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Wonky Four Patch - Part 2

In Wonky Four Patch - Part 1 we talked about color mixing and grouping your fabrics. This post will cover block construction, part three will cover completing the quilt top and we will end the series with my attempts to long arm quilt for the first time. 

Let's dive right in...

First, take a look at the completed quilt top. If you look closely you'll see that the top is composed of 35 four patch blocks in a 5 x 7 arrangement. Each block consists of four sections, each from a different fabric, and looks something like the one below.

If you followed along with the first post your 10" squares will already be in nine groups of four. If not, pause here and organize your fabric. Follow all the next steps for each group.

1) Stack one group (all four fabrics), lining up edges as closely as possible.

2) Cut stacked squares once vertically and once horizontally (as shown below). Cuts can be straight or angled in either direction. All cuts should be a minimum of two inches from any corner (to prevent bulk and keep pieces close in size). Vary the position of cuts for each set of four fabrics. 

3) Arrange your fabric so each layer of your stack has one section of each fabric (as shown below). Karla Alexander calls this technique "stack & shuffle". 

Transport your stack to your sewing area. It's finally time to sew!

I like to cut, and then immediately sew, each set of four blocks to limit my chances of confusion. I found chain piecing helped me keep all my sections in order and eliminated a lot of time starting and stopping. 

If you are wondering about the blue tape on my sewing table... I use a ruler, with the needle lightly touching the 1/4 inch mark, to position the tape. Having a long line to position my fabric edge against helps me keep my seams consistent, accurate, and straight. 

Using a quarter inch seam, piece the top two sections of the top block together, then the bottom two sections. Continue sewing the remaining blocks in the same manner. 

You will end up with a string of eight sections (see above). Notice the colored pins in the photo, I add matching pins to both sections of a block as I sew. The pins ensure that I can pair my sections easily after I've clipped my chain apart. 

Press your sections in their block pairs, pressing seams in opposite directions. Most of your sections will not have a clean straight center edge to sew (see below). 

No worries, just trim the center edges of all sections straight. In other words, trim the edge where you will sew the two parts of your block together (see below).

Next, place top and bottom block sections, right sides together, with seams aligned. Your center edge will not line up yet. Measure a quarter inch from the edge to be sewn (center edge) and place a pin straight through both seams (see below).

Gently rotate the top section until center edge is lined up, being careful not to shift seam placement. I like to work on my ironing board so I can push the pin through the fabric and into the board to ensure my seams stay exactly where I want them while I line up the center edges. 

Sew the block sections together. Press (seams can go in either direction). Trim your finished block to 9" square. Repeat until all blocks are completed. 

If you'd like to quilt-a-long with me, or try this project on your own, we have a number of fun 10" square bundles in stock. 

 

From top left - Pirate's Life, Grunge Basics, Woodland Secrets, Marmalade Dreams, Betty's Luncheonette, and Kaffe Fassett Collective Fall 2018 in Night. 

As always, please send me your photos or post them on social media with #stitchinpost if you try this project. 

Cheers,

Samantha 

 

 

Putting it all Together - Marmalade Dreams Quilt-a-Long

Hello! Happy New Year!  I hope everyone has recovered from the holidays and is back to sewing.

We are on the final stretch of the Marmalade Dreams quilt.  You have made all your parts and it is time to sew together the top.

Follow the diagram in the picture below or your pattern.

Now this beautiful top is ready to quilt. I thought I would share my quilting to get you going on ideas.  There is such high contrast from the background greys and neutrals, to the colorful blocks so I picked a neutral thread that would look good on both. When I am choosing thread I like to pull the end of the thread from the spool and lay it across the quilt top. It gives me a better idea of how it will look when quilted. Just laying the spool on top of the quilt top doesn’t give me the same perspective of a single strand.

For the large log cabin blocks I decided to quilt lines in the small colored areas and my style of meandering in the neutral logs, continuing the design throughout all of the light backgrounds.

Even for the little log cabins I did lines in the colored logs.

The diamonds I wanted to keep simple and not take away from the prints or the piecing. I quilted a curvy diamond shape in all of the diamond sections. I am not one who likes using rules, or my walking foot, so these are free form. If you want them perfect I would use a ruler or a walking food depending on what type of machine you are using.

My meandering quilting is a flowing designs that intertwines with itself, lots of swirls, flower and leaf like shapes.

I hopefully this will give you some ideas for quilting your own Marmalade Dreams Quilt.

Lastly I have included the final recipe…. I had to laugh because it is snowing outside and the recipe is for Summer Berries. You can make this with frozen berries. Enjoy!

 

Thank you for being a part of Marmalade Dreams Block of the Month. I would love to see any finished quilts! Have a great day!

 

XO,

Valori

Marmalade Dreams QAL - Part 4

Hello and Happy Holidays!

To start things off I must apologize for the delay in getting part 4 of our Marmalade Dreams QAL out.

We are diving into the last pieced section before final assembly of your quilt.

To start this section, you will be using the C and D Templates which are a smaller version of the A and B templates.

Once the pieces are cut out arrange them on a flat surface. Then begin stitching the shapes together in horizontal rows pressing the seams open or in one direction…I find pressing seams open creates a flatter piece and the rows are easier to stitch together. 

Once the rows are finished, then join one row to the next pressing after each seam. 

To finish Part Four, stitch the filler side strips together and press the seams. Join to each side of the panel. Always refer to Figure 10 while you are in the process of creating these two units. The diamond shapes are not a mirror image of each other, but the filler strips are.

In a few weeks we will put all the parts together.

Now onto something yummy….. My mother has been making this carrot cake for many, many years and it is always a big hit. The addition of coconut and crushed pineapple add moisture and flavor. We do leave the nuts out. And the frosting is amazing!

Download Carrot Cake Recipe

XO

Valori

Part 3 - Marmalade Dreams Quilt-a-Long

Hello and Happy October!!!!

We are half way through Marmalade Dreams Block of the Month and this month is quick and easy.

We are making mini log cabins that are set with rectangles.

My biggest tip on this section is to be really accurate with your sewing and cutting. The pieces are small and even a little bit of unevenness can mess with your size of block.

I like to cut out all my pieces first and lay them in order and chain stitch all of the blocks at once.

As you can see they are super cute and go together really quick.

Once you have all the blocks cut and the setting rectangles lay them out in order and sew together.

I got so excited about these little blocks I decided to make a little pincushion.

With some help from Oliver….

Take one block and cut a background piece or make two blocks and you have a two sided pin cushion.

Sew around the block leaving an opening for turning and filling. Clip off the corners.

Turn pincushion right side out and press. I like to use crushed walnut shells for pincushions.

Fill as much as possible, I do like to use a funnel if possible. Let the cat help if he wants.

Hand stitch the opening closed and tada…. Little mini log cabin pincushion!

Onto our yummy treats for this month….

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

They are so good and don’t use any eggs, almost like a cake texture when baked. They are my husband’s favorite cookies!

I hope you all have a great month. I am off to market next week in Houston, TX and then leaving to teach a retreat in Bali.  Next months BOM will post after Thanksgiving Weekend.

Xoxo

Valori

Part 2 - Marmalade Dreams Quilt-a-Long

Hello!

Are you ready for month two of Marmalade Dreams Quilt Along!? This month we are going to do the center section of the quilt.

I love this section… so much I created a small quilt using the top and bottom triangles, Diamond Days. Before I show you that lets get started.

I have a quick update to the pattern that we found while creating the step-outs for this month. Page 8 of the pattern booklet, Section 2 – the cutting measurements for C1 & C2 are incorrect. The correct measurements are: cut 2 – 2 ½” x 32 ½” strips. If you have already cut the strips you can add on the amount needed to get 32 ½”, the seam will not be noticeable in the long run. I am so sorry for the mistake. We work very hard at proofing our patterns but alas we miss things.

Before we get to cutting and sewing you need to make the templates. Make a photocopy or trace the templates in the pattern booklet onto template plastic, A & B. If you make a photocopy you will then need to trace onto template plastic and cut out. I like to use template plastic because I can see through the template to the fabric for placement.

Now, you will need to make the strip pieced triangles. To do this you will sew 1” strips together then cut them out with the template. A trick that was taught to me years ago is to stitch the first two fabrics together, beginning on the left end.
 Stitch the third strip beginning on the right end. By alternating the direction of the stitching, there will be less chance of the strips pulling in one direction. Press all seam allowances in one direction. My favorite new notion is the wooly mat, I love how it holds the heat and pressing is actually quicker. 

Once you have all your pieces cut you will sew together in rows.

The center of this section is pieced together in rows, triangles first and the solid strips next.

Ollie thought he would help with photography today…

The final step to this section is sewing the top and bottom sets of triangles to the center. If you liked this section you can always make a companion quilt…Diamond Days. I was thinking after I finished this that you could easily make this bigger. I think lap size would be awesome!

Once that is done it is time for brownies. Not just any brownies but my mom’s yummy Chocolate Crunch Brownies!!! This is another family favorite…

Download JeansChocolatebrownies

Have a great month and please share what your up to! I love seeing the progress.

Xoxox

Valori

Welcome to - Marmalade Dreams Quilt-a-Long

Hello! I am so excited you have joined me for the Marmalade Dreams Quilt Along. It is going to be a fun five months, I have tips and tricks as well as family recipes to share. Let’s get started.  

 

 

This quilt was made while I designed the fabric Marmalade Dreams they grew together out of my love of summer and my slight obsession with Moroccan rugs. The original quilt was made with solids that matched the palette that I was designing in and I used a free form piecing technique. (no rulers) The rugs are so reminiscent of quilts they inspired me to design outside of my norm and mix all of these shapes into one quilt. I could design quilts from rugs for years…  

Here are a few of my rug images that inspired the quilt and the original solid Marmalade Dreams. 

 

This first month we are going to tackle the off-set log cabin blocks in the corners of the quilt. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you with the blocks.  

The small logs finish at ½” and the large logs at 2”.  When working with strips in such different widths you need to be extremely accurate with cutting and sewing. I found this out the hard way. When you are off in sewing or cutting just a little on the small logs your block will warp and not be square.  

I like to lay out my block in order so when I start sewing I can do all four blocks at once. 

 

Once at the machine I always start sewing with a “bunny tail” (I have no idea why my mom calls them this but it has stuck in my vocabulary). The “bunny tail” starts your stitching so you avoid the possible knotted mess that can happen. Then I chain stitch the blocks one right after the other, ending with another “bunny tail”.  

 

As you start the pressing of your blocks I suggest pressing towards the center. The block will lay flat. I press after each log is added and I like to use Flatter spray by Soak. It is my favorite! 

My block in progress. 

 

 

And the finished block! 

 

I loved the way these blocks came out, I figured an entire quilt out of these log cabins could be really cool…. So, I included the pattern for Starlight Log Cabin in the back of the Marmalade Dreams… 

 

To celebrate let’s have cake!!! To be specific Grandma Clara’s Poppy Seed Cake. My grandma Clara was my favorite, she was an artist and used to do so many creative activities with me, this cake makes me think of her, although she might of added a little more sherry than is in the recipe! This cake is super quick – by the time the oven heats up you can have the cake ready to go in and get back to sewing! Olivia and I made on this week for our staff meeting!  

 

Download GClaraPoppyseedcake

Until next month happy sewing and baking! 

Xoxo 

Valori 

 

 PS - There's still time to quilt-a-long. You can purchase the kit here or buy the pattern and use your own selection of fabrics.