Summer Update
Hello Quilters!
Welcome to summer. Although it was a long time coming - at least in our neck of the woods - summer has arrived and the weather is beautiful.
So here is what you will learn in this Newsletter:
1. How to make Improv Blocks - use your leftover blocks, scraps and strips from any quilt to quickly build a block or more.
2. Shortcut Sheet Schoolhouse update.
3. Our latest patterns and panel options.
4. Introducing Stonehenge Gradation precuts - 1 yard of each, 8 yards per pkg.
We are slowly clearing out all our batiks and becoming an exclusive Northcott vendor. Batiks can be found on our website in color coordinated packs of 10 different yards for $70. Shipping will be extra on these kits if you order online. We will be vending in Augusta Maine, Grand Rapids Michigan and Madison Wisconsin. You can find more information on our website.
Read on and enjoy!
Happy Quilting!
Carla and Bill
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Improv Blocks - Great ways to use scraps
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Improv blocks have been made by a number of different quilters who have published books on the topic. Simply enter 'Improv Quilt Block' into your google search and you will see what I mean. The beauty of improv is that you don't need to match corners, there is no complicated design or pattern to follow and literally anything goes.
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This pile of scraps is the leftovers from 2 Technique of the Month Mosaic quilts. One was made to test the pattern, the other to make the videos. One had 4 fabrics plus orange, the other had the same 4 fabrics plus red. So my improv blocks will have up to 6 fabrics. My friend Mary and I decided to play. Some of the blocks you will see pics of are hers and some are mine.
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The first step is to sort your pieces. I had a lot of triangle shapes and rectangles. Plus strips of different lengths and widths.
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Some of the pieces needed to be trimmed (roughly) so they had a straight edge.
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I decided the common size for my blocks will be 12-1/2". I worked one block at a time, but you can work on multiples. Blocks can contain leftover units (HSTs, QSTs, Flying Geese etc), and I can add shapes anywhere, until finally the block is oversized. Then trim to the final size. Lets go thru the making of 2 blocks so you can get the drift.
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For this block I started by taking strips, any width, as long as the sewing edge was straight, and sewed them together. Then I cut 1-1/2" rows.
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These rows were sewn between 2 Quarter Square Triangle units and the sewing edge was straightened. Then the two halfs were sewn together.
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Using the large triangle scraps from the Hunter's Star centers of the quilts, it was easy to sew them on and square up to my standard size.
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Start with 2 units, stack them - I did not line up the seams. Cut an arbitrary curve. Move one of the back pieces to the front. Then sew the units back together using one of each curved unit.
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Repeat with 2 more units. Add small units on the side, an interesting group at the top and more units on the side again. Finally square up the block to the standard size.
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So you can see there are a variety of blocks so far. What happens now? I am not sure. I will continue making blocks until my scraps are mostly used. As you can see, the pile doesn't even have a dent in it.
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Shortcut Sheet Schoolhouse
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There are still a few seats open at our first Shortcut Sheet Schoolhouse August 11-19, 2019. Location is Sew-Clusion Retreat in Sebago Maine. You can find more information here. We will open the classes to day students. Please call Carla to check availability - 802-377-0361. Day class fee is $75. This includes lunch and fabric/pattern kit for each session.
This is the class schedule:
Monday - Half Square Triangles and Quarter Square Triangles
Tuesday - Hourglass and Flying Geese
Wednesday - Triangle in a square and 4-Patch
Thursday - Hunter's Star and 6 Point Star
Friday - reserved for full schoolhouse participants
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Newest Panels and Pattern
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Here are our latest panels. Whenever possible, we include a free pattern with the panel. And in most cases, these patterns use Shortcut Sheet methods to make the units. Kits (including the panel) to make the free patterns are available.
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Island Sun - 24" x 42", Hockey and White Sands 24" x 42".
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Morning Song 36 x 42, Stars and Stripes VII B 36" x 42", Pheasant run 28" x 42" and Faithful Friends 24" x 42"
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Northcott 1 Yard Precut Collections
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We love Northcott and are an exclusive Northcott Vendor. We carry the entire Stonehenge line plus some of their special collections and of course as many of their panels as we can get. We have packaged each gradation collection in 8 yard sets, 1 yard of each. The Stonehenge collections will be around for a long time, although we do sometimes run out and need to wait for delivery. Our store will indicate availability and approximate delivery date if we are waiting. So go ahead and order and don't forget to use your coupon.
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