Curve it up #11-Drunkards Path

I am excited about this week's block!!! It is so obvious that the Quick Curve Ruler will easily make the Drunkards Path block easier, faster and fun to sew! 

Pdf available here.

Fabric:
Cut (8) 5.5" squares focus fabric (green)
Cut (8) 5.5" squares background fabric (white)

Center and stack the 5.5" squares on mat.  From the bottom left corner make a mark up 4 1/2" and across 4 1/2" on left and bottom sides of squares.  Do this for all squares, green and white. (Sample below) 

Place the QCR on stack and center the "curve cut out" over pen marks, cut.  Do this for all squares.  (sample below)

Alternating the fabrics, make two, two color stacks. (sample below)

Sew the two pieces together as shown below.

Example:

 Using the QCR, square up each block to a 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square.  Position block as shown below under the QCR, centering the seams at the 3 3/4" marks on ruler (sample in yellow squares).  Square up right and top sides, flip, square up other two sides.

Layout blocks as shown.  Sew blocks to form rows, sew rows to form block.

You will end up with a 16 1/2" Drunkards Path, the "Curve it up" way!

Curve It Up #9 Dresden Plate and Curve It Up #8 Fancy Fans

Download PDF "Curve it up" #9 Dresden Plate click here . 

Download PDF "Curve it up" #8 Fancy Fans click here.

This seemes like the perfect week to get two blocks out of the same instructions!  Jenny called me last night and said tomorrow is the 22nd and we need to post a Curve It Up block......  With Ty being born last Friday, it was apparent to both of us that today's block should be a curvy Dresden Plate using the Fancy Fans instructions from two weeks ago.  Soooooo...... in the true spirit of quilting where multiple designs are created out of similar processes -- Dresden Plate.

Materials:
(4) 9" squares for background
(12) 4" x 6" for fans (gray)
(8) 4"x6" for fans (cheddar)
(4) 5x5" for fan base (OR here is when you can use some of your left over pieces from either block #1 Sawtooth Star or block #6 Curvy Geese)

Cutting with QCR:
1. Position 4"x6" pieces so the 4" sides are at the top and bottom, make a mark on the bottom 1.5" from the bottom left corner, and on the top make another mark 3.5" from the top left corner.

2. Using the QCR you will make two cuts to create your fans.  (IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE YOUR PRINTS ARE RIGHT SIDE UP BEFORE CUTTING 4"x 6" PIECES)  First, position QCR so cut out is over the bottom left and top left corners.  Make your cut.  Second, position the QCR so the cut-out is over the marks you made at 1.5" and 3.5".  Make your cut.  (Do not worry about centering the QCR on your fabric because the angle of the curve cut will be the same.)  Repeat for all 4"x6" pieces. 

3. Measure and mark 1.5" from opposite corners on 9" background squares.  Position QCR on marks and cut in the curve cut-out.

4. Position QCR on 5" squares so cut-out is over opposite corners.  Cut in the curve cut out.  Use the larger piece for this block and set aside the smaller pieces for possible use later. (or use left over pieces which are already cut)





Assemble Fans:
Layout fans with alternating colors.  Sew (4) sets with 5 fan sections in each.

Position fan pieces as shown with bottom fan extending 1/4" past top fan to create seam allowance.  Bring curves together as the feed under the presser foot.




Press seams from back to either direction.  Press on front.

Position QCR on fan so curve cut out is 1/4" from top fan seams.

 Cut in the curve cut-out.  Reposition to the left and then again to the right following the cut curve so completely cut the curve along the top of the fan.








Assemble fan unit to background:
Measure 3/4" in on top of fan.  Position this mark at the edge of background piece.
Sew fan to background piece. (my photos are upside down and I cannot fix them, sorry, think with your feet, Lol)

Press seam away from fan.  Repeat for all (4) fan blocks.

Position square-up ruler on fan and square sides to match background piece.

Measure down 4.5" from where fan and background join on each side.  Position QCR on marks and cut in curve to even up bottom edge of fan.

Position fan bases on fan and sew bringing two curved edges together as it feeds under the presser foot.
Press fan base.  Position square-up ruler on block and square to 8.5".  Seam of fan and background piece should be at the 7.5" mark on ruler when squaring up.

Layout
Sew blocks together to create your Dresden Plate Block!

Urban Candy on "Steroids" & "Tame" Urban Tiles

I felt a little bit like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this past week.

First for my Dr. Jekyll experience:  I finished piecing and quilting up my small version of Urban Tiles.  Jenny had asked me to write up the pattern for Urban Tiles, so first I pieced four Urban Tile blocks.  Jenny's was really scrappy so I made mine very uniform to give it a different look.  I like how it turned out and it feels very tame compared to her original version.  This look is safe, pleasant, controlled, etc.  Very Dr. Jekyll...

Now for Mr. Hyde:  I decided I was going to piece and quilt a version of Urban Candy.  I love the line "Mod Century" from Jenny Ski of Moda Fabrics and new it would work great for this pattern.  Jenny (my Jenny not Jenny Ski) and I thought it would be fun to reverse the background and prints from the original pattern.  I bought the layer cake and 1/3 yard of yardage for all the background pieces and Kona gray for the the solid curves.  I was a wild quilty lady on Friday: I bought the fabric, cut the pieces, and sewed up the entire quilt in 1 day.  Very MR. HYDE...  Yesterday I quilted the vertical lines to give it a little peace and sewed on the binding for a break from the scrappy background.  My 17 year old son said it looked like a quilt on Steroids!  I really LOVE how it turned out and I have sat and looked at it now for about an hour just mesmerized by the randomness of the background fabric and the beauty of the gray curves.  Working with the "Mod Century" line was just as exciting as the fabric is...

It was kind of exciting being Mr. Hyde because I am usually only a Dr. Jekyll......

Helen

Curve It Up Block #6 - Curvy Geese

I love traditional Flying Geese blocks and this is a fun curvy variation!
To download pdf, click here.

 

Cut (16) 5.5" x 5.5" focus fabric squares (blue)

Cut (4) 5.5" x 5.5" background (orange)

Cut (12) 5.5" x 5.5" background (white)

 Position QCR on a few 5.5" squares.  Fabric above ruler should be at the 3 7/8" and 8 1/8" marks and bottom left point is on the 6" line at the 5.5" intersection.  See red circles.  Using your rotary cutter cut in the curve cut-out.  Repeat for all 5.5" squares. (Note: I have drawn lines on my QCR to make positioning squares easier and quicker)

 Layout cut pieces as shown above.  Use pieces circled.  Set aside others for use in another block.

 Position pieces as shown and sew a 1/4" seam.  Easing together curved edges while sewing.  Repeat for all pieces.

 Press seams open on all 16 blocks.

 Square up blocks to 4.5" x 4.5".  Note that the 4.5" marks on the QCR are on curved seam.  Repeat for all 16 squares.

 Layout all blocks in desired setting.  

Sew blocks to form rows.  

Sew rows together.

Curvy Geese - 16.5" square

You should now have 6 of 12 blocks done.... Yahoo!

Curve It Up #5 and Table Runners

I have been just crazy with holiday activities and having company and have enjoyed every minute of it!  But that meant I have done absolutely NO blogging since Dec 9.... I hope all of you have been busy with your families and activities also.

First off, here is my 'Curve It Up - Block #5'.  I loved Jenny's new take on the Nine Patch and setting it on point was great!

 Here are three quilts I finished for my three daughters for Christmas!

Rachel's quilt.  We all fell in love with this great red poppy fabric which I used for my niece's wedding quilt and I took the left overs and made this one.

Kimbra's table runner which will be a new pattern called Metro Hoops.  Such a great design, easy to sew, and very contemporary!

Leanna's table runner which is the pattern that comes with the purchase of the Quick Curve Ruler!  The prints are Ty Pennington and are perfect for this design!

I grid quilted the table runners in no time at all!  I think Jenny and I are going to have to limit how many times we can use the grid quilting or everything might end up with it.  ;o)

Check back on Tuesday for block #6 of the Curve It Up series.....

Helen