Practical Orchard

  Binding, binding and more binding.  Sometime it seems like that is all that I get done.  Thank goodness that I quit doing it by hand years ago.  I would not be able to keep up.  Besides my hands gave out some time ago so I bind only by machine.   Being busy is a good thing, not a complaint.
  After a busy day, it is nice to do a simple block.  Today's block is Practical Orchard.  You can mark your diagonals first and sew, then cut if you like.

Practical Orchard

  

Cutting
  Light Medium fabric
    four  2 1/2" sq.
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice  use 2 triangles for hour glass

  Dark Medium fabric
    four 2 1/2" sq.
    one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice  use 2 triangles for hour glass

Relax and enjoy,
  Terry

Crosses & Losses

   Talen stopped by to help me make salads for Christmas eve.  His favorite thing to make is the pinwheels made from jello and marshmallows.  He is going skiing tomorrow so I am on my own baking pies.  Before he left, he made his request for an apple pie.
  Today's block is-- Crosses & Losses.

Crosses & Losses

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 3/8" sq. for HST
    four  2" sq.
    one  3 7/8" sq. for HST

  Medium or Dark fabric
    two  2 3/8" sq. for HST
    one  3 7/8" sq. for HST

Enjoy your weekend,
  Terry

Soup Night

  It was soup night with my grandchildren.  It was an enjoyable evening.  Some of them are starting Christmas vacation tomorrow and some had homework to get done.  Their vacation starts Saturday.  We will all be together again on Sunday.
  Even though things are busy, here is today's block--Aunt Sukey's Choice.  You will make it in sections of 2 squares and rectangle,  2 flying geese and a center square.

Aunt Sukey's Choice

Cutting
  Light fabric
    eight  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" four rectangles for flying geese
    twelve 1 1/2" sq.  eight squares for flying geese

  Medium fabric
    four  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles for flying geese
    twelve 1 1/2" sq.  eight squares for flying geese

  Dark fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq.  for center

Don't stress out, relax,
  Terry

Album

  The good thing is I work from home but the bad thing is I work from home.  Most of my married life, I have been very fortunate to be a stay at home mom.  I started doing craft shows and clothing alterations when my children were very young.  This became my work but it gave me the freedom to be at home with my children.  Eventually, I open the shop which Christopher has taken over.  I quilt and design in my sewing area at home for the shop.  The point is that I don't get out much so sometimes it feels like nothing ever happens.  My days are full with sewing which I really enjoy.  Again, today I spend my time designing a couple of quilts that I will be making after the holidays.  I wished that I could write the patterns as quickly as I can design them.
  Today's block is called--Album.  There is one odd piece in the corner section.  I used 2 triangles of equal size.  I sewed one triangle to the small block. The triangle was bigger then needed but after I sewed the second triangle to the other side, I could trim off the extra.  Hope this helps you.

Album

Cutting
  Light fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq.
    four  2 1/8" sq.  cut diagonally once

  Medium fabric
    four  2 1/2" sq.

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

Enjoy,
  Terry    

One More

  I can't believe that November is half over.  Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming fast.  My Grandmother always told me that as you get older, the years seem to go faster so enjoy every moment.  I feel that she may be right.  

  Buckwheat is the next block.  To sew this one, I did the four-patch in the center first.  Then, cut the large squares twice to make the HST.  Lastly, matching the triangle in the corners.  I sewed this block in 3 sections at an angle.  Normally, we sew in horizontal rows.

Buckwheat

  

Cutting

  Light fabric

    two  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for HST

    two  1 7/8" sq. for center 4-patch

  Medium fabric

    three  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for HST

  Dark fabric

    two  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice for HST

    two  1 7/8" sq. for center 4-patch

Terry       

Another Day

  Sometimes, it is hard to think of what to write.  I spend most days quilting.  That is not very exciting for some but that is my job and I enjoy it.  I sew samples for the shop, create for Fabric Junction's youtube channel and make quilts that I have been commissioned to do.  Today was not any different.  I was hoping to have my 6" block quilt finished by now to show you what could be done.  No, I am still working on it.  The good thing is that the blocks are all picked and my fabric is cut.
  Today's block is At the Square.  Use your favorite method in making the hourglass units that are in the corners.  Either cut the squares diagonally twice then sew or mark them diagonally, sew and cut, repeat twice.

Cutting
Light fabric
  one  2 1/2" sq.

Medium fabric
  two  3 1/4" sq. for the hourglass
  four  1 1/8" x 2 1/2" rect.
  two  1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect.

Dark fabric
  two  3 1/4" sq. for the hourglass
  four  1 1/8" x 2 1/2" rect.
  two 1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect. 

Hope that you get to spend your time doing what you enjoy.
  Terry

  

More Blocks

  Well, I spent the day getting ready to leave town for the weekend.  My husband will be going with me to help vend at a quilt retreat.  I will be spending my time teaching.  Hopefully, I can remember everything for the project to go together easily.  So Pierre here I come.
  Before I leave, here is today's block.  It look like Card Trick but there are some slight differences.  The block is called Color Wheel.

Cutting
  Light fabric
    two  2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for the HST
    one  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for HST variation

  Four different Medium fabrics
    one  2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST & HST variation
    one  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for HST variation (you will only use one triangle from each fabric)

  Dark fabric
    one  2 1/2" sq. for the center

  I will return next week to post the next block.  Enjoy your block and the weekend.
   Terry

New Block

  For those of us that know the cold is coming, enjoyed the nice weekend.  It was ideal weather to watch the grandsons play football.  One won his game, the other lost his.  From a grandmother's point of view, they were both the MVP.
   Today I was busy trying to get some quilting finished.  My day will be done as soon as you get your next block.
  Stellie is the block.  I hope you like it.

Cutting

Light fabric
  one  3 1/4" sq.  cut diagonally twice for the hour glass
  four  2 1/2" sq. for the corners
Medium fabric
  two  3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for the hour glass
  one  2 1/2" sq. for the center
Dark fabric
  one  3 1/4" sq cut diagonally twice for the hour glass 
  If you do not want to cut the hour glass pieces first then sew, you can sew first then cut & mix them & sew again.  Your choice.

Terry

Questions

Hey Everyone!  
Sorry it's been awhile since I've updated the blog.  We are chugging along this spring.  We finished our Shop Hop last week.  We are getting ready for a quilt show in Rapid City.  We are planning our summer sewing programs and retreat.
In the meantime, I'd love to ask you a few questions...

1)   What's your favorite sewing machine?
2)    Are you already wearing shorts or are you still bundled up in your winter coat?
3)   When does school get out in your area?
4)   What are your plans for this summer?

I'll stop there.  We would love to know where our readers are from and what's going on in their lives right now.  It's fun to learn about our internet friends.

To get us started, I'll answer the questions, too.

1)  My favorite sewing machine was the one my Grandma used when I was growing up.
2)  I am currently wearing a winter coat.  I am very jealous of my family members who live in Texas and North Carolina.
3)  School gets out the last week of May.  I'm hoping the snow will have melted by then.
4)  The store is planning our children's sewing classes and adult retreat.  We always have a fun time getting ready to see our Rally friends, too.  Personally, I'll be sending the kiddos to basketball camp, softball practice, and the pool.

If your kiddos are a little younger, make sure to check out our panel of the week.  We have Quilting Treasures What Little Boys are Made of panels for $5.25.  There are some really cute coordinating fabrics that would make somebody a darling quilt.  Check it out here:

We hope you have a great weekend!  I can't wait to come back Monday and learn more about you!

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!

Tutorials, Panels and Baby Locks

Yesterday I signed my children up for volleyball and softball.  The softball clinic is on April 1.  And to those who are familiar with South Dakota, you know there's a good chance that April 1 will still bring snow or cold weather.  My only consolation is that it will be her, not me, who will be out in that for four hours.  Is that bad?  I love that our kids have lots of options to keep them busy during the winter and spring months.  Art classes, sewing classes, gymnastics, piano lessons, dance lessons, basketball are all offered in the area for our children.  If our kids are bored, it's their own fault.  

Well, Terry isn't bored.  Since she has been back, she's been busy making tutorials for our YouTube channel.  In the last two weeks, we have published How To Use A 24" Panel in Your Quilt, and a Fabric Folding Pen Tutorial.  As always, Terry clearly explains her work in detail, making it easy for you to follow.

Since we showed you how to use your 24" panel, and we have another tutorial posted on how to use your yard panel, we decided to put a panel on sale for you.  You know, to help you get started.

Northcott Ahoy Matie Panel

This cute little panel is on sale for $6.25 this week.  We think it will make such a cute quilt for the little pirate in your life!  Click here  to take you to our website.

Speaking of sales, our Baby Locks are still 50% off!  Please call or come in to grab your next favorite machine.  You only have FIVE more days left to get one at this terrific price.  The sale ends February 28.

Our Shop Hop is coming soon.  Terry has been creating our block for this event, and it is lovely.  We can't wait to show it to you!