Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Scrappy String Block Tutorial!!


Hello there quilty friends!
I just know that ya'll have
 leftover fabric strips. 
Am I right?!



 They are just waiting to become
 super cute Scrappy String Blocks...
so I'm going to show you how I make them!


I love creating wonderfully 
scrappy blocks and quilts from my stash.
As a girl...
I learned from my grandma 
and her sisters(my great aunts) 
lots of good ways to use up
 bits of leftover fabrics... 
and making string quilts 
were one of those ways!


I've done several scrappy blog posts and tutorials over the years.

All about how I buy fabric...
store and organize my leftovers...
 and more importantly...
how I actually USE my scrappy stash.


I have it ALL documented in
 step by step detail inside the
 "Tips and Organizing" 
section of my 


It's important to be organized 
with our quilty stash 
because then we know what we have...
where it is... and can easily get to it 
and make scrappy happy projects:)

YaY!


Here are 16 of my 
Scrappy String Blocks 
on the design wall.
I will be making many more 
for this quilt...
  not sure exactly how many yet.

These blocks are not sewn together...
and this is only one possible way 
to set them together.
Although over the years 
I have made a total of
 3 string quilts and have set
 all of them this way.


***SCRAPPY STRING BLOCKS***
1. Super easy to make.
2. Use leftover fabric strips.
3. Scrappy Happy:)
4. Addicting.
5. Super cute!

Let's get started:)


The first thing that you need to make my
 Scrappy String Blocks: 

 for the foundation.



Cut -  9" x 9" squares...
ONE for each block.

Each package will make 24 blocks:)



For this block I started with a 
2 1/2" wide strip 
that I grabbed from my 
2 1/2" scrappy strips basket.

I lay it face up on top of the
 interfacing on the diagonal like this.



Make sure to center it.
I cut off what's leftover from the
 strip end and put it back 
into my basket to use another time:)



Pin it onto the interfacing like this.



Grab a 1 1/2" wide strip 
(or however wide you want) 
and lay it onto the right side 
of the center strip...
 with the edges aligned like this.

Each end of each and every strip 
should be about 1/4" longer 
than the interfacing.
Trim off the bottom end before sewing:)



Sew the strips together going
 through the interfacing too:) 
Remove the 3 pins - 
(I only pin the center "starter" strip)
and add a strip to the 
other side in the same way.




Press those seams towards the 
outside strips and continue adding 
a strip onto each side....
trimming the ends and placing them 
back into their baskets.
(if you like to stay organized lol)



I use the edge of my presser foot 
as a seam allowance guide.
This presser foot is wider than
 1/4" so that is how wide my
 seam allowances are.



Continue adding new "string strips"...



And to press each "string" away 
from the center as you go along.



Keep adding strings 
alternately onto both sides:)



When I get to the end I like to 
grab my leftover squares basket
 and add a square to the corners. 
This one is a 2 1/2" square.


Make sure that your square measures
 at least 1/4" longer than the 
interfacing on both top and bottom.


Another 2 1/2" square for the other side.


Test which size square
 to use by folding it over
 before sewing to make sure it will 
cover the last of the interfacing.


All of my strings are
 sewn for this block...
YaY!
I use mostly 1 1/2" wide fabric strips
 for my blocks because I have 
a lot of them right now 
and I need to use them up!


This is what the back of my block looks like after sewing but before trimming.


Grab an 8 1/2" square Trim-It Ruler...


and center it onto the
 back of your block.
Make sure there is interfacing
 sticking out beyond all four sides
 of the ruler before trimming.


The ruler and a sharp rotary cutter
 make this step 
fast...easy... and accurate!


FUN and DONE!!!


Aren't they just the cutest?
They make me SEW HAPPY:)


Super Stacked Scrappy Strings!
Say that fast 3 times lol:)

Just in case you are wondering...
YES!
I leave the interfacing in.
It adds some stability and body
 to your quilt and because the 
interfacing is thin...
It is not too bulky at all.


Some of my blocks have a 
3 1/2" starter strip 
down the center and 
3 1/2" squares on the corners.


These are more blocks with 
2 1/2" strips down the center.


Some I have made with 
all 1 1/2" strips 
and various sized squares 
for the corners.


I think it makes 
the quilt more interesting 
to vary the width sizes...
and also allows you to use up 
lots of your scrappy stash:)

I hope you've had fun with my latest 
"Scrappy Happy Tutorial"
Stay tuned for more!!
xx
Lori


Monday, February 26, 2018

Let's Bake Sew Along - Week Six!!

Today is week six of our sew along...
and that means we have 
made it to the halfway point.

 Yippee!


We are  making great progress on our
 Let's Bake Quilt...
 and I love seeing everyones photos
 on the Instagram hashtag page:



First block recipe today is the
 Kitchen Scale



You will nee E7 Sew Simple Shape
 for the scale...
and E11 Sew Simple Shape
 for the dial.

Run the 1" strip through the
 1/2" bias tape maker

Sew your pieces...
trim...turn...shape and press!


Cut the short strip 1 1/2" long 
and press under the ends of the 
other strip to measure 4" long.

Place your scale in the center 
of your background square and 
1" up from the bottom edge.



Glue baste the top strip 1" down 
from the top edge.



Use the pattern on page 12 
of the sew along guide and 
trace the embroidery lines 
onto the dial.

I used all 6 strands of the 
red and green Aurifloss.
I like to embroider 
first before appliqué.


After your embroidery and 
appliqué are completed...
trim your block to 6 1/2" square 
to sew into the quilt.
Use the lines on the Trim-It Ruler 
to get it exactly centered.



Sew a red button in the 
center of the dial:)
Fun and Done!


Now let's move onto 
making the oven block:)


Lay out your pieces like this.
All seams are 1/4" as usual.



And sew the background strips 
to the sides of the gingham.

Sew the two strips to the 
top and bottom of the oven handle.

Sew the two strips on 
each side of the oven window.



Now sew the two squares onto
 the sides of the handle.

Sew the strip to the 
bottom of the oven window.



Now sew all three segments together
 and your oven is pieced!

Your block should measure 
16 1/2" square BEFORE 
you sew it into the quilt.



Trace a 5" x 7" rectangle 
onto your sew-in interfacing.



Place it onto the gingham...
paying close attention to center it 
on both sides and straight.

You don't want your 
dishtowel to be crooked:) 



Look closely at where my 
traced lines are on the gingham
 and do the same thing.



You will need E11 for the clock 
and E12 for the knobs.



Sew...



Trim...turn...shape and press.



Use the pattern on page 12 and 
trace the embroidery lines.



I like to embroider first.
I used all 6 strands of the 
aqua and the red...
as well as the off white 
for the chicken scratch 
on the dishtowel.



Here"s a close up of the 
chicken scratch.
Use the pattern on page 19 
for your stitching guide.
For the red stitches...
I just did straight stitches
 down the center of the squares...
alternating rows are 
horizontal and vertical.
Then I wrapped my thread underneath
 those rows to make the diamond design:)
You put your needle back down 
into the same place that you came up 
for each diamond.


I did my cross stitches first 
and then cross stitched over them 
again but from top to bottom 
instead of diagonal.

Easy peasy and fun!


I used Cute Little Buttons from the #2 Jar.


Cute as a button!!


I use matching Aurifloss to sew them on.


Baste the clock on first...
making sure its in the center.


Then add the knobs.
They are all 1" apart from each other.
Baste your dishtowel even with the top
 of the oven door handle and 
1" in from the left.
Now you can Applique!!


Now that you have an oven...
 you can bake all kinds of goodies!
Next week we will bake cookies...
so stay tuned:)
xx
Lori


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