Ring of Fire Runner

  As a reminder, we have been putting the blocks on youtube at junctionfabric.com.  Someone asked about all the potholders that I have been sewing.  As with all the samples that I make, when they have served their purpose, they are sold, given away or I keep my favorites.  The potholders and other small projects are a great way to make a block without committing to a larger projects.
  Since the last post, I have been playing with the different blocks.  Here is a table runner that was made

Ring of Fire Runner

from End of Day block.  As you can see I left the dark fabric out three of the block.  I cut an angle on each end to give it a runner look. 
  I hope that you are enjoying the blocks.  I am slow but I will be back.
  Happy Quilting,
    Terry

Jackknife

  Yea, I have all my blocks sewn.  Now, to put them together.  Today is the day to lay them out.  There are several ideas that I have, so we will see what happens.  As soon as it is finished you will see the end results.
  But onward to today's block called Jackknife.  Sew the triangles made from the 1 7/8" sq. to the center of the 2" x 4 " rect.  Finish the block.  Then square them to 2 1/2" sq.

Jackknife

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  3 1/4" sq. use for Hourglass
    four  2" x 4" rect.
    one  2 1/2" sq.  for center
    two  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Medium fabric
    two  3 1/4" sq. use for Hourglass
    four  2" x 4" rect.
    two  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once 

Keep quilting,
  Terry  

Gretchen

  I don't know about you but I have enjoyed going through all of these blocks.  Some, I would have never picked to make and others I may have liked but would not have ever tried.  Even though the YouTube tutorials are all potholders, I have several ideas that I hope to pursue.
  Today's block is one of those that I liked but may not have tried.  It is Gretchen.  Here is a couple of hints.  Look at the block as 4 identical sections.  The center strips of each section is made similar to flying geese but it is longer then what you needed.  Center the triangle and sew to the side.  Then sew the two part to each other.  Square up to a 3 1/2" sq.

Gretchen

 

Cutting
  Medium fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once
    eight  1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect.
    four  1 1/4" x 3 1/2" rect. 

  Dark fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once
    eight  1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect.
    four  1 1/4" x 3 1/2" rect.

Keep quilting,
  Terry
  

New Album

  The last few weeks I have been telling you about cleaning my sewing space and the UFO's that I have found.  Over the weekend I tackled another area.  I found 2 quilts that my mother had started (those I remember I had).  It was the 2 quilts that I found that I started that surprised me.  They were all cut but never sewn.  Thank goodness that the patterns were with them.  Instead of 2 quilts to finish, now I have 4.
  Today's block is New Album.  Yes, it is similar to Album but with small differences.

New Album

Cutting
  Light fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq.  for the center
    four  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Light Medium fabric
    four  2 1/2" sq.

  Dark Medium fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Dark fabric
    six  1 1/2" sq.  2 are used in the corner of the center sq.

  Keep quilting,
    Terry 

Shoofly

  If you live in cold country like I do, mother nature reminded us that it is still winter.  We did not need a groundhog to tell us.  The good thing is that you don't have to go outside to quilt.  Quilting is what I have been doing, mainly getting the UFOs finished.  Over the weekend a couple of small UFOs were completed.  One was a pillow top that my sister brought back from Panama a couple of years ago.  It is reverse applique with a man holding a pair of scissors.  Now, it is a usable pillow on one of my chairs.
  Today's block is Shoofly.  This is an oldie but goody.

Shoofly

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq. for HST
    four  2 1/2" sq.

 Medium/ Dark fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq. for HST
    one  2 1/2" sq.

Keep quilting,
  Terry

Corn & Beans

  Do you have trouble with time?  I do.  I seem to get the commissioned quilts made on time but I am generally 5 minutes late for my nail appointment or years later on my own quilts.  It seems that I need to do a better job of allocating the use of my time.  This could be the reason that I have been working on so many UFOs.  It was time to get them finished.  Well, complete this blog and back to the UFOs.

  Today's block is Corn & Beans.  Lots of triangles.

Corn & Beans

Cutting
  Light fabric
    three  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once
    ten  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Medium fabric
    six  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Dark fabric
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice
    one  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

Keep quilting,
  Terry

Waterwheel

  It is embarrassing to admit but as I have been cleaning and organizing my work space, I have come across some unfinished projects.  Some have been quickly finished but I found one that I started for my oldest son, Ryan, about 15 maybe 20 years ago.  I had made 61 log cabin blocks from his old high school slacks. He didn't know that I was making it.  Why it wasn't finished, I am not sure.  It just was placed out of sight.  Today was spend working on it and should be ready for quilting tomorrow. Then it will be on to the next UFO.
  Today's block is--Waterwheel.

Waterwheel

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for HST
    eight  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

  Medium Light fabric
    one  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

  Medium fabric
    one  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

  Dark fabric
    four 1 1/2" sq.  for 4-patch

Time to finish an UFO.
  Terry

Hither & Yon

  There is nothing like going to a Middle school band concert.  The middle schoolers are not ready for Carnegie Hall but it is better.  It is better because they are kids from the neighborhood, kids of friends or the best, grandkids.  Of course, my grandson was the best sax player there.
  Today's block is--Hither & Yon.  It looks like a spool with pinwheels.

Hither & Yon

Cutting
  Light fabric
    six  2 3/8" sq.  cut diagonally once
    two  2 3/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice for the pinwheels

  Medium fabric
    two  2 3/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice for the pinwheels

  Dark fabric
    two  2 3/8" sq. cut diagonally once
    one  3 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

Hope you get the chance to attend a school concert.
  Terry

Handy Andy

  Nadia, my granddaughter, is learning to crochet.  I have been helping her and decided that it is time for her to learn to read patterns.  That way she can pick any project to make on her own.  Over the years, I have crocheted just about anything.  Crocheted socks was something new.  That might be fun for a young gal but I thought I better make them before giving her the book.  Well, that is just what I did and finished them the other day.  I even have had a chance to wear them.  Definitely, different.  She now has the book so we will see what happens.
  Today's block is--Handy Andy.  It has a similar look of Gentleman's Fancy but the center is different and more fabrics.

Handy Andy

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice
    two  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Light Medium fabric
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Medium fabric
    one  1 7/8" sq.  for the center

  Dark Medium fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Dark fabric
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice

Have fun piecing,
  Terry
   

Indian Puzzle

  As I sit here thinking, another soup night with the grandchildren is over.  I have forgotten how much work it took raising 4 kids.  The grandchildren keep me busy and we have fun but it is nice to send them home.  I have come to enjoy the quiet after the storm.
  Today's block is Indian Puzzle.  It has a little of everything in it.  The center is a square in a square, flying geese on the sides, squares and HST in the corners.

Indian Puzzle

Cutting
  Light fabric
    five  1 7/8" sq.  use 4 for HST and 1 for the center
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
    twelve  1 1/2" sq.  use 4 for corners rest for flying geese

  Medium fabric
    four  1 7/8" sq.  for HST
    four  1 1/2" sq.

  Dark fabric
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
    two  1 7/8" sq.  cut diagonally once for Sq. in a Sq.
    eight  1 1/2" sq. for flying geese

Enjoy,
  Terry 

It's Wednesday!

My desk is full of things to do.  I love being busy at work.  To me, if I'm not busy at work, I may as well not be here.  How about you?  How is your week going?

I'm not the only one who's busy around here.  Terry posted another YouTube tutorial this week.  It's called "Binding with Cuddle Fabric."  Cuddle (or Minky) fabric seems to give people some trouble when working with it.  Terry's video will help explain how to use it for binding without making yourself crazy.  Here's the tutorial:

If you're running out of ideas for your next project, we might be able to help!  Our Robert Kaufman Botanical Beauty is on sale this week.  It's regularly $8.20.  This week it is $6.50.  What a beautiful start to a striking quilt.  

These are the coordinating fabrics to help finish your quilt.

March is a fun month for all of us here in South Dakota.  We've been sweating at 70 degrees one day to shivering in our boots at 30 the next.  Just this week we had snow blowing sideways in 50 mph gusts of wind.  With these teasers of spring, I'm getting antsy to start my garden.  I always say I'm going to start with seeds inside.  By the time I finally get to plant them, the seedlings have dried up and died.  So then I go buy starters from the store, get them in the ground, and then it snows.  Or a deer eats them.  Or something.  I can't decide if I'm determined or crazy when I do this every summer.  I'm still trying to figure out how those clever Canadians grow their beautiful gardens. Maybe I'll go visit sometime and find out.  Until then, maybe you can comment below on some gardening tips for me.  Thanks!