Chris Dodsley @mbCD: Folded Block

Sunday, 24 February 2013

Selvedge Block and QAYG Quilting - The Something NEW Sampler: Week 6

A week of QAYG quilting on

This week I have wrapped up all the Quilt As You Go (QAYG) quilting on the 9 blocks and added a 10th Selvedge block to finish my layout.

Block 10 - Selvedge Block

I've wanted to try a Selvedge Block for ages so this seemed like a great opportunity to learn another technique and round the number of blocks up to 10 which would make the final layout easier. This is quite appealing as it's now a QAYG quilt so I've decided to opt for a simple grid layout while I'm learning my new QAYG skills.

To make this selvedge block I spray basted the backing sheet to the batting and then sprayed more basting spray onto the top of the batting. I then started laying my selvedge strips from the fabrics used in making this quilt onto the batting overlapping a finished edge over each raw edge. The strips held firmly in place, thanks to the basting spray (my new favourite tool!) and then I quilted along the selvedges with very closely spaced lines making sure to catch down all the selvedge edges.

I loooovvve this block, I'm so glad I tried it and I love too that it records all the fabrics used in the quilt which is really neat.

QAYG Details for Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8
(not necessarily in that order as I'm sick of fighting with html code each time I try to move things around!!!)

Block 1 - Bargello

Block 4 - Reverse Applique

You know I was so unsure about this block but I decided to do echo quilting around each reverse applique opening and in the end I've decided to keep it the final quilt layout.

Block 5 - Sashiko

Block 2 - Scraptastic

Block 8 - Pinless Curves

Block 3 - Folded Block

and here's my plan for the final QAYG layout

and this is how the back will look

For the back of each block I wanted to use a whole piece of each fabric included in the quilt top. I was short of fabric for 3 of the blocks so I added strips of white to make them up to the correct size. I'd only used 9 fabrics in total (well I have used white but I don't want a solid white block block) and I needed 10 so I 'made' fabric for the 10th block from the other 9 fabrics using the 'Block 2 - Scraptastic' method.

I just can't 'relax' into free motion quilting (FMQ) - I've followed all tips and advice, drinking a glass of wine, drinking two glasses of wine, drinking a bottle of wine, listening to great music. I've got an adjustable Tempur-Pedic chair and a Sew Ezi sewing table so my machine bed is level with my working surface, I have a Supreme Slider mat and a Quilt Halo ring. Sometimes I use my Bernina BSR on settings 1 and also 2 and sometimes I use my darning foot with the stitch set to 0 and the feed dogs down and then again sometimes with the feed dogs up (to keep the tension working) and the Supreme Slider in place. The only thing I don't seem to be able to change is ME - I just can't relax while I'm fmqing and I've paid the price this weekend for all my work - I've got a frozen neck and shoulder so I couldn't sew yesterday and, although it's loosening a bit now, I think I should leave it alone today as well.

Need a trip to my LQS today though to pick up some fabric to sash and bind the quilt. Quite nervous about this next stage - I've read lots of great tutorials but just want to get on with trying it for myself now.

I'll be back with a finished quilt for you as soon as my neck and shoulder will let me!!!

You can follow The Something NEW Sampler on flickr

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Wednesday, 30 January 2013

Scraptastic & Folded Blocks - The Something New Sampler: Week 2

Two new blocks on

hosted by Amy @the cute life

First up is Block 2 - A Scraptastic Technique Block from Chelsea @Pins & Bobbins

Not exactly the block we were shown, Chelsea told us to cut our 'created' fabric into 3 strips and then sash them back together but I loved the scrap technique so much that I created the whole block that way rather than sashing it.

I can't believe it only took me a few minutes to create this!

The third block on the hop is The Something Folded Block from Heidi @Buttons & Butterflies

Again I didn't follow the instructions exactly, changing the colour sections slightly and also the weaving sections/pattern. If you decide to give this a go then here's my tips:

I used a piece of very lightweight muslin for my foundation/backing fabric - there's so much folded fabric in the finished block that you don't want to add more weight to it unnecessarily.

I didn't use the same number of fabric sections that Heidi suggested - I did cut them but found there were too many to fit on the backing/foundation fabric so I reduced the number.

I used my Hera marker and my cutting ruler to draw/score a 1/4" line down each strip of fabric. The fabric then turned back easily and perfectly along the 1/4" line which made it very easy to iron the folded seam back into place.

I used a lot of pins to hold each strip in place and then as a section was complete I did large basting and removed the pins until I was ready to weave the strips.

And here's the 3 blocks I've created so far