Be My Neighbor

We are starting a New Block of the Week called "Be My Neighbor.  Each Monday we will post a pattern for your to make this fun quilt.  I had the pleasure of testing the pattern for Moda Fabrics.  I made my quilt Using Moda "Grunge" fabrics from Basic Grey.

You can choose any fabric you like.  The quilt measures 68" x 84."  The blocks are big and fun to put together. 

We have some customers that are going to make it with scrappy, some are going to make it a Christmas quilt using a variety of Christmas fabrics.  The sky is the limit.

Here is another quilt make using a variety of different backgrounds and reproduction fabric made by my friend Tammy Mullanix Vonderschmitt

It is so fun to see the same quilt made with other  fabrics and how different they look.

You can find the free block patterns on our website fabricexpressions.com  We hope you enjoy making the quilt.  The first block is now available.   We hope you will share your blocks on our facebook page or on instagram with the hashtag #ModaBeMyNeighbor.   Enjoy.

Alison

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Vol. 13 Blog tour

I am so excited to have a block in this Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Vol. 13.   and to be a part of this blog tour. This is the second time I have been in magazine but my first time to be a part of the Blog tour.

My Block is called “Sherbet,” I named it that because of the colors of the fabric.  They reminded me of orange and lime sherbets. The fabric I used is “Tucker Prairie” by One Canoe Two.

When you repeat my block it makes a fun secondary pattern. 

If alternate the colors in the blocks it gives you a totally different look.

 You can win a copy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Block Vol. 13. Just leave a comment and I will pick a winner on Sunday May 8^th.

For even more giveaways and more chances to win a copy of the magazine be sure to check out the Quilty Pleasures Blog.  You can find links to all the other designers participating in the hop.  Good Luck.

Happy Quilting

Alison

New Classes

We have a lot of fun classes coming up this spring and summer.  While we are putting the finishing touches on the newsletter I thought I would give you a preview of upcoming classes.

"Dessert Dance" by J Michelle Watts is a fun quilt that looks difficult but in reality is pretty simple.  The original pattern has a Southwest feel to it.  I used more pastel colors for a fun springtime quilt.

"Tuffets" are very popular now and a lot of fun to make.  This is another project that looks hard but once we show you how to put it together you will want to make more.  The make fun gifts also.

"Log Jam" by Kate Colleran is a fun quilt from a new book called "75 Fun Fat Quarter Quilts"  There are a couple of differant color ways of this quilt in the book.

These are just of few of the classes we ar offering this spring and summer.  New Classes start in May and run through August.

Sampler Shuffle Blocks

Happy Thanksgiving, I hope you have a safe and warm holiday weekend.  

It is time for more blocks for the "Sampler Shuffle.  I added a tutorial for "Easy Triangles. "  You can find them on the same page as the blocks. This will help you make half square triangles and corner triangles.

Here is an example of the corner triangles.  The method is the same as making Flying Geese just the angle of one of the squares is different.

The next series of blocks are pretty basic.  Make your half square triangles and easy corners then sew the square together. Block number 4 does not use any triangle squares.

What do you do with the fabric you cut off when making your flying geese and easy corners?  I have been keeping them, sewing them together as my beginning and enders.  What that means is I start my chain piecing with two of the left over triangle scraps and then end my chain with the same thing.  This way I so not have to cut my treat from the machine and I will end up with a lot of small half square triangles.  So far the measure 1 ¼ inches.  I don’t know what I am going to do with them but I did see a really cool quilt on display in Houston at “Quilt Festival” made only with half square triangles.

I am not sure I have it in me to make this but it was amazing to see on display.

Happy Quilting

Alison

Sampler Suffle Begins

Are you ready to start a new Sampler Block Shuffle?  The sample I have in the shop is made with two fabric collections:  "Canyon" and "Tucker Prairie."  The pattern is intended for you to use two Jelly Rolls or two Layer Cakes. You can also combine the two.

 Today I posted the first two blocks patterns.  For these blocks I used two other collectrions "Eliza's Indigo" by Betsy Chetchian and "Miniature Gatherings" by Primitive Gatherings.  I also posted the flying geese border pattern.

   After you make your blocks I suggest you make at least three flying geese from the same fabrics you just used.  That way you have most of the flying geese already made at the end. Other wise you will have to make 176 flying geese in order to finish the quilt.  You will need to make four flying geese from some of the fabric combos to get enough for the border.

Block One by Pat Sloan: You will be making eight Half Square Triangles  (HST) that finish at 1½ inches square.

MAKING HALF SQUARE TRIANGLES (HST)

First you will need (4) 2-½ inch light background and (4) 2-½ inch dark fabric. I like to use a quick quarter ruler.  You place the ruler on the diagonal of the squares, mark on both of the ruler.  The two lines are the sewing lines.  Cut in half to make two HST.  At this point the HST will measure 2 inches.

There are also other ways to make HST; Triangles Papers like “Thangles,” “Triangles on a Roll,” and “Star Singles” are a few that I like to use.  Thangles will work if you are using Jelly Rolls and the Star Singles will work if you are using Layer Cakes.  Pin the fabrics to the papers sew on all the dotted lines and cut on the solids lines.  Each of the Star Singles make 8 HFT.  Thangles make two HST for each square.

Follow the diagram in the pattern and sew the squares together.

The pattern uses two fabrics, but you can make the blocks with more fabrics.  If you like a scrappy look add more fabrics.  Here is an example of the block made with three fabrics.

Block Two is designed by Me and My Sister.  This is a basic block, follow the cutting instructions and sew the blocks in sections.

FLYING GEESE:

   After you make your blocks I suggest you make at least three flying geese from the same fabrics you just used.  That way you have most of the flying geese already made at the end. Other wise you will have to make 176 flying geese in order to finish the quilt.  You will need to make four flying geese from some of the fabric combos to get enough for the border. Feel free to mix and match the backgrounds you just used in your blocks

  The flying geese measure 1 1/2” x 3” finished.  You will need one dark fabric cut 2”x 6”

And (2) 2” squares of a light fabric.  Draw a diagonal line one the light squares.  Place one square on the dark rectangle sew on the line and press open.  Repeat on the other side.  Keep these in a safe place  once you have a good variety you can start to put them together.

Have Fun.