Here’s just a quick little tutorial I uploaded last week simplifying the process of making the utterly-tradtional Flying Geese unit.
The process of how to make this block should be a staple in your patchwork library and when it is, you can adapt and shape it into any size or formation you wish!
Here are the measurement & cutting instructions for this block..
– Cut x1: 5&1/2″ x 3″ rectangle from one fabric
– Cut x2: 3″ squares from a contrasting fabric
– Piece together as demonstrated in the video.
– Feel free to make as many Flying Geese units as you wish to piece together a long strip, or square or rectangle. The choice is all yours!
The final measurements of this unit are: 5&3/8″ x 3″ or 13.5cm x 7.5cm.
And, here are some great examples of the Flying Geese unit pieced together in a few beautiful and creative ways!
(Links to the sources of these quilts are at the end of this post!)
With a comforting mug of tea settling next to the keyboard and my written notes laid out before me, let’s explore the latest instalment in my quilt block tutorials – the Pinwheel Block!
Inspired by a block in the book ‘500 Quilt Blocks’ by Lynne Goldsworthy & Kerry Green, the Pinwheel Block is deceptively easy!
Here’s what you need to do to make this block!
Measurement & cutting instructions
(This block only requires two contrasting fabrics.)
Cut x2: 6″ squares from one fabric for the corners
Cut x2: 4.5″ squares from each fabric for the HSTs*
Final block size: 25.4cm or 10″ square.
And as always, let me know if you’re going to give this block go! You can email your lovely pictures to this address: 3and3quarters@gmail.com
Happy Sewing Friends!
xx
PS. Regarding my Christmas videos: These will begin in December, with the first one due to come out on Wednesday the 3rd! Then every Sunday & Wednesday upload, until the end of the month will be Christmassy related! Whoo! (This is just incase I didn’t really explain it well enough in the video!) I hope you will all enjoy the ideas and projects I have in store!
On a warm Friday night three years ago, I plucked up the courage to begin writing this here humble quilting blog.
Now here we are, 1,093 days later and I’m still just as dedicated and proud of my little slice of the internet as I was the day I created it.
As I’ve done in other past ‘birthday’ type posts, let’s recap the year that was!
Firstly: YouTube!
This year, I’ve dedicated a lot of hard work into developing my YouTube channel(and with some very pleasing results thus far!).
I’ll also be the first one to admit that I’ve spent so much time planning and creating content for it, that my blog has had to fall-by-the-way-side so speak and become the second child. But! In saying this, my blog has never been too far out of my mind! Along with my YT channel, the welfare of my blog is always on my mind and I’m constantly developing ways in which I can improve its quality! Hence my little foray into making video tutorials!
Thanks to YouTube, my confidence in my patchwork/quilting skills has improved, I’ve felt confident in delivering and teaching skills to others and I’m continually being challenged in both my sewing skills and editing/technical skills.
Hooray!!
Here’s a list of some of the most challenging videos I’ve created this year…
Although I had been quilting for over 7 years, 2012 was the first year I was confident enough in my work to enter them into shows.
This year, I struck a goal off my list and entered a few items into the prestigious Sydney Royal Easter Show in April/May. And would you believe it, one of my quilts received a highly commended ribbon!!
No way did I think I would receive anything in my first year of entering! Not in the least! But I’m so greatly humbled that my sweet little ‘Happy Quilt’ was noticed and received the love it’s owed.
Now this quilt hangs in my room and I use it as a backdrop for quite a lot of my videos! (Just like this one!)
And like last year, I entered a mini quilt into the Sydney Quilt Show during July. Although it didn’t receive any ribbons, I’m still chuffed to bits that my little quilt was invited to hang in an enormous room filled with many, many, many beautiful quilts!
Thirdly: Projects!
As I began brainstorming and planning the things I would write for this section, a pang of guilt was slowly rising inside of me. I felt that I really hadn’t ‘made’ or ‘done’ very much sewing/patchwork/quilting/crafting wise to really reflect and chat about.
However, after having a quick squizz through all of the post I’ve published over the last year, so many little projects kept popping up with me exclaiming out loud, ‘Oh yeah! I totally forgot about that one!’ Hence highlighting the reason why I chose to begin writing a blog! My mind really is like a sieve sometimes!
So here are some highlights of the creative things I’ve began and/or finished over the past 12 months.
Halloween Crafts: This is the first time I’ve ever got into Halloween crafting. Halloween isn’t widely celebrated in Australia but it’s very slowly (some may say very quickly!) catching on!
Dressmaking: I’ve made a few little things in the past (a coat, aprons, dresses) but over the last month or so I’ve really enjoyed the process of making simple t-shirts through preparing the pattern, pinning it down, cutting it out and then constructing a 2D material into a 3D wearable garment.
Plus, there’s an element of pride in wearing something that you’ve made and then having others compliment you on how well it looks! (Modest much!?)
Struggling with WIPs: At the start of the year, I made a pledge to try and finish all of my WIPs. It’s safe to say that promise went out the window two weeks in! To add to the pile is a Plus Block Quilt and my ‘Diamonds in the Sky’ Quilt that I totally ruined with some ridiculous experimental quilting!!!
Oh! It’s so horrible!!
(I haven’t the heart or patience to unpick this yet! I’m still in mourning!)
It’s still listed, waiting for the perfect buyer. Do you know anyone having a little baby girl soon? Perhaps this is what you’ve been looking for! (A little bit of promotion on my blog never hurt anyone, right?)
Another quilt that is currently under way is one I’m making for my niece who is due to enter our family in early December!
And here’s a little bit of trivia for you: one of the blocks in this quilt is the very one I made in my Bear Paw Block tutorial! Yep!
Embroideries: I’ve stitched a few more embroideries including this one which I made into video!
Little Purses: These little guys are always my best seller when I list them up onto my madeit store. They’re super easy to make and the design possibilities are endless!
I have quite a few listed at the moment if you’re interested… Unfortunately, they’re only available for Australian residents. Postage is insanely pricey for any international sales. You’ll find the postage will be more expensive than the purse itself!
Fourthly: Goals for the coming year.
I think one of the main things I want to achieve over the next 12 months is a steady growth in my sewing skills, gain confidence when it comes to teaching and filming for my YT channel as well as to take on opportunities that are given to me to develop my creativity and voice in the world.
There are also some big quilts I want to attempt too!
One being a hand-applique based quilt that will feature this design…
Sampling the planned design!
(I’m thinking of entering this into the 2015 Sydney Royal Easter Show if I finish it on time!)
I’ve always, always, always admired these quilts. The technical skills and patience to make this is incredible to think of! But, I feel that I could tackle a quilt of this magnitude and do a good job of it too! (Famous last words??)
So there are two quilts with some pretty intense types of skills that I’ll need to teach myself and hone but I’m ready for the challenge and ready for downfall! (If that happens, of course!)
So there is the year that’s past. Looking back over previous posts from this year, I’ve open up a lot about myself to you all (check this post out), have shared where I get my inspiration from, have studied a heck of a lot, re-joined the retail working-class and shared the lovely things I have in my life.
But lastly, to all of you who follow my blog in one way or another, I would like to thank you for your most wonderful support, for your always kind words of encouragement and for simply ‘liking’ my posts!
Every little bit of interaction from you (whether you’re just browsing or seriously analysing my every word) brings me immense pleasure and happiness! I truly am lucky to have like-minded people interested in the things I write, make and photograph.
I have a main project/quilt on the go at all times – currently it’s my Friendship Star Quilt, which is in a state of half-started quiltiness!
Then I have lots of other little side projects sprouting out from my sewing room, (usually lying on a coffee table or sitting mid-stitch on my desk), that I seem to begin to occupy/procrastinate my time with.
This post is dedicated to those side projects that are currently distracting me away from quilting this!
{Side Project #ONE}
Stop Motion Embroidery
When I get a chance to sit down in front of the telebox, I’m coolly stitching away at this number.
It’s current state!
Every two minutes I take a photo of my progress, resulting in an effect that looks a little like this.
I’m so close to finishing this one! Hopefully I’ll be able to edit and upload it within the next few weeks!
{Side Project #TWO}
Mother’s Day Appliqué
This Sunday in Australia we’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day and because I’m as broke-as-two-bob-watch, I’m making this for my mum!
Ready to start stitching!
It’s a sweet little applique design I found in a quilting book in my library called 101 Full-Sized Blocks.
I thought this would be cheaper and a lot more personal than buying her real flowers – at least these ones won’t die in three days!
I’ll hand-stitch a satin/buttonhole stitch around all of the shapes, baste and bind it turning it into a mini wall quilt.
Now, I’m not sure how many of you who are reading this little post are beginners…
But, if you are, you’ve stumbled upon the right blog at the right time!
Huzzah!!
Because my latest little quilty-chat video is all about the essential tools that I believe you’ll need when starting out in the quilting game.
There are tons of different tools that we (as more experienced quilters) could try and convince you (the naive beginner quilter) to begin with – i.e. fancy rulers, differing thread weights, designer patterns, expensive sewing machines.
But, I think it’s more important to arm you, newbie patchworkers, with the most simple and basic tools to get started with. And then, as you become more confident and dedicated to your craft, by all means go get those fancy rulers that will help perfect your HSTs (that is Half Square Triangles); go and buy every shade of your favourite weighted thread; stalk those uber-cool quilt pattern designers on Instagram(a guilty pleasure!); and treat yourself to that sewing machine you’ve had your eye on for the past six months!
By the way, I am no professional when it comes to knowing what is best for each individual quilter. I chose the items stated in this video from experience when I worked at Spotlight. Eager newbie quilters would come into our store and ask, ‘What do I need to make a quilt?’. And so, this is what I would direct them to…
Here’s a list of all the items featured in this video:
– ‘Quilting Step By Step’ by Maggi Gordon
– ‘The Practical Guide to Patchwork’ by Elizabeth Hartman
– Fiskars Classic Stick rotary cutters, 28mm and 45mm
– Sew Easy Quilt-N-Sew Ruler, 14″x5″
– Fiskars Self-Healing Double-Sided cutting mat, 18″x24″
– Mundial Dressmakers Shears, 9 1/2″
– Tonic Studios Non Stick Precision Scissors
– Birch Quilters No-Melt Flower Head pins
– Birch Quilters Tape Measure, 300cm/120″
– Gutermann threads, 100% Cotton and 100% Polyester, 250m spools
– Clover Seam Ripper
– Philips Iron | Model: Azur
– Birch Quilters Curved Steel Safety Pins, 27mm
– Birch Quilt Basting Spray, 350g can
– Brother Innovis 200QE Sewing Machine (not seen)
So if are that eager newbie quilter – welcome to the fun, the creativity, the endless possibilities and ever evolving world of quilting!
I have learnt a great, great, GREAT deal from Craftsy: hexies, foundation paper piecing, general block construction, fabric cutting, ironing techniques – you name it, I’ve learnt it from Craftsy!
Another one of my most successful [and favouritist] quilts came from a Craftsy class and that is my ‘Jacob’s Ladder Quilt’.
For ages I was looking for the perfect project to use my beautiful DSQuilts fabrics with and along came the Jacob’s Ladder Block episode in the Magical Jelly Roll Quilts class.
And, whaalaah – what I produced was a beautiful, scrap-happy, two-tonal quilt that everyone seems to have fallen in love with!!
{ #FOUR – INSTAGRAM }
I’ve been on Instagram for a good few years now, but only recently have I used it as a form of inspiration.
Instagram has given me the access to follow the accounts of some of my most favouritist quilters, thus allowing me to see what they’re currently working on, where they’re getting their inspiration from as well as take a glimpse into the glamorous [and sometimes not so glamorous] side of a quilters life.
Just some of the Instagrammers I follow…
It has also given me the chance to network with other quilters and creative minds from all over the world, sharing in each other’s current creative pursuits!
I’ve also found that Instagram, like Pinterest, is a great resource to see what is currently in ‘vogue’ within the quilting world – i.e. what fabric lines, shades, tones and prints are in, what forms of quilting others are using to finish their quilts, what shapes and designs of blocks are being made etc.
Plus, it’s a great little resource that’s nice and handy on my phone! SCORE!!
{ #FIVE – BLOGGERS }
I love reading other quilting blogs – it’s where people can be completely honest about their work.
Blogs give us the opportunity to share passionately about where we find our inspirations, what we hope and dream for in the future and how we somehow manage to find sprinklings of time to indulge in our love for patchwork and quilting. We use this platform to share our life-loves, our families, our struggles, and our successes, our obsessions and adventures!
Apart from my long list of wonderful WordPress blogs that are tiered up in my Reader, here are just a few other creative blogs that I love to ponder…
This seems like a bit of a medieval notion doesn’t it!? Getting inspiration from books when we have a wealth of knowledge at a finger tips on the web!?
You may not know this, but I’m on of those ‘self-taught quilters’ who learnt the fundamental basic of patchwork and quilting from books!
My first ever patchwork/quilting book!My little library!
If I was stuck on a particular element of quilt making, I would search and search for the answer in a book before I would ever think about consulting the Internet.
I’m proud of my little library of patchwork/quilting books. I admit, it is growing ever so slowly…some of those good quality quilting books can be a tad pricey!
Have you got any favourite patchwork/quilting books that you love? Please, do tell!!
So, my encyclopedia of inspiration has come to an end. Although, I will never rule out including more in the future!
Honestly, after all that writing, I simply find inspiration for my work from everything around me – nature, movement, colour, shapes, mood, space, texture, people, experience – the list is endless!
I find that the resources that I’ve listed in this post allow me to harness the ideas that are raging through my head into do-able realistic projects. Otherwise, they’d still be up there, Dub-Stepping and Flash Dancing away in my brain!
I’ve been a busy little bunny these past few days.
And I can finally present to you a finished quilt top!
I like to the think of the star blocks as
‘Like Diamonds In The Sky’…
So pretty!
Admittedly, the whole thing needs a good press – especially around the edged sashing – but still, it looks good!
So it’s now onto the next stage!
Basting!!
I used to dread when it came to this part…
Lying all over the floor and busting my back sticking pins into a quilt. It’s wasn’t my cup-of-tea so to speak.
But to the rescue came Quilt Basting Spray!
And now, what was a whole day job has become a 15 minute job! (That is: basting and ironing times combined together!)
I plan to back the quilt with this floral print that I have literally a whole ton of and am desperate to use up as quickly as possible! And then bind it with the white/navy stripes.
I’m also trying something new with the thread I’ll be using to stitch my quilty lines.
I’m going to give this a go…
It’s a spool of Gutermann Sulky Machine Embroidery thread (100% Cotton) that has variegated shades of navy blue/turquoise/purple/maroon.
I’m hoping the shades will blend well with the fabrics that make up the quilt top.
Although the thread seems a little thick than usual, I have my fingers crossed that my machine can take it and feed it through evenly enough as we go along!
So for the rest of the week (and no doubt the weekend too!), I hope to be parked permanently in front of my sewing machine!
They’re like an open window: you look through and see the shinning hope of what the weekend will entail!
For me I’m fortunate to have Friday as an extra sewing day.
And that’s exactly what’s happening on this crisp autumn afternoon!
I’ve been itching for a spare bit of time to crack on with my Friendship Star Quilt.
So far I’ve made 10 blocks and need to complete another 15 before I can begin piecing them together to finish the quilt top.
Today I’ve cut and pieced HSTs etc. ready to piece together at least another 4 or 5 blocks.
I don’t know why but I seem to have this odd habit of cutting out only enough fabric to piece together 4 or 5 blocks at one time. I never cut out everything before I start. I think I’m always wary of getting stung by cutting too much and essentially wasting fabric that I could’ve used for another project.
Surely, I’m not the only one who does/thinks this…??
So, I’m in a ‘slow-pace’ kinda mood today, meaning I’ll possibly play a little bit of Passenger (my ultimate favourite singer/songwriter) and simply take my time getting these sweet little beauties done.
Happy Sewing Friends!
3and3quarters 