newbie hive #5 block: flying geese

Since Purl Soho did their mini-quilt series last year I’ve wanted to do a full sized version of their July Flying Geese quilt in reds, whites and blues.  However, my resolution this year is to only buy the fabric I need to finish a project and use up more of my stash, so I wasn’t getting to make this one for a while.  But as soon as I joined the Newbie group I knew what I wanted for my month as Queen!  I love the possibilities of a red, white and blue quilt – the mix of solids and prints, and so many shades of red and blue – it just seems like the perfect thing for summer.

The following is for a 12.5 inch unfinished block.

Choose your Fabric A and Fabric B – any shade or print in red, white, and/or blue.

From Fabric A cut:

(4) 6.5 inches x 3.5 inches rectangles
(8) 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches squares

And from Fabric B cut:

(4) 6.5 inches x 3.5 inches rectangles
(8) 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches squares

First, take one square from Fabric B and place it right sides together on the left side of a rectangle from Fabric A.


To make sure your stitch line is accurate, you can draw a pencil or chalk line from corner to corner. Now sew on that pencil/chalk line (or very carefully down the diagonal of the square from the corner to the top-center of the rectangle).


Trim the seam to ¼”


...and press open.

We’re halfway done! Now sew a square to the other side of the rectangle.


Trim.....


and press open.


Repeat until all eight flying geese are done, sewing together the Fabric A squares with Fabric B rectangles and vice-versa.

Now to assemble the block, lay out the geese in two columns – Fabric A geese and Fabric B geese.


Sew the peices together either in columns or rows, but either way make sure to line up the point of the bottom rectangle with the center of the rectangle above it and pressing seams open as you go.

And you're done!


Now what should we call this? I’ve been playing with “Star-spangled Flock” or “Patriots on Parade” - any other ideas?

ready for the weekend

How is May halfway over already? Seriously, where did the month go?

I have some finished projects to post and have been enjoying time outside the last couple weekends rather than being inside behind my machine, but this weekend I need to get back to business. I have so many projects piling up again and my sewing table is a mess from it all!

On my to-do list are a good mix of projects which could easily take over my weekend.

1. Make the May block for my quilting bee group
2. Write my tutorial for my month as "Queen Bee" (June)
3. Finish the Farmers Market bag for my mom (opps belated Mother's Day gift!)
4. Finish the baby brag books for our moms (also belated Mother's Day gifts)
5. Make some Pretty Blouses with a silky brown and white dot fabric and an off-white lace I've been holding on to
6. And possibly a Ruffle Top with the white crepe I have too

I'm still determined to work on skirts with a damask jacquard and a royal blue shantung silk from my stash so I have some more bottom peices.  And I also have a pink chiffon print that I'm trying to decide what to do with. I'd like to make a simple top with it, but I can't find a pattern I like for it. Maybe another skirt? I need to pick up some linning for it.

I just got over a cold this week so I should get some rest this weekend, but I'm also eager to stay up late and sew!  It would just be really, really nice to get these piles cleaned up and have some new peices for summer.

not exactly couture

We get to take training classes at work once a year. Unfortunately these classes often present their material in the most basic fashion possible, and unfortunately it ends up being extremely simple and boring. So I take a notebook along and sketch quilt blocks and make lists. (Side note: I love lists. I have so many notebooks with so many lists for everything. And checking things off a list - so satisfying!) The training I took this year was a little better, but there was still time for me to cover a few pages in my notebook with sketches and check boxes.

This time I made a list for clothing I need to alter or make.

1. Damask Jacquard skirt based on this tutorial
2. Royal Blue Shantung silk skirt, using same tutorial but with a fuller skirt
3. Lace shirt (using another shirt for the template)
4. White crepe skirt
5. Brown and white pin dot skirt
6. Take in brown pants
7. Take in grey and maroon shirts
8. Pink print shell top with tie (pattern)
9. Finish hem and belt for purple knit dress

I've finally started to loose more pregnancy weight and all the clothing I bought when I returned to work is now way too big! I'm not complaining; I'm so glad to be loosing the weight. But I don't want to buy new clothes now since I'm only one size away from fiting into my wardrobe again. My experience with clothing is limited and it's been several years since I've made anything major (pants!). At the very least I'm hoping I can alter some of the items I bought last November and make a couple of skirts to get me through this "transition" phase. I also need to go through my pattern collection and maybe try my hand at some basics for work. It'd be nice to not look like the kid who has to wear her older sibling's clothes and maybe be a little more put-together again.

garden wall

My Garden Wall quilt is finally finished - I started this in 2012, but it'll count for 2013.

cozy

Spring only just arrived in DC. This was the first week I was able to take off the extra comforter and blankets on our bed. To remind myself it was still winter and I couldn't pack away my coats yet - no matter how ready I was for warmer weather - I started on a ruffled scarf.



I am thankful that once I finish it, I can finally pack it up for the season with the winter coats.