Floating Friendship Star Block #2

Here it is, our 2nd block in the new Block of the Month quilt along from Pam W.    This block is called Friendship Squared and is 18.5 in. unfinished.
Above is my block.  I'm using 1930s reproductions mixed with vintage fabrics for an old fashioned look.  (You know me, I love the 30s!)

The center of this block is a 5 in. (cut) square.  So it's the perfect place for a charm square you've been saving.  I'm using this blue with red and pink hearts.  (February=hearts, right?)  I've got kind of a calendar thing going, but I don't know how long I'll stick with it.  The colors/prints are really more important.

All the pieces in this block are simple to sew--half square triangles, four patches, and long rectangles and squares to finish it off.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Pam has us do with the rest of the blocks.  The sizes are so different, 12 in. and 18 in.
How is this going to fit together?
Stay tuned!  Our next installment comes at the March meeting.  Bring your completed blocks to show.
We are so lucky to have a quilt designed just for us.
By the way, the pattern for this month's block should have come to you in your email, and is a pdf, which makes it easy to print.  If you didn't receive one, contact Pam W.

Just a heads up:
If you are a quilter who likes the work of Victoria Findley Wolfe, this book is currently at the Germantown library:

Modern Quilt Magic:  5 Parlor Tricks to Expand Your Piecing Skills. 
In this book, Victoria teaches us how to sew set in seams, curves, partial seams, etc.

Here's the back.
I enjoyed reading it, and I turned it in last week, so it might be on the shelf waiting for you.
If you use a different library, you can still request the book, and your library staff will get it for you.

Stay warm, stay safe, and keep quilting!

Meeting CANCELLED!

This just in--the February Meeting has been cancelled due to bad weather!!
We're disappointed, of course, but let's all stay safe at home, and meet again in March.

Meeting Tonight

The February Meeting of the Ties that Bind Quilt Group will be held tonight, Feb. 20th.

Here are the details.
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
462 Meadowbrook Drive, West Bend, Wisconsin

All are welcome.

And here's Homework Puppy to tell us what we need to bring.

Birthday Strips
This is a fun project!  Each month, participants bring a 2.5 in. strip, cut selvedge to selvedge, of 100% cotton fabric in the color/style each person has chosen.
If you are participating in the birthday strip exchange, you'll need to bring a strip (or two?) for the following members.
For Kelly D.--red or white (think aged flags)
For Mary L.--1930s
For Ree--deep purple or deep black
Don't forget to wish these ladies Happy Birthday!

Quilt Panel Challenge
Tonight's the night!  Bring your quilt/quilt top, and show us your creativity.

Your Name Tag
Wear 'em!  We want to know who you are! 

Food Pantry Donations
We're still giving cash, as it helps the pantries buy foods they need.

Show and Tell
One of the best parts of the meeting!  Thanks so much for sharing with us!

 

See you tonight!

Charity Sewing Day Cancelled!

Due to the icy weather, the Ties That Bind sewing day at Sew Many Pieces for Feb. 7th is
CANCELLED.
Stay safe, everyone!

February Notes

Welcome to February, Ties that Bind Quilters!  

It may be snowy or foggy, but it's a lot warmer than the last week in January!  I hope we are all staying warm and staying in stitches.

BOTM

Our block of the month (also known as BOTM) for this year is a little different.  We're having a quilt along!  Our fearless leader, Pam W., has created a special quilt just for us.  The blocks are all variations of Friendship Star.  This is a great theme for our friendly group.

I'm going to show you my blocks as I sew along month by month.  Please remember that I quilt to a different drummer and don't always follow the rules exactly.  My quilt will be scrappy, with lots of 1930s reproduction prints, but the pieces will be cut and sewn the same.

Here's my version of the first block:

I chose 4 fabrics for this block:  the red corners, white/blue polka dots, solid blue, and the center print.  Except for the center, all the rest of the sections in this nine-patch block are made from half square triangles.  All nine sections measure 4.5 in. unfinished, 4 in. finished.  This is a 12 in. finished block.

Check out the block center.  I've had this small piece of fabric forever.  It seemed appropriate to the season.  By the way, all the kids playing in the snow in this print are girls.

The printed directions for this block were available at the last meeting and/or emailed to you by Pam W.  If you didn't get the directions, please contact Pam.

Charity Quilt News
Every year, we just make more and more quilts for our neighbors in need.  This year our group gave 85 quilts to charity.  Most of the quilts went to families and individuals in Washington County.  Some of the recipients were Seeds of Hope (baby quilts), nursing homes, Carl's Place, Family Promise, and Threshold.
We can be very proud of all our hard work, and very thankful for the members who work so hard to quilt the tops, bind the quilts, make and hand out kits, purchase batting, organize and store the group's fabric, and pull everything together.  Our efforts are worthwhile, and appreciated.

Big Sale at Sew Many Pieces!!!
Don't forget the big anniversary sale at Sew Many Pieces. 
Friday, Feb. 15th (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Saturday, Feb. 16th (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Can you believe the store is 5 years old?  Save your money for this sale, it's going to be a good one.

And now, a little show and tell.

Nancy is on vacation, but sent this stack of quilts with Colleen.  Most (all?) are for charity.

These are only a few highlights from our fabulous show and tell. 

Want more?  Come to the next meeting on February 20th!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a very happy start to the new year.  Can you believe it's 2019 already?

Our meeting is coming up on Wednesday of this week.  It will be so good to see you all again.

Here's Homework Puppy to remind us what to bring this month.

Name Tags (wear 'em! They don't have to be fancy!)

Dues for 2019 (if you haven't already paid)

Food Pantry Donation (we're still collecting cash)

Brown Bag Exchange gift--show us what your secret friend made for you!

Finished Birthday Strips quilts/items for Show and Tell (We're going to do this again, and it will give others some good ideas of what to make)

Block of the Month

It looks roughly like this, in red or pink.  Directions are in my December post, and are included with this month's newsletter.

And now for some virtual show and tell, from photos I took but never got posted in 2018.

Great job, everybody!  Keep up the good work!

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!