I’m excited to be part of the Stitching Stars Bloom Blog Hop…. There are some great Quilters blogging about “Bloom”
Floral fabrics are just exquisite and fun to collect! It makes me think of the beautiful days out in the sun! Floral Blooming Quilts are spectacular to snuggle up in on a Spring day!
How do we use the floral fabrics that we have?
Here is a simple fun idea to create a floral quilt by piecing squares together! We don’t need to make life difficult to cut into and enjoy our floral fabrics!
Now look at this gorgeous collection of Joel Dewberry Cali Mod Fat Quarter Bundle with Free Spirit Designs! Don’t you want to make a quilt to wrap up in while enjoying this stream! I do… So let’s get an idea for how to use this collection.
Here is this beautiful floral fabric collection fanned out for you so you can see the actual designs. How shall we use these fabrics to celebrate the Cali Mod Florals and coordinating prints. Well the first quilt was an orange peel method, and second quilt florals cut up into squares. How about using triangles?
Now remember the entire inventory of fabric, patterns, notions, book at Stitches Quilting is 30% off your shopping cart by using the coupon code “springfling”! It’s time for a Spring fabric haul! A lot of the fabric is already deeply discounted getting you a discount of up to 60% off.
There are so many lovely quilters sharing their quilting bloom ideas! Be sure to visit each person on the blog hop as outlined below!
Subscribe to Stitches Quilting and comment below to enter the Amy Butler Eternal Sunshine Fat Quarter Bundle Giveaway! Giveaway ends November 1st, 2016 midnight MST.
I have always been such an Amy Butler admirer! How about you? I love her fabrics, patterns and approach to a creative abundant life. Below is an interview with Amy talking about her creative quilting journey it may just be your journey too! Be ready to get inspired!
Watch this video to learn all about her Eternal Sunshine Fabric Collection. You will see tons of quilting and sewing inspiration. Take a look at her Piece Keeping Book that is now available for purchase. You will be able to look through the book with Amy and see what she loves about it!
To purchase Amy Butler Piece Keeping Book you can visit Amazon through my affiliate link below.
You can find the instructions for her Pyramid Pillows in the Piece Keeping book!
Check out the various totes and purses you can sport around with Eternal Sunshine!
For Home Decor, Amy Butler has you covered with the beautiful circular pillow poofs.
I love how Renaissance Ribbons creates such elegance for us to coordinate with Amy’s fabrics!
I hope you are just as impressed with Amy Butler’s Eternal Sunshine Collection as much as I am!
GIVEAWAY!!! Tula Pink Slow and Steady Fat Quarter Bundle for the lucky random winner AND a friend you share with will win a 5 inch charm pack!
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I spy a bundle of Slow and Steady ready for a race with the Tortoise and the Hare. Purchase your fat quarters, half yard and one yard bundle of the complete collection at Stitches Quilting. Slow and Steady Fabrics available by the yard too. Let us know what you want and we will ship it to you. A lovely hand selected gift is always enclosed in every order. To view our Tula Pink Inventory click here.
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I need to get busy making race flags and finish line, for a race in the forest! Can’t to share our next photographs of Slow and Steady!
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Is Tula’s personal story about the Tortoise and the Hare similar to your own story? Every piece of this fabric line symbolizes with meaning Tula’s story. Learn about it on the Tula Pink’s Personal Slow and Steady blog post.
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To be eligible subscribe to Stitches Quilting, follow me, comment below. Share this giveaway post for extra entries with the hashtag of #stitchesquiltingtulagiveaway Giveaway ends next Sunday October 2nd 2016 at midnight MST. Winner and their friend announced October 3.
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For extra entries, visit Stitches Quilting on Instagram to enter the giveaway there! Or share on Pinterest and other social media platforms. Just be sure to use the hashtag or tag me so I can find it. You can comment below where you shared it to give me a heads up.
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For extra party fun, if you feel like commenting – share why Tula Pink is such an amazing designer and why its a delight to purchase, collect, and use her fabrics. Sometimes they are hard fabrics to cut into! To watch a video of me interviewing Tula Pink about Slow and Steady and many other thingsclick here.
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If you hang out on Facebook join our Stitches Quilting Neighborhood Quilt Group to get some free patterns for Tula Pink’s Slow and Steady collection or subscribe to Stitches Quilting blog as I have tons to share – like quilts to make quickly – quilting tips – intricate designs and MORE! For Slow and Steady Inspiration right now click here! There is also a video of me interviewing
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I love to share Slow and Steady because as we share we all become better people. Right? ❌⭕️❌⭕️ Deanna
It’s time for a Cozy Christmas Sew Along Giveaway!
Do you just love Lori Holt at Bee In My Bonnet? She has a great following and has developed just incredible products to help with the creative process.
I thought it would be a terrible about of fun to add a giveaway to the Cozy Christmas Sew Along! If you haven’t started it yet but want, or a little behind, may this motivate you to get back into your creative groove!
There are so many great products that Lori Holt has made AND…. soooo let’s have a giveaway with some of these irresistible items!
What included in the giveaway and how does it work?
NOW!!!! For me a giveaway is never fun if you don’t share it with a friend. So whatever friend you recommend to participate in the giveaway will win some things too! I can’t just give all these great items to one person! We have to share don’t we? So your friend won’t win the grand prize but I will have her select three items that she would like too! Isn’t this just a lot of fun?
How does the giveaway work?
You can enter the giveaway below by commenting and then sharing this post on social media or email to a friend use the hashtag #stitchesquiltinggiveaway so I can find it! Just let me know how you shared it below.
You can enter the giveaway on Stitches Quilting Instagram Account by following Stitches Quilting, liking the giveaway post and commenting on the post recommending it to a friend. You can also repost the giveaway image to your Instagram account for extra entries. Be sure to use the hashtag #stitchesquiltinggiveaway so I can find it!
Remember if you still have time to join us for the Lori Holt Christmas Sew Along. The blocks are easy to put together and very fulfilling. I can’t wait to snuggle with my Cozy Christmas Quilt by the fireplace and lighted tree with family around and a warm hot cocoa in my hand. Are you making your quilt for yourself or another? Are you making your quilt from unique fabric? What is your favorite block that you can’t wait to make? Or what is your favorite Lori Holt Notion to use? I’m loving her new double sided Cute Cuts Cutting Mats.
You will notice on my block that I am not using Lori Holt’s Cozy Christmas Fabric with the Cozy Christmas pattern – I’ll actually using Tasha Noel’s Pixie Noel Fabric Collection along with Riley Blake basics. So if you didn’t buy the quilt kit don’t worry because I have seen gorgeous blocks being made using lots of different fabrics. Search Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #Cozy ChristmasSewAlong to find other people making the blocks.
Well have fun with the Giveaway and Inspiring each other to stitch away!
Congratulations! The winner of the 3 Lori Holt autographed books is Christina Johnson! She shared this giveaway with Janet Goins and Janet will win one of Lori Holt’s book of her choice!
Thank you everyone to participating in the giveaway!!!! To purchase
Three signed Quilting Books by the author Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet. The books include Farm Girl Vintage, Quilty Fun and Great Granny Squared. Each of one of these books has Lori Holt’s signature in it!!
Red Wire Basket and Happy Colors Fabric Bundle not part of the giveaway but using to make the picture look great!!! If u would like a Happy Colors 18, 24 or 36 Fat Quarter Bundle it is on sale for $29.85, $39.84 or $59.76 click here to purchase.
Can’t wait to share these 3 autographed books with the lucky winner. I have more of Lori Holt’s signed books to giveaway too … I just have to keep doing these fun giveaways!!! Giveaway ends Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at midnight mountain standard time.
To enter the giveaway, comment below what you favorite summer time activity is. You can also join in on the fun over at Instagram or Facebook.
The giveaway closes at midnight MST. I want everyone to be a winner though!!!! 👏
So I am offering these HAPPY COLORS 18, 24 or 36 fat quarter bundles at the following prices:
$29.95 for 18 HAPPY COLORS Fat Quarters ($1.66 each fat quarter)$39.84 for 24 HAPPY COLORS Fat Quarters ($1.66 each fat quarter)
$59.76 for 36 HAPPY COLORS Fat Quarters ($1.66 each fat quarter)
I have lots of bundles and won’t sell out! . USPS Priority Flat Rate Shipping is $8.95. (I’m even giving a discount on the shipping because my cost is $11.95) Each bundle is unique but has some of Lori Holt’s fat quarters in it along with bright HAPPY COLORS in small print of gingham, plaid, polka dots, floral, marble, geometric, vintage, etc. I custom make each bundle so if you have a request for extra red, orange, blue, etc… Or need more gingham, polka dot, etc… Just let me know. I’ve been studying these HAPPY COLORS for a while now and think I have a good feel for it! You will even get a free gift in your package because Happy Mail isn’t Stitches Quilting Happy Mail if there isn’t a free Quilty item included.
Tomorrow I’ll declare the winner of the books. If you randomly happen to win the books then of course there would be no cost for shipping with a purchase of HAPPY COLORS Fat Quarter Bundle.
If you live outside the US, let me know where you live and I will get you the shipping cost. This week I have shipped these Happy Colors to Germany, Hungary and Brazil. Pretty fun eh? Shipping seems to be about $30 as long as it is under 4 pounds.
👩❤️👩 Let’s make lots of bright happy colored quilts to spread around the world with LOVE!
Lots of Quilty Love and Best Wishes for Happy Stitches!
To understand which sections we are referring to in the tutorial, below is a friendly diagram of the quilt block.
ConstructWomen'sSectionEE - Bottom Section of the Women's Bathing Suit
Cut 1 - Women's Bathing Suit Bottom from the Bordeaux Fabric
Cut - 13 Peach Sand templates provided in the Women's Bathing Suit printable. The 13 Peach Sand Pattern Pieces are labeled WOMEN-L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X, to reference where to stitch them.
Stitch the Peach Sand WOMEN-M & N triangle pieces to the lower left and right edges of the Bordeaux Women's Bathing Suit Bottom.
Stitch the Peach Sand WOMEN-O & P triangle pieces to the upper left and right edges of the Bordeaux Women's Bathing Suit Bottom.
That completes Women's Bathing Suit Section FF. Carefully press and Set Aside.
ConstructWomen'sSectionFF - White Belt Section of the Women's Bathing Suit
Cut 1 - 1.5 inches x 4.5 inches White Fabric for Waist White Belt
Stitch Peach Sand Women- Q & R Square pieces (2 Peach Sand cut 1.5 inches by 1/5 inches) to either side of the White Women's Bathing Suit Waist Belt.
Section FF is complete. This section needs to be squared up prior to attaching the white belt. In this example I only square the top on the bottom piece before attaching the white belt. Carefully press.
Join Women's Section EE to section FF. Carefully press and set aside.
ConstructWomen'sSectionGG - Bodice Section of the Women's Bathing Suit
Cut 1 - Lower Bodice from pattern piece out of the Daydream Blue Fabric
Cut 1 - Upper Bodice from pattern piece out of the White Fabric
Stitch Peach Sand Triangles S & T to the left and right lower corners of the Lower Bodice Daydream Blue.
Stitch the Upper White and Lower Daydream Blue Bodice pieces together.
Stitch the Peach Sand Triangles U & V to the left and right top corners of the Upper Bodice of White Fabric and part of the Lower Bodice of Daydream Blue Fabric.
Section Bodice GG is complete. Carefully press and set aside
ConstructWomen'sSectionHH - Straps Section of the Women's Bathing Suit
Cut 2 - 1.5 inches x 3 inches for left and right Women's Straps from White Fabric
Cut 1 - 2 7/8 inches x 3 inches for the center square between the two white straps from Peach Sand Fabric
Cut 2 - 2 inches x 3 inches for the left and right rectangles of either side of the two white straps from Peach Sand Fabric
Cut 1 - 3 inch x 3 inch square of Peach Sand Fabric to represent template @
Stitch the Peach Sand Square Women's W (3 inch x 3 inch square of Peach Sand Fabric) to the center of the two straps
Stitch the Peach Sand Rectangles Women's W & X to the left and right sides of the straps.
Section Swimming Suit Straps HH is complete. Carefully press and set aside.
Finish Joining the Women's sections together in the following order
Join Women's Section FF to section GG. Carefully press
Join Women's Section GG to section HH. Carefully press.
The Women's Bathing Suit part of the block is now complete and will need to be carefully squared up to 6.5 inches by 12.5 inches.
Final Step:
Join the Women's Bathing Suit to the Men's Bathing Suit by stitching together after carefully pinning using a 1/4 inch seam.
Quilt Block Vintage Swimming Men & Womens Suits attached together 12.5 inches x 12.5 inches
Carefully press block. Sit back and admire. You have done a great job!
Please comment below, I can't wait to hear from all of you! Where have you enjoyed an ocean sunrise or sunset. All of the blocks from the entire group are AMAZING! Can't you imagine one of these blocks extra large size as one quilt? Want to see more Vintage Bathing Suits and Ocean Quilt Blocks? I will be posting more - sign up for Stitches Quilting email list to have them delivered to your inbox! Which blocks from the entire 2016 Paintbrush Studio Blog Hop do you think would pair up great with the Vintage Bathing Suits? Can you image this block with other colors or fabric selection? I can't wait to hear your creative ideas?
Now don't stop here.... there are many more innovative Ocean Sunrise quilt blocks and full tutorials to see on the 2016 Paintbrush Studio Blog Hop! . To view the blocks visually and quickly you can use the Stitches Quilting Pinterest Board I created below for the Blog Hop.
When watching an ocean sunrise, we relish and hopefully memorize every moment! It’s intoxicating to feel the cool breeze with your toes in the sand, while deeply breathing the salty air. It is mind boggling to reflect on how the land, sea and sky can be both powerful and peaceful at the same time. We can only quietly watch as the evolving timed colorful masterpiece quietly disappears as quickly as it appeared. Don’t you just love to quietly sit there enjoying the live beauty and allow our minds to break from the hustle of worldly needs?
We don’t all have the privilege to live by the ocean, but when I am by the ocean, I try to memorize these moments in my heart. Ever since there have been people on the earth by the sea, I am certain that the ritual we enjoy and feel from ocean sunrises and sunsets are similar. It is mystifying to think we are relishing things that have been experienced by many different civilizations, cultures, people and times. That quiet private therapeutic moment with nature can make us realize how small we are in scale to the civilizations that came before us.
Paintbrush Studio is sharing an Ocean Sunrise color palette from their new line Painters Palette solids for us to use our imagination to celebrate these moments. As you surf the World Wide Web, you will notice over 30 quilt bloggers creating new quilt blocks to try to express their joy through fabric providing full tutorials to inspire you.
I can picture generations and different eras dressed in their ever evolving clothing styles enjoying these moments. The one item consistent with people enjoying a sunset or sunrise is clothing and the fabric they are wearing. Don’t we just love fabric? Some of the fashions, style, fabric come and go with the ebb and flo of our cultures.
I love modern twists on vintage items. For my block, I thought I would celebrate the modest vintage swimsuits that perhaps people were dressed in ready to leisurely enjoy the day along the sandy beaches. I designed a modest man and woman’s swimsuit sitting next to each other on the sandy beach. Perhaps watching the early morning sunrise or evening sunset, they would not only have their swimsuits but also a quilt to stay warm. (wink)
As stitching this block together we can think about and appreciate the civilizations before us that have enjoyed ocean sunrises and sunsets during daily life, times of war, contemplation, anticipation and peace.
To create this block I used the Painters Palette Midnight Blue, Daydream Blue, White, Peach Sand and Bordeaux Solids. The methods used to create this block are piecing and strip piecing with a consistent 1/4 inch seam. I love the striped vintage men’s swimsuit in Midnight Navy Blue and Daydream Blue. The women’s swimsuit gives a nautical feel with the Bordeaux, White and Daydream Blue along with the white buttons to embellish the suit.
Part One Tutorial – Men’s Vintage Swimming Suit for an Ocean Sunrise
1. Read through the entire tutorial and instructions. Stitch everything together with a 1/4 inch seam.
2. Here is a friendly layout of the Vintage Bathing Suits and the sections we will be working on.
3. Cut the fabric carefully according to the instructions and specifications provided in the tutorial.
4 . To create this 12.5 inch block we are going to break the block into manageable pieces working on Part One: Men's vintage bathing suit section and Part Two: Women's vintage bathing suit.
Part 1: Men's Vintage Bathing Suit
ConstructMen'sSectionBB - Center Section of Men's Bathing Suit
Cut 3 - Midnight Navy Blue strips 1.5 inches by 7 inches
Cut 4 - Daydream Blue strips 1.5 inches by 7 inches
Sew 7 strips together alternating the Daydream Blue Strips with the Midnight Navy Blue strips. Since you are working with 4 Daydream Blue strips and 3 Midnight Navy Blue strips each section will begin and start with a Daydream Blue strip.
Square up this section so it is 6.5 inches wide and 7.5 inches tall. This will be the center body portion of the men's vintage bathing suit section MEN-BB. Carefully Press and set aside.
ConstructMen'sSectionAA - Men's Bottom Section for legs
Cut 2 - Midnight Navy Blue Strip 1.5 inches by 3.5 inches
Cut - the 8 Peach Sand templates provided in the Men's Bathing Suit printable. The 8 Peach Sand Pieces are labeled MEN-A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J to reference where to stitch them. Use the 8 templates to cut pattern pieces from the Peach Sand fabric.
To ensure that the sizing is just right there is a special pattern piece labeled Men's Swimsuit Polygon Pattern Piece. Be sure to trim the fabric of this connected section to the size of the Men's Swimsuit Polygon Pattern Piece.
Arrange the 2 - 1.5 inch by 3.5 inch Midnight Navy Blue side by side lengthwise.
Stitch the Men's Peach Sand A & B small triangle pattern pieces individually to each center ends of the 2 - 1.5 inch by 3.5 inch Midnight Navy Blue pieces. Stitch the two pieces together lengthwise. Carefully Press and set aside.
Join Men's Sections AA to BB
Join Men's Vintage Swimming Suit Section AA to Men's Vintage Swimming Suit Section BB. This is the lower portion of the Men's Vintage Swimming Suit with the center Peach Sand triangle as the bottom.
Stitch Men's Peach Sand C & D long triangle pattern pieces to the bottom left and right sections of the lower portion of the Men's Vintage Swimming Suit (Combined sections just stitched together of Section MEN-AA and MEN-BB). Carefully Press and set aside.
ConstructMen'sSectionCC - Men's V Neckline
Cut 2 - Midnight Navy Blue Strips 1.25 inches by 7 inches
Cut 1 - Daydream Blue Strip 1.25 inches by 7 inches.
Alternating 3 of the 1.25 inch by 7 inch blue strips, stitch together 2 Midnight Navy Blue Strips with 1 Daydream Blue Strip in the center.
Cut this set of strips in half and stitch Peach Sand Pattern Piece E & F
Sew the set of strips back together along the long side of the triangles E & F. Attach the Men's V Neck Line section to the Men's Main Swim Suit Section.
Stitch the Peach Sand Pattern pieces G & H to the left and right edges of the Polygon Pattern Piece.
Men's Vintage Swimming Suit Section CC is now complete. Carefully Press and set aside.
JoinMen'sSectionCCtoBBtogether.
Complete shape of Men's Swimming Suit Section by sewing both Peach Sand Pattern Pieces F & G to the left and right top sides of Section CC combined with Section BB. Carefully Press and set aside.
ConstructMen'sSectionDD - Men's Upper Straps to Suit
Cut 2 - Midnight Navy Blue Squares 1.25 inches by 1.5 inches
Cut 4 - Daydream Blue Squares 1.25 inches by 1.5 inches
The 2 bathing suit straps are constructed by sewing 2 Daydream Blue Squares with 1 Midnight Navy Blue Square in the center. The final size of the bathing suit straps will be 3.25 tall by 1.5 inches wide. Be careful on this step to stitch the bathing suit straps so the stripes when finished will be 1.5 inches wide and 3.25 tall.
Join the two Upper Straps of Suit with Peach Sand Pattern Square Piece H (2.5 inches x 2 7/8 inches) to either side of the 3.25 strap length.
Stitch Peach Sand Pattern Pieces of I & J (1.5 inches by 2.5 inches)to either side of the bathing suit straps. Carefully Press and set aside.
JoinMen'sSectionCC & DDtogether.
Finishing the Men's Bathing Suit Block Section
Now that the Men's Bathing Suit is constructed, carefully press. The block needs to be carefully squared to the dimensions of 6.5 inches by 12.5 inches.
Please comment below, I can't wait to hear from all of you! Where have you enjoyed an ocean sunrise or sunset. All of the blocks from the entire group are AMAZING! Can't you imagine one a these blocks extra large size as one quilt? Want to see more Vintage Bathing Suits and Ocean Quilt Blocks? I will be posting more - sign up for Stitches Quilting email list to have them delivered to your inbox! Which blocks from the entire 2016 Paintbrush Studio Blog Hop do you think would pair up great with the Vintage Bathing Suits?
Now don't stop here.... there are many more innovative quilt blocks and full tutorials to see on the 2016 Paintbrush Studio Blog Hop! To view the blocks visually and quickly you can use the Stitches Quilting Pinterest Board I created below for the Blog Hop.
2015 Fabri-Quilt Challenge – Ball of Summer Love² – Block Hop & Quilt Tutorials
Fabri-Quilt challenged as a group of Quilt Bloggers to each create an unique quilt block with Fabri-Quilt’s Prairie Cloth Solids. The Prairie Cloth Solid Colors by Fabric-Quilt were selected from the Watermelon Summer Palette to include these colors:
Fabric Quilt Prairie Solids of Aqua, Chartreuse, Lapis Blue, Pale Aqua and Coral. The colors themselves say Summer!
I wanted to create something playful bringing back memories of Summer Love and the Ball of Fun we had in our younger years. These simple quilt blocks with colors, arrangement, design and placement express this! I love the “plus” + sign quilts with the different meanings they can have. Summer is a time of daydreaming and doodling our name + summer love written everywhere.
Let’s break the Ball of Summer Love² Quilt into patterns:
Ball of Summer Love²
Ball of Summer Love² with Chartreuse & Lapis Blue to Represent the GuysBall of Summer Love² with Turquoise & Coral to Represent the Gals
Do you remember the songs we would sing with our friends of “Two Love Birds Sitting in A Tree, K – I – S – ….”, when learning of someone’s summer crush? Wasn’t our summer daydreaming simple and narrow? We didn’t know it then, but later in life, our thoughts would never be as simple as the daydreaming of a young summer crushes. I love this quilt because it represents those simple, strong, playfulness with summer colors, the “plus sign” gently swooping into form and a center square with memories solidly put. I feel many memories fading away but memories and feelings of summer love are so vivid. Why is that?
Notice that this 12 1/2 inch block pattern is really only four 6 1/2 inch blocks rearranged. Do you recognize the basic design of the block now?
Guy Basic Block Ball of Summer Love² with Chartreuse & Lapis BlueGal Basic Block Ball of Summer Love² with Turquoise & Coral
The block is very similar to a drunken path quilt block. This classic block updated in this pattern with modern fabrics, colors and a triangle sewn in the corner. Now if you look carefully you will see that the Pale Aqua triangles differ in size between the blocks with the Fabric-Quilt Prairie Solids of Coral and Lapis Blue. I didn’t want to be difficult and you can choose to make the triangles all the same but I love how the different sized squares in the Coral and Lapis Blue Plus Signs are more pronounced.
Ball of Summer Love² Notice the Colorful Summer Balls Bouncing on the Quilt
Don’t forget to notice the bright summer balls playfully bouncing on the quilt separating those plus signs. You will notice their formation when looking at the quilt in the alternating blocks constructed by the design. Some of us might recognize the summer balls pattern from a Snowball Quilt Block.
Summer Bouncing Balls form by the alternating contrasting pattern created when combining the blocks
Now let’s get down to learning how to build the quilt block. I have all the patterns included in this tutorial for you to complete the block at home.
Instructions
Download and review the PDF file for the Ball of Summer Love² Quilt Blocks. We will use Guy Block Sheets and Gal Block Sheets for these instructions. Print on regular paper or a light cardstock.
1 pattern sheets of the Guy Block Sheet 1 Paper Piecing
1 pattern sheets of the Gal Block Sheet 1 Paper Piecing
Fabric Needed:
Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Turquoise
Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Chartreuse
Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Lapis Blue
Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Pale Aqua
Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Coral
Remember we will construct two different blocks: Guy Block with Lapis Blue and Chartreuse with the larger Pale Aqua triangle. Gal Block with coral and turquoise with the smaller Pale Aqua triangle. Don’t forget that the triangles that make the center square in the Lapis Blue Block are larger than in the Coral Block. Cut and piece your fabrics keeping this in mind.
Lets Get Started – Get Out All Your Supplies
Cutting the Fabric
Cut the fabric as outlined below keeping the Guy Block Fabric separated from the Gal Block Fabric
Guy Block Group:
Cut 5 inch strip of Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Chartreuse
Cut the ¼ circle pattern – You will need 4 – ¼ circles for each block you want to make.
Cut 5 inch strip of Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Lapis Blue
Cut the Guy Block Main Pattern – You will need 4 Block Main pieces for each block you want to make.
Cut 4 inch strip Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Pale Aqua
Cut the 4 inch strip into 4″ squares. Cut square on the diagonal to create 2 triangle. – You will need 4 triangles for every block you want to make.
Gal Block Group:
Cut a 4.5 inch strip of Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Turquoise
Cut the ¼ circle pattern – You will need 4 – ¼ circles for each block you want to make.
Cut a 5 inch strip of Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Coral
Cut the Gal Main Pattern – You will need 4 Block Main pieces for each block you want to make.
Cut a 3 inch strip of Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids – Pale Aqua
Cut the 4 inch strip into 4 inch squares. Cut square on the diagonal to create 2 triangle. – You will need 4 triangles for every block you want to make.
Cut Pieces Organized and Set Aside
Now let’s get to stitching…. if you have never done curved piecing then are going to absolutely LOVE trying out this method! I have photographs and video along with helpful instructions to get you going at it!
Here are our cut pieces ready to stitch the first block.
There isn’t a right or wrong side to the Fabri-Quilt Prairie Solids so that will make our piecing easier.
Let’s start with the Guy Block:
Please refer to the pictures.
I am sewing with a blue Aurifil 50 weight 100% cotton thread to piece this block together from the Happy Colors by Bee in My Bonnet Collection color number 2725 available at the Stitches Quilting Shoppe.
If you are new to curved piecing, set your stitch length to 3.5 or 4.0 for the first couple times piecing these curved pieces together. That way if you don’t get it right then you can unstitch it and try it again. The Fabri-Quilt Prairie Cloth Solids hold up really well so it can take a few different times of unpicking a block and restitching it back together again. You need to get the rhythm of it and then you will be string feeding them together. You will be surprised at how fast you can put these together.
Carefully snip the seam allowance on ¼ circle rounded side, this will allow the fabric to naturally follow with the reverse curvature of the main block.
You will start stitching the curved pieces together like this.Keep pulling the lime green fabric to match the curved blue fabric.Here we are almost finished stitching the curved pieces.For those of you that have sewed sleeves doesn’t this look like a sleeve just stitched?
Press open the two fabrics folding the Chartreuse fabric open. Isn’t it just beautiful! If you didn’t get it just right you can try again if this is your first time piecing curves together. You may find that the fabric will lay flatter with the curve if you add a few more snips in the seam allowance so it can stretch to match the curvature of the seam. Lovely isn’t it!
Now stitch the Pale Aqua large Guy Triangle onto the Main Guy Block Pieces with a ¼” seam. Press the basic block and set aside.
Continue to piece three more Guy Blocks exactly as instructed above.
Square up each of your basic blocks before sewing together
Square up the 4 Guy Blocks to 6.5 inches square using your mat board, rotary cutter and ruler. You can use a square ruler or just your regular ruler. Keep in mind while squaring up the block that you want proportion around the entire block. This is a very important step to insure that you are going to match your seams as you piece the 4 blocks together to make the 12.5 finished square block. If the blocks are less than a 6.5 inch block then mark the block with a safety pin, pin, sticky note in the corner or edge that is falling short to compensate for it as you are stitching the 4 blocks together to form the larger 12.5 inch block. Don’t get discouraged just move forward with any mistake as you can work with it and spin out a fantastic project. The key is to stay consistent with your ¼ inch seam when putting any block piece together.
Let’s piece the four blocks into one large block rotating them in the position we want with the Light Agua triangles in the center to create a square. Make certain to match your seams to make each design in the block to work. It is better to stretch the cotton fabric a bit than to not match a seam. You will be surprised at how stretchy cotton fabric really is.
First start with stitching the top two blocks A and B in the first row together while matching your seams. Second stitch the blocks A & B of the second row together while matching your seams. After stitching press the blocks assembled. Stitch the top row and the bottom row together to get the complete Guy Block constructed and press once again.
Look back and enjoy your block. Isn’t it just beautiful! Don’t forget to square your block up once again making the final Guy or Gal block to be 12 1/2 inches square.
Refer to the pictures and video instruction for anything that isn’t quite clear and please let me know where the pattern instructions might need clarification so I can improve the pattern and become a better pattern writer. Please include feedback, tips for other or inspiration in the comments below.
Next Let’s create the Gal Block with Coral & Turquoise colors
Follow the same instructions for the Guy Block to complete the Gal Block keeping in mind that you are using Carol and Turquoise Fabrics instead of the Lapis Blue and Chartreuse. Create the four coral basic blocks to make the large Gal Block of 12 1/2 inch square block.
Look at our finished blocks! Marveling that it all came from one simple block design.
EXTRA
To complete the quilt as designed above build 6 total 12 1/2 inch Guy blocks and 6 total 12 1/2 inch Gal blocks. Piece the blocks as arranged in the quilt image.
I’m planning on making a summer tote bag by constructing four of the blocks together and will do a tutorial next week for the summer tote bag construction.
THOUGHTS
This therapeutic quilting activity is another way than “luminosity” to rustle old memories from the cob webs in your brain to the forefront. Journal these thoughts of summer memories to take you back to those careless days. Take time while you are quilting to jot down those old memories or even look around for old photographs; your children and grandchildren will love it!
Comment below and let me know the memories that come back to you and what you think of the simple design and construction of the quilts. How would you construct it differently?
I’m very grateful to the gals that organized this Fabri-Quilt Blog Hop! The blocks designed for this Blog Hop are utterly incredible! You will find yourself mindlessly surfing the world wide web reviewing the unique modern quilting blocks with free tutorials from the talented group of 60+Quilt Bloggers coming to you literally from around the world.
Below are the organizers of this Blog Hop that worked extremely hard to bring you the best! These creative blocks are mailed off to our fearless hosts constructed into charity quilts.
You will be able to find Quilt Bloggers that participated in this Fabri-Quilt Challenge and their blocks along with free instruction on the four hosts pages:
I want to thank everyone that participated in the Farm Girl Vintage Book with 18 Fat Quarters from Stitches Quilting Giveaway as it was excellent fun getting to know all of you! Several more Giveaways coming soon! I learned so much from doing my very first one and got excellent suggestions and feedback to improve!
Our next giveaway is a Fall Halloween Giveaway Fat Quarter Collection of Emily Taylor’s Zombie Apocalypse for Riley Blake that includes a specially designed panel by Emily Taylor to make a Zombie Doll and Zombie Dog! We have included a tutorial on how to assemble the Zombie Doll and Dog with some extra embellishments. To purchase your own Emily Taylor’s 9 piece Fat Quarter Kit with Zombie Doll and Zombie Panel here before they sell out. We also have extra Zombie Doll and Dog panels designed by Emily Taylor for you to purchase without the Fat Quarter Collection in case you already have Zombie Apocalypse yardage in your stash. To enter the Stitches Quilting Fall/Halloween Zombie Apocalypse Giveaway click here!
It is time for Stitches Quilting to offer their first Giveaway of Farm Girl Vintage Book with 18 Quilt Fat Quarter Kit! We hope this is something that you will like!
ENTER NOW! The Giveaway is for the Best Selling Farm Girl Vintage Book by Lori Holt with Bee In Your Bonnet AND an 18 Quilt Fat Quarter Kit to start stitching away from this inspiring book!
Celebrate with us our 1st ever giveaway with the hashtags of: #stitchesquiltinggiveaway #fabricgiveaway #quiltgiveaway
You can enter multiple times through the Rafflecopter link below and to get additional entries go to @stitchesquilting Instagram Feed and the Giveaway Post and follow instructions within the post. Share and tag this page on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Email and MORE! Subscribe to Stitches Quilting website online store and blog for an additional 5 entries.
There will only be one winner that will be notified within 48 hours after the giveaway. Absolutely no purchase is necessary for the giveaway! I just want everyone to win something so you can use the coupon code of Expired XXXXXX for 30% off your shopping cart and there is free shipping if you spend $50 or more. Expect a total of four giveways over the course of the next 4 weeks so subscribe to stay tuned in for more awesome quilty giveaways coming your way!
Enter the giveaway below…. The giveaway starts August 7, 2015 and will end August 14, 2015 at midnight!
