February No 4. Chunky Chevron

Accuquilt Die:
4 " finished  half square triangle   55031
3"  finished  half square triangle   55009
3"  finished square                        55006

Cutting:
Background  Material
      (2)     4" triangle
      (8)     3" triangle

Main Color
     (4)  3" squares
     (2)  4" triangles
     (4)  3" triangles

Color 2
     (1)   4" triangle

Color 3
     (1)   4" triangle

Construction:
1.  Take each of the six 4" triangles and add the opposite color 3" triangles to each side to make six rectangles.
2.  Piece together four blocks as shown in the picture..
3.  Piece together those four blocks to make the finished block.
4. Trim to size with the 12.5" square.

February No 3 Parallel Block Pattern

Dies:      Parallel Die  55004
      3" Half Square Triangle 55009
      4" Triangle       55031                                                                                                    

Material Cuts:
         Background
          (8)   3" triangle
          (4)   4" triangle
         Color 1
          (4)    Parallel
         Color 2
          (4 )   4" Triangle

Construction:
1. Take the parallel piece and align the background 3" triangle on it.  The parallel does not have the dog ears cut so there will be a space at the end.  Don't worry about it since it gets cut off also.

2.  Sew the two small triangles of background to the colored triangle making a rectangle.
3. Sew the two rectangles together to make a square.
4.  Repeat making four squares.

 

5. Arrange and sew the squares together to make the pictured pattern.

January No 2 Wonky Pound Sign

Die
Strip cutter

Follow the directions at Craftsy for the 2012 BOM quilt.   The cut and slash method is what works best for this block.

March No 5. and No 6. String Block and Broken Spider

Die:
Strip cutter

Follow the directions on the web site.  Craftsy Block of the Month 2012.

April No. 7 and 8 Hexi Applique

Hexi Applique

No. 7

No. 8

Die:
Hexagon 

Directions:
How to Mark and sew the hexagon shapes together

1. Cut the needed colors and materials with the die.  I used the 1.5" hexagon die.
2. Make a cardboard template by marking the cardboard with a hexagon and then measuring in on all sides 1/4 an inch.  Cut out the cardboard.  This is the template needed for marking and ironing the hexis.
3.Use the cardboard to mark each hexi shape. Place the hexi in the middle and mark where the 1/4 seam allowance is located.














4. Lay out the shape of your hexi applique and determine what sides to stitch together. 
5.  Match the dots up and stitch ONLY between the dots.  String as many hexi's together as needed.

 6.  Flip it toward the back and iron the hexagons using the pattern template as an ironing guide.   Place the cardboard in the hexi and iron the edges.  Make sure to use starch.  Then take out the cardboard template and iron the one above.

7.  Cut out a 12.5" background square. Applique on your shapes.  I used a straight stitch and invisible thread.

8.  Use the same method to make the other sized hexagons for more variety.

June Block 11 and 12 Nine Block squares

Block 11 Greek Cross



Dies for both blocks:
4" square  (Value Die)
4" triangle 55031

Cuts for Block 11:
    Background
      (4) squares
      (4) triangles

    Color one (cross)
       (3) squares

    Color two (corners)
      (4) triangles
Directions:
1. Sew together a background and a color triangle to make a square.  Do this for the four corner pieces.
2.  Sew a background and a cross color together.  Decide how long to make the cross.  Measure and cut.  Trim to form the side squares 4.  Make sure to measure the color cross material to match.
3. Stitch three rows using the picture as a guide.
4. Square up using a 12.5" square ruler.

Block 12 Octagon Block

Block 12

Cuts for Block 12:
     Background
     (4) 4" triangles
     (1)  4" square
    Color
    (4)  4" squares
    (4)  4" triangles

Directions for Block 12:
1. Sew together a background and a color triangle to make a square.  Do this for the four corner pieces.
2. Stitch three rows together matching up the squares and the corners.
3. Square with your square ruler.

July Dresden Plates

Dies:
Circle 4"

Tools:
Dresden template 4" for the pointed plate and 4 ½" for the round

Cuts:
   (2)    4" circles of middle material

Procedure:
1. Cut 20-22 pieces.
2. Take a single piece and fold right sides together.  Sew across the top of the piece.  Turn right side out.  The point is formed! Do this for all of the pieces. 
3. Sew the pieces (each one to the next) with right sides together to form a circle. Iron flat.
4. Applique the pointed Dresden plate in the center (fold into quarters to find the center) of a 12 ½" block
5. For the round, sew the circle to a background (right sides together) using ¼" seam.  Turn inside out. Applique in the center of a 12 ½" block.

For the middle circle:
1.   Cut two circles.
2.   Stitch together right sides together
3.  Cut a slit in the back and turn right side out.
4.   Iron
5.  Applique the circle in the center.

August No. 15 and 16 Star Blocks

Dies for both blocks:

4" square (value die)

2" square (value die)

3" triangle (55009)

2" triangle (value die)

4" half square triangle (55031)

Block 15

Cuts for block 15:
     Background (white)
          (4)    4" square

         (8)     4" half square triangles
    
    Color 1 (orange)
         (8 )   4" half square triangles

    Center Square (flower)
         (1)    4" square

Directions:

This makes a lot of wasted material but the points turn out perfectly.

1.  Sew together a background and color half triangle.

2.  Press to the dark and turn it to the wrong side.

3.  Mark it from diagonal to diagonal.

4.  Nest  two of the squares together with the colors opposite.
5.  Stitch on the line.
6.  Use a ruler to cut the material ¼" to the side of the line.

7.  The two smaller pieces are wasted.  I'll save them in hopes of use them down the road.
8.  Press the seams open.
9. Assemble in rows.

10.  Square with the 12.5 square ruler.

Block 16

Block 16

Cuts for Block 16:

     Background (White)

         (4)   2" squares

         (8)   2" triangle

         (4 )  3" triangle

    Center Star  (Brush Brown)

         (4)   3" triangle

         (1)   4" square

    Inner Border  (Orange Yellow Tie Dye)

         (4)   3" triangle

         (4)   2" square

    Outer Star  (stones)

         (4)   3" triangle

         (8)   2" triangle

Directions:

1. Assemble inner star first.  Take an inner border triangle and sew two center star 2" triangles to it.  Do this for all four inner border triangles. Press.

2.  Sew one of  pieces to the 4" square.  Directly opposite sew another.  

3.  Add the inner border squares to the other two pieces.  Do both sides. 

4. Sew the side pieces to make a big block.

5.  Take a white 3" triangle and sew a 2" triangle to it using the picture as a guide.  

6. After all the strips are sewn together take the small sections and add them to the inner star.

7.  The last are the two outer strips.

8.  Use a 12.5 square up ruler to make any needed cuts.

May No 9 and 10 Modern and Wonky Strips

Dies:
Strip Cutter of various sizes.

Construction
Very easy.  Just add strips in a clockwise direction.  Cut to make the Wonkyness. 
Follow the directions for the May Craftsy Block of the Month 2012 if you want.

Overview of Quilt

This is a sampler quilt adapted from a free class on Craftsy.com.   It is the 2012 Block Of the Month class.  I'm a newbie where quilting is concerned.  I always wanted to learn but work and travel seemed to interfere.  Finally I retired.  I did two different quilting projects, a window cover  and a quilted window seat for Amy.  I was ready to learn more about quilting and decided on this class. 

I have great difficulty cutting pieces for a quilt. Between the hand arthritis and the eyesight, I spend a large part of the time re-cutting what I did wrong.   I decided to take the quilt presented and see if I could use the accuquilt instead of a rotary cutter for the majority of the work. For the most part I succeeded.  Since I may forget how I did something, I thought writing myself a blog reminder would help.  Then I decided I might as well share it!  So the following are links to the various months.

For most of the accuquilt blocks cut a piece of material 5 inches by 7 inches (about).  This will fit on the pattern on the accuquilt die.  An approximate size it is fine.  The Drunkard's Path required a bigger cut as did the strip cutters. Click on the links below  for directions for using the accuquilt to make the sampler.  The main directions for sewing each block are available from Craftsy for free.  Double click on the picture to see it enlarged.  Two of the blocks from the Craftsy site are missing from my finished quilt.

January

         Block 1                                                   

         Block 2








February

         Block 3
  






  Block 4

March

        Block 5 and Block 6

April
       Block 7 and Block 8

May
    Block 9 and Block 10

June

      Block 11 and Block 12








July

      Block 13 and Block 14








August

  Block 15 and Block 16






September

      Block 17








October

      Block 19

October Foundation Paper Piercing

Dies:
   None
Pattern
   Paper Pattern from Craftsy 2012 BOM  

Directions
1. Piece number 1 is placed face down and pinned to the pattern.
2. Piece number 2 is placed right side to the first piece and sewn on the line marked on the pattern.
3. Continue with as many pieces as the pattern has.
4. Iron out each piece and cut with a 1/4 inch seam.

November and December Sashing and Borders

Sashing
Die: 2" strip cutter

Material
Twelve 12.5" by 2" strips

Procedure

For the vertical sashing between each block:
1. Decide on the final arrangement the blocks.
2.  Take Row 1 Block 1 and sew a strip on the inner side.
3.  Take Row 1 Block 3 and sew a strip on the inner side.
4.  Sew Block 2 (the middle block) to each strip.
5. Continue doing this for each Row.

For the horizonal sashing:
1. Sew the inner horizonal sash onto Row 1.
2. Sew Row 2 to the same sash.
3. Continue the same procedure with Row 3 and 4
4. Do Row 5 and 6
5. Connect Rows 1 and 2 to the sashing of Rows 3 and 4.
6. Connect Rows 5 and 6.

Border
Die: 2.5 strip cutter

1. Cut enough border material to make the borders.
2.  Sew the horizonal top and bottom border.
3. Sew the vertical side borders.

September Drunkard's Path

Die
7" Drunkard's Path

Cuts
1 Background
1 Color

Directions
This does waste material
1.  Cut out the eight pieces needed.  One background, one another color.
2.  Match up with the notches,

3.  Open to make sure that the right sides match.
4.  Make sure the edge matches.

5.  Start at the edge of the curve and make a few stitches.
6.  Hold the one piece up in the air while working the other piece.
7.  Keep BOTH pieces even with the edge of your pressure foot.  Do this slowly .  No pinning is needed.
8.  Iron to the inside of the circle.
9. Do all four squares.
10. Trim to 12.5

January No. 1 Strips and Triangles

January number one: Strips and Triangles

Dies:
6" Triangle    55001
1½" strip 
6" square   55000

Cutting:
  (8)   6 1/2 inch triangles
  (2)   long  1½" strips

Construction
1. Pin a triangle about 1 inch in from the edge of the strip.  Sew the triangle to the strip. Press to the dark.
2. Sew the second triangle to the strip about 1 inch from the first triangle.  Press to the dark.
3. Repeat for the other two triangles.
4. Line up and pin in place a triangle opposite a sewn triangle. Sew the triangle to the strip.
5. Repeat twice more.











6. Use the Accuquilt 6 ½" square to cut a nice square from each sewn block.  Make a total of four blocks. 

7. Take a strip and sew it to a block.  Press to the dark. Take a second block and sew it to the strip making a rectangle.  Press to the dark. 
6. Repeat with the other two blocks. 

7. Cut the strip and sew the two rectangles together. Press. 
8.  Use a 12.5" quilting square to square it up .   Your first block is done!