The Making of a Low Volume Pineapple Quilt - Part 1

There are spectacular pineapple blocks and quilts with beautiful colors that make amazing patterns.  This is not that quilt - this is made with all low volume fabrics.  Low volume prints are usually creams, white and fabrics with subtle prints that are muted - giving a quiet and gentle look.

Pineapple blocks create those awesome patterns because each 'round' (or row) usually alternates between light and dark.  They play off each other and can be arranged in so many ways.  That spectacular effect can also take time to plot and figure out ... which is why I opted to do it the easy way.  And boy is it coming out nicely!

I did use the Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool.  Below are links to videos that explain in detail how to use this tool - as well as a good blog post with pictures from Crazy Mom Quilts that just uses a ruler.  Paper piecing is also an option and Gigi's Thimble post is really detailed with pictures as well. 

 My ruler still kept sliding around so I read about spraying some spray baste to help it get sticky - which it did, along with picking up a ton of fluff - but in the end it worked fine.  So, if your rulers or templates slide even with grips or medical tape - try spraying some basting spray for traction.  

The package directions listed how wide to cut the fabric strips - but not the fabric length for each unit.  I came up with these measurements to make things simple and not have excess fabric waste. 
Other than the center square which is cut at 2.5" x 2.5" - all strips are cut at 2" wide.

Round One:  2" x 2.5"    Sew opposite sides and then the other opposite sides.  Trim with the tool.

Round 2:  2" x 3.5"  Do the same thing - sew opposite sides, and then the other opposite sides ... trim.

 Round 3:  2" x 4.5"  sew as before.  
 Round 4:  2" x 5"     sew as before.  

Corners:  The instructions say to use a large rectangle and I just thought that wasted too much fabric.  Since my blocks were smaller (6.5" x 6.5" unfinished) - I could put a small triangle on the edge and it worked great.

Either cut out a 2.5" x 2.5" square - cut on the diagonal to get 2 pieces - or use a trim tool that cuts out a little half square triangle.  Both methods are fine.

Attach the corners as shown and trim.  All those scraps in the lower left pix are from ONE block - but to get these cool angles there has to be some waste. 

I put my strips in labeled bins and sewed all one size at once. Do all Round 1, all Round 2, etc.  Then store in baggies, again labeled.  Since all the fabrics and sizes can look similar you just don't want to have to re-measure strips if things get messy and mixed up on the sewing table.

The only note of caution I have for this type of quilt is this:

Because my fabrics were so similar I sometimes lost track of where to trim Round 3 - which is a little different than the others.  The videos and instructions were clear - it was me. 

So, no matter how goofy it looked  - I kept a sample block labeled with notes.  This is a good practice no matter what project you are working on - and maybe a life lesson as well :)

So that's it for now.  You can see that there is no wrong way to lay out something this gentle and pretty.  The quilt is just waiting for me to do the binding - but I wanted to share the mechanics and positive encouragement that this type of block is not out of reach for anyone.

Helpful links:
Crazy Mom Quilts - how to make a pineapple block without paper piecing

GiGi's Thimble: Pineapple Block paper piecing tutorial

Sherri from A Quilting Life video tutorial with the pineapple ruler

Creative Grids Making a Pineapple Block with the Pineapple tool

January 2020

Hourglass Quilt in Le Vintage Chic

Happy New Year and may 2020 be filled with fun sewing and good health!

This quilt is made with hourglass blocks. 
Here are two links how to make this block the traditional way:  many thanks to Hannah from A Half Square Affair  and Leslie from The Seasoned Homemaker.
I have an Accuquilt machine and used the  4" finished half square triangle die. 

These were beautiful left overs from an earlier large economy block quilt here I made for my daughter.  Le Vintage Chic is the collection from Art Gallery Fabrics.

Lay out your pieces (as shown above) right sides together and sew on the right shorter side.  Using a clip not only holds the pieces together but tells you what side to sew. Place the same fabric on top, and the same fabric on the bottom for each pair.

When you sew the same configuration - in this instance - the peach fabric on the bottom, you get two 'arrows' that look similar when the fabric is 'wrong side up." 

Flip those units over to the 'right side up' and place one 'arrow' up and one 'arrow' down - and voila - an hourglass block.

Having said that, it's still easy to make mistakes when the triangles look so similar - so take the time to lay out your pairs on your sewing table just before you sew.  To triple make sure - I stick a sample above my machine!

If you sew a scant 1/4" seam, you will be able trim a 6" unfinished block.  I know the whole point of AccuQuilt is to cut accurately so there is no trimming.  But, whether its cutting with a machine or by hand and using starch - after sewing everything distorts a little.

That final trim enables me to have nice straight seams to follow when I use my walking foot.  

Nothing complicated going on here - just balancing the "peach" colored pieces and making sure those hourglasses all face the same direction.  This square quilt has 9 units across and 9 rows down.   

Quilting was done with Aurifil 50wt. #2415, a pretty pink thread, in wavy line stitching along all the seams.  

And so another quilt goes to college as winter breaks ends - my daughter and her roommate will each have their own Le Vintage Chic blankets.

Materials:
Le Vintage Chic /Art Gallery Fabrics  and white dimple dot minky from Hawthorne Supply Co.
Warm & White batting
AccuQuilt Half Square Triangle die - 4" finished
Aurifil 50wt. #2415
Size: 50" x 50"
January 2020

Quilt as You Go Hexies with Amy Butler

With a ton of things to do before the end of the year I got distracted yet again! I saw the "Quilt as you go Hexagon" tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co. (here) and realized that this was my kind of hexie! Paper piecing and little hexies scare me - but this bigger, faster and easy version seemed like a whole lot of fun.

You don't have to buy a template; there are lots of tutorials and videos that show you the same technique using cardboard and different sized units.  I did get the one sold by MSQC on their daily deal and am loving it.

I got a "Scrap Pack" of fabric from Hawthorne Supply Co. in Amy Butler fabric to expand my own Amy stash.   

This may not be the traditional way to do this but here is my process. Cut your larger hexie and then with a pencil trace the image of where the batting and smaller hexie will go.

Position your batting on your pencil lines and stick the batting down with the help of a little glue stick.

Pin the smaller hexie onto the batting.  Put a little glue on the bottom edge of the larger hexie.

Make the first fold and press.  Then dab a little more glue onto the hexie, fold and press with the iron. Apply glue and press one side at a time.

The MSQC tutorial shows Jenny using "Magic Pins" - pins that have a silicone tip that can be ironed and not melt.  I don't have those and figured applique glue would work, which it does just fine.  

Lastly, straight stitch around the unit and that's it. Will experiment in the final joining of all the hexies with a thicker #28 weight Aurifil thread using a zig zag so that stitching shows up even more.  

This is a long term project but it's easy to pick up for a quick sewing fix when one gets tired of bigger projects and you 'just want to sew something!'   So, for good instructions and lots of ideas of what to make with these hexies - check out the MSQC video here.

Materials:
Quilt As You Go Hexagon Template from Missouri Star Quilt Co. 
Amy Butler everything :)
Hawthorne Supply Co.  
Aurifil Thread #50 weight (#2024-white)
Warm & White batting scraps
Roxanne Glue Baste Glue & Collins Fabric Glue Stick
December 2019

December Projects

Here are a few things in the garage (aka my sewing room) for December.

Three minky blankets ready to quilt and rolled up on swim noodles.  The spray baste washes out even if you leave it a few weeks - and the vacuum clean up is sometimes nicer to do all at once.  I have lots of pixs and explanations to share as each quilt is finished.

I bought some flannel buffalo plaid and black Kona cotton and made holiday coasters for myself and friends.  The tutorial on how to make these is here. 

Went to IKEA and bought a $20 grey fleece blanket - cut it in half - and put some of the plaid flannel on the top.  Very rustic (which might mean sloppy) but oh so comfy. I ran out of plaid - but no worries - got some more to put on the remaining grey fleece.

Will take pixs and show process when I sew this one up.

Lastly - I got some 20" x 20" IKEA pillow inserts for $3 each.  They did squish down to a finished 17.5" square and for a first time effort, I am pretty pleased.  Will share that process too when I get the next two done.  

You might be wondering why I am obsessed with plaid. It started with these reindeer in the display area in the freezer section at my local market.  They were reduced and I couldn't resist.  We opted to keep things simple this year and just scatter a few live trees from Trader Joe's along with my mini herd of 3 reindeer. It has turned into an explosion of plaid and learning two new projects: envelope pillows & 'rustic' fleece throws.  

I hope you are having as much fun as I am messing around with little projects no matter what they be.  

Materials:
Buffalo flannel plaid
IKEA fleece blanket / pillow inserts
Minky from Hawthorne Supply Co. (White, Blush & Stone)
Date: December 2019

Grand Canal Scrap Quilt / Border Tutorial Part 4

We are on the last part of the Grand Canal Scrap quilt tutorials  - the border.  The only thing you need is for your mind to be flexible - you can make those scraps work!  

These pixs show different fabric but it is exactly how I make these scrap borders. Time to gather your scraps.

I like the width of 2.5" since I have a ruler that size.  I have done this method with a 1.5" measurement as well.  Pick a width that works best with your size scraps. Lay your fabric any which way until you can cut that measurement. If it is too narrow on one side - flip it around.  Don't worry about the length - just the width.

The scraps are now 2.5" wide.  Time to straighten up the other edges.  

Cut your scraps on both sides nice and straight.  

Everything is straight and a consistent width of 2.5"  Every length is different - that's great.

Time for the fun part - laying out all those different colors and patterns into ONE GIANT STRIP.  

 Go for a long piece next to a short piece - a yellow next to a green - it's so random you can't go wrong. Variety of size and color is key.

I like to put about 4 or 5 pieces together and then press.  Take them all back to the sewing machine and sew those piles together - iron and repeat. Each time the strips get longer until you get that one huge strip! 

It's always a surprise how long that strip will be. I had enough for a 'double' border.  How did I know this?  I lay the strip along the quilt top and it wound around  the quilt almost 2 times. So I took that single long strip of Grand Canal, folded it in half and CUT it into 2 pieces - voila - enough for a double border.

I made a really long piece of 1.5" Kona white and sewed on one strip of Grand Canal. Ironed it and then sewed the other scrappy strip on the opposite side. Staggering the blocks so nothing matched if possible.  

First - attach the border as you would a single piece of fabric on the top and bottom of the quilt ONLY.

Then take the remaining double scrappy strip and cut it into two pieces.  These will go on the sides of the quilt.  My strips were too short.  I was expecting this - no worries at all. Time to add a piece of fabric to the scrappy border and fill in the gaps. (see circles in pix)

Measure the border width. Cut some fabric that exact width but a little longer in length than you need.  (Above you can see the mosaic blue fabric is as wide as the strip border.)  Sew that chunk onto your strip border.

Why add a few more inches to the length?  See pix above. This chunk of fabric gave me the ability to move the whole strip up or down and position those end squares. That way when everything is sewn together I don't slice into a seam and end up with a tiny strip at the edge of the quilt when I square up. After positioning the border - sew on as usual and trim square.

As much as I like random - I also like balance.  I put the blue mosaic fabric blocks that gave me the length I needed in the border - on opposite sides.  Bottom 'left' - and upper 'right'.  Just because your quilt is scrappy - doesn't mean it can't be balanced.  

Lastly - I didn't use batting but some white muslin to make this lightweight.  The backing is a voile I had that matched perfectly.  

So that's it - a complete scrappy quilt with some great features.  A granny square, a log cabin and a cool random border.  Iron as you go, use starch and trim if something doesn't fit.  Good luck and if you need any help - leave a message or send me an email.  This is all very doable and something that can be fun as well. 

Links to all tutorials: Overview Part 1 (here)
                                 Log Cabin Tutorial Part 2 (here)
                                 Large Granny Square Tutorial Part 3 (here)

Materials:

Grand Canal / Kate Spain

Kona white

White muslin on the inside

Backing: Chalk & Paint Dripping Voile by Art Gallery

Aurifil 50 wt. #2024 white

Size: 58" x 58"

October 2019

Grand Canal Scrap Quilt / Large Granny Square Tutorial - Part 3

This is the Granny Square part of the Grand Canal Scrap Quilt tutorials. I made these squares way back in 2017 and used the paperback book "Great Granny squared by Lori Holt" (here) as my guide. Lori Holt also has a recent post (here) from March of this year with great pictures and directions showing a similar block. Other tutorials can be found at Blue Elephant Stitches and Wombat Quilts.

These pictures will show a different fabric but the method and measurements are exactly how I made the Grand Canal Granny Square. 

Each Block:
13 focus fabric squares cut to 3.5" x 3.5"
12 background pieces cut: 3.5" x 4" (rectangles)

Lay out focus fabric.

Sew all focus fabric and background rectangles together in rows except for the top and bottom rectangles
Iron seams open.

Next - sew all those rows together.  Do NOT iron yet.
Now sew on the top and bottom rectangles so they can be centered over that middle square.

It's almost time to iron the horizontal seams but here is a tip:  finger press the seams in the proper direction from the FRONT before ironing.  These seams are NOT pressed open. Finger press 3 seams towards the top square and iron from the front to start.  The pix below shows how it looks when you give it a second press from the backside.

Rotate your block and finger press the other 3 seams to the 'bottom' rectangle. Iron the front and then give it a second press on the back.

Now you can flip your block every which way to iron and starch it since all seam directions are perfect! 

All blocks were trimmed to 13.25".

You might be more accurate than me and even get a block 13.5" x 13.5" - but caution - always trim at least 1/4" from where the seams join so you don't lose any points.

And that's it! You know how to make a scrappy log cabin here - and now the large granny square. If you plan on making a scrap quilt with these two blocks I would recommend making the granny squares first.  The granny square blocks will set the size. The log cabin squares can be 'fudged' to fit whatever space needs filling. A little trimming on the log cabins will never be noticed.  Again - this log cabin block is a scrappy one for irregularly sized left overs.

5 granny square left overs from here and the log cabins made two years later - it's always good to save those left over blocks!

The next and last post for this Grand Canal Scrap quilt will be how to take every last scrap ......

 and make this awesome border - the easy peasy way :)

Links:  Overview Part One (here)    
           Log Cabin Tutorial Part Two (here)
Date: September 2019