SQUARED OFF TEST!

Cindy Pieters (Stitchin At Home)

asked me to test her newest quilt pattern!

and of course, I did!

"Squared Off"

Once you read this post

you will see my quilt top and Cindy's finished quilt.

If you follow the pattern fabric requirements

the whole process is quite easy...BUT ME...

I think outside the fabric requirement box

 to use stash I already have on hand. 

Sew I have to think more and be deliberate about

where I use the fabrics I have. 

For instance...instead of one fabric for the background fabric

I used the same fabric in TWO color waves.  

Used two color ways for the cross pieces

I kept the same color fabric for all the small triangles (pink)

and the center squares (green)

This pattern is easy to make, there is a lot of chain piecing

There was also a lot of marking sewing lines on 

the BIG triangle pieces

so you can sew on the small triangles pieces.

  "Work Smarter, Not Harder"

Make templates, with markings to guide you thru 

repetitive steps, quickly and easily!

Per the pattern marking instructions this template

helps me center and find the 4" and 5 1/2" lengths needed

for sewing lines.

The top little triangle gets pressed downward over the card.

That pressed line is where you line up and sew

a small triangle on top of the large piece, RST

NO PENCIL MARKING NEEDED!

Next I lined up the 5 1/2" measurement along the bottom

 and LEFT side of the template

The top triangle now gets pressed down for a sewing line.

Once all these are done/sewn

I repeated for the RIGHT side.

Here you can see the pressed line.

Line up the small triangle along it

Sew 1/4"  - EASY PEASY!

Once all triangles are sewn...

trim the seam allowances to 1/4" and press

All the chain piecing, trimming and pressing is done!

Time to assemble and sew the blocks!

All blocks now on the design wall 

I love the two color waves!

Its a very cute, fun and easy pattern

that looks difficult. 

I will say the triangles were the hardest part

because of all the biased edges...

they can stretch if not handled carefully!

I keep these test pattern quilts for Charity.

UPDATE:  This went to Quilts for Harvey (hurricane)

This is Cindy's "Squared Off" Quilt...

IF you can't wait to win it...

you can buy it here on Craftsy!

To enter the giveaway...

Just leave me a message and tell me where you live!

Winner of "Squared Off" digital pattern

will be drawn at random on August 31st

WEDDING AND A QUILT

I don't believe I have ever seen a bride as beautiful as 

Shannon (McElhatton) 

and her handsome hubby, Rick Coil

I was so thrilled to be invited to their May wedding.

I have been friends with Shannon's  Mom, Linda Craig, 

since early 70s and Shannon was just a little girl.

Look at these beautiful ladies now.

I think Linda looks like Cybill Shephard!

 When there is a wedding...I give quilts as gifts.

I made this large lap size quilt.  

The pattern is NOVA from the book, Scrap Basket Surprises.

The stars were made with 2 1/2" batik strips from a guild swap  

and the PURPLE border made it all POP!

Ends up...this became the perfect quilt for the Coils.

 Keep PURPLE in mind...

 Look at the PURPLE bridesmaid dresses

and look at colors of the flower bouquets!

My Thank You Card said 

"the quilt was the best gift they received and 

they would cherish it forever!"

and here it is...in the Coil home!

Gift cards...cash...meh

QUITLS will always be the best gift ever!

NUTCRACKERS IN AUGUST!

For the past 15 months I have been volunteering as an usher for

CAPA (Columbus Associaition of the Performing Arts)

The Nutcracker, performed by The Columbus Metropolitan Ballet, 

is a traditional event at The Ohio Theatre, Columbus, OH

The two CAPA Volunteer Coordinators, Janet and Sheri,

 have their hands full keeping, managing about 700 volunteers

and making sure there are  60 ushers/per show/for the 6 week run!

(plus all the other holiday shows)

I decided to thank them in my own way and

put a Nutcracker smile on their face.

It began with these fabrics pulled from my stash.

Quilted with some simple wavy lines.

sewn and labeled 

into wide open zipper pouches

(made at the Spring retreat in Amish Country)

I couldn't wait til the Holidays, so I presented them

 at the August Volunteer Appreciation luncheon !

Needles to say....they had Nutcraker smiles from ear to ear!

CAMERA + QUILT + GARDEN = BEAUTY

I love a beautiful garden - Franklin Park Conservatory

My Churning by the Sea quilt I made at the beach in January
(first two photos)

and my Cannon Point and Shoot Camera

They say a picture is worth a thousand words....

ENJOY THE READ!

YARN IT & HABERDASHERY

Sometimes I think I live under a rock.

There is a local yarn shop in my town that I didn't know about.

It's located in a little urban area of Columbus, OH

called Grandview Heights...

The owner, Esther, is such a sweetheart!

And oh the yummy colors and yarns that fill the shelves!

Great selection of Buttons for those knitted sweaters and such!

Lots of choices for knitting needles as well!

And before you get out the door...here's the bulletin board 

with all the information on upcoming classes.

So if you need a place to pop in and sit a while to knit

shop for great yarn, or grab a lunch next door...

this is the place to go!

In the meantime...check out the website here!