25 May 2012

Sliced Apples Sewing Center Directions

Pam and I talked and we decided to post today so those of you in the US that have a long weekend
could use it for sewing!!

This is the fun part. 
The sewing begins.  I used 1/4" seams for the entire project.  
An accurate 1/4" seam is important in this quilt.

Match up one white charm with one colored charm. 
 If you are using your Clearly Perfect it will look like this:


 If you don't use the CP or the Angler,
you can draw a line corner to corner and sew 1/4" away from either side of the line.

Your squares should look like this when you are finished sewing.


Use your ruler to cut the HST units apart like this


This will yield 2 HST units.  Press to the colored side.


You will need to trim the blocks to 4.5" square.
I use a 4.5" square ruler because that makes it easy.

Line the diagonal line on the ruler up with your sewing line and trim all 4 sides.
This is where having the turning mat makes your life a lot easier!



Wee lots of trimming!!


You will need to make 130 HST units!

Lay out your quilt center so that you are happy with the color placement.
You will need to lay it out 10 X 13 blocks.


Sewing the rows together can be a little tricky to keep track of them.
My method is as follows:
Starting on the left side stack up the HST blocks left to right,
with the left always going on top of the right.
I pin the entire row together, then stack the rows top to bottom.
 Now when you go to the sewing machine take the top pile.
 This will be the top row.
 Unpin one stack, and put that pin in the first square on the top, remove from the pile and
 pair it up with the square directly under it.
Sew these 2 together on the right side.



 Go back to your stack and put a pin in the top  HST block.
Repeat as you did with the first 2 until all 5 pairs are sewn.
You can chain piece this way and your row is all together!
Cut your first 2 pairs apart keeping your pins always aligned to the left.
This way you know how to sew them together.

It should be pin:no pin {sew together} pin:no pin.

Sew like that until you have the entire row sewn together.
Press seams in one direction for the even rows and the other direction for the odd rows.

 I like to lay my rows out as I go along to make sure I have sewn correctly.
My fancy design wall is an afghan over the couch behind my sewing machine!  


Since you have pressed your seams opposite as you went along
it will be much easier to sew your rows together as you go.
 Your seams should "nest" and you will be able to carefully position your pin point to point
as seen in this photo.
 This should help you to not cut off any of the points as you go along. 


 Once all your seams are pinned you can begin to sew your rows together.
Make sure you are using 1/4" seams!
 I sew right up to but not over my pins.
 

Once your rows are sewn they should look like this.

I like to turn my rows over and press on the back first.
It doesn't matter which direction you press these seams.
Then flip the rows over and press on the front.  

Continue to sew until you have all your rows sewn into a center for your quilt.
If you are lucky you may have your quilt inspector helping you too!


This is the most labor intensive part of the quilt.
The sewing directions for the borders will be posted on May 28th so please stop back for those.

Remember we would love you to post your progress in our Sliced Apples Flickr group.

 There will be prizes but you have to post photos of your progress to be eligible for them!


24 May 2012

Riley Blake Designs COSTUME CLUBHOUSE Fabric

by Sheri Berry Designs
Riley Blake Designs COSTUME CLUBHOUSE Halloween Quilt Fabric by Sheri Berry Designs
by Sheri Berry Designs

Fat Quarter Bundles, 2.5" Rolie Polies, 5" Stackers, 10" Stackers, a handful of fabric yardage and a fabric panel are available.

Riley Blake Designs APPLE OF MY EYE Precut Fabrics

by The Quilted Fish
Riley Blake Designs APPLE OF MY EYE Quilt Fabric by The Quilted Fish
by The Quilted Fish

Fat Quarter Bundles, 2.5" Rolie Polies, 5" Stackers and 10" Stackers are available.

Riley Blake Designs VINTAGE BABY Precut Fabrics

by Lori Whitlock for Riley Blake Designs
Riley Blake Designs VINTAGE BABY Quilt Fabric by Lori Whitlock
by Lori Whitlock

Fat Quarter Bundles, 2.5" Rolie Polies, 5" Stackers and 10" Stackers are available.

18 May 2012

Moda LOVE LETTERS Precut Fabrics

by Laundry Basket Quilts
Moda LOVE LETTERS Batiks Quilt Fabric by Laundry Basket Quilts

by Laundry Basket Quilts

Fat Quarter Bundles, Honey Buns, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs are available.
Batiks Fat Quarter Bundles, Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs are available too.

"Just like expressing feelings of love on a piece of paper, a quilter reveals theirs in creating a blanket of love. Choosing perfect fabric colors and stitching them together into a design that reflects feelings and emotions that connects the creator with the recipient. Passionate reds, dreamy blues, and fruitful greens are some of the combinations in this collection, and let’s not forget those misty lights that are like our minds when we are head over heels in love! This collection will make it easy for anyone to express their feeling though quilting"

Moda SUNRISE SUNSET Precut Fabrics

by Holly Taylor
Moda SUNRISE SUNSET Batiks Quilt Fabric by Holly Taylor

by Holly Taylor

Fat Quarter Bundles, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs are available.
Also, Batiks Fat Quarter Bundles, Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs are available.

Holly Taylor says, "There is nothing more peaceful and calming than being on the lake at sunrise or sunset. You can just make out the shadow of the boats gliding across the glass like water. It is one of my most favorite places to be. I can imagine myself on the shore in one of the Adirondack chairs, taking in all the beauty nature has to offer. We tried to capture the colors of a sunrise as darkness starts to fade in rich tones of teal, warm golden brown and all the shades of reds in the sunset."

15 May 2012

Sliced Apples Cutting Directions



I hope you are all as excited as we are to begin our QAL!! 
 Here is the info you have been waiting for.

I will tell you all the measurements and assume you are using unwashed fabric. 
 If you wash it first, you may need a little bit more to complete the top.

Let's begin with the center:

Select 65 colored squares for your center and 65 of your plain white ones.  If you are cutting your own squares you will need to cut that many 5" squares.

For your borders, you should measure your center before you cut these.  I will give you the finished measurements of mine, but measure yours before you cut your white strips.

My center, all sewn, measured 40.5" X 52.5"

1st white border:  Cut 2 strips 2.5" X WOF (width of fabric) You will use this for the top and bottom
                             Cut 3 strips 2.5" X WOF  You will use these for the sides

*You will sew and cut to exact measurements later so just leave these as WOF for now.

Pieced border:  Select 26 colored charm squares.  Cut them 2.5" x 4.5"

**TIP: If you are using directional fabric, cut some horizontally and some vertically.



You should measure again before cutting this border to make sure your borders match the dimensions of your top.  My measurement was 48.5" x 60.5"

2nd white border: Cut 3 strips 4.5"  X WOF for top and bottom
                              Cut 4 strips 4.5" X WOF for sides (2 sets of 2 strips for each side)

*You will sew and cut to exact measurements later so just leave these as WOF for now.

Binding:  Assuming 2.5" strips, cut 7 strips 2.5" X WOF


I will tell you that your life will be much easier if you have the following tools before we begin.

 I would NOT sew HSTs without one of these. 
 I prefer Clearly Perfect because it is larger so the squares I begin with can start out larger, bonus!

The other thing is an Olfa rotating mat
 When you are trimming blocks a rotating mat is invaluable!

So now you can get some cutting done. 
 I know there isn't much, so enjoy this part and
 in 2 weeks we will post the sewing instructions for the center, 
followed by the border instructions.

You are one step closer to this! 



 Please go to our Flickr group here and post your fabric choices and your progress.
If you are joining us, please leave us a comment and tell us where you blog too!


12 May 2012

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric

Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Halloween Quilt Fabric


New: Alexander Henry THE GHASTLIES Fabric

Fabric yardage available of 22 different fabrics.

"In Ghastlie Manor on Ghastlie Street there's a Ghastlie family there to meet. Mathilda Ghastlie with husband too extend a Ghastlie hand to you. It's a Ghastlie day for a Ghastlie walk, under Ghastlie trees on a Ghastlie block. A Ghastlie time for Ghastlie things like Ghastlie pets with Ghastlie wings!"

10 May 2012

Moda TRADE WINDS Precut Fabrics

by Lily Ashbury
Moda TRADE WINDS Quilt Fabric by Lily Ashbury
New: Moda TRADE WINDS Fabric
by Lily Ashbury

Fat Quarter Bundles, Fat Eighth Bundles, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs are available.

"Picture an ancient market in Zanzibar. Traders from Ceylon have crossed the Indian ocean braving the Barbary Coast pirates. They make their way to Zanzibar where they can trade spice for colorful cloth and other exotic treasures from far away lands. “ Trade Winds” captures the spirit of new discovery, and historic trade. Modern designs in vivid colors mix with ancient visual flavors to create a rich and timeless collection."

Moda SCHOOL DAYS Precut Fabrics

by American Jane
Moda SCHOOL DAYS Quilt Fabric by American Jane
New: Moda SCHOOL DAYS Fabric
by American Jane

Fat Quarter Bundles, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Charm Packs are available.

American Jane says, "If you know a child in elementary school, this line is for you! It is so vintage and yet so current! Moms and Grandmoms are going to have a hay day doing up a child’s whole room! I can see curtains, floor cloth, pillows and of course a quilt or two. I have such good memories of school days! I still love the lined paper and now you have it in fabric with dot to dot words on the border. There are two small florals, plaids, dot to dot pictures and a novelty alphabet! The large floral has a polka dot background which makes it totally delightful, and reminds me of the day when everyone in our third grade class brought our teacher flowers. The classroom smelled delicious and looked beautiful!"


04 May 2012

MERRY MERRY SNOWMEN Quilt Kit

MERRY MERRY SNOWMEN Quilt Kit

MERRY MERRY SNOWMEN Quilt Kit

Kit includes:
- Bunny Hill Designs MERRY MERRY SNOWMEN Quilt Pattern
- Moda ROUENNERIES DEUX Fabric by French General for quilt top and binding
- Embellishments by Bunny Hill Designs: fifty 1/8" black buttons, twenty five 1/4" black buttons, two 1/2" red star buttons, four 1/8" red buttons, three 1/2" red heart buttons, six 1/2" cream star buttons and 1 yard 1/4" red ribbon
- DMC floss - 1 skein each #844, #498, #310, #922