I'm all set for tomorrow's Bible Study at Quiltkeemosabe's home. Ten more blocks done this past month, we're 43.5% done (88 out of 202 blocks). Working out of
Rosemary Young's Quilt Block Bible has been lots of fun as well as challenging when it comes to writing up all of the piecing instructions. I've put some great tools to work this time: Studio 180 Designs
Corner Beam and
Corner Pop tools have proven invaluable in working out the blocks in chapter two, Pinwheels and Windmills, shown in the photo at left, the bottom four blocks. I'm glad I happened to have them in my tool arsenal, as well as the
E-Z Tri Tool. I have added
Marsha McCloskey's Feathered Star Ruler to my bag of tricks, Quiltkeemosabe had recommended it to me and boy, am I ever glad that she did! It is a ruler marked for precision cutting 1/8ths and 1/16ths. I now find that I can tackle these impossibly small-seeming cut sizes without fear! I am still
loving Creative Grids Itty-Bitty Eights ruler, but this new one (to me) opens up yet another way when it comes to precise 1/16" cuts. YAY!! All of these blocks shown are 6", finished, to give you some perspective. So here's the deal: I'm certainly not suggesting that you go out and buy all of the rulers that I have referenced here. What I am thinking, though, is that you may have some of these rulers in your sewing room, they may even be collecting dust; get them out. Dust them off. Familiarize yourself with them and their capabilities. These are precision
tools; they're designed by really smart people who've already done all of the hard math for you. Use them! The results will show up in your piecing. It's a definite win-win.
Panning out from the tight shot, above, you'll see what's growing from the bottom up on my design wall. It's the tumbler challenge thrown out earlier this month as a
Leader-Ender project by Bonnie Hunter. I'm calling mine, a charm quilt, TMX2 (
The
More
The
Merrier). It's totally mindless piecing which, sometimes, is oh-
sew-necessary after precision sewing for accuracy. Whatever you're piecing in your sewing room, I hope you're having fun... remember, after all, why we do what we do; this is (or should be) our happy place!
Life is Good!
7 comments:
Great tool; like you I love having new tool that ease the process of piecing. I just saw one, The Binding Tool, on FB yesterday and going to be looking for that one. My squaring ruler came part and is now taped together, so I may look for a new one of those as well. Your tools sound interesting!
Hugs, Noreen
wow gorgeous quilts in progress there mrs g. i love the x-thing....
I've never heard of some of these tools. I'm going to check the links and see what you are talking about. I have the Itty Bitty Eights and love them, but that is all that was familiar.
I am taking a class from Marsha McCloskey in Sept. I should check the class supply list and see if that is something I am supposed to have anyway.
Love finding tools that really make the process easier.
You are doing a fantastic job with your Bible Study blocks!
Happy happy tumblers and I really love your low volume project at the top of the design wall . . .
The tiny blocks are amazing and your tumbler quilt is wonderful!
It's really a shame how many rulers/tools I have that I don't use....I keep them hanging on a board beside the cutting table but even so I forget about them. I'm going to reevaluate them and see what I should be using! blessings, marlene
All of the projects on your design wall are so lovely! I may make tumblers instead of triangles for my bed quilt. I too have a lot of rulers that could be used. I do need to pick them up and see how they can help me. Thanks for the reminder.
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