Monday, January 25, 2016

KT Stitch With Me - Week #1

KT Winner

Congratulations to the winners from the past 2 weeks of blog giveaways!

Janie won the patterns from the cruise (blog post Jan. 18th) -  
Janie - I am freezing here! It is 11 degrees! Just sayin! Have a lovely trip. Thank you for the giveaway.
Sandy won the new Crazy for Minis book (blog post Jan. 11th) -
Sandy F - I love those. Always have a hard time figuring out what to do with minis. They are so fun to buy. Maybe now I can use them!

Now that I'm back from the cruise, we'll get your patterns sent right out. 

Cruisin'

What a wonderful time Jenny and I had with a great group of gals. Eighty quilters joined us for a week of stitching, sunning, relaxing, playing and delicious food. I'd forgotten how fun the formal nights and casual days are on a ship. Can't wait to do it all again in April!

KT Stitch With Me - Week #1

I'm so excited you've joined me for my first KT Stitch With Me series. Today is our first day of piecing together a mini charm sampler featuring my layered patchwork technique. The Crazy for Minis book has 6 simple projects using mini charms with several additional home decor bonus projects. Jamie finished printing it while we were gone, so we wanted to give you a sneak peek at some of the blocks we redesigned for easier, more perfect piecing. By the end of the series, you'll be a pro at layered patchwork and ready to whip up any of the projects in the book.

First up, this floating layered star. When stitching tiny pieces, especially with points, it's difficult to keep the star points from being cut off in the seam allowances. My solution? Extend the background so the star floats! It's also a great way to add size to your block so it will fit an odd dimension in a design plan.

Let's get Started!

Supplies for MC Sampler Quilt:
    2 KT Mini Charm Packs
     tan - 7/8 yd.
     navy - fat 1/8
     red - fat 1/8
     green - outer border/binding

I chose 2 KT Mini Charm packs from two different fabric collections for more variety, a tan tone-on-tone print for the background, a navy small geometric print for the star background, a red tone-on-tone for the 1st border and a green print with multiple colors for the outer border.It's not too late to call KTQ for a kit - 785-488-2120.
    

For the Floating Star block, you will need:
          fat 1/8 navy for background
          (5) tan mini charm squares with pinked edges


CUT:            Tan Mini Charm (MC) - A - (1) 2 1/2" sq.
                                                             B - (4) 2 1/4" sq. (X)
(X) = cut a square twice diagonally to create (4) triangles

                       Navy -  C - (4) 2 3/4" x 2 1/2"
                                    D - (4) 2 3/4" sq.

Follow the diagram below to trim and cut (4) tan mini charm (MC) squares. Cut 1/4" from two sides, then cut the remaining 2 1/4" sq. twice diagonally. We'll use the (2) triangles that still have the long side pinked, indicated by the circles. Why, you ask? Because the pinked edge is on the straight grain of the fabric and keeps it from unraveling. It will be the exposed edge for the star points. If a square cut just once diagonally would work for this block, the cut edge would be on the bias and it wouldn't need to be pinked.

Rule #1 of Layered Patchwork - exposed edges need to be either pinked or cut on the bias.


How to cut B tan mini charm squares for star points.

 

Now that all of our pieces are cut, we'll lay out the background of the star in a 9-patch with the D-navy 2 3/4" squares in the corners, the C-navy 2 3/4" x 2 1/2" on the sides, and the A- tan 2 1/2" MC in the center.


 On each C-navy rectangle, position (2) of the B-tan triangles, right sides up with corners aligning and the center points overlapping, right over left; glue in place. I like a good quality fabric glue like Sewline (see in above picture). The slender design and small tip make it easy to use and it's refillable! Put a dot of glue on the tan star points, especially where they overlap, to keep the triangles from scooching (yes, it's a word) when stitching. I used red thread so you can see the 1/8" topstitching better. My choice is Aurifil 50wt. tan#2370 to blend with most KT tans.


Stitch 4 star point units.Make each star point using matching tans or mix it up for a scrappier look.

Return star point units to 9-patch layout. Sew block together in rows; press top and bottom rows toward corners, press middle row toward center tan square. Sew rows together; press all rows in one direction.

Star block measures 7" square. Trim your block to 6 3/4" square using a square ruler. Draw a chalk line thru the center of the star at 3 1/2" in both directions. Align the  3 3/8" lines on your ruler with the chalk lines; trim the excess navy from two sides. Turn block around and trim remaining two sides. The Floating Star block now measures 6 3/4" square.


Great job, ladies! Wasn't that easy? Perfect star points every time. Comment on making this block to win a copy of Crazy for Minis. Hope to see you again next Monday for the next block in our MC Sampler quilt.


Do you have a KT Spare Change ruler? It's not required, but you'll love how it makes the next block even easier. Special blog offer for Spare Change ruler - Retail $8; sale price $5. Orders over $20, including Spare Change ruler, receive free shipping! Go to our website at ktquilts.com today to make your list, then call KTQ to place your order.  The website will not have the ruler on sale or the free shipping offer. It's a secret sale JUST FOR YOU! Call Jamie or Robert today at 785-488-2120 and they'll send your Spare Change ruler right out!

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See you next week!
Lynne

Moda All Stars Blog Hop

 Are you following the Moda All Stars All in a Row Blog Hop??? I'll be here January 28th along with Kaari of French General to share our rows. Check back for a chance to win the All in a Row book.
Go to Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings and Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts for today's posts!





23 comments:

  1. Thanks for the great tutorial! I LOVE your fabrics and own some of your books!

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  2. The layered patchwork technique looks like fun, and especially effective for star points. I've looked, and can't seem to locate pinking shears fine enough to mimic the look of precuts. Do you know of a source?

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    1. To pink the edges of your own fabrics, I use an Olfa pinking blade for my rotary cutter. It isn't as fine as the pinked edges on Moda's precuts, but works well. After your quilt has been washed, the raw pinked edges curl a bit and soften. You can't tell the difference between the precuts and the pinking blade.

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  3. This is a great chance to try the layered patchwork without investing too much. It looks fun and easy to do. Can't wait to give it a try! I love your fabrics! Thanks for a chance to win.

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  4. Great tutorial Lynne. Thank you.
    To answer your question; yes, I did actually already purchase your Spare Change ruler and on the same order that day I purchased a Sewline Glue Pen as well.

    How often will you post the Stitch with Me posts? I'm assuming once a week given the title of this post was "Week 1", but I wanted to be sure so I don't miss any of them.

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    1. KT Stitch With Me continues over the next 3 weeks, posting on Mondays. Stay tuned!

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  5. Very cute! Although you had me at 'mini'. I love mini quilts and star blocks are my absolute favorite blocks!! Thanks for the fun!

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  6. I'm not a great piecer--I'm more of a strip quilter (I almost said stripper). However, I think I can do this. I love your fabric and this project will get me started layering without a huge time commitment. I'm using your fabric for a twister class on Saturday. My goal for 2016 is to sew more and learn new techniques. I'm off to a great start for January!

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  7. that looks like so much fun - I am so excited to try it!
    your explanation makes it so simple

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  8. Absolutely beautiful! This looks to be an enjoyably easy technique! I may have to start this sew along after all! lol! :-)

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  9. That is so neat. I'm going to have to buy that pinking rotary blade. The block is beautiful.

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  10. That is so neat. I'm going to have to buy that pinking rotary blade. The block is beautiful.

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  11. This looks like lots of fun. I've been interested in your layered look for a while. This is a great chance to try it. Thank you so much for this quilt-along!

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  12. Looking forward to making this block (darn work - gets in my quilting way) and I do have the spare change ruler. :) Thanks for the quilt-along.

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  13. I have the perfect fabric for this! Can't wait to get started.

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  14. This is going to be so much fun. I already have the first block done and am ready for the next. What a way to make you look forward to Mondays!!! Thanks a bunch, Lynne.

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  15. I have the perfect mini charms for this project. I bought them without any particular project in mind. And I like the idea of one block at a time. I tend to get overwhelmed easily! :)

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  16. This is genius! I have lots of your fabric and a pinking blade - can't wait for the weekend so I can make this block !

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  17. This is a great idea for mini charms and the star looks so cute with the pinked edges. Gotta try this one!

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  18. So cute--I can't wait to find a few minutes to try out this fun technique--thanks!!

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  19. Love this block...can't wait for the next one!

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  20. This is such an adorable block! thank you!

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