A FALL tablerunner

I can check off another item on my ToDo list. This table runner just needed binding... But you know how it goes... It sat and sat on my sewing table... For a YEAR! 

I'm forcing myself to get back to finishing up some of my started projects. Next up...binding on a queen sized quilt. 

Working on that Vintage quilt

I'm playing a bit this morning when I should be packing. We sold our house..yes, I know, it was supposed to be our FINAL home. But you know, houses are like quilts...at least to me...I just love designing and building (moving? Not so much).

So here are some nine patches I'm working on to be cornerstones of the quilt. 

Al is busy cleaning and packing the garage so I'm sneaking in a little sew time. Shhhh...

On IG I'm doing the fabric swap with some other quilters. I received a few packages yesterday with PERFECT vintage looking stripes and plaids. So tempting to stitch up

So that's what I'm doing, at least for a few minutes...cutting, sewing, enjoying..

Al's back! Yes, dear....just...ummmm....cutting strips off old shirts to use as ties for packing ;)

I really am! I save these bottoms to use as garden ties and to tie around rugs we've rolled up. They're really strong. My grandmother saved EVERYTHING...she was the original recycler. Maybe have a bit of her in me.

Here's my happy mail:

Such generous ladies!

And this is as far as I've gotten on this quilt. I may have to box it up until after the move .... Maybe....

How to: Making HSTs

There are so many ways to make half square trianges (hst). I'm going to show you my favorite way. I use the Easy Angle (nope...they don't pay me). There are other similar triangle tools out there that would work too. It just has to have a 90° and a 45° to work.

The BIG TRICK is to cut your strips the width of the finished HSTs BEFORE it's stitched into the top.  So if your block is 12" and you need some  4" finish hsts...4-1/2" is the presewn size and also the size of your strips.

Cut two strips...lay them right sides together.

Lay the angle as above..the cut off point of the template lines up with the top edge of the strips...one of the other lines will lay on the bottom edge.

Cut as many as you can from the strip, flipping it every other piece to maximize how many sets you get.

KEEP THEM TOGETHER...take them right to the machine and chain stitch all the triangles (seam is the long edge)

 Cut them apart and press. No further trimming. They should be ready to go!

Vintage block tutorial

On Instagram, I'm making a quilt to look like a vintage one I spotted in a magazine.

There wasn't a pattern, just a picture so I came up with what I'm showing below.
I promised to do a tutorial...here it is.
I'm going to try to explain this block as easily as possible but comment if anything needs further clarification.

The block is 15" finished or 15-1/2" before being sewn into a quilt.
I use all scraps. I'm trying to get a vintage look so I'm using shirtings, faded or muted colors, solids, checks and some small florals...anything that might have been in someone's wardrobe in the early 1900s. 

The block consists of 25 smaller sets or pieces:
(9)  9-patches
(4) 3-1/2" squares
(4) 3-1/2" strip squares
(8) 3-1/2" half square trianges (3"finish size)

To make the 9-patches:
Cut 1-1/2" strips of dark and and light (or just two contrasting fabrics)
Sew one set of light/dark/light and one set of dark/light/dark...see below.

I alway press to the dark and with 9 patches like these I press to the outside.

Cut 1-1/2" pieces off to use as shown below.

Sew those pieces into 9 patches. Not all 9 have to be alike. Check out my two blocks closely. 

To make the 4 strip squares cut more 1-1/2" strips. Sew light/dark/light strips then

Cut into 3-1/2" pieces. 

Now onto the plain squares and the half square trianges (hst).

Cut a strip 3-1/2" wide and at least 15" long . Subcut into 4 squares 3-1/2" wide. These are your plain squares.

For the HSTs there are multiple ways to get these. If you have an Easy Angle template:

Cut a dark and a light 3-1/2" strip. Put them right sides together and subcut using an easy angle. Sew the long seam. You'll need 8 sets.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE you can use triangle papers like 3" thangles or any other method you are used to. You'll need eight 3-1/2" hst (3" finish size).

Lay out all your pieces like I did below. Check that pieces are facing the right way.

These corner HST pieces should sort of form a bowtie. 

I sew the pieces in rows then stitch the rows together...check that they are facing the correct way. It's easy to turn them around (speaking from experience!).

 You might want to place a drawing of the block by the machine to refer to as you sew.

Make 20 blocks. Cut sashing 15-1/2"x 3-1/2". Cornerstones are more little 9 patches like we made for the blocks. 

Follow me on IG ... @northerndebquilts

Above is a block diagram that might make it easier to follow as you sew. And below is a camera shot of the magazine page with the original vintage quilt. The magazine is an old Fons and Porter.