December Block of the Month

Hello, Ties that Bind members!  I'm a little late with this tutorial, life just got ahead of me this week.  Luckily, our block of the month is a simple one.  You probably don't need my help, but just in case ...

I don't know the name of the block, since it wasn't on the handout.  To me, it looks like a package.  (Maybe I'm just being influenced by all the Christmas decorations we're seeing everywhere.)

We start with a 10 in. cut square of red or pink (mine is red), and two black strips.  The black strips are both 1.5 in. wide.  One is 10 in. long, and one is 10.5 in. long.

Not a great picture, sorry, but you get the idea.

Now, lay your ruler on the 10 in. square, with the 4 in. line on the left.  Then cut.

We're going to sew the 1.5 x 10 in. black strip between the two pieces of red fabric.
Here it is, ready to sew ...

And here it is, sewn.  So far, super simple, am I right?

Now we're going to cut this piece again, but this time at the top instead of the side.  This cut will also be 4 in. wide.

This photo was taken at an odd angle, but you can see the ruler lined up with the edge, and cutting across the black strip.

Guess what happens next?  We get to sew the remaining black strip between these two cut pieces.

Here it is, laid out.  Only two seams here.

And that's it!  This block looks a little wobbly.  It was better after it was pressed.

The blocks will/should measure 10.5 in. unfinished, for a 10 in. finished block.  As it says on the instruction sheet, the recipient can square the blocks up easily, without worrying about cutting off any points, etc.

Wouldn't this be cute as a Christmas quilt?  Or maybe a birthday quilt for a child?  And it would work up so quickly!

Don't forget, our meeting is earlier this month, to keep from running into holiday festivities.  We are meeting at Little Switzerland on DECEMBER 12TH.  So you've got just over a week to make one or more of these blocks, if you choose.

Another reminder:  How is your Brown Bag Challenge gift coming along?  Those are due on Dec. 12th also.  (I can't believe I got mine done early this year.  It's a Christmas miracle.)

See you on the 12th!

Meeting Reminder--It's This Week!!

Don't forget, the meeting is THIS WEDNESDAY!!
(Remember, we moved it because of Thanksgiving?)

Yes, it is sneaking up on us this month, but don't worry, it will still be a fun meeting.

Here are the details.
Wednesday, Nov. 14th, 2018
6:30 p.m.
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, Wisconsin

All are welcome.

This month's program is ...

Always a good time!
Bring 3 "lots" (bags, boxes, bundles, etc.) of quilting/sewing/knitting/crafting related stuff.  (You can bring less than 3, but not more than 3.)
If they don't sell, you have to take them home again :-(
So here are some hints on getting your stuff sold.
1.  Bring good stuff.  Maybe it's stuff you're tired of, or don't feel like finishing.  Maybe it's decent fabric, but somehow you can't remember why you bought it.  Maybe, when you look at the item, you've just lost that loving feeling.
2.  Bundle like things together.  If you put all your yarn together, somebody might buy it even though all they really want is the knock-your-socks-off purple variegated wool. 
3.  Be generous.  All the money goes the group, after all.  And if you clean out a bin or a shelf, you are legally obligated to go buy more fabric. 
4.  If all else fails, add chocolate.  With our group,  CHOCOLATE SELLS.  (I really think people would bid on a box of broken rulers if there was a bag of chocolate in there too!)

Here's Homework Puppy to remind us what to bring on Wednesday.

*Silent Auction items

* Cash/checks to pay for silent auction items you can't live without

* Money for the food pantry

*YOUR NAME TAG (Cool or not, please wear it!)

 *Block of the Month blocks (if you made any)


And don't forget...

Show and Tell!

(Did you guess this was my favorite part?)

See you Wednesday!

Block of the Month for November

Hello, Ties that Bind Quilters!  It's time for the Block of the Month.
I think I've been mislabeling these.  This is the block pattern we received at the October meeting, and the completed blocks are due at the November meeting.  So I think it should be called the November Block of the Month. 
Nancy, our fearless leader, won the blocks back in September, and chose this block for us.  There wasn't a name on the handout, so I'm just calling it Nancy's Block.
We're in luck, it's a simple block to piece.

Cutting:

From eight different bright fabrics, cut rectangles 2.5 in. x 4.5 in.

From a neutral background fabric (I chose solid white) cut 8 more rectangles, 2.5 in. x 4.5 in.
Also from the background fabric, cut 1 square 4.5 in. x 4.5 in.

Now for the sewing.
Stitch each bright rectangle to a background rectangle on the long edge.  Normally, we would press toward the dark, but you will have four places to match seams.  I recommend either pressing the seams open or waiting until you've decided how the pieces will go before pressing the seams in opposite directions.

Lay out the pieces as they will be sewn.  (See what I mean about matching seams?) This is now just a nine patch.
Sew the squares into rows and the rows together to get the final block, which should measure 12.5 in. square (unfinished).

Not too tough, right?  This is a cute block that will make an interesting quilt when the blocks are set side by side.

This month's meeting is coming up soon!  We're meeting a week early, to avoid meeting during Thanksgiving week.  Mark November 14th at 6:30 on your calendar!

Don't forget, next meeting is the Silent Auction!  Find three bags/boxes/or bundles of quilting or knitting or sewing related stuff, and bring them along.  All proceeds will go to the group.

How are the Brown Bag Challenges coming along?  Those are due in December.  Our December meeting is also earlier than usual, on December 12th, and will be a dinner meeting at a restaurant.  Check your newsletter for details.

Keep on stitching on, ladies!




 

So, What Can You Do With A Panel?

Last month, at the September meeting, Cheryl from the Sewing Basket in Plymouth showed us all kinds of great ways to use printed panels to make quilts.
Below are some of the photos I took.  BEWARE:  they are not very good photos, but I think they give some idea of what a good presentation it was.

What can you do with a panel?  Well...
You can start by simply cutting out the best part of a panel and quilting it:

 Or maybe adding a decorative border or binding.

 Some panels have multiple elements that can be separated with borders to great effect.  And the borders can be just on two sides instead of four, if you like.

Squares are great additions to panels for borders, too.

Or you could put the elements of a panel into the center of star blocks, like this.

 What about this kind of border for a Halloween panel?  Spooky!

Maybe some simple sashing to separate the sections/blocks would work.  Doesn't this quilt look nice on this couch?

Here's my favorite:  animal blocks separated by alternate blocks with snowball corners.

There are so many cute panels in the stores, just waiting for us to try some of these ideas with them.

I'll bet you can think of a few more.  Maybe you'll bring them to show and tell when they're done!

Thanks very much to Cheryl from the Sewing Basket for her presentation, and to our own Cheryl and Gail for bringing her in.  It was a fun evening.

Speaking of fun, our Ties That Bind October meeting is this week!
Here are the details.

October Meeting
Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
6:30 p.m.
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, Wisconsin

All are welcome.

This month's speaker is Tricia Franklin, and her presentation is called "You Are Sew Worth It!"  She is a member of the Badass quilters.  I can't wait to hear about that.

And now here's Homework Puppy to tell us what to bring to the meeting.

 Your Name Tag (doesn't have to be fancy--WEAR IT)

Block of the Month (if you made one.  The pattern is HERE.)

Cash for the Food Pantry (if you care to contribute)

PHDs (Projects Half Done, if you are participating)

Show and Tell

See you on Wednesday evening!

September Block of the Month Tutorial

Welcome to September's Block of the Month:

Hope of Hartford

 Hope of Hartford is a tradition block, which first appeared in print in the Farm Journal in 1945.  It is also known as Double Star, and looking at it, you can see why.

Our block was chosen by Helen L. when she won the Birthday Cake blocks.
This block finishes at 10 in. square, and we are making them in fall colors. 

Patterns were printed and handed out at the August meeting by Colleen, but if you didn't get one or need another, just click HERE.  The link will take you to the Hope of Hartford block directions on the Quilters Cache web site.  Note--there are 3 pages of the directions, and they print separately.

I don't cut my Hope of Hartford blocks the same way they do at Quilters Cache.  Naturally, I think my way is better (haha).  I will show you how I cut my blocks with the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers in the tutorial below.  YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY!!  It's just another option.
The sewing is the same, either on this page or at the Quilters Cache.

Optional Cutting Directions:

Start with 3 strips:  1 light strip, 2.5 in. wide, 1 dark strip 2.5 in. wide, and 1 medium or dark strip 4.5 in. wide.  (Remember, fall colors.)

Cut 4 half square triangles from the 4.5 in. wide strip with the Easy Angle ruler.

Cut 4 quarter square triangles from the dark strip, using the Companion Angle ruler.

Also, cut 4 quarter square triangles from the light strip.

Then cut 4 2.5 in. x 4.5 in rectangles from the light strip.

Now all your pieces are cut and ready to go.

Sewing Directions:

1.  First, sew the sets of two quarter square triangles together.  Make sure the dark one is on the left in each set.  Press toward the dark triangle.

2.  Now add the large half square triangle to each set.  Make sure to use a quarter inch seam.  Press toward the large triangle.

Each of these squares should measure 4.5 in.
Now add the rectangles to these squares, sewing it to the side with the dark triangle.

All four sets should look like this.  These five pieces are all that's left to put together.

Lay out the block so you can see how it's going to fit.

The first seam is a partial seam.  Don't freak out!  It just means you only sew about half of the seam, and then stop.
The Quilters Cache directions tell you to press to the dark here.  I disagree.  The rest of the pressing is not done toward the center square.  I press this seam away from the center square.

Here's what things look like now.  Good job not freaking out.  The next 3 seams are easy.  Just add another unit, and press toward the newly added unit each time.

Two more have been added here.  You are doing this!  Keep going!  Add the last section just like the other two before it.

Now all of the units are added to the center square.  We just need to finish the partial seam.  Line the edges up carefully, and make sure it's all lying flat.  I like to sew a little slower here.  You could throw in a pin or two.  Sew until your stitching meets the partial seam.  I sew a couple stitches over the previous stitches, and then stop.

Ta-da!  It's ta-done!  You've got a nice block in fall colors to bring to the October meeting for the Block of the Month.  Maybe you'll win a stack of these.

Hope of Hartford is also great in 1930s fabrics, or really any good contrasting colors.

Good luck!  I hope we see lots of these blocks in October.

Any questions?  Leave a comment or send me an email.
Happy quilting!

September Notes and News

Welcome to a new month! Summer is ending, fall is coming, and it's a great time to quilt.  (Well, isn't it always?)

Here's what's happening at Ties that Bind in September.

Block of the Month:
We're doing a repeat of the August block of the month, Sawtoothed Square.  Click HERE for the directions.  It's a 12 in. finished block, done in two floral prints, one light and one dark.

Above is my block.  Don't worry about colors, we're keeping it scrappy.

Paper Piecing Class
Sept. 11, 2018
10 a.m. to 12 noon
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, Wisconsin
If you plan to attend, please let Mary M. know, so she knows how many people to expect.  Her phone number is on our printed list, or in your email from Pam.  (I don't want to publish it here on the web.)

September Meeting
Sept. 19, 2018
6:30 p.m.
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, Wisconsin

We will have a special guest at the September meeting, who will show us how to use printed panels to make terrific quilts.

As always, keep working on your Projects Half Done (if you're participating).

See you in September!  (Does that make a song come into your head?  Are you as old as I am?)
Cheers,
Sylvia

Reminder--Ties that Bind Meeting This Wednesday!

Don't forget, the meeting is this Wednesday!  

 

August 15th:  Ties that Bind Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Note:  We will be meeting at Sew Many Pieces in Richfield
1717 Wolf Road, Richfield, WI 53076
All are welcome.

Here's Homework Puppy to remind us what to bring in August.

 

*Folding chair, if you can.  Mickey has some, but could use more.

*Brown bag with a fat quarter and your name, for the Brown Bag Challenge, if you haven't brought it already

*Block of the Month for August, if you'd like to participate.  Click HERE for directions.  You need two floral fabrics, one light and one dark.

 

                                            *Cash for the food pantry donation, if you are so inclined.

Don't forget quilts for show and tell!  Here is some inspiration for you from last month's meeting.

Here's Louann S. with her first "rotary cutter"--a razor blade!  Times have changed!

See you Wednesday at Sew Many Pieces!