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Complete the 9 Patch Sampler quilt top

June 5, 2017 by Nanny Leave a Comment

Well here we are! Now all we have to do is complete the 9 Patch Sampler quilt top!

This is where we get to see the importance of the accurate 1/4″ seams that you used to sew your 4.5″ squares together. Just as we trimmed all squares of the 9 patch to 4.5″ to ensure that they went together quickly and easily, we now do the same with our blocks. It is by careful measuring, cutting and sewing and then trimming as you go, that you will have 16 blocks that all measure 12.5″ square.

I entered my blocks into ‘Quiltology’ to show you my trials with sashing (the strips between the blocks) and cornerstones (the little squares at the corner of the blocks).

White sashing with black cornerstones:

Black sashing with a white cornerstone:

No sashing:

I decided that I liked the no sashing option best and I am going to add a plain border.

NANNY NOTE: The final layout and construction of the quilt top will be a personal choice and will depend on your fabric design and colours .

If you have decided on the ‘no sashing’ option continue on:

I suggest you take a photo of your layout for future reference and then mark the blocks across the top into rows 1-4.
Following your layout, join the 4 blocks in row 1 matching the seams as we did in making our 9 patches. Then join the 4 in row 2, row 3 and row 4.
Press the seams in opposite directions ie row 1 press up, row 2 press down, row 3 press up and row 4 press down.
Join the rows, matching the seams.

This is mine and I’m thinking ‘Why did I put that one there?’ Don’t worry if this happens, as I seem to see things differently depending on the weather and my pain levels! Will it matter in the long run where you put each block? The answer is No – it will just make it your unique creation!

If you choose to add sashing:

Cut strips 2.5″ (or the width you want)
Cross cut strips into 24 pieces 12.5″ long
Cut 9 x 2.5″(or matching your sashing width) squares for cornerstones
Join each of the blocks in row 1 (see instructions above) with a 12.5″ sashing. So Block/sashing/block/sashing/block/sashing/block. Repeat for row 2,3 and 4
Join 4 sashing pieces with a cornerstone between each ( you will have 4 sashing pieces and 3 cornerstone squares – sashing/cornerstone/sashing/cornerstone/sashing/cornerstone/sashing). Repeat two more times.
Matching the seams, join a sashing/cornerstone strip to the right hand side of row 1, 2 and 3
Now join all of the rows to complete your quilt top.

Adding a border and/or a sashing strip (the process is the same)

I am adding a 6.5″ border to mine.

Cut 6 x 6.5″ wof strips
Join strips across the short ends
Measure your quilt top along the sides and through the middle – it will be approx 48.5″ (no sashing)
Cut 2 strips of border to the length of your measurement
Take your border piece and by folding, mark 1/2 and then fold again to mark 1/4 (I use pins)

6. Do the same with your quilt top – marking along both sides.

7. Match up your pins on the border and quilt top and pin.

8. Sew border to quilt top.

NANNY NOTE: I am sewing on the quilt top side so I can see where the seams meet to ensure that I end up with all of my points in tact! We talked about this when we made the Chevron Block here

9. Press.

10. Now repeat from Number 3-8 to add the top and bottom border. This method will result in a nicely fitted border that sits flat.

Congratulations on finishing your quilt top! Next week we will look at preparing the backing.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Pin Cushion Dish

November 4, 2015 by Nanny 6 Comments

Keeping on with the gift ideas, today I am sharing how to make a Pin Cushion Dish

I purchased these from the ‘cheap’ shop some time ago because they looked like something I could use! 🙂

They are dip bowls and as you can see, two for $5.99.

This is how I used them to make a Pin Cushion Dish!

What you need:

A dish

Scrap of fabric about 9″ square

Needle and thread

Filling

Glue (I used a glue gun)

Ribbon to trim

Let’s craft!

Trace around a bowl about 9′ or 23 cm in diameter

2. Run a row of stitches around 1/4″ in from the edge – I did this by hand using double thread and starting with a knot.

3. Gather it up

4. Stuff it with whatever you like in a pincushion – I used polyfill

5. Check to see if it looks puffy enough and then tie it off.

6. Using a glue gun, run glue over the base and around the upper edge of the dish and push the pin cushion into the glue. I held it till the glue cooled.

7. Trim with a ribbon scrap to cover the dish edge. I joined the ends on the side facing the empty dish.

Make it in a favourite colour, add some pins or threads and there you have it – a lovely, very useful (and very cheap) gift for the sewists in your life!

I hope this inspires you to look at simple objects in a different way – Take a dip bowl and make it into a Pin Cushion Dish – who’d have thought!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make Book Ends

November 2, 2015 by Nanny 2 Comments

As it is now November (eek), I thought I would share some ideas for Christmas gift giving. Today I am going to share with you how to make Book Ends. These make a great gift and are a quick, easy project!

Recently I came across some mdf book ends on sale so I grabbed them. (You can easily cut some squares to suit and make your own)

This is how I finished them!

I had Poppy paint them white for me – I had a butterfly, a heart and a bird.

I then selected some paper combinations:

For the heart:

and for the bird (I’m still waiting on a bedroom redo to finish the butterfly)

I traced the shapes onto the paper and cut them out.

Nanny tip: when you trace something and then cut it out, remember to cut to the inside of the tracing line to ensure it fits!

I then glued them in place

and found some ribbons to trim. I love the contrast between the spots and stripes on the hearts!

Little green pompoms and some little eyes finished the birds – aren’t they cute!!

I was so happy with the results I wanted to share them with you – a quick, easy project that is sure to bring joy!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Quilt Blocks to Heal Violence

October 21, 2015 by Nanny 4 Comments

Hi!

I have joined some on-line quilters to make some Quilt Blocks to Heal Violence. This project has been organised by @Jackie Gillies as a way for quilters to show in a practical manner, that we care.

Jackie is not a blogger, but her friend Ros from Sewdelicious has posted the details here and I encourage you to pop on over, have a read and lend your support!

The block is called Tictactoe and the details of the block construction can be found at Blossom Heart Quilts – thanks Alyce.

Basically, Jackie has asked for low volume backgrounds with a bright cross.

This is the first one I tried:

It is an easy block to construct and comes together in no time at all!

I love the ‘strength’ portrayed in this block – one of the girls described it as a Stop sign – STOP the violence and a Kiss – A KISS to show we care and I love that idea.

This is my second block

I love the way the quilting community pulls together – I held a Friday night, on-line sew- in to make these and my local quilting group, the Plateau Quilters were keen to lend their support as well.

I think Jackie will be blown away by the support that will come from all over, and I am really glad to see that there is a willing group of helpers to take these blocks and transform them into quilts of love, warmth and comfort!

If you want to be involved , it’s not too late and even if you don’t have the time to sew, donations of wadding, backing and postage costs would be gratefully accepted – just follow this link or contact me.

Until next time

Nanny xx

Candlewicking Adventure – How to Make a Colonial Knot

October 19, 2015 by Nanny 8 Comments

Some time ago I told you about my wonderful gift and how it has started me off on a Candlewicking adventure and so I thought it time to check in and show you my progress and show you my Candlewicking Adventure – How to Make a Colonial Knot.

I have no order to follow with the blocks so just selected one and popped it in the hoop!

Now for those of you not familiar with the process of Candlewicking, it is simply a series of knots! The pre-traced blocks look like this:

This is my third block’

Each little dot is where you make a knot and the closed lines are where I will be doing a backstitch. The little flowers are to be daisy stitch.

The knot is called a Colonial Knot and after a lot of searching and reading, I tried to follow a description of starting but found it too difficult so decided to use Nanny’s way of doing things and it is working fine.

I start off with a length of thread and bring my needle up from under the block into one of the dots – I have been coming up right on one edge of the dot.

You then wind the thread around the needle in a figure 8 – so first this way (do this by holding the thread in one hand and moving the needle over and under)

and then this way

I then insert the needle back down through the other side of the dot (you don’t want to go back down the same hole you came up from as there would be a possibility of the knot being pulled through)

You can see me pulling the thread so the knot forms down at the bottom of the needle.

You need to hold the thread taut as you pull the needle through to get uniform knots.

When my thread is nearing the end I take it to the back, insert it under the last stitch and tie it off and then weave it back along the row a bit. It is then ready to be trimmed. I need to go back and do the same with the start of my thread as well.

This is the first block I finished

I love how it looks and couldn’t wait to start on Block 2 and I have now completed block 2 as well!

I find this process really relaxing and it is something I can do at night (in front of the telly) quite comfortably as the hoop just sits on my lap. Do you have a ‘switch off’ activity? What do you like to do ‘in front of the telly’?

I would love to hear from you (so I know I’m not chatting to myself) so please leave a comment. I love it when you do and I will always reply just as soon as I can.

Until next time

Nanny xx

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