Betsy's Best .....quilts and more: March 2017

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Moda BlockHeads WEEK 4

Week 4 is a darling applique block by Jan Patek.

Click on Jan's name to be directed to her blog for this week's pattern.

What a nice change to do a little applique! Thank you Jan! I love it!

Hand appliqued, and I loved the change of pace...slow down and stitch!!! I strip pieced the foundation for the skep, in a random manner and had lots of the golds left over, as well as the blue and the brown prints. All week I planned a 3" Honey Bee block. The wings are fused , but I hope to do a tiny buttonhole stitch around the body and wings. No templates, I just drew on the paper side after fusing the brown print, cut out and pressed into place. Center square is cut 1 1/2". Sides are also cut 1 1/2" wide. Love the color combination.

I actually made 3 pieced blocks for this week. The others may appear another week, or not. Knowing the tiny applique might be a little much for some of you, I had to include a 3" pieced block.

This cute little thing has a 1 1/2" finished center, 3/4" HSTs and 3/4" finished corners.

Forgot to take the photo with the penny!

How weird, the blue is a different color entirely in this light! hmm.

This week's question for discussion..."What thread do you use?"

I love Aurifil. I sew with all shades of cream, to tan, to taupe and light brown. 50wt. 100% cotton.

If I had 80wt chocolate brown Aurifil, I'd use it on the Honey Bee, but since I don't , I'll either use the 40wt, which I do have in chocolate, or a single strand of DMC embroidery floss.

That's one shiny penny!

I buy the small spools when I need a color, but for sewing, only the large spool. 2326 is at the upper left, 2312 to the right. I especially love that filled bobbins last forever! don't you just hate it when the bobbin runs out, and always at the very worst time!!!

I hope you enjoy making today's block, you have a whole week! LOL! before Lisa Bongean brings us her first block! Can't wait until next time!

~Until next time,

Betsy

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

BlockHeads recap

Good Morning BlockHeads, this is only a recap, answers to questions, and a test!

I'm having trouble posting the Wednesday blocks at the time I set. If this comes to your inbox today, then this particular test failed, but every test tells me something, to do,or NOT to do! LOL.

I'll get it figured out, eventually.

So tell me, are you having fun? I love the pace of a block a week. And I really love the addition of my 3" Mini Penny blocks. Remember, they are not part of the BOW, just something I'm doing for fun. I love working with leftover parts. I am LOVING seeing your blocks On Facebook and Instagram. The creativity that is coming out of these 6" patterns is amazing. Cool fabric combinations, and unique interpretations of value and placement. Just awesome!

I've been remiss on the discussions Lynne has put forth for the designers. I receive Lynne's blog on Thursday! Good idea though to get us talking!

Lynne's first question for us was, "Where do you stand on pre-washing?"

I prefer to prewash, and here is why:

1. I like how the fibers raise just a bit, making the cut pieces snuggle to together as they go through the machine.

2. Resolving shrinkage and color discharge issues. Neither of these are a big deal these days. Most fabrics are colorfast and my Moda reds are very colorfast! Most fabrics behave very well, but I do throw a color catcher, made by Shout, into the wash if I have mixed darks and lights or if combining with other manufacturers. As for shrinkage, it comes from years ago spritzing a fabric on the ironing board and watching it shrink before my eyes. I've seen this happen to a pieced block too when just pressing with steam, and yes I do use steam. If you have ever had a color bleed after the quilt has been washed, you won't take a chance again.

3. I have more allergies than ever before in my life. Hopefully, I'm not allergic to my fabric, perish the thought! So, prewashing does remove whatever is used in processing our beautiful fabrics, that might cause allergies.

4. It is the rule in our 19th Century Patchwork Diva group for block exchanges. Don't mess with the Divas! LOL

Lynne's second question was, "Do you starch your fabrics before or during piecing?"

Short and quick answer...BEFORE!

Why starch?

1. Cut pieces behave very well and, since I love tiny pieces, starching is imperative for accuracy. In my opinion.

2. I do a lot of finger pressing as I piece, starching makes that wonderful.

I like my fabrics crispy, but not stiff as a board. I've never had a problem with starch. I'm very sensitive to scents, and even though Best Press is an excellent product and has an unscented version, I don't use it as it doesn't give me the amount of body I desire. I'd be buying it by the gallon and that is a pricey investment, considering how much as I sew.

There are 2 non-aerosol starches on the market, Niagara and Faultless. Faultless has more scent, not enough to give me a migraine, but not unscented. Niagara, is very pleasant, no migraines!

Do you have a question for me, or of all the BlockHead designers? I'd love to hear them. So, let me know!

Watch for Jan Patek's block Wednesday! And my version will be right here! Happy stitching!!!

~Until next time,

Betsy

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

BlockHeads block #3

Welcome to Moda BlockHeads BOW Week 3!

I think we are all having a great time making and posting our BlockHeads blocks of the week. If you haven't joined the Facebook group, Moda Blockheads, you are missing the photos from the group members. In the short time it has been up, over 700 photos have been posted!!! I'm trying to 'like' them all and of course I do like them, but with as many as there are, I'm sure I'm missing many. The group numbers are approaching 3000 members, 2946 to be exact, at this writing (Tuesday). WOW!

I've been away for several days teaching at Greenbriar Retreat center in East Texas....great place, great food, great students!!! And forgetful teacher! Yes, that would be me, who forgot to take a single photo of the blocks made this weekend. UGH! My apologies for talking about a great retreat with NO photos! Workshop was Mary Ann's Baskets from Classic and Heirloom book.

Monday, I made this lovely block designed by Jo Morton.

You will need to go to Jo's blog for the pattern.

Jo calls this block Four X. It is 6" finished. I decided to keep this block simple and let the fabric do the talking. Fabric this week is from the soon to arrive, Rachel Remembered.

I'm having fun with 3" blocks! And evidently so are you! I'm so happy to inspire this little unplanned extra! This week's Mini Penny is a 3" version of Jo's block. The red and background prints were used in Week 1.

Enjoy making Four X! and be sure to see Lynne's, Jan's, Lisa's, and Carrie's blogs, to see the fabrics they used for their blocks. (click on their name, or see below for all social media links)

Happy Sewing!

Until next time ~

Betsy

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Moda Block Heads Block 2 Aunt Dinah

Our Moda Block Heads Block of the Week has gotten off to a fantastic start!

Lynne, Jo, Jan, Lisa, Carrie and I, ALL thank you!!!

It is my pleasure to bring you Block 2 Aunt Dinah.

For this block, I chose 5 prints for a scrappy look from Hope's Journey and the upcoming Rachel Remembered lines. Right below this photo is the link to print your pattern and some piecing tips.

Click HERE for Aunt Dinah pattern by Betsy Chutchian

After selecting my prints, I spray starched and ironed each piece. Starching helps so much when cutting out the small pieces in these blocks. After cutting all the parts, position them for sewing, checking to see you like your choices.

Sew small cream triangles to two sides of red squares. Press to triangles. Pair this unit with each chocolate brown triangles, matching edges and points. Pin in place before stitching. Stitch with the pieced unit facing you.

Press to the dark triangle as shown below in the 4 corners.

The unit should measure 2 1/2"

In Step 2, stitch remaining small triangles to blue triangles, pressing to the blue triangle.

Pin units to larger cream triangles, matching edges and points. Stitch with pieced unit facing you. Press to large cream triangle.

This unit should measure 2 1/2"

Sew units together in rows.

Press top and bottom rows out to corners. For center row, press to center square.

Here is the back of the block. Note I flipped the intersections in the center, to stagger the seams, then pressed well. Block should measure 6 1/2" for a 6" finished block.

There were not any true leftovers from this block, but I made a little mini anyway. 3/4" finished squares. 3 1/2" finished block.

These little mini blocks may become pincushions or a little quilt at the project's end. Who knows!

I don't have a plan. This is sew me. I love to play with tiny leftover bits.

Did you miss my mini from last week? Maybe I have a thing for pennies????

Have fun with Aunt Dinah. She's a sweet block! If you have a question, let me know!

Next Wednesday, go to Jo's blog for Block 3.

Details for all blogs and other social media for each designer are below. If you want to be assured of receiving the block each week, sign up on EACH designer's blog to receive their blog posts by email. Don't forget to sign up to receive my blog posts in your inbox!

Or, just visit us all often! We love to hear from YOU!

Thanks for joining us on this 48 week journey.

My pattern numbers are 2, 8, 14, 20, 26, 32, 38 and 44.

Remember, each one of us posts block patterns 8 times during the series, in a 6 week rotation.

I look forward to seeing YOUR blocks.

For those of you on Facebook, have you joined the group Moda Blockheads? Members are posting their blocks, asking questions and having fun chatting with one another.

Until next week~

Betsy

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Week 1 Moda Block Heads Block of the Week

Here we go...Block 1 Whirlygig

Go to Lynne Hagmeier's blog for the free pattern http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/

No need to sign up!

Just visit us each week for the next pattern. Jo, Lynne, Jan, Lisa and Carrie. All of our links are below so visit all our social media listings. A new Facebook group has just been created Moda Blockheads and you might like to join!

All blocks in our Block of the Week are 6" finished blocks.

Share photos of your blocks and tag me! Be sure to use the #modablockheads so others can easily see your blocks. Isn't social media amazing?

This 48 week journey will be exciting and sew fun!

Are you joining me on this journey?

My first week is next week.

My fabrics are a combination of Hope's Journey which is in shops now and Rachel Remembered which will be in shops in April.

Until next week~

Betsy