New Tools = Happy Quilter!

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!

Chain Piecing For Accuracy

When I'm putting together most blocks based on rows ( I am using a nine patch here for demonstration purposes, but any row-based block can be put together similarly; four, nine or sixteen patch block) I usually put them together with the following chain piecing method. I will lay the block out in front of me with the squares or pieced units in their designated spots. I join the left row to the center row, (top to bottom) without cutting the thread between the rows.

Without clipping any threads the far right row (top to bottom) is placed,
right sides together, on top of the center row and stitched.

Stitching the second row together by chain piecing.

The block as it appears with the thread bridges in place; don't clip! Press the seam allowances in opposite directions: in this block I pressed away from the small green squares and toward the center on the top and bottom rows and away from the large center green square in that middle row. Now it's time to pin and stitch the the rows together; the opposing seams (with the thread bridges) will nestle in and align perfectly. Once upon a time I pieced a small wallhanging together in this manner, quilt blocks were chain pieced in vertical rows one after another with thread bridges holding the entire quilt top together before joining the horizontal rows; I did have to take special care that the blocks didn't twist when using this method. If you haven't chain pieced a block together before you may want to give it a try... it's a new year after all... time to try something different and fun; I believe you'll be happy with the end result!

Voilà!
Life is Good!