Pages

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Patchwork Chevron Quilt Tutorial

Patchwork Chevron Quilt Tutorial - In Color Order
Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I'm very excited to be sharing a modern patchwork quilt tutorial with you today, the Patchwork Chevron! I had a lot of fun working on this quilt!  It features giant patchwork half-square triangles and finishes up at 78"x78".

This was originally published as a guest tutorial on Moda Bake Shop.

Patchwork Chevron Quilt Tutorial - In Color Order
Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
This quilt was inspired by a serious love for patchwork; it just makes everything better! I have loved working with Aneela Hoey's previous fabric collections, and a Walk in the Woods did not disappoint! I had fun showcasing the sweet prints in this quilt!

Sewing Level: Intermediate

Materials:
- 4 charm packs or (162) 5" squares*
- 2 1/2 yards background fabric
- 5/8 yard of binding fabric
- 5 yards of backing fabric
- 2.5 yards of 90" wide cotton batting

*If using fat quarters, you'll need 14 fat quarters, cutting (12) 5" squares from each.

Seam Allowance: 1/4" unless noted
WOF = Width of Fabric (42" for this pattern)

Cutting
From background fabric:
- Cut (6) strips, 14" x WOF
- Subcut (3) 14" squares from each strip for a total of 18 squares.

Take apart your 4 charm packs. Pick out 6 squares and set them aside, you won't need them for this quilt!

1. First we'll be piecing traditional 9-patch blocks to make the patchwork! Grab 9 squares and arrange them in a simple 3x3 layout, making sure to get plenty of variety in prints.

2. Piece the squares together in each row. Press seams open.

3. Sew the three rows together to complete the 9-patch block.  Press seams open.

4. Make a total of (18) 9-patch blocks!


If you'd like to chain-piece the rows for these 9-patch blocks, you'll need to first separate your squares into two piles: 108 squares and 54 squares. Piece the 108 squares into pairs.  Now join each pair with a single square (from the other pile!).  This will give you 54 rows that can be pieced into 18 blocks!

5. Now that you've completed your 9-patch blocks, we'll be using them to make half-square triangles! Take your 14" solid squares and draw a line diagonally from corner to corner using a ruler and pencil. Do this to all 18 squares.

6. Place a 9-patch block and solid square together, with your pencil marked side facing up. Pin in place.

7. Sew 1/4" on either side of the pencil line.

8. Using your rotary cutter (or scissors), cut along the pencil line, separating your half-square triangles. 

9. Press seams toward the solid triangle to reduce bulk. Repeat with remaining squares until you have a total of 36 half-square triangle blocks.

Patchwork Chevron Quilt Tutorial - In Color Order
10. Arrange your blocks in 6 rows of 6 blocks, in a chevron pattern as shown in the diagram above.

11. Piece your rows together, pressing seams in alternating directions.  Pin your rows together, matching up the block seams. Don't worry about the patchwork seams; they won't match up! Sew your rows together and press seams open. Your quilt top is done!

12. To piece your backing, first cut your backing yardage in half. Press. Carefully trim off the selvedges and sew your pieces together lengthwise. 


13. Baste, Quilt, and Bind!  I quilted mine using a doodle-like free motion quilting pattern. I wanted something fun and whimsical to play with the sweet prints in this line!

Patchwork Chevron Quilt Tutorial - In Color Order
Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I took all of these photos in the snow around our apartment! We had about a foot and a half of snow and it was about 10 degrees! Good thing they were worth it!

Patchwork Chevron Quilt Tutorial - In Color Order
Patchwork Chevron, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Patchwork Chevron Quilt Tutorial - In Color Order
Aneela Quilts!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Had to take a photo of all my quilts using Aneela's fabrics together! The bottom is Sherbet Pips Patchwork Quilt, then Little Apples Sparkling Cider Quilt, and A Walk in the Woods Patchwork Chevron on top!

Enjoy!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Featured: The Name Game


Ever wonder how I decided on the name In Color Order for this blog? Cindy of Live a Colorful Life has a fun series on her blog called The Name Game, where bloggers share a little about their blog's names! I'm over there today talking about In Color Order, so go check it out! There might just be a giveaway involved too! Just sayin'! :)

Happy Monday!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

HST Block of the Month: Questions


Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month - In Color Order
Welcome to the Half-Square Triangle Block of the Month! For each month in 2012, I'll present a quick tutorial for a traditional quilt block using half-square triangles (HST)! It's going to be a lot of fun, feel free to join in at any time! For past posts see here.
 

Do you think 5" squares (charms!), would work for these blocks?
Absolutely! If you're using the traditional method, simply trim them down to 4" before sewing your HSTs in order to end up with a 12.5" block at the end! Or, you could leave them at 5" and end up with a larger block!

January is almost over, can I still participate?
Please do! The timeline is just a way to keep things organized, feel free to join along at any time, pick and choose blocks, or add in your own favorites! There are no rules or anything, just an excuse to have fun and try some new blocks! :)

The alternative method results in your blocks cut on the bias, have you had problems with shifting?
Personally, I have not had any issues using this method. I like to pin each seam when I'm joining my rows together. If you're worried, the original video showing this method recommends using starch to make sure you don't end up with much shifting. If this method makes you uncomfortable, I'd stick to the traditional method!

Will all 12 blocks be the same size?
Yes! Each month's blocks will be 12" finished, 12.5" unfinished!

Will all the blocks use the same size HSTs?
Yes! Every block will have 16 HSTs, all 3.5" unfinished, 3" finished.

Can a scrappy look work for these blocks?
For sure! The scrappier the better!

Why do you press your seams open?
I like to press my HST seams open because I think that it makes the block lay flatter. Especially when you have the seams all meeting in the middle it can get a bit bulky.  This is mostly a personal preference, so if you'd rather press to one side, please do!

Is it okay if I don't trim my HST blocks down to 3.5"?
Sure! You'll end up with a little bigger block, and therefore a little bigger quilt! When we come to sashing and borders, keep in mind you'll need a little extra yardage to finish up your quilt.  If you decide not to trim down to 3.5" please do make sure to still square up your block! :)

I'll continue to update this page as we go along, so if you have any other questions, feel free to ask! Check back for February's block on Wednesday!

Saturday, January 28, 2012

This Week

Pink + Red Improv Mini by jenib320
Pink + Red Improv Mini, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
It was really busy this week! And this coming week will be just as busy, especially here on the blog! Fun stuff coming up!

Last night I needed a relaxing project, something that I didn't have to work on. After seeing Megan's valentine's mini quilt and Ali's progress on a valentine's day project, I was itching to make something festive, but nothing too complicated. I pulled out my red and pink scraps and just started playing. Piecing, trimming, cutting and piecing back together. I had a lot of fun digging through my scraps and making a dent in my white and off white solid scraps to finish it off. It was nice to just let go and sew. And, now I have a cute valentine-y mini to hang up! :)

Second Tova by jenib320
Second Tova, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I finally cut out the pieces for another shirt using the Tova pattern last night! I am very excited to be using this Habitat dot by Jay McCarroll for this one. I had originally purchased it for a skirt, but since I almost never wear them, I decided it would be better used for a top! I hope to make some more progress on it tonight! To see my first Tova top, and quick review of the pattern, see here.

Mendocino by jenib320
Mendocino, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Still plugging away on my Mendocino blocks! I've been working on them each Sunday for the past few weekends. I'm looking forward to working on them again tomorrow!

A little sneak peek of February's block for our HST Block of the Month! I've been saving your questions over this past month and will be answering them tomorrow in preparation for February's block this week!

New Fabrics by jenib320
New Fabrics, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I have been having a hard time resisting new fabrics lately! Picked up this yummy stack from Fat Quarter Shop last week!

(Fabrics are Girl's World Vibe by Jennifer Paganelli, Lush by Patty Young, Good Fortune by Kate Spain, Weekend Clubhouse by Michael Miller, and It's a Girl thing by Michael Miller)

Sewing Room by jenib320
Sewing Room, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I have finally started addressing the windows  in our apartment! Yay! I knew I wanted something scrappy for my sewing room window after seeing Deedee's scrappy garland last summer! I used the finished side hems and strips that get trimmed off from vintage sheets when I'm cutting fat quarters and simply knotted them directly to the existing curtain rods!

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarters by jenib320
Vintage Sheet Fat Quarters, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Speaking of vintage sheets, the shop is absoutely bursting with vintage-y goodness! These are just a few of my favorite patterns currently in stock!

George by jenib320
George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
George :)

I am yet again, behind on answering emails! I am hoping to get organized and back on track for February so I can get back to replying to your comments!


Today I love the..
Smell of: Fresh air
Sound of: Harry Potter 5 audiobook
Taste of: Cookies!
Sight of: Sunlight
Feel of: Cozy cardigan

Good Things about Today:
- Finished up a mini quilt
- Got some good photographs!
- Chinese takeout
- Michael didn't have to go in to work today!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Sparkle Quilt Along: Half-Square Triangles


This post is part of the Sparkle Quilt Along. For more information see here.
 

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Welcome to the third week of the Sparkle Quilt Along, hosted by Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations and myself! Today I'm going to show you how to make Half-Square Triangles (HSTs)! So, let's get started!

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
1. Take two of your 3" squares, one print and one background.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
2. Place the background square on top of your print square, right sides together.

3. Using your ruler and a pencil, draw a line across the diagonal of your background square.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
4. Sew 1/4" on either side of the pencil line.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
5.  Using a rotary cutter or scissors, cut down the pencil line, splitting apart your squares.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
6. Press your seams. I like to press mine open because I think they end up laying flatter, but feel free to do what you're comfortable with.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
7. Place your ruler over your HST with the corner on the diagonal seam. Line up the diagonal line on the ruler with the seam. Carefully trim as little as necessary on both sides.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
8. Turn your HST and trim the other two sides, again lining up the seam with the diagonal ruler line. This time line your newly trimmed edges up with 2.5". Trim the excess.

Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs by jenib320
Sparkle Quilt Along: HSTs, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Voila! You should now have two Half-Square Triangles that measure 2.5" square! Repeat with remaining squares!

Don't forget to join the Sparkle Quilt Along Flickr Group! Next week Megan will be showing you how to construct your blocks! :)

Happy Sewing!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt




Have you heard about the Tangerine Tango Quilt Challenge being hosted by Erin and Ali? Pantone has named "Tangerine Tango" the color of the year for 2012, and this challenge brings that color into quilting! For more information on the challenge, the rules, and the prizes (yes there are prizes!), check out their flickr group!

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt by jenib320
Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I love the color tangerine so of course I wanted to play along! I had been thinking about what to make for a while and on Sunday night it hit me. A spiderweb quilt! So here is my mini quilt! I'm naming it Tangerine Slices, since the spiderweb sections resemble the fruit all sliced up! I'll be honest, it was actually a happy accident! :)

I used this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew to create my spiderweb blocks. These are only 8", putting my mini quilt at about 16" square. At first they seemed rather time consuming to make, but after a while it became faster. After the first block, I precut all my strips and got them organized by section. Assembling the rest of the blocks was a piece of cake!

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt by jenib320
Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
To help tame the brightness a bit, I used some Quilter's Linen for the background. I wanted the centers to be a bit more calming. 

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt by jenib320
Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I quilted it with some dark orange thread I had on hand, 1/4" on either side of the major seams.  I like the way it "cuts" the slices apart! Finally, it's bound in a fun tangerine print from Metro Living by Robert Kaufman.

Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt by jenib320
Tangerine Slices Mini Quilt, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I'm very pleased with how this little mini turned out. I had always admired this block from a far, but never really considered it too seriously. I'm glad I did, I think I may end up doing an entire quilt in this pattern one day! Perhaps with my beloved Park Slope stash! :)

Happy Quilting!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

This Weekend

Block Printing by jenib320
Block Printing, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Winter has definitely set in around here, which is great for crafting! I always seem to be more productive when I'm stuck inside. There is something cozy about sewing when it's snowing out!  This weekend's project was finally trying out block printing! I've had it in the back of my mind (and all the supplies too!), since Christina posted about Block Printing Basics back in 2010.  After seeing the super cute fabrics that Anna recently made, I decided it was finally time for me to try!

Block Printing by jenib320
Block Printing, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I, of course, had to make something bunny related! I am terrible at drawing, so I based my little bun design off of this awesome silhouette that Norma of Petit Design Co did of George a few years ago! Her's was much more detailed than I needed for this project, so I simply used it for the general shape. This wasn't just going to be bunny fabric, it was going to be GEORGE fabric! I cannot wait to sew with it! I printed mine on linen!

Finished by jenib320
Finished, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I finished up a quilt this weekend. I am re-in-love with free motion quilting! It's so much more relaxing for me than straight line. Not to mention more forgiving! :)  I hope I can share more of this quilt with you soon!

It's a Hoot by jenib320
It's a Hoot, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
I finally cut into my It's a Hoot by Momo fabric for a new quilt. I'm super excited about it, I love this line!

Happy Mail by jenib320
Happy Mail, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
Some happy mail arrived today! Malka Dubrawsky's fabric line for Moda is finally here! I was happy to be able to grab my favorite prints, some more Oval Elements (love!), and Outfoxed from Julie at The Intrepid Thread!

George by jenib320
George, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr.
George = Puff!

Today I love the..
Smell of: Winter air
Sound of: Harry Potter 3 audiobook
Taste of: Hershey's Hugs
Sight of: New fabrics
Feel of: Snuggling under a quilt

Good Things about Today:
- I MADE GEORGE FABRIC!
- Successful errands
- Snowy quilt photos
- Great mail day