She wouldn't be the first one!
Years ago when I started to quilt, I was intimidated by it too. So...I took a class. It was at My Sewing Room in Calgary (in their original location on Elbow Drive S.W.), and the featured pattern was Magic Tiles, created by Kathleen Bissett. It's all straight-line cutting and piecing, and once you've spent the day (or weekend) making one of these, I guarantee you'll feel comfortable with your rotary cutter!
As it happened, when J visited, I had one of these on the go for a friend of mine -- a Red Hatter -- who's in a tough time right now.
So J, this process is for you...
First, you read through the instructions. No surprises!
Cut yourself a number of 15" squares in assorted fabrics. I was using a collection of Red Hat-themed fabric I'd gathered over the years. The pattern calls for 12, but I had only 9 that I thought worked well together, so this is a smaller quilt -- a 'throw' really -- an will finish a little over 50" in each direction.
Lengths of "grout" |
In addition to the squares, you need to cut a good number of 1" strips of "grout" (sashing) using a solid or low-value print that will set off the blocks.
Then you prepare your Magic Tiles cutting guide, using freezer paper:
I couldn't find my white freezer paper so used brown for this project and I confess...I like the white better! It's lighter, and doesn't curl as much when you're trying to work with it. Of course, I found the box of white after I had all the blocks assembled!
Following the directions, lay your guide on your first square and cut. You end up with two sections per square: one section with a number, and a smaller section without. You sew strips of grout to the smaller sections and then re-assemble the sections... having first 'shifted' the fabrics...
Shift #1... |
Re-assembling the sections |
As the squares develop, it's useful to pin the grout to ensure the sections don't wobble:
Yes, sometimes I like to pin! |
Here's a view of the centre of the top hanging on my design wall:
I say "centre" because I am going to surround it with a pieced border...
Strips cut for pieced border |
I've decided to make the top and bottom borders a bit deeper than the side borders, so the quilt will end up as a rectangle. And...I may add a solid outer border if time and fabric permits...
While I was beavering away at this project, my mind was turning over and over the September Theme for EB's Master Class: "Lost Edges". In between cutting and piecing I did quite a bit of thinking and researching (lost/found edges are used in paintings and drawings)...and this morning I sent EB my watercolour sketch...
Based on this photo (but without all the details re: the trees...just for now)...
And while I await her feedback, I'm linking to WIP Wednesday on The Needle and Thread Network.
'Bye for now!
3 comments:
I luv Magic Tiles. Made quite a few. Lovely sketch!!!
It would appear that J was there for a visit at exactly the right time. Your friend will love the quilt. Your watercolour sketch is beautiful.
Wonderful Magic Tiles quilt... love the colors! Sweet watercolor...
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