Some Patchwork and Homespun for Free at Your Online Library

I bought mum a thermolactyl fleece blanket for Mother's Day. I wanted to put a little label on it and decided to use a small block.

I have been watching the Splendid Sampler from the side lines and saw this cute scrappy star by Corey Yoder and thought it would be perfect.

I spend a lot of time on my Doll Clothes blog and my other various themed blogs. See them listed in the side bar.

Did you know that Homespun magazine is available for free as an e-zine from your library online.

I love reading it on my tablet using the Zinnio app. Many of the articles, ads and projects have live links for convenient browsing.

You can also register for free on the Homespun web page and download the project patterns as PDFs for free. I have been collecting the Foxy Village blocks. I make a folder for each block and take screen shots of the instructions from the magazine to go with the pattern PDF.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Scrappy Stars for March

I am always looking for ways to use my scraps. This year I have had a special liking for HST and star blocks so scrappy stars seemed like a good way to combine everything. This scrappy star is made from a free tutorial I got from Craftsy. They almost look the same.



I made sets of 2 HST with a quick make method. I put two small squares on top of each other and sewed along each side of the diagonal then cut them apart. In the tutorial it says to cut triangles and sew them together so you get only one of each colour. I was planning on 4 of each colour.

Now I know a method for getting 4 of each colour all at once by laying two larger squares on top of each other and sewing all around the outside edge.

You can see tutorials for both methods and great sizing charts at Blossom Heart Quilts

Of course, I couldn't resist the method that gives you 8 HST the same by sewing along both diagonals and making 4 cuts. So today I am preparing to make a draw string bag with a circular base. I will use the HST on the lower half of the bag. In a book I got from the library the bag is called a pompador.

The 8 at a time method is described beautifully at Sew Mama Sew.

Here is a quick look at what I did.
I did some calculations to work out what size square I needed to end up with 3 inch unfinished HST. I thought about making 2 1/2 inch unfinished HST but I decide they would end up too small.
My square had to be (2 x 3) + (2 x 3/8) on one side or 6 3/4"

I use fat quarters and cut 1" of selvedge off then refolded and cut a 6 3/4" strip. I put the ruler so I could just see the edge of the fabric past the 6 3/4 inch line. I could then cut 3 squares from this strip. Each time putting the fabric a fraction past the 6 3/4 inch line.

I made 3 of each dark colour and 6 of the light colour.

Put them right side together and draw the diagonals in pencil.

When I sewed the seams I did a very scant 1/4". More like 3/8". My foot has the 1/8" markings and I line up with the first marking. I do a lot of my piecing like this. It is amazing how much you lose when you fold open the seam.

Sew both sides of each diagonal then cut. The first two cuts along the pencil line are easy. The second two cuts you have to make sure your block is square with the ruler.

Because my fabric is quite thin and soft I decide to iron the seams to one side. My HST are a perfect 3" square.
                                      

HST are one of my favourite play things :)

Today I am linking up with Scrappy stars at Majas Paradis

The first in the linky, Gudren, has made some great hexed stars from Quilter's Cache. I put pins for 2 types of hexy star in my Favourite Quilts and Blocks Pinterest Board

I am also linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch.

As usual, you can comment on:
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Don't forget to get onto Bloglovin and like all your favourite posts. Also +1 all your favourite posts when you visit them. It makes them accessible to lots more people.

Nearly forgot to tell you about a great new linky party where you can link up old posts that fit the theme of the week over at Val's Quilting Studio. Val is such a great name!
This week's theme is alphabet quilts and sewing projects. It will usually be on Tuesdays but this week it is incorporated into Anythng goes Monday. Just scroll down to find it.

Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val

Scrappy Stars at Scrap Happy

I am just in love with stars at present so I couldn't miss making my second scrappy star for the year. This one is called Green mountain star and has lots of pieces. The background is quite large so I had to use some from my larger pieces box for that. While looking for something dark for the middle star I came across a fat quarter that I have had for some time and it was perfect. The little points were just right for some little scrappy pieces so I fished out a couple of charm squares and scraps of orange that seemed to go well with the suns in the blue fabric.

I have been wondering if it is better to press the many little seams open or press them to the side but after this star I think I will nearly always press my seams open. It just seems to give a smoother finish on the right side. It takes a bit longer to do but I can handle that for one star a month.

I got the star pattern from That's Sew Julie. You can download the tutorial as a PDF.
I have been collecting some different types of stars on my favourite quilt blocks Pinterest board. I am amazed at how many types there are.

This is my first scrappy star.

I have so many sewing projects and other projects I want to get done this year so I have turned to the web for ideas on how to set goals and organise myself. 

I found some great pages at Mom's Toolbelt that I tried out and then decided to buy a life time membership that entitles me to any updates she does and new calendars each year. I love her designs. I have incorporated a few other free pages from around the web but Mom's Toolbelt  gives the folders a uniform and organised look. The membership enables me to use an affiliate link and since I think the product is great I figured I may as well use it. Click the thumbnail to visit Mom's Toolbelt.

I am linking up to Majas Paradise with my scrappy star this month.

There are some great links from last month here.

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Happy Quilting and Crafting,

Val

Scrappy Star

So far I have completed two things on my list for January. I have posted and started work on my Something old and Something new link up that I have joined over at Never to Hot to Stitch. I linked up with my quilt diary blog for the Go Wild Garden quilt that I want to get finished this year. Check it out. I feel so organised :) Then again it is only Jan 4.

The second thing I have done is make my first scrappy star for the link up at Majas Paradis . Thankfully she has included a translator widget.

I really want to use up my scraps but even a small scrappy wonky star is hard to make with really small pieces. I have a stack of what must be fabric sample pieces about 1 1/2 inches square that I will use to make 3 1/2 inch squares for centres. They are all uneven. I have tried making them into squares to start with a while back but that is way to hard. This time I just joined them together then trimmed the finished 9 patch.

I love stars so I am pretty sure I will be able to make at least one a month. I may try different shaped stars along the way and I don't think I will worry too much about the block size. Just whatever turns out and then I will fit them together somehow. I want to make a small quilt out of them.

I have started collecting buttons down my right sidebar for things I want to work on this year. There are lots of great things out there already. If you have found a good one please let me know. I think I could fit a couple more in :D

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Happy Quilting and Crafting,
Val