Shakespeare in the Park - Assignment Week 3

This week's assignment:

1. Make six more variable star blocks in the opposite colorway ... these
will be dark background with light stars.

The finished blocks should measure exactly 6.5"

Have a good week!


Assignment Week 2
Assignment Week 4

Shakespeare in the Park - Assignment Week 2

This week you are going to be putting blocks together. As you look at
the components of the Y and Z blocks, how would you suggest putting them
together?

What method(s) did you use for the Flying Geese? and why did you choose
that method?

Are all your flying geese measuring the same? If not, what difficulty
did you have?

And your assignments:

1. Cut patches A, H, F, G (F and G depend on chosen method of Flying
Geese)

2. Put 6 Star Blocks together

Your completed blocks should measure 6.5" square. If they don't, check
your seam allowances and check that you cut pieces A and H accurately.

Assignment Week 1
Assignment Week 3

SITP ....And we're off.......or things I have learned so far

Today Linda and I got together for a sew in. I wanted to start the Shakespeare in the Park project and as always I wanted her sage wisdom. I am so glad I talked with her before starting, and I wanted to pass on some of the things I learned today.

1. WHAT??? SLOW DOWN???

As anyone who knows me can attest, I have 2 speeds: on and off. I have the personality that wants to get things done yesterday. Today with this project I have hit a much needed personal speed bump. I have decided to follow the pattern as the book has presented it. Sure I have 15 different ways to make flying geese, but Judy Martin has a way of making a quilt block that is pretty dam close to perfect. Her philosophy is (as stated in the book) why trim it down, why fuss and force a block, just make the block right from the start. I did not know this. I think I started with that let's whip out another quilt attitude.

If you use her method, cut precise, sew precise then the blocks will come together perfectly. No need to trim or pull. This method requires a little extra time. This is the reason that Linda has broken it down into so many lessons, so we don't throw our machine out the window, snap at our significant others or mainline espresso in our attempts at perfection.

Lesson one - no Nonja, you are not finishing this quilt tonight - SLOW DOWN

2. Measure, Measure, Measure..

Again - What? Measure after I sew .... are you sure - I just measured when I cut the fabric....

Yes -You need to check your blocks. I was having some issues and realized that I was not using the scant 1/4 inch. Use a "scant' 1/4 inch seam. What is a scant 1/4 - I wanted to be right in my definition so I goggled it - How surprising 7,500 hits - Basically it is a little under a 1/4 inch. How best to achieve it? If your needle moves on your machine - just move it over one to the right - If not this is the best way I have found was on the web from Patricia Margaret and Donna Slusser:

You are very wise to be concerned about your 1/4" seam allowances. And by using that term, right away you can get in trouble.

If you use exact 1/4" seams, you will find that your blocks will be a little small. The reason for this is that some fabric is lost in the turn of the cloth when you press the block. We need to learn to sew and use scant 1/4" seam allowances.

To do this you will need to place a marker on the throatplate of your machine. Don't rely on a special 1/4" sewing machine foot. Always determine that scant 1/4" mark for yourself.

Cut a strip of four-squares-to-the-inch graph paper. Trim it along one of the lines. Place the graph paper under your presser foot and pierce the paper just shy (by a couple of threads of fabric) of the first line. Place a piece of masking tape or adhesive-backed moleskin right along the edge of the graph paper. That will give you a scant 1/4" seam allowance.

So today I have learned that I do not need to mainline espresso (but I can if I want to). This quilt will be broken down so that we all can do it in little pieces, so I plan on doing it right. I vow to cut slowly, measure and recheck after every block. I will not throw my machine out the window (I just got it out of the shop) I will take my time and I will ENJOY myself but I might still yell at my husband - just for good measure!

So far so good - I had a great time today - Thanks Linda!!!!

Here are my flying geese and my colors - Pink, Chocolate and Cream

Shakespeare in the Park - Assignment Week 1

Each week (except for over the U.S. holiday weeks in November and December) we'll have steps posted for working on different parts of this beautiful quilt. I started with a small block, Evening Star (Variable Star), so we get the feel of the fabrics we've chosen and how the pieces start to go together.

We are making Blocks Y and Z from The Creative Pattern Book. The first component is the flying geese and you can find three methods of making this here on the blog.

The first week we are making blocks with dark "sky" pieces (the small side triangles) and light (background) for your geese which is the large triangle.

Your tasks for the week are:

1. Square up your fabrics and make sure you are cutting on the grain.

2. Make 24 flying geese units with a light goose and dark sky. This will be part of 6 Y/Z blocks.

Have a good week!

Assignment Week 2

Straight of Grain - what's up with that?

One of the things I found interesting in the fabric cutting for the Shakespeare in the Park project was that the measurements were broken into 18" widths -- fat quarter size! I had not thought much about it until I realized how much easier it is to find the grain line in a piece this size! On page 25 of The Creative Pattern Book, there's some good information on why she cuts lengthwise on the grain, and I thought it might be helpful to have a little lesson on grain lines in fabric.

For all you old hands at sewing, none of this is going to be news :) but I think some of our newer quilters might not have a clear idea of how to use the grain of the fabric to improve their blocks!

The grain refers to the crosswise and lengthwise threads that make up your fabric. On the printed side it might be a little harder to determine where the threads run, so turn it to the wrong side and give a look ... from selvedge edge to edge is called the crosswise grain and
the length of the fabric is the ... right! lengthwise grain! Any cut off those two grain lines will have a bias edge to some degree.

The crosswise grain generally has a little more "give" in it than the lengthwise. If you cut a small square of your fabric and pull on the top and bottom you will see a bit of stretch, where if you pull on it side to side it is less "wiggly". The lengthwise grain is more stable and that's why it is often called for when cutting borders and sashing -- where you want the most stable pieces to frame and square-up your work.

In cutting your fabric, you want to make sure you are cutting with the grain. How?

You can eyeball it by following the threads (easier to do with a fat quarter in front of you!),
Take one ruler and line it up to a crosswise thread and one ruler perpendicular to it on a lengthwise thread and square up that end. Or you can actually pull a thread on many fabrics ... if you get hold of a thread and inch it along to pull it out, much like you were gathering
something, you will have a perfect line to follow when cutting strips.

Why is the grain so important?

Cutting your fabric squares with edges along the straight grain will minimize stretching during measuring, marking, cutting and sewing. Straight grain edges helps to ensure that your blocks don't stretch or become distorted. Triangles, without exception, are going to have at least one bias edge to them. If you make sure that the straight edge is the outside edge of the block, you will find a nicely pieced block. The method of cutting a square and then making two diagonal cuts will put the straight edge on the outside edge of the block.

That's all I have to say about the straight grain of fabric :)

Design Elements -- A Challenge for YOU!

And now for something completely different.... (but related I PROMISE!!!!) If you have completed the flying geese for the Shakespeare in the Park quilt and need something to keep you busy this week -- try this one for size!

I have recently gone back to school. This is one of the reasons for my slack in the posting department. I love quilting so much that when I was presented with the opportunity to go back to school I wanted to do something that would enhance my art, so I am going back for Graphic Design. I am learning so much and wanted to share this with you. Not only am I learning about color and value, I am learning about design.

Design is such an important aspect to art -- including quilting -- and I think we tend to overlook it sometimes. Many times we have so many things presented to us that we get in a cut and paste mentality. We fall into a feather/stipple/crosshatch rut. For me it was hard to come up with my own ideas, when I could look at everyone else’s ideas and they seemed to come so easily.

To help break us out of that rut and to help us approach design with a new eye, I present to you a challenge to look at your world and the design elements in you’re every day. When you take the time to look at the design elements around you, I promise you, you will look at your quilting differently.

Your challenge for the next week is to look at the natural elements that are around you every day and take pictures of them. Photograph what you see -‐focus on seeing things differently; a new perspective or something you haven’t noticed before. Look from different angles, different position, see the subtle and not-so-subtle shadings.

Take pictures of Line, Color, Texture, Pattern and Shape

Look for signs, text, symbols, color and pattern. Use both nature and man-made objects. Do not set up something, but capture the element "in the wild" so to speak. Challenge yourself with interesting compositions, experiment with emphasis through focusing the lens The trick here is to stay AWAY from the craft/fabric room. Get out there – Looking at the elements of design in your everyday world will help you out in so many ways. It will inspire you, help you out of a rut, and let you see the art all around you. Take as many pictures as you would like, but please only send me the top picture in each category. E-mail them to us at nonjay@gmail.com. Have them all in to me by Monday the 12^th of October. Linda and I will pick the winner out of all the submissions Wednesday the 14^th of October. As incentive for your challenge I have a Moda Honey bun and 2 charm packs for the winner. Here are some examples that I took when I had this challenge presented to me.

TEXTURE

COLOR

LINE

SHAPE

PATTERN

Good luck and REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!

Really quick note - Have to add - these have to be YOUR pictures that YOU took
No snagging pics off google!!! :)

Flying Geese - Method Three

This method will give you four flying geese when you’re finished

Let’s revisit our formula for flying geese: A finished block is half as tall as it is wide ... so a 3 width on my block will have a 1/5 height. But you can use this formula for any size flying goose It will always work for you

In this method we’re going to cut a large square and 4 smaller squares. The large square is again going to be the finished width of the block plus 1.25 . You’re also going to cut 4 smaller squares that are the height of the finished block plus 7/8".

Large block is 4.25" (3 + 1.25)
Small squares are 2 3/8 (1.5 + 7/8)

Put one small square in the upper left corner of your larger square, and one small square in the lower right of the larger square.

Draw a diagonal line through both small squares. This is your guide line/cutting line.

Now, stitch a scant 1/4 on each side of your guide line. Cut apart on your cutting line. Press open with the seams toward your little squares (the sky piece).

Now take another little square and place it on the left upper corner of your sewn piece and draw a diagonal line.

Stitch a scant 1/4 on each side of the diagonal line, cut apart, and press open.

And here's your four flying geese units!