Tag: quilt

Quilting through the holidays

December 9, 2024
Stacks of Hourglass Quilt Blocks – Week 3 of the Bonnie Hunter Old Town Mystery Quilt

I’m tired. No wonder. I’ve made about 400 little bits in total for this quilt over the past two weeks. I’m all caught up and I’ve successfully figured out how to cut QSTs for the hourglass blocks using Bonnie’s Essential Triangle Ruler. Minimal unstitching and everything turned out the correct size, with only a tiny bit needing to be trimmed away. Last time, I used my Featherweight and the blocks turned out too small. This time, I used my Elnita EC30. Having the ability to adjust the needle position made all the difference for me.

I’m thankful that Bonnie Hunter offers a mystery quilt along during the Christmas season. This is my first time participating in one of her annual mystery quilts. The project has helped keep me engaged and in relatively good spirits during what can be a hard time of year. Family drama isn’t pleasant – especially when it causes a rift among family members on my side. Five years later, I will say the peace that comes with not having to deal with certain folks during the holidays is a gift in itself. This year, there are signs that some of the younger family members as they reach adulthood are interested in rekindling the familial relationship. This is welcome news.

The next two weeks will be a flurry of activity, but Christmas will be spent at home with hubs and Sadie. Christmas and New Year’s fall mid-week, so I’ll be able to stitch with some of my Friday Sew Squad at the library between Christmas and New Year’s. Are you joining the Stitchin’ Heaven crew on New Year’s Day? I’m with Team Rob and have already pulled my bin of red, white and blue fabrics. It’s a fun day and you don’t have to complete the quilt unless you want to. Last year, I made a handful of blocks, which became placemats to donate to Meals on Wheels. Placemats in patriotic colors are always welcomed by the staff.

Oh, and I’ll be working on the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt until it ends in January.

Cutting Quarter Square Triangles

December 7, 2024

There are many ways to cut QSTs. In this case, I wanted to cut my QSTs from leftover strips – like Bonnie Hunter does – without having to buy another ruler. QST math formula is finished size of block + 1-1/4″ equals the size square to cut. You then cut on both diagonals to yield 4 QSTs. I did just that and compared one of the QSTs to every ruler I had. I’m sure there a mathematical formula to figure out this out, but it’s Saturday and I didn’t feel like mathing that hard on the weekend.

A QST has a 90 degree angle at the peak. If you have a companion angle ruler, you could give that a try. I do not have one of those, but my Clearly Slotted Trimmers Ruler B (even numbers) provided the solution. The original strip was cut at 1-1/2″ and the hourglass blocks finish at 2″. If you see the comparison with the QST sample I cut, the 2-1/2″ line is where I need to align the ruler with the bottom of the strip to cut the correct size QST. The little bit (point) at the top that’s missing is okay, because the hourglass unit will end up slightly oversized and need to be trimmed to 2-1/2″. I cut full sides on the legs of the triangle – not cutting off the dog ears as I would for a regular HST.

My preferred trim down tool for hourglass blocks is my Tucker Trimmer from Studio 180 Designs. As you can see, the end result after trimming is a perfect 2-1/2″ hourglass block waiting to be sewn into a project. Now to make a few dozen more. The bonus: I used up short strips of fabric I would have otherwise thrown out.

Challenge yourself to figure out solutions using what you have on hand.

Sticking with the destash plan

December 6, 2024

The numerous Week 1 FG for the 2024 Bonnie Hunter Old Town mystery quilt are finally completed! I literally had to force myself to finish the last 5 sets of FG blocks. You see, my mind was already engrossed in figuring out the cutting details for Week 2’s 4-patch blocks since I wasn’t cutting yardage or using strips as demoed in the weekly clue. I’m using leftover charm squares and white/cream/beige fabric hunks from my stash.

I made good use of my Sizzix machine and strip cutter dies. I had to subcut the white/beige/cream strips into 5″ lengths to match the charm squares. Tedious, yes, but so satisfying to see those fabrics being used up instead of sitting in a storage bin in my closet. I’ll spend 30 minutes a day sewing the strips and then subcutting and sewing them into the gazillion 4-patch blocks. Fortunately, these blocks aren’t needed right away. A friend borrowed my Elnita EC30 while her sewing machine was in the shop. I pieced all the FG and first few strip sets for the 4 patch blocks on the Baby Lock Jubilant (which did fine), but I’m so happy to have my regular machine back! The strip sets are all done!

A fellow quilter commented that I must have a rather large stash since I’m always sewing from my stash. I did have a large fabric stash when I retired (much of it gifted for use in teaching children’s sewing classes). What I now have fits in a single closet (along with batting, interfacing and a couple of vintage machines) – and I’m thrilled about this. It’s taken two years of steady destashing to reach this point. This time next year, I should be at my goal in terms of fabric stash and sewing supplies.

The art of destashing involves keeping fabrics you love or will actually use and getting rid of the fabrics you’re not going to use. Ways to move unwanted fabric: use it for my own FMQ practice or to make test blocks; use as student practice fabric in classes; gift fabric to my sewing kids; donate some to the SQTM yard sale and donate some more to my guild’s community service table. I also make finished placemats and quilts to donate to my guild using the fabrics I don’t care to keep.

Sewing space in my next home will be significantly smaller than the basement studio space I now enjoy. While there are no immediate plans to move, getting a handle on the fabric stash and supplies now will make things that much easier in the future.

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