but that gets expensive.

Using the highest heat setting and steam ensures good fusion in good time. And while you do this, you can enjoy a beverage and a binge watch to make the time go by.  Or, you could engage in mindfulness meditation. Or...you have plenty of time to do both, because basting no matter which method use is TIME CONSUMING.

💡  It is important not to distort you seam lines.  Lay it straight.  Smooth it out.  I do not find that this smoothing process adversely affects  Press.  I work from the middle out. The fusible web keeps everything secure. 



The Leftovers Quilt-Finished

 


Here are the front and back of my leftovers quilt.  Yes, I wished I had put the pink bee fabric in the top left corner block...but I had already adhered the batting to the top.  No baby will notice.  And I used up some blocks and fabric from the collection on the pieced back.

I quilted it simply using my quilting running stitch on my Bernina. I learned recently that to achieve the intended look, you are supposed to use monofilament thread in the top and mess with tension.  I just used it like plain ole stitching, and I was fine with it. I used light gray thread on the top and pink rayon on the back.  It turned out very cute, and I was able to use up MOST of the leftover fabric in this line--this is the third quilt.

The pink fabric on the back is some Dear Stella fabric that I bought at Hancock's when it was $3.99 a yard.  I get big yardage when I see sales like that to use as quilt backs and binding. COVID/Post Covid has meant reduce values to be found. 

I made the pinwheels using Lee Henrich's Perfect HST.  Because these are paper pieced, they turn out quite well so long as you sew them together right.  I have one that looks like I was cross eyed.

I was able to use the last of my pink and gray bee fabric for the binding.  I cut my binding at 2 1/4 inches rather than 2 1/2".  I think that it worked better with seam allowances.  There are NOT perfect points on my diamond recs on the sides, but I'm fine with that. 


The binding was sewn onto the back and then brought forward to the front.  You can see how nice it looks in the picture above. I used fusible web to iron and tack down the binding to the front.  That keeps everything in place.  I know many use binding clips..and I have an use those.  But as this binding was narrower, I wanted to have in more permanently place.  My Appliquick tool is great for handling the fusible near the iron.

I like this stitch. It's the method I prefer to use because I'm not going to hand stitch binding. I'm not making show or heirloom quilts.  Rather quilts that are rugged and can withstand lots of washing.  I used a reverse blanket stitch with matching thread.  I really like the way that it lays down flat which I think makes a clean and attractive finish.  Yes I was a slug and used a decorative thread for both the quilting and the binding.