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Two photos from camping and kayaking by Glenwood Springs last weekend:
This was the view of the Colorado River from our pop-up door. Can everybody take a deep breath and say "aaahhhhhh"?
and of course, some quilt block goodness. A new block I designed, called "funky asterisk"
Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be back soon with some updates from quilt market!
~Penny
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As many of you know, scrappy is my MO. And today, I'm going to share with you not only how to "organize" your scraps, but also how to use a few of them up, via an improv curved piecing tutorial.
First, here's a shot for you of my "organized" scraps. I have a separate cubby for each color (except black and purple, which I don't use often). And do you see that green and blue bag hanging there? It contains my very small scraps that I can't bring myself to toss.
The tutorial I'll be sharing today is the method I made up for piecing these blocks
for this pillow:
Here we go!
Step 1: choose your fabrics
Step 2: Cut a 90 degree angle on one side, and a gentle curve on the other side of your first corner piece of fabric.
Step 3: Lay the first fabric on top of the second piece. Cut along the curve, with the right side of both fabrics facing up.
Step 4: Flip the first fabric over and align the beginning of the curve of the first piece to the area of the curve of the second piece where they fit together, with right sides facing.
Step 5a: Using a 1/4 inch foot with a guide(do you see that metal plate on the right side of the foot? That's the guide. My Bernina dealer sells the 1/4 inch foot with or without the guide), start sewing a 1/4 inch seam , bringing the edge of the fabrics together as you move down the curve. (think about how a pair of scissors works. As you pull the handles together, the edges of each blade come together, but only at one point. That's how the edges of the curved fabrics will be sewn together.)
Step 5b: This is how the fabrics will look after the seams have been sewn, but before pressing.
5c: The seam after pressing.
Step 6a: Lay your square template on top of the newly pieced fabrics so the square tip is placed over the square tip of the fabric.
Step 6b: Trim your fabric edges so they overlap the square template by about 1/4 inch (I do this to make sure I have a big enough square to trim it precisely in the end) and cut an improv curve along the edge of the second piece.
Repeat step 3 with your next fabric:
Repeat steps 4-6b over with new scrap pieces until the pieced fabric is big enough to cut the size square you'd like.
Once you have pieced enough scraps together, trim your square to the size you'd like.
And there you have it. Improv curved seams are really simple and forgiving.
You could make several of these and make a quilt, or make a tiny set of 4 for a potholder, so many possibilities!
And thank-you to stash manicure for allowing me to post this tutorial there today as well!
Happy, happy Monday to you, whereever you are!!
~Penny
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I still can't believe it. I'm going to be headed to Houston and quilt market in a couple of weeks! I'm still in shock that it's really going to happen. Not only going to quilt market, but getting to finally meet my buddy Sheree and help her at her booth. I'm reeling.
And this all happened due to L-man really thinking I needed to be there (I had resigned myself to staying home and working on a project that needs to be completed), him getting on priceline, low-balling a flight he didn't think wouldn't be accepted, and surprise! It was. Thanks L-man. I still can't believe this is happening!
Who else is going? If you are, please stop by Sheree's booth and say hi, I'd love to meet you all face to face!
~Penny
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I adjusted and tweeked it a bit. Now it's perfect, and the paper piecing pattern is available here, just for you!
p.s. the eye is free motion embroidered.
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