Oh, Fransson!

How to Make Scrappy Hedgerow Blocks

 

As you may have surmised from my last post, the Hedgerow pattern is going to be delayed yet again by the project I'm working on this summer.  I know that a lot of you liked my Scrappy Starling quilt though, so I thought I would at least post a tutorial on how to make those.

 

The finished blocks are 12" square (12.5" before they're sewn).  Each block is made of two components: 3.5" squares for the center and 1.5" and 1.75" strips for the rings/square-in-squares. 

I think this pattern is most successful when the center squares are fussy cut from a "picture print" like the Alexander Henry Starlings print that I used.  I used the same print for all of my center squares, but this quilt would be wonderful, and even scrappier, with center squares cut from a variety of different prints.  (Maybe some great Japanese animal or fairy tale prints!?)

 

I chose the fabrics for my strips based on the colors in the Starling print.  To make blocks like mine -- where each ring is monochromatic -- you'll need to have no fewer than four fabrics each in at least four different colors.  For more variety, you may want as many as eight or ten different prints in each color.  

To make an entire quilt top, you will need to cut several 1.5" wide strips and several 1.75" strips from each fabric.  Strips should vary in length from 3.5" to 12.5". 

I didn't organize my strips by color, but I did keep one bin for 1.5" strips and one bin for 1.75" strips, so I wouldn't confuse them as I worked.  I like the slight variation caused by using 1.5" and 1.75" wide strips but, if this is too fussy for you, you can definitely use all 1.75" strips for 13" finished blocks!

 

Start your first block by choosing four same-colored 1.5" strips. 

 

Sew one strip to the top of one center square and trim, squaring up the edges.

 

Now, sew another strip to the right side of the center square, again trimming to square everything up.

 

Continue around the block, in a clockwise fashion, sewing a third strip to the bottom and a fourth to the left side. 

 

Now that the first "ring" is finished, gather four 1.75" wide strips in a different color to start the second.

 

Use the same clockwise method to sew a second ring.

 

Gather four 1.5" strips in a third color and sew yet another ring.  Notice how we're alternating between the thinner and slightly wider rings.  For even more variety, you can make the rings on half of your blocks in this order and the other half starting with the 1.75" strips.

 

Finish your block by sewing a fourth ring, using 1.75" strips.  That's all there is to it!

A couple of notes about my quilt:

My quilt included nine 12" blocks with 2" sashing between the blocks and a 3" border around the outside.  The finished quilt is about 46" square.

I used six different colors of strips and chose randomly which four would be in each block.  I also included a solid of each color and, when placing them in blocks, I tried to be careful as I was sewing the rings to never put more than one solid on any side of the block.  (See the above photo for an example.)

 

I ended up making one extra block and used my leftover strips to make a pieced stripe on the back of the quilt.  If you look closely, you can see where I pieced together smaller leftover strips to make them long enough.  That's something you can do within your blocks too!

 

If you end up making any of these blocks, I would love to see them in my Flickr Pool!

Summer Update

 

This is going to be a very busy summer for me!  I'm going to be working on a big project, which means that I'm not going to be able to post as much as usual. 

I'll still be doing a monthly tutorial for Sew, Mama, Sew! and I'll continue to post about the blocks I make for Block Party, but my blog posts are going to be limited to just a handful each month.  I just wanted to give you all a heads up, so you weren't wondering where I went!

I look forward to getting back to my regular posting routine later in the year.

June Fabric Focus

 

This month's project for Sew, Mama, Sew! is a set of Nesting & Stacking Blocks made with Lecien prints and natural linen.

 

I made a set of four blocks, three, four, five and six inches square.

 

They can be nested. . .

 

. . . or stacked.

 

The outsides are quilted patchwork panels, which were really fun to make!

 

As usual, you can get the tutorial here.

Clothesline Quilts

 

The Clothesline Quilts are finally finished!  I'd been trying to wait for a nice day to take the photos but, this being Oregon, it's been overcast for about the last week!

I really, really lucked out with the pillowcases I found to make this one.  The colors are fantasic and many of the case were "new" in their packages, so the fabric was very crisp.

 

The sashing is white Essex cotton/linen (of course!).

It was difficult to cut these up, but I love the finished product!

 

And here's the Super-Soc version!  I ended up taking your advice and not removing the quilting.  I'm still not in love with it, but the finished quilt is nice. 

 

Someone asked in the comments whether I did anything special to get the plaid to line up.  I didn't.  In fact, I didn't make any effort to keep the plaids straight, because I think that, with this kind of casual summer look, having the plaids be slightly wonky looks better. 

 

I mention in the pattern that it's best to concentrate on creating squared-up blocks of identical size, but that there's no need to worry about the piecing within the blocks being perfect.  (Hopefully that makes sense!)

 

I'm not sure that the back of the Soc quilt is particularly effective, but boy is it ever soft!  The combination of the madras plaids and natural linen is perfect for summer.  I think it would also be pretty cool to make one from flannel shirts for winter.

 

The repeating nine-patch pattern is designed around using nine pillowcases, nine old shirts, or nine 3/4 yard cuts of fabric.  Because of the nine-patch within a nine-patch layout and the limited fabric available from pillowcases and shirts, this is basically a "one-size" pattern.  It makes a nice little 55" x 62" lap quilt.  (Don't let that stop your from figuring out how to make a larger quilt work!  I'm just saying that the pattern here is only focused on the one size.)

I've seen some people commenting that they wanted to use their vintage sheet fat quarters to make this pattern.  You can certainly use nine fat quarters to cut sets of 2" x 21" strips and make the 81 small blocks for the quilt front.  However, you will have no fabric left over for the binding or backing.  Additionally, the pieces used for the quilt back are larger than fat quarters, so you'll need to either find a larger piece (maybe a vintage sheet) or you could use a narrow sashing between nine fat quarters to make a large enough back.  Binding strips can similarly be cut from additional fat quarters or from a vintage sheet.

Here are the pattern downloads:

Download Clothesline Quilts

Download Clothesline Quilts Organizer Cards

If you need them, I also have tutorials for sandwiching, quilting and binding.

 

As always, if you end up making one, I would love to see it in the Flickr Pool.

Stay gold, readers!

Winner

 

Amy is the winner!  I sent you an e-mail and will get these in the mail as soon as I have your address.

Thank you to everyone for your nice comments about the tablelcoth quilt!

Also, it's clear that everyone liked the old banner better, so I put it back up. :)

Sarah's Patchwork Tablelcoth

 

I finished Sarah's patchwork tablecloth/quilt.

 

I ended up sandwiching, quilting and binding it exactly like a regular quilt, but using flannel instead of batting.  The flannel wasn't quite wide enough, so I just sewed pieces together and pressed the seams open.  You really can't tell on the finished quilt. 

 

I wasn't expecting the prewashed flannel to wrinkle this much, and I'm not sure I like it, but it does have a really nice weight.  I actually think it would be a good choice to use in a summer quilt or bedspread.

 

The finished tablecloth is about 50" x 68".  There are eight stacks of 22 coins, each coin measuring 2" x 6" finished.  The sashing between stacks is 2" finished and the exterior sashing is 3" wide.

 

I didn't end up prewashing my Far, Far, Away (double gauze) because I was concerned that it would ravel excessively and/or get warped in the wash.  Fortunately, after being sewn into the quilt, it washed beautifully.

 

Here's a shot of it on an actual table.  I just love the color gradation!  I used four coins each from 44 different Heather Ross prints.  The sashing is one of my favorites -- Essex cotton/linen in Putty. 

(By the way, did you all know that Sew, Mama, Sew! has Essex back in stock.  Get it while it lasts.  ETA: Putty and Natural are gone, but there's still White.  You guys are fast!)

 

Sarah's favorite print was the Matroyshka dolls from West Hill, so I used that on the back.  It wasn't quite wide enough, so I added a strip of Heather Bailey Bijoux along the edge. The binding is a leaf green Kona cotton (not sure which color). 

I had originally been planning to use another stack of "coins" on the back, but decided that it would be too busy.  As a result, I have a set of 44 coins left that I'd like to send to someone who could use them.  If you have a use for them, leave a comment on this post and I'll announce a winner tomorrow.

What to do. What to do?

I finished quilting my Super-Soc quilt at about 2:00 am last night and am kind of hating the way the quilting looks this morning.  I used a beige-y color to match the natural Aiden linen sashing, but I'm not loving the way it looks on the darker madras prints. 

 

I have to run some errands today, so I'm going to leave this on the table while I'm gone.  When I get back, I'll decide whether I want to rip out all this quilting and start over.

 

The pillowcase version, on the other hand, is turning out just gorgeous.  I still need to put the bindings on both of these too, but I'm planning to have the tutorial up within the next few days.

I had been hoping to take some really cool photos of these in an empty lot at the end of my street.  I can see the back of the lot onthe train home from work and noticeda couple of weeks ago that it's all overgrown and has some big old trees with low-hanging branches that I think would be perfect for a photo shoot.  Unfortunately, it's been overcast for the last week or so and is raining today, so I'm afraid the photos of the finished Clothesline Quilts that accompany the tutorial may end up being kind of mundance. 

I'm still holding out hope for taking the Hedgerow photos in that lot though! 

Sewing Machine Meme

 

It's Sewing Machine Month at Sew, Mama, Sew!  Check out the blog all month for machine-related articles and giveaways (including a sewing machine giveaway). 

This post is me participating in the Sewing Machine Meme.  My answers start below . . .

 

What brand and model do you have? 

I have a Janome L-392.  It's a basic all-metal, all-mechanical, model that is no longer being made.  The closest contemporary Janome I was able to find is this one, which appears to be almost exactly like my machine with new branding.

How long have you had it?

Almost 12 years.  My parents got if for my 22nd birthday.  (Best gift ever.)

Approximately how much does your machine cost?

My machine is no longer being made, but the one I found that's similar retails for $400 - $600 which, if it sews anything like mine, is an amazing bargain.

 

What kinds of things do you sew?

Everything!  I mostly sew quilts, but I've used it to sew clothing, home decor projects, bags, paper crafting projects and many, many Halloween costumes.  I also do all my machine quilting on this machine.

How much do you sew?  How much wear and tear does the machine get?

I use my machine almost every day and have for years.  It has gotten way more wear and tear and been put through more unusual stress tests (mostly associated with sewing excessive layers, different kinds of adhesive and other materials that probably shouldn't be sewn with a sewing machine in the first place) than any normal machine should and it still runs beautifully.

Do you like/love/hate your machine?  Does it have a name?

I really love my machine, but it doesn't have a name. 

What features does your machine have that work well for you?

I love the fact that my machine is mechanical and that it's metal.  It's very, very sturdy.  As you can see in the photo above, it also has a decent sized bed, which makes machine quilting easier.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?

Not really.  I'm so used to working on it that I don't miss a lot of the bells and whistles that I'm sure some people feel they couldn't live without.  I had a lot of trouble with tension and timing during the first few years that I had the machine, but I eventually realized that it was caused entirely by dumb things I was doing, like not changing my needle enough, using cheap thread or trying to sew through cardboard covered in still slightly wet paint.

Now that I sort of know what I'm doing and get the machine serviced regularly (and especially since I got a walking foot) it really does everything that I want it to.

 

Do you have a great story about your machine to share?

Hmm . . . You'd think that, after 12 years, I'd have something fantastic to share, but I guess I don't.

Would you recommend your machine to others?

Yes.  I would recommend my machine to anyone.  I would especially recommend it to anyone like me who is inclined to be very hard on a machine.  I also think it's an excellent choice for anyone who prefers not to use a plastic and/or electronic model.

In general, I would recommend Janome machines to anyone.  I've sewn on several other models, including more contemporary quilting models, and they've all been wonderful.  Even the little Hello Kitty version that I got for my niece works well enough that my sister has been using it for home dec projects. 

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?

I would encourage people to buy a machine from a local dealership that will be able to assist you in choosing a good machine for your needs and servicing it for years to come.  Many dealerships even offer classes on how to use your new machine (and they're often free with the purchase).  If buying a machine from a dealership isn't an option, I would still suggest finding a local dealership/repair shop that you can go to for service/classes/purchasing accessories. 

Think of it this way: If you bring home a new kitten, you need to find it a vet.  If you bring home a new sewing machine, you similarly need to find a place to take it for regular maintenance and when it's feeling sick.

Do you have a dream machine?

Of course!  I'm still not sure about an electronic machine (and I'm quite sure that I will never, in a million years, need that many stitches) but I know I could get used to the automatic needle down control and having a knee-operated lever for the presser foot.  I also love the even-feed technology on the newer Janome quilting machines.  So, yes.  This is what I eventually, someday, plan to buy.

Remember in Wayne's World how Wayne kept making the sales guy take the guitar out of the display case for him to play every time he went in the store?  That's me with the MC6600 every time I take my machine in for service.

Tablecloth Quilt Top

 

My sister, Sarah, asked me to make her a tablecloth/quilt for her birthday.

 

She picked Heather Ross' West Hill and I added more Heather Ross prints from Lightning Bugs, Mendocino and Far, Far, Away.  These pieces are 2.5' x 6.5" (so 2" x 6" finished).

 

I just used a simple stacked coin pattern.  Because this is supposed to cover a table, I made eight shorter horizontal stacks, instead of the more common vertical stacks. 

 

The sashing is Essex cotton/linen in Putty.

Right now, I'm waiting for the fabric I ordered for the backing, so I'll have to wait until later in the week to finish this!

Crinkles

I see a lot of people saying that they don't prewash fabric because they "like the crinkly look" and some who debate prewashing, because they worry that they'll end up with a flat/non-crinkly quilt.  My experience has been that prewashing and "the crinkly look" are not at odds with one another, so I thought I would do a quick post to talk about that.

 

This is a photo of my Mod Sampler Quilt before it was washed.

 

This is the same quilt after a trip through the washer and dryer.  Every part of this quilt was prewashedand machine dried before the quilt was pieced, but you can see that the finished quilt still has a crinkly texture.  The reason is the 100% cotton batting.  I've found that using natural fiber batting like Warm and White, Warm and Natural or Nature-Fil Bamboo/Cotton causes my quilts to crinkle in spite of prewashing.   

That isn't to say that using unwashed materials won't give your a morecrinkly look.  It probably will.  I just prefer my method because prewashing helps prevent any unpleasant shrinking or running suprises that might otherwise happen when a finished quilt is washed.  (The shrinking may be a bigger deal to me than it may to others, because I use so much linen in my work.)

Anyway, I hope this is helpful to someone!  As with everything else, do what works for you.  This is just one woman's opinion.

ETA:  Responding to some of the comments . . .

Michele, you're right about crinkling in some people's quilts being caused by different rates of shrinkage.  However, that's not really the whole story with mine because I prewash every part, including the batting.  I do this to preventdifferent rates of shrinkage.  My point with this post was to illustrate that shrinkage is not the only thing that determine crinkliness.  It's the shifting and puffing of the batting fibers inside (which have been prewashed and then broken up further by all the maching quilting) that cause the crinkliness in my quilts.  My quilts don't shrink by an appreciable amount, but they do get a crinkly texture because of the way the batting acts in the wash.

I've found that the batting I use (brands listed above) does not create a big mess and washes fine on delicate cycle in my washer and dryer.  This is something that the manufacturers tell you not to do (and certainly, if you're using lower-end/flimsier brands, I would warn you against it too) but I've never had trouble with it.  Batting is not woven -- it's just a bunch of fibers presed together -- so if you're using a brand that's not particularly stable to begin with, it will definitely disintegrate in the wash.  The suggestion in the comments to test wash a small piece first is a good one.  However, I would not suggest using anything hot (water, dryer, etc.). 

As with not pre-washing fabric, not prewashing batting (which is what the vast majority of people do) will causemore crinkliness as the batting shrinks.

I probably should have stated this more clearly in the original post but, just to clarify, all this talk about batting causing crinkliness only applies to natural-fiber batting.  If you use polyester, or a polyester/cotton blend, your batting will not cause your quilt to crinkle in the same way. 

EfTA: In case anyone is curious, here's a photo of batting that has been washed in my washer in cold water/delicate cycle with gentle detergent and dried in my dryer on low.  The batting on the left is Warm and White.  The batting on the right is Nature-Fil bamboo/cotton.  As you can see, the Warm and White stays very smooth.  The bamboo gets a little pilly, but nothing terrible.  Both produce a lot of lint in the lint trap, but nothing loose in the machine.

Again, please try this at home at your own risk, as battings and machines vary.  I just wanted to show that my experience doing this (many times!) has been very positive.