Chinese Lanterns Quilt Block for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is almost here.

Yup, in just 5 days, year number 4707 (or 4708 depending on who is counting) will begin. This is the Year of the Tiger, and I’m still searching for a traditional quilt block with a tiger theme.

Chinese Lanterns Quilt Block

In the meantime, I’ve pulled out the Chinese Lanterns Quilt Block which is an interesting block and a great study in color value.

The first time I made the block, I chose a beautiful selection of green fabric that I thought would look good. It turned out that the values were a little too close to create the dramatic effect I wanted for my lantern.

A second try with only one fabric change made a world of difference.

You’ll find a description of the block and a video showing how to sew the block. There’s also a link to a more detailed study in color value using this block as an example.

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/1173-chinese-lanterns.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Heart Quilt Ideas and How to Quilt Weekly News

Well, we all survived Groundhog Day, even though I understand that Punxsutawney Phil’s (the official groundhog spring predictor) report was 2 hours late getting posted on the internet.

Nerve-wracking as it was, Phil did predict that we have six more weeks of winter left here in the Northern Hemisphere. What a surprise!

And what a great time for creating some fabulous quilts. With Valentine’s Day coming right up, you may feel that you are running out of time to create a wonderful decoration or gift for a loved one.

Think again.

You’ll find some quick and easy heart block patterns in this week’s newsletter, and my easiest heart quilt ideas.

If you’re not making heart quilts for your Valentine, you may want to make one for a baby.

Early in my quilting journey, I made tons of baby quilts using hearts that were machine appliquéd onto a solid fabric backing. These quilts were fun and easy to make. And when you assemble the blocks, each one can take on a unique look.

Check out the newsletter for ideas, and also included:

• Updates from Penny – heart quilt block patterns
• Featured Product – Stack and Whack Quilt DVD Mentor
• Quilt Idea – Heart Quilt for a Baby or for Valentines’ Day
• Quilt Block Video – Heart Quilt Block
• February 2010 Quilt Block Patterns

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/heart-quilt.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Quilts with Two Sides

Scrappy Heart Quilt Block

Oh, it’s so obvious – any quilt that has been finished has two sides. But the quilts I’m talking about are those with patchwork quilt blocks on both sides.

Now those are interesting quilts. And completely reversible. If you get tired of looking at one side, just flip it over and you have a whole new quilt.

There are a couple of ways to make a quilt like that.

The first, and maybe most obvious, is to simply make a quilt top using quilt blocks. Then make another “top” using quilt blocks. The second “top” would serve as the back of the quilt. Place batting between the two “tops,” quilt and then bind your quilt.

But, what if you want your blocks to line up front to back? You could make the two “tops” and spend hours lining them up as you layer your quilt. And then discover that, while you were quilting, the blocks became un-aligned.

How frustrating would that be?

Or, you could make the quilt as a Quilt as You Go project – creating one block at a time, using one block on the front and the other on the back in each square.

This could be the easier method of making sure that your blocks line up, and if that were my goal, I certainly would be inclined to use that method.

There are just a few additional things to keep in mind when you use that technique:

• How you will close the seams on the back – wider sashing, a separate piece of fabric sewn just on the back
• The quilting design – so it enhances both of the blocks
• The thread you use for quilting

You’ll discover additional tips for creating a reversible quilt using the Quilt as You Go technique when you visit:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/1174-2sided-quilts.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Using Photographs to Choose the Fabrics for Your Quilts

For many quilters, choosing colors for quilts is one of the most difficult parts of making a quilt.

You would think that it would be full of fun, and it would be really easy. Maybe it’s because there are some perceived “right” and “wrong” combinations that were told to us by some art or quilt teacher along the way.

If you are anything like I am, that is surely the case. And if choosing colors and fabrics for your quilts is easy for you – well, we’re more than a little envious!

I was told not to put colors together that were opposite each other on the color wheel. That meant that I avoided putting blue and orange together; red and green never showed up next to each other (except at Christmas); and yellow and purple were taboo.

Then there were the conversations about yellow-green and blue-green. What did that mean? And why didn’t all greens just go together?

Then during our Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation with Joen Wolfrom a while back, she talked about using photographs to choose the colors for our quilts.

Her point is that we can look to nature to figure out what colors “go” together. After all, who is going to argue with Mother Nature?

Even so, at first glance I was afraid my color choices would be very limited. For example, when you look at a picture of a red rose, how many different colors are there, really? Even if you include some leaves.

Boy was I wrong!

Once I began looking at photographs, I discovered that it was really easy to see more colors than I could ever use in one quilt.

And, when I started pulling fabric from my stash, it was easy to see which colors matched the ones in the photograph and which colors were slightly “off.”

Using nature as a guide for choosing colors in your quilts offers some interesting opportunities as well as security.

By collecting your favorite photographs – either by topic or simply by color – you will be able to choose a photograph to fit your mood, and create a quilt that will reflect your inner thoughts.

If you are in a bright, cheery mood, choose a photograph of a colorful flower garden drenched with sunshine.

If you are feeling more somber, choose a photograph with a darker sky and shadows – possibly one that was taken late in the day after the bright colors of the sunset.

What is also amazing is that the same photograph can produce a quilt with different qualities – just by choosing a different range of colors.

With nature, most anything goes. And with photographs, you can put your fabrics right next to the picture to match the colors.

To learn more about how this technique works and how you can use it in your quilting, visit:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/1506-photo-color-quilt.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Squaring up a Finished Quilt Block

It doesn’t seem to matter how carefully I sew my quilt blocks together, they always need to be trimmed once they are sewn.

When I am really lucky, the trimming is minor, and there are just tiny slivers of fabric that need attention. But there are some blocks that need some major work.

When I am sewing several blocks for a quilt, the other issue is whether they are all the same size.

Recently when I made a quilt using a Stack and Whack technique, almost every block needed to be trimmed; some more than others but all of them needed some attention.

Early in my quilting journey, I invested in a square ruler. I remember making the decision, and thinking it would be handy to have. Little did I know how much I would rely on it to square up finished quilt blocks.

Before I got my square ruler, I used the grid lines on my rotary cutting mat and my rotary ruler. What I soon discovered was that the sides of the blocks might be straight, but the corners were not perfect 90 degree angles, and when I tried to sew the blocks together, the result was a misshapen mess.

With just a few tips, you’ll be able to square up your quilt blocks so they will fit perfectly.

There are a few steps to make this easy:

1. Place the ruler on top of the finished block to see where you can trim around the block to make it square (what size your trimmed block will be)
2. Check any triangle tips to see where they fall – will they be cut off, or should you trim a little more in order to make them more pointy
3. Line your ruler up and trim two sides
4. Turn your ruler around and line up the two cut sides with the exact measurement of your finished and trimmed block
5. Trim the final two sides

You’ll see all of the steps and some close-up pictures of what the block looks like when you visit:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/2032-square-up-finished-block.php

You’ll also see a video showing a slightly different method of squaring up a block – also using a square rotary ruler.

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Happy Quacker Day

Duck and Ducklings Quilt Block

Maybe this is an annual celebration at your house.

I’ll readily admit that this is the first year we will be celebrating Quacker Day here at www.How-to-Quilt.com.

m. mouse, the official How-to-Quilt.com diabetic Siamese cat, yawned a big, wide yawn when I told him about it. It was like he said: “My beauty comes with brains, you know. Things that quack are just too big for me.”

But, really, today is National Quacker Day. So fill your day with duck celebrations – and maybe even plan a duck-themed quilt block.

You’ll find some fun history about Quacker Day in addition to a few duck quilt blocks, and a picture of a duck baby quilt I made in the early 1980s.

All in good fun – with quilt ideas you can use.

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1171-quacker-day.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Another Kind of Stack and Whack

If you’ve been around the quilting world for any time, you have probably discovered that there are many different ways to do the same thing.

Many quilt blocks have the same name, but have completely different designs. And there are blocks that have many different names, with the same block design.

So, it should come as no surprise that the Stack and Whack technique falls into one of those categories.

Tulip Lady Fingers Quilt Block

In this case, it is that when you say Stack and Whack, you could be talking about one of several different techniques for cutting fabric for a quilt.

Bethany Reynolds created a method for making quilts that move using a stack and whack technique.

Her quilts are quite unique and fun to make. Using her style of stack-n-whack, you’ll start with a fabric that has a large repeating design. Then simply layer pieces of the fabric and whack it.

You can sew the pieces together and create a kaleidoscope-type quilt.  Or choose a “blockier” look and make a tumbling block type of design.

Discover more about Bethany’s style of stack and whack quilts when you visit:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/1172-stack-n-whack.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Sewing Curves

Ghost Walk Quilt Block

It’s Groundhog Day! And every February 2nd, I think of the movie about Phil, the weatherman, (not to be confused with Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog) who just kept going in circles.

In the movie “Groundhog Day,” every time Phil woke up it was February 2nd, and he got to re-live the day until he “got it right.”

Phil, the groundhog, of course, got it right the first time and got to go back into his hole.

The movie brings a smile to my face, just thinking about it.

Believe it or not sewing circles and curves for quilt blocks can bring a smile to your face, too. But, it hasn’t always been that way for me.

Early in my quilting days, I avoided all blocks with curves or circles. Although it limited the blocks I could make, my theory was that there were certainly thousands of other blocks that didn’t have curves in them to choose from.

But, one day, I decided to take on the challenge. I found a book written by Pepper Cory about the Drunkard’s Path quilt block and its variations. Just looking at the instructions in the book made me think that I could actually sew curves in blocks.

Once I tried it, I discovered that it was really easy. And it didn’t take re-living the day to get perfect curves in my patches.

You’ll find some tips as well as a video showing how to sew curved patches with perfection:

http://how-to-quilt.com/articles/2213-sewing-curves.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Machine Quilting and Weekly How to Quilt News

January just flew by. And even though we’ve had more than our share of rain here in normally-sunny Southern California, this weekend we are dry and having fun getting our quilting lined up for next week.

m. mouse is fully recovered from losing his fang, and Quilter Sue found the kitty tooth fairy in her neck of the woods.

The great news is that m. mouse will receive a special tooth-fairy treat in the mail. He’s got his eyes out for the mailman, and I’m certain we will have pictures later this week with him and his tooth fairy reward for being a brave kitty during the whacking and ultimate loss of his fang.

We are thankful for the continuing adventures of m. mouse in his aging condition – whatever his adventures bring.

Heart Log Cabin Quilt Block

In the meantime, we’re excited for February and all of its holidays.

In our newsletter this week, you’ll find links to pages showing last year’s quilt block videos demonstrating how to sew special holiday quilt blocks for the month of February.

In addition, our current demonstration shows how to use some fantastic water soluble stabilizer for guiding your machine quilting. If you haven’t discovered or used this, you will be amazed.

And, you’ll find our February quilt block patterns, too.

http://how-to-quilt.com/newsletter/water-soluble-stabilizer.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny

 

Foundation Pieced Quilts

No Name Quilt Block

How often do you look at a quilt and wonder how the quilter ever pieced all of those odd-shaped patches together?

It happens frequently here.

Once I bought a pattern for a spiral quilt that was amazing. Each patch was a slice of a larger spiral and was its own unique shape. I was dying to know how it was sewn together, since none of the seams lined up.

Once I got the pattern home, I couldn’t wait to get it out of the bag to see how it was done. Much to my amazement, it was a foundation / paper-pieced quilt top – full size!

The only other paper- piecing projects I had seen before that were miniature quilts.

But this one could be made for a bed! And it looked like it was really easy to sew.

I’ve made some paper pieced quilts and blocks, and they are fun to make. Plus, the end results are perfect. The corners are all square, and you can easily get pointy triangle tips.

You don’t need to worry about cutting your patches perfectly, since you sew the fabric together using a paper (or fabric) template to guide you. Sew, trim, and tear away the foundation (if it is paper pieced). It really is just that simple.

You’ll find some tips and more details about the process when you visit:

http://www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/8002-foundation-piecing.php

Happy Quilting!

Penny