Flat Bottom Blocks Are So Pretty...

Are we having fun yet? Last week was a little intense for the thinking cap, so this week we are going to try to make it a bit easier on the thinker.

Remember those 2-patch units we made all the way back in the beginning?

Yeah, those!

Let's get them out and play with them a bit. Yes, you know what that means here at Stoney's Crew, we grab that big bowl again!

Dump those neatly stacked 2 patches in the bowl and give them a stir.

Once they are mixed up, take 2 patches (make sure they are different!) and nest the seams like this:

Now with the bulky side of the two blocks aimed at your sewing machine needle, let's sew those 2 two-patches together using a quarter inch seam.

See how that seam is pointed toward my sewing machine needle?

Now sew and open the now 4-patch unit:

Pretty blah, right? Now with your good old pointer finger, press that top half seam toward the right...

Moving clockwise, continue gently pressing with your finger...next seam down (see it already is):

Keep moving in a clockwise direction. Next seam LEFT:

Next seam UP:

Look! Look! A little bitty 4-patch appeared!

Now using the highly technical quilting term coined by Eleanor Burns, Smoosh that little bitty 4-patch:

Well, would you look at that!

It's a thing of beauty really isn't it? Now give your block a press (and measure to make sure your block is 4-1/2" x 4-1/2") and you have a nice and FLAT BOTTOM 4-patch Block.

Now that secret little 4-patch hidden on the back may not seam too exciting, but trust me when it comes to quilting your long-armer, or quilter, or you will appreciate how flat your quilt lays. That and it is a lot like wearing wild underwear. No one knows it's there...unless you show them. But it's fun and it makes you smile that you have a secret. (by the way, if you run around showing people your underwear, that is a whole 'nother discussion. As my mom would say, "Ladies (or gentlemen) don't do that!")

You only need to make 59 more of these precious little blocks. That's right, this week's assignment is a total of 60 each 4 patch units.

Hey you, Ms. Crew, there are some 2 patches left.

Why, you are correct, there are, aren't there...Next week, my friend, next week!  See you then!

Recap of where we've been:

Intro Week: Materials Requirements
Week 1: Let's Play with Our Fabric (Clue 1)
Week 2: Happy Half Square Triangle Week (Clue 2)
Week 3: V, V, Victory V-Block Week (Clue 3)

V, V, Victory, Var, Var Varsity...V-Block Time!

Ok, fine. I'll put the pompoms away.

It's V-Block week here at Stoney's Crew! Let's look at this beast:

Not that one!

This one:

Holy cow there are a lot of numbers and lines on this thing. Here is a link to Deb Tucker's YouTube tutorial on how to use this ruler. Click here: Deb Tucker V Block Tutorial.

I'm sure my left-handed buds here appreciate info on how to use the ruler for left hand cuts. My pictures are right hand, so remember that as you read along. First we have to know what size we are going to make...for this project we need 4" FINISHED units, so we will need to cut strips 5" strips  of both BACKGROUND and PRETTY, HAPPY fabrics. Go ahead and cut them, I'll wait. You won't need as many BACKGROUND strips, since we will be cutting smaller side triangles from them. The Pretty, Happy Fabrics will be the center triangle of this block.

Let's start with the side triangles. Using the BACKGROUND fabric, I put RIGHT (Pretty) sides of fabric together before cutting.

Then I placed the ruler on top of the strip of BACKGROUND with the BOLD line marked "cut line for side triangles" on the Straight Edge of the strips:

Cut on that angle. Now I separate the mirror image pairs as I cut. I find it easier to do it as I cut then to try to decide which is which after they are all cut:

Turn your ruler 180 degrees and do you see that line that goes all the way to the 6-1/2" bottom? Place that line on your fabric cut edge like this:

Now cut on that straight edge. Separate the pairs as you go. Keep rotating your ruler until you have made 48 pairs. Yes, we are going to make 48 units.

Now on my example, I am using 5"x5" squares, you can definitely cut the strips as Deb Tucker shows in the videos, but 5" squares is what I had, so it is what I am using here.

I folded the square in half, placed the ruler on the fabric with the dashed "fold line for Center Triangle" line on the fold. Like this:

and cut to make 48 Happy fabric triangles. Did you catch that this is how you make the initial cut on your strips? You're welcome.

DO NOT THROW AWAY THOSE CLIPPINGS! We won't need them for this quilt, but I have found this pair of Quilty Truths to be self-evident.

• Fabric is expensive.
• Fabric you throw away cost just as much as the fabric you use. 

And, let's face it, Stoney, The Princess, and The Kid all think I am cheap. I found that Thrifty is more palatable of a description!

To keep the pieces parts in the right places in my mind, I lay them out like this:

Now we can begin the task of stitching together our units.

I do all of the right sides (legs) first and then the left. I assembly line it when possible.

Fold that Right leg over on top of the triangle like this:

Then stitch down that angle. Like this:

Yes, I am sorry it is hard to see the stitches, but they are there. 

I do all of the RIGHT legs and press open. Pile back up and start on the LEFT legs by laying over the triangle:

and stitching:

Press open.

Now it is trim time! 

Place your block so that it looks like a V toward you on your cutting mat. Then lay your ruler on top of the block like this:

Can you see that the "Cut sizes" on the left? The point at the bottom of our pretty fabric triangle is nestled into the "4" cross. The lines from the Point up to the top follow your seam lines. When this happens, trim the Right and Top sides of your block.

Now lift your ruler and turn your block 180 degrees.

Place your ruler on your block with the 4-1/2" Right Angle lines on the newly trimmed sides. Like this:

 and trim those last 2 sides. 

You now have a perfect 4-1/2"x 4-1/2" Happy V-Block (finishes at 4") for our quilt. Rinse and repeat 48 times. Remember to mix up your fabrics. Because it is FUN!

Now I know I told you to save those trims, but since they are not needed for this quilt, I will show you what I did with them after we are done with this project.

Wow this week was intense. We are the Champions of the World! Shake those pompoms for yourself and cheer! You earned it!

Next week it will be easier, I promise. Oh, you want a clue. OK. Flat Bottom Blocks! (Mythical bonus points to those of you that picked up the obscure 70's Queen Rock references!)

Links to previous clues:

Intro: What Will We Find?

Week 1: Let's Play With Our Fabric

Week 2: Happy Half Square Triangle Week!

 

See you next week!

It's Happy Half-Square Triangle Week!

This week we are going to make 52 each 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" half square tringle blocks (HST). There are several ways to make this block.

Remember my oopsie daisy with cutting? Well enter the Easy Angle Ruler. The rectangle size left on 4 of my 10" layer cake squares was 4-1/2" x 10". With the Easy Angle Ruler I was able to save the day and still get my 4-1/2" squares out of my piece of 4-1/2" wide fabric strip.

I laid a 4-1/2"x10" strip of my feature color strip down and layered a 4-1/2"x10" strip of background right sides together. Like this:

Ok so stack them don't spray them, but you know what I mean right?

Enter the Easy Angle Ruler and lay on your stacked fabrics like this:

Notice the little black triangle is off of the fabric at the top, that is what you want (it will hang off a quarter of an inch). Cut on the angle line. Flip our ruler over like this:

Notice the black triangle of the ruler is now hanging off of the bottom. Now cut on the straight edge of the ruler. repeat until your strip is finished. By cutting carefully (ignore that stray clipping there), I was able to get 4 background and feature fabric triangles out of my 10" length of fabric. With that little black triangle hanging off of the edge of the fabric you can easily feed the set thru the machine like this:

See how nicely it butts up against the set ahead of it? No jams of pointed corners as you chain piece the units. Now separate your chained pieces and press open. and when you square up you should have this if you used a 1/4" seam allowance:

Well look at that 4-1/2" square pretty close to "on the money" wouldn't you agree?

If you need a bit more instruction than I have given, Bonnie Hunter has a YouTube video you can watch that may help you use the ruler. (Click here Bonnie Hunter Easy Angle Video). Please note in her tutorial she is using 2", for our quilt we need 4-1/2". But let me tell you it makes fast work of 2-1/2" jelly roll half square triangles WITHOUT WASTE!

Now if you prefer you can take a 5"x5" square, draw a line from corner to corner. Stitch 1/4" from that center line. Cut on the line, press and trim down to 4-1/2" squares. I thought I had taken pictures of that, but clearly I didn't. 

Option 2 that I do have pictures of is using 5"x10" rectangles.

Mark the center line of your lighter fabric (in this case it was my background fabric). I like to fold it in half like this:

Then draw a line on that fold mark (this should be the 5" mark of the rectangle. Using a ruler of some sort (I used a Deb Tucker Magic Wand, but any ruler can do it. Fons & Porter has a half inch wide ruler to do this with too, but my Magic Wand is pink, and well, I find that FUN!) mark 1/4" sewing lines from the center to the lower opposite corner:

and

Place 5"x10" feature fabric and 5"x10" background fabric right sides together and stitch just inside each side of the two lines about a needles width (you need to allow for your marking pen width.): 

Cut the rectangle in half so that you have 2 each 5"x5" squares. 

Then cut BETWEEN the 2 stitch lines.

Open, press, and then square up to 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" squares.

On this project, it doesn't really matter which way you press the seams, so press to the dark side as you normally might. 

Now wasn't using that Easy Angle Ruler easier? I didn't pick up a marking pen once to make perfect 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" squares. Like anything else in quilting, you do what is easiest for you...bottom line? You will need 52 each 4-1/2"x 4-1/2" half square triangles using your feature fabrics and your background fabric(s) for this quilt. Use an assortment of your feature fabrics, the end product quilt will be more fun! 

Oh so you noticed that this week's photo samples aren't the same colors as last week...yes, well I am trying to up the MYSTERY game by switching out my fabrics for the photos...tee hee! There may be one or two of you trying to figure out where I am going with this project, and being sneaky makes it fun. Hint for next week: You will need to have your Deb Tucker V-Block ruler!

See you next Wednesday!

Click here for Stoney's Crew Mystery Quilt fabric and tool requirements.

Fabric & Tools

Click here for Stoney's Crew Mystery Quilt Week 1 Clue

Week 1 Clue

Let's Play with Our Fabric!

My rotary cutter has a sharp, new blade. My bobbins are full. My sewing machine has a new needle. (Yes, I heard a happy sigh from her when I put in a new needle.) If you don't remember the last time you gave your girl a new needle, then it is definitely time to do it! Let's get our mystery started.

We are going to start with easy, peasy 2 patches. Yeah, right...more on that later. (Note you won't need any background fabric(s) this week.)

Let's cut some 2-1/2" strips from our fabric selection. Please, please be generous when cutting your strips. Place that 2-1/2" dot/line marker ON the fabric, not butted up against the fabric edge, but ON THE FABRIC? You will thank me for teaching you to cut this way. I firmly believe that the only reason a quilter needs to master a "scant quarter inch" (whatever that really means) is because they CUT the fabric scanty to begin with.

As you cut the strips of fabric, toss into a bowl. When you cut from Fat Quarters or full width of fabric, sub cut your strips in 10" to 11" lengths to mix it up a bit when you sew.

Now stir your bowl full of fabric up to mix it all up.

What? You prefer shaken, not stirred? OK. Toss them into a big bag, and Shake, Shake, Shake your fabric.  Mix it up, toss it all about. Go ahead do the Hokey Pokey if you want, no judgement here, and it may add steps to your Fitbit for the day.

Choose 2 fabrics out of our bowl (or bag) randomly. Be brave, you can do it! Sew them together lengthwise.

WAIT A MINUTE, that quarter inch seam looks kind of fat. I opened, pressed and measure that first strip. Sure enough my strip set didn't measure 4-1/2"! Dog gone it! People, always do one test drive first. Yep, had I followed my own rule, I wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to commune with my seam ripper.

OK, let's try that again.

Much, much better.

Now that I have created a bunch of strip sets pressed open to 4-1/2" wide, it time to chop, Chop, CHOP! them up! This is where the June Taylor Shape Cutter comes in handy.

See? We will be subcutting the strips in 2-1/2" units. When we are done chopping, you will have lots and lots of 2-1/2" x 4-1/2"  two patch units.

Now if you were really, really wanting to cut up 2-1/2" squares and sewing them into 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" two patch units, you go for it. I'm a bit too lazy today to do that, but I applaud your initiative.

Does it matter which way the strips are pressed? No. Be patient, you will see why in a few weeks.

So how many of these 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" two patch blocks will we need for this project. You would ask that I suppose. This sounds suspiciously like my grade school math nemesis, the Story Problem.

Let's see, if there are a bunch of blocks that each need a bazillion 2 patch units...where is my calculator, my slide rule, or Stoney when I need them?

Well after much cyphering and thinking and rechecking...I multiplied it all by 7 and then took the square root of that to arrive at...… 172 each 2-1/2" x 4-1/2" two patch units.

This is how I keep the units together until assembly time. And just for kicks and giggles, I included in the picture my scrap heap that I generated on this step.

So what was I talking about when I said Yeah, right earlier when cutting my 2-1/2" strips? Remember last week when I told you that if you were are careful cutter you could use a Layer Cake on this project? Yeah, well I was carefully cutting 2-1/2" strips, except on 4 squares I very carefully cut a 3" strip. Next week we will see how we roll with it and get out of that corner I backed myself into.

See you next week!

A Stoney's Crew Mystery...What Will We Find?

I guess you have decided to play along on this mysterious sojourn? That's why you're here, right? Right? If not to actually participate in this adventure, then you are just here to live vicariously thru others OR is it you have always wondered how this ditzy blonde's mind works? Join us as we plow thru this together.

What are the housekeeping details of the who, what, where, and when's of how this will work? The How of this program will be contained in each week's clue. I will tell you that the center of the quilt that I have planned is 60"x60" (ish). I wait until my center fun is together before I decide what kind of borders to add, if any. So depending on how you treat your creation will depend on the final overall size of YOUR quilt.

WHO:

The WHO is YOU! I am not going to tell you what color selections to use in your quilt. I want you to make it YOURS, not a facsimile of mine. This is what I want you to do, go to your fabric stash (or your mom's, or mother-in-law's, or sister's, or aunt's, or friend's, or your local quilt shop) and choose the fabrics that make you smile. {Please note I am not encouraging you to steal from any of these locations, perhaps your friend or family will trade that hideous 1973 Army Green Camo fat quarter for a pink duck 30's? Of course your local quilt shop will trade fat quarters for $$$$.}

Will this work for a 30's reproduction stash? Yes! Will this work for a civil war reproduction stash? Yes! Christmas fabric stash? Yes! What about a modern stash of Kaffe Fassett, solids, Batiks, or a hodge podge of all my stowed away treasure fabrics? Yes, Yes, YES! The secret will be revealed in due time. Choose the fabrics that make YOU happy. The more the merrier.

WHAT (you will need):

Choosing Your Fabric:

A selection of assorted cottons. Some pieces will be 2-1/2", in my case that happens to be the size I use for bindings...and there is always some left over. It is also well known that I am the Princess of Precuts. Translate that moniker to Jelly Roll Junkie with a healthy dose of Layer Cake Lollygagging and Fat Quarter Flavor madness thrown in. How much of any of it? Well...remember we are flying by the seat of my pants, so exact measurements of each fabric and how many different fabrics is totally up to you. This is a stash-buster event. I can tell you that if you have a Jelly Roll and a Layer Cake that play well together you can use them and you will have leftovers, by some standards A LOT of leftovers. Do you have a Layer Cake that you love the fabrics, but you haven't figured out how to use? It may work for this IF all 40 or 42 pieces (every brand of cake is different) of the 10" squares stand out from the color of background that you choose and you are a careful and thrifty fabric cutter. What does THAT mean? Here is an example. You have a large variety of 30's fabrics in addition to your 30's inspired Layer Cake. They play nice together, so you can integrate some of your stash scraps into each week's clue. Remember a Layer Cake isn't just 10" squares, it is about 2-1/2 yards of fabric. If you choose to use Fat Quarters exclusively, 10-12 Fat Quarters will be more than ample fabric. I personally am going to use a Layer Cake augmented with scraps in my stash and 2-3 Fat Quarters integrated, but then I love scrappy looking quilts.

Can this quilt be a two-color quilt? If by 2-color you mean an assortment of fabrics within the same color wave, then yes, it could be.

Like this.

If you mean a SOLID color and a SOLID background, that would mean a whole lot of unnecessary cutting and sewing and a lot less fun along the way.

Background Fabric:

Here is where the mystery magic happens. You will need a total of 2-1/2 to 3 yards of background fabric. This fabric needs to stand out from the colors you choose. Back to the 30's example, if one of the prints in your Layer Cake is a white background, it will not show up against a white background fabric, so you may want to rethink that square OR rethink your background fabric choice.

Does the background fabric need to be a full 2-1/2 to 3 yards of the same fabric?
No. Background fabrics can make your quilt twinkle. And if we want to truly bust your stash, use what you have within a color range or type of fabric. Background Fabric Doesn't Have to be a Solid. It can be, but have some fun.

Mix and match from your scrap stash of tone-on-tone prints, grunge, batiks, or small scale prints. Just keep the overall color within the same family of color.

Will any special tools or rulers be needed?

Yes and no...it depends on what you have in your Ruler Toolbox. During the Bonnie Hunter mystery that I participated in, I had said on several occasions that I was not going to buy another ruler. Well, I bought another ruler during that mystery. So these are the rulers I recommend for this event:

• EZ Quilting (Simplicity) EASY ANGLE RULER (this is the one I bought during the BH mystery)
• Deb Tucker (Studio 180 Design) V-BLOCK RULER
• June Taylor Shape Cutter

Your standard fabric cutting rulers and squares that you are comfortable using to cut and square up your units.

The EZ Angle Ruler is to make half square triangles (HST), and is not required. I will show you several ways to make HST units, but you may want to check them out when we get to that step. I have seen these rulers at quilt shops, JoAnn's and WalMart.

The June Taylor Shape Cutter will make fast work of subcutting some of the units that we will be making, but is not required. I got mine at JoAnn's years ago with a coupon. Many quilt shops also carry them.

The Deb Tucker V-Block Ruler, is the only way I will show you how to make the V-Block (also known as Peaks & Spikes) units that we will be making. Are there other rulers that will do this? Yes; however, this ruler is a ONE piece ruler with all of the measurements on it. You do the cutting and the square up using this ONE ruler. All of the others on the market are 2 piece units. The smaller piece I was always misplacing. I will give you the size of unit to make using other rulers, but make your life easier. Get Deb Tucker's ruler! I have only seen these in Quilt Shops (support your local quilt shop when you can) and was introduced to this line of rulers at Calico Point in Goshen. Last resort for you folks that can't find it, is Amazon, but please, please support your local quilt shops when you can.

Where and When

Ok, I know that this was a hugely, annoyingly, long post, but now you can gather your materials and get ready to start next Wednesday, May 22 for the first clue. I will post a new clue every week, until there are no more!

A Stoney’s Crew Mystery is Coming Soon!

It has been a while...ok let’s be honest years since I penned anything for your reading pleasure (? ok so maybe that is a bit optimistic) consumption...so hang in there a couple of days while I get my dust bunnies organized and figure out what’s what and where what’s at now that I have decided to partake in this mystery crazy idea I had.  I’ll be back soon!