Introducing the...
As you may have guessed by now, I'm a HUGE fan of the quilting pre-cut, be it fat quarters, jelly roll strips, charm squares, layer cakes... the list goes on. As well as my Pre-Cut Party free to my Newsletter subscribers, I design and make up quilt and cushion kits based on these versatile pre-cuts. So I thought it would be great to find out how these precious fabric packs inspire you - did you start quilting using a pre-cut? Are you addicted to gorgeous fat-quarter bundles? Do you design your own quilts using only charm squares? We would love to see your creations.
As I normally (try to) blog on a Thursday, I thought I would carry this on, so why not join me here every week and share your pre-cut makes - they don't have to be current, or even finished, we just want to see what you're up to and how these precious fabric packs have inspired you.
To spread the word and share the quilting love, here's a Party button to add to your side bar...
So I'll go first.. my quilting group have kindly agreed to help a friend who is in need of some baby quilts for a charity she supports, and we've decided to give the hour-glass block using charm squares a whirl. A customer first sent me this link to the Missouri Star Quilts tutorial on YouTube and I thought this design would not only create some lovely baby quilts, but would also make a great workshop for the group. First though I had to work out how many 5" squares are needed to make a decent sized quilt - we are aiming for 1m x 1m square quilts. I took to my stash and cut up about 80 odd squares, going for a scrappy look and built up a number of four-patch blocks, then placed two right sides together, stitched around the edge using a 1/4" seam allowance, then cut them across both diagonals. Two hour-glass blocks - magic!
When sewing the rows together, I decided to press the seams between each block open to reduce the bulk. Then when I came to sew the rows together, I placed a pin through the points on each row, but didn't bring the pin back through all that bulk. Instead I inserted pins either side where there is less bulk, then removed the original pin before going to the machine.
It takes 72 5" squares to make up 36 hourglass blocks, which laid out as six rows across by six rows down with a small 3" (cut) border, gives you a quilt about 40" square, so ideally you need two charm packs.
When sewing the rows together, I decided to press the seams between each block open to reduce the bulk. Then when I came to sew the rows together, I placed a pin through the points on each row, but didn't bring the pin back through all that bulk. Instead I inserted pins either side where there is less bulk, then removed the original pin before going to the machine.
It takes 72 5" squares to make up 36 hourglass blocks, which laid out as six rows across by six rows down with a small 3" (cut) border, gives you a quilt about 40" square, so ideally you need two charm packs.
So now it's you turn...
Now check out these great linky parties;
Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Needle & Thread Thursday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? and Main Crush Monday
