charm squares Archives - Page 4 of 4

Make a Friendship Star from Charm Squares

March 6, 2017 by Nanny 1 Comment

Today we are going to use the same combination of squares and HSTs as we did for the Shoo Fly block, to make a Friendship Star from charm squares.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark: 3 x 5″ squares

Light: 6 x 5″ squares

LET’S SEW:

Trim 1 Dark and 4 Lights to 4.5″ squares

2. Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make HSTs

diagonal line
scant 1/4″ either side of line
cut between the lines
trim and press OR press and trim

3. Organise your squares

4. Sew and press your 9 patch Friendship Star.

You are a STAR, friend!

Let’s take a look at our blocks so far:

(I had to use 2 Friendship Stars to fill the space!)

Next week we will move on to more combinations of squares, strips and HSTs. I hope you are enjoying the blocks.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Shoo Fly Block from Charm Squares

February 27, 2017 by Nanny 2 Comments

Today we are going to make a Shoo Fly Block from charm squares. Shoo Fly is a common block used in quilting.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Dark: 3 x 5″ squares

Light: 6 x 5″ squares

Nanny Note: You will notice that I have used a directional fabric here, but because it is a busy print, I wasn’t concerned that it would spoil the effect of the block.

LET’S SEW:

Trim 4 Light and 1 Dark to 4.5″ squares
Take the remaining 2 Dark and 2 Light and make Half Square Triangles

diagonal line
scant 1/4″ either side of line
cut between the lines
trim and press OR press and trim

3. Press toward the Dark

4. Organise your squares

Nanny Note: I could have turned the 4.5″ squares to make it all directional but did it this way to demonstrate the difference. If it offends you aesthetically, make sure you have them all facing the same direction!

5. Sew and press your 9 Patch

Now, as that was so easy, I am going to post another block this week using the same recipe!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make Half Square Triangles from Charm Squares

February 20, 2017 by Nanny 8 Comments

Today we are going to make a Variation of the 9 patch . We will make Half Square Triangles from Charm Squares and add them to the 9 patch. This will add more variety to our 9 Patch Sampler.

WHAT YOU NEED:

4 x 5″ squares Dark and
5 x 5″ squares Light

LET’S SEW!

We are now going to make a Half Square Triangle – this is another shape that is used in many quilting designs and with careful measuring, stitching and trimming you will have no troubles!

1. Take one Dark and one Light and on the wrong side of the Light, draw in the diagonal.

2. Place it right sides together with the remaining Dark and stitch a scant 1/4″ either side of the line.

3. Cut between the lines

You now have two half square triangles! That was easy wasn’t it!

4. Now comes the trimming:

To make it easier, I have placed masking tape along the 45 degree line on my rule.

Nanny note: I am going to show you two methods of trimming – you might like to try both and decide which works best for you!

Method 1

Take one of the triangles and place your rule so that:

the 45 degree line is along the stitching line so you can just see the stitching
the 4.5″ line on the rule is running down the left and meeting the other 4.5″ line at the bottom left .

Now trim along the edge that is showing (top right – sorry I already trimmed)

Press seam towards the dark and you should have a 4.5″ square.

Method 2

Press the seam towards the dark

Place the rule 45 degree line along the seam, moving it along till you can see 4.5″ both ways – mine runs down the left side and along the bottom and meet where they meet the 45 degree line. (see the green pencil)

Trim the 2 sides – top and right

Turn the square around and repeat the process to square it up.

This trimming is an important part of quilting – we keep squaring, trimming and checking as we go and this results in blocks that go together easily and end up the size we are after!

5. Trim the other squares 3 Dark and 4 Light to 4.5″ squares

6. Organise the squares:

Nanny note:

When you join a half square triangle to another square, you will notice that the diagonal does not join into the corner of the other square – dont panic! That is what is supposed to happen- it is the 1/4″ seam allowance for when you join to the next row.

Nanny note – pressing: when you join a HST (Half Square Triangle) to another square , press so that the seams including the diagonal seam lie flat even if it means it will be towards the light square.

Sew and press your 9 patch.

Well done!

Next week we will continue using charm squares, strips and Half Square Triangles to make variations of the 9 patch to add to our Sampler. Don’t forget to show us your blocks – I’m loving the different fabric choices!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Railfence Variation Quilt Block

February 13, 2017 by Nanny 4 Comments

Today we will be making the 2nd block of our sampler – a Railfence Variation.

Last year we made a Railfence block using three strips and today we are going to make a Railfence Variation using two strips.

BLOCK 2 – Rail Fence Variation

What you need:

Dark: 5×5″ squares

Light: 5×5″ squares

Let’s Sew:

Take the light squares and fold in half and finger press or draw a line down the centre.
Place the light square and a dark square, right sides together and sew a scant 1/4″ either side of the centre line. (better too scant than not enough)
Cut along the line between the two rows of stitching.

4. You now have a nice pile of rectangles! Take to the pressing board or ironing board and press toward the dark.

Nanny tip: If you are not confident with your measuring and cutting try this – I have put a strip of masking tape along the 2.25″ line. Why 2.25″? This is half of 4.5″ and we are going to trim our squares to 4.5″

5 Place the 2.25″ side of your rule on the dark side and you will notice how the tape butts up against the seam line.

6. Trim the squares – made easy with a 4.5″ rule, but the same process for any size rule.

7. If you are using for example, a 6.5″ rule, place the rule with the 4.5″ line along the bottom and the tape running along the seam.

8. Trim the right hand side and along the top

9. Turn it around, check that you have the 4.5″ mark both ways on the corner (see pen) and the tape running along the seam

10. Trim the right hand side

11. Lay out your squares following the photo – you will have 1 square left over.

12. Complete your 9 patch.

I hope you enjoyed the measuring and trimming – both are really important skills in quilting!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Spin The Pins – Microwave Bowl Holder

September 30, 2013 by Nanny 38 Comments

Well it has been a while, with lots happening in the Nanny and Poppy house but the other day, while making rolled oats for my grand children for breakfast, I decided the time was right for a Spin! You see I was making the ‘porridge’ in the microwave and very nearly burnt myself and I remembered seeing these great microwave bowl holders AND I wanted to make something from our Swap Squares so this was the project for me!! Nanny’s take on microwave bowl holders!!

Note: I am making mine to fit a ‘Corelle’ bowl which is about 61/4″ in diameter and 41/2″ across the base. Please check your dish for size and adjust accordingly.

You will need:

i) 4 x 5″ squares – (I am using some from the Black & White Swap.)

ii)1 x 9″ square (you could use more squares if you like – I just want to use the same fabric to make a ‘set’ and I am cutting from a Fat Quarter so it has to be 9″

iii) 2 x 8.5″ squares of 100% cotton wadding – I am using ‘Warm Tater’ which is recommended for Microwave projects as it doesn’t contain any resins or glues. (important for my Fibromyalgia!!)
NOTE: You will need to sew with cotton thread as well – no polyester!

Let’s Sew!!

1. Select 4 squares and join them in pairs

2. Join the squares.

3. Take a square of wadding and pin to the wrong side of your squares

4. Quilt as desired – I am just going to follow the seams – nice and fast! I used white thread on the white background and black on the black. (I have swapped to my second one here hence the change in fabric!)

Trim your 2 quilted squares to the same size.

5. Now we have to shape it. Using your bowl as a guide, measure across the base – I will be using 4.5″ (you want your bowl to be able to sit in the holder )

6. Mark that measurement along the seams each way.

Transfer the pin marks to the wrong side

7. Fold along the seam line and sew a dart – I went to the 2nd row of my quilting which is about 3/4″ and taper to the mark you just made. Do that on each seam.

You now have a bowl shape.

8. Repeat that process on the other quilted square.

9. Place the ‘bowls’ right sides together and stitch around the edges leaving an opening for turning. ( I came around a corner, finished with a back stitch and left it open to just before the dart then started with a backstitch and continued.) Clip corners and turn through to the right side.

10. Topstitch around the edge to finish!

I love it!!! Thank you to ‘belmer from Minnesota’ for the inspiration – these will be greatly used down here in Australia!!

You can have it this way up:

or this way!!

Enjoy your new microwave bowl holder ! I have to finish that other one now so Poppy doesn’t feel left out! 😉

Until next time

Nanny xx

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