Dog Gone Cute! Block Activity

The block activity for this month is the Dog Gone Cute block from Sew Fresh Quilts.

There are eight different block variations on her blog, I made dog #1 but feel free to make whichever one(s) you like! It will be fun for the winner to have a variety!

Instructions

1) Choose your pup and locate the online instructions (or you can purchase a pattern with all eight from Sew Fresh Quilts)

Dogs One and Two: Instructions Here

Dogs Three and Four: Instructions Here

Dogs Five and Six: Instructions Here

Dogs Seven and Eight: Instructions Here











2) She gives two sizes for each dog. Make the larger size (18" x 12" finish)
3) Use any modern fabrics
4) Add additional 2.5" strips of your background fabric to the top and the bottom of your block (18 x 16” finish)
5) Bring your completed blocks to the August 24 meeting for a chance to win them all! (lottery rules here)

My Dog Gone Cute Block

Here are some of my process shots. I found it fun and easy. There is a little bit of waste with her technique but it was so worth it in saved time! (Sorry about the odd coloring of the photos - I had to adjust the exposure)

All the pieces cut out. No triangles!

Adding the extra strips (not in the pattern)

April Online Activity

It's been a minute! We haven't done a block lottery for several months, and it's time to get back on track!

This month we will follow the free tutorial from AQS, "Block 2019: Snail Trail"

Please use bright modern prints or solids for the darker sections (denoted by blue, aqua and coral in the tutorial) and white or low volume prints for the light sections (gray in the tutorial)

Use either method (pieced or paper pieced). Trim your block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" but do not add batting or backing for the quilt-as-you-go option.

Bring your blocks to the April 27 meeting for a chance to win them all! See the complete lottery rules here.

Block Activity: Converging Corners

This next couple months our block challenge will be to make Converging Corners blocks to be made into a collaborative quilt which we'll share at the Kalamazoo Log Cabin Quilters' April 2019 program, "Not your Grandmother's Log Cabin."

This pattern is a very modern spin on  log cabin block. We'll maximize the modern vibe by using only solids and Kona White background.  (See the blocks we did in 2013 using prints - so cool!)

Guidelines:
1) Tutorial at http://filminthefridge.com/2012/02/23/converging-corners-block-a-tutorial/
2) Use solid, clear colors for the corners and center square
3) Use Kona White for the background
4) Trim to 12 1/2" square
5) Turn in at the October meeting, the retreat in November, or the party in December

Tips:
- center block can be any size
- vary width of corner strips for visual interest
- pay attention to value/contrast for interest
- no need to make each side of the corner "L's" the same color!
- no need to make each side of the corner "L's" the same length!
- it helps to square up after each round
- have fun!

August Online Activity: Barn Quilt Block

Get out your solids for this fun "Barn Quilt" pattern by Designer Megan Pitz of Canoe Ridge Creations - available for download here 

The pattern includes directions for 4 blocks plus back and binding, but we are going to make individual blocks for entry into the block lottery in August. The block will be 13" square.

Please use solids so we really get that painted-on-the-side-of-an-Iowa-barn feel. 

The instructions are pretty good, but there were a couple things I thought could be more clear:

1) She talks about positions 1, 2 and 3. It took me a while to figure out what was what! Using her yellow and blue block as an example, the yellow is position 1, the white is position 2 and the blue is position 3.

2) In step two she says "if necessary", trim the square-in-square construction. I found I needed to trim off quite a bit, about 3/8" from each side.

3) In step three, she suggests using a pencil to draw a diagonal stitching line. I found it easier and quicker to finger-press a diagonal crease instead.

4) Note step six says four segments! Don't do what I did and create all eight segments facing the same way!

Here are my process photos and my finished block.  I'll bring it to the informal meeting this week to pass around. 

Have fun!

Online Activity for June 2018

This month we are going to use a tutorial published by our upcoming speaker, Amanda Jean Nyberg.
It's a pint sized scrappy churn dash block that Amanda has published on her blog, Crazy Mom Quilts. It's only 4 1/2 inches! So fun to make!

Please use fun bright scraps and light grey for the background.

Here's my messy attempt!

Bring/send your blocks to the June meeting for a chance to win them all. Lottery rules here.

April Online Activity

This month we will be making the Ombre Dutchman quilt block from Vanessa Christenson.

Follow the link above for instructions.

Each completed block will be 12 1/2" by 24 1/2 ".

Following Vanessa's lead, I used some Gelato Ombre fabric in tints and shades of purple. If you don't have (or wish to purchase) a monochromatic ombre, you can substitute with 5-6 tints/shades of any solid color. Please use white for the background.

Bring your completed block(s) to the April guild meeting for a chance to win them all! Rules here.

January Online Activity

Happy Scrappy 2018!

I've been trying to get my fabric organized over the last few weeks , and I realized, boy do I have a lot of scraps! This month's online activity will help use up those smaller (2 1/2") scraps. It's a scrappy nine patch bowtie block, using Annemarie Chany's "Scrappy but Classy Block" tutorial. We've done a bowtie block before, but this one is a bit different.

You'll need 22 squares of any bright modern fabric measuring 2 1/2 " 

Use 18 of the squares to construct two 6 1/2"

nine-patches.

You'll also need two 6 1/2" solid pieces for the other two corners. Please use white or very light fabric that reads solid. 

The remaining 4 squares will be stitched and flipped on the corners to become the center block. I didn't get a photo. but Annemarie has this clear diagram in her post: 

The finished block is 12 1/2 square 

Have fun and bring your blocks to the February meeting for a chance to win them all. Lotto rules here.

August Online Activity

Put your perfect curve rulers away, we are going to do some improv circles this month! Following the tutorial by Leanne at She Can Quilt: http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2017/01/improv-circles-2016-fal-tutorial.html, make a quarter-circle block of size 10 1/2" (finish size 10"), using modern solids or prints for the rings and white or low-volume for the background.

Each quarter circle counts as a chance to win them all! Rules here.

Cat Block

Here are the step by step illustrated instructions for the January Online Activity (see video posted January 10)

Ingredients:
Out of the foreground cut:
one 5x10" rectangle (body)
one 3x5" rectangle (head)
two 2.5" squares (ears)

Out of the background cut:
one 5" square
one 2.5x5" rectangle
one 2.5" square

Recipe:
1) Body: Sew one 2.5" background square to the upper right corner of the 5x10" foreground rectangle by stiching diagonally from upper left to lower right corner of the square.  If necessary, draw or press a diagonal guideline before stitching. Trim and press open.

2) Ears: Place 2.5" foreground squares on the top corners of the 2.5x5" background rectangle, sew diagonally from upper corners to center bottom. trim and press open.

Note: This photo is upside down! Sorry!

3) Head: Sew ears section to 3x5" foreground rectangle. Press.

4) Sew 5" background square to right side of head.press.

5) Attach head to body. press.

6) Square up to 9.5"