Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Moda Blockheads Week #6

KT Winner

The winner of our red/tan/blue scrap bag this week is
Beth Esser -Love all the blocks! My favorite needle size is 70 with my favorite Aurifil thread!

Hope you find some prints that will work perfectly in your Blockheads blocks.



I'm so excited to check on Facebook each morning to see all the new, inspiring blocks you ladies are creating and posting. I used to make myself take the time for FB, but now, I check at least a couple times a day! Robert asked the other day if I was in a contest or something. My reply, "Kinda....". It's the kind of contest where everyone wins!

Moda Blockheads Question of the Week:

How do you press your seams - to one side, always to the dark, open, split?
For me, it depends on the block. I normally press toward the dark, when that works. Sometimes, pressing toward the way the block wants helps it to lay flatter. For small blocks, or blocks with alot of seams, pressing open helps reduce bulk. I really like the "pinwheel" effect in the center of a 4-patch type block, when I can get it work perfectly. I use steam, which seems to help flatten everything out, as well. We've already discussed starch/sizing. My go-to is spray sizing with steam. 

Let us know what you think in your comments on our blogs and on the Moda Blockheads FB page. 



Moda Blockheads Week #6

Block 6 - Sunflower - Carrie Nelson
http://unitednotions.com/Block6CN_Sunflower.pdf

For a Kansas girl, Carrie's Sunflower spoke to my heart. Click on the link above for her instructions, or go to any of her links below. Her blog with Moda each week is a must-read for information on all the Moda designers and their new fabric collections, featured quilt shops, new notions and her witty ponderings about the quilting world in general. Sign up today. You don't want to miss it!

Carrie Nelson/ Moda
Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/modafabrics/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modafabrics/


Kathy's traditionally pieced Sunflower block is beautifully done in classic KT prints. It reminded me of a runner we have in the store with a sunflower blooming on each end. I really love sunflowers!

Kathy's traditional block






Block 6 - Sunflower - LP by Lynne


I couldn't resist giving this block the KT spin with my layered patchwork technique.Click on the link above for instructions. Joy's Sunflower captures the Kansas fields in late summer when a drive down the back roads is a treat for the senses.

Joy's LP version

Our first series of 6 blocks have been posted! Now you know what to expect over the coming weeks - traditionally pieced blocks with some applique thrown in here & there for variety, some blocks that will challenge, my layered patchwork alternatives, and lots of interesting options on the Moda Blockheads FB page. It's so fun to see everyone's creations. Keep it up, ladies. Great job!



37 comments:

  1. Both blocks are really beautiful!
    I normally press my seams open when I'm making smaller blocks or a sampler quilt and to one side if the block is bigger and the seams should nest.

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  2. Love your sunflower blocks, Lynne! It is going to be a wonderful quilt!!!
    You have a beautiful home!!!
    Have a good day! Susanne from Germany

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  3. Very nice blocks. I press seems to the side. angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

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  4. The blocks are beautiful! Thanks again for providing the Layered Patchworks directions! By the way, I normally press to the side with the occasional snip-to-the-seam to help the seams cooperate!

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  5. Love the sunflower blocks. Wednesday has now become my favorite day of the week. I usually press seams toward the block with the fewer seams, like a 'plain' block. I try to steer away from pressing towards blocks with cross over seams like HST. I do press bulky seams open.

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  6. Love the sunflowers! I usually press to the dark, unless it makes more sense to go the other way because of bulk. I rarely press the seams open, but sometimes that's the only way that works!

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  7. How I press my seams depends on the block. With small blocks, I press seams open if possible. For larger blocks, I like to press to the dark in order to nest seams. But there are always exceptions!

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  8. I love the sunflower block!
    When time allows, I like to press my seams open, but most of the time I press to the dark side. I'm like you Lynne, it just depends on the block! :) I'm a neat freak about ironing in general, and love the look of pressed open seams!

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  9. Love the blocks...I press to the dark side and depends on some seams open works too. happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  10. Love the blocks...I press to the dark side and depends on some seams open works too. happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  11. Really enjoying the Block Heads BOW! I look forward to Wednesday mornings and the new block. So far, keeping up nicely. I usually press to the dark, but will press to the light if necessary to make things work. Only press open when I "have" to!

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  12. I usually press to the dark, when possible. I love how my blocks "lock" together when I press them in opposite directions.

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  13. I always press to the darker side of the fabrics.

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  14. I agree with how you press. A lot depends on how you are going to quilt it. As a long arm quilter, I hate it when a client presses her seams open and then wants stitch in the ditch. "Sorry friend, there is no ditch to stitch!"

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  15. I agree with how you press. A lot depends on how you are going to quilt it. As a long arm quilter, I hate it when a client presses her seams open and then wants stitch in the ditch. "Sorry friend, there is no ditch to stitch!"

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  16. I finger press everything and then press the whole block when finished. Like the others, it depends on the block.

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  17. Thank you for the blocks. I'm loving seeing everyone's different looks. On pressing, I was taught to press to the dark side and until recently while following these patterns I started to press some seams open. I was taught to not use starch so have used sizing and best press. I have been using Faultless starch on these blocks. I learn so much reading everyone's posts. Always a learning opportunity.

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  18. The construction of the block determines how I press it. I try to pinwheel the back center of the block to make it flatter but sometimes that doesn't happen.

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  19. I am loving the qal.. sew much fun and challenging. Thank you ladies for all your hard work for us.
    I let the block dictate how I press the seams. Mostly to the dark tho.

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  20. I usually press to the dark, but take into consideration how thick the seams will be as the block nears completion and how it will nestle with the neighbor block. I also swirl four patches. I like to stitch in the ditch so I don't press open very often.

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  21. I'm having a lot of fun with these blocks. I love the challenge of doing the smaller pieces. I'm like you I mostly press to the dark side, but will press anyway to make the pieces fit the flattest. Thanks for the fun.

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  22. I press my seams in whatever direction works that they will lay flat; also use Best Press as needed. I find I'm leaning more often towards pressing them open but I sometimes feel like I've gone rogue when I don't "press to the dark" :)

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  23. Hi Lynne! This is SO fun!! I'm really stretching myself with these small pieces!! I'm a fairly experienced quilter, but have mainly done larger 12" or so blocks. I could have quit after Block 2 ~ but decided that it's good to "challenge yourself and grow" in your craft... so that's exactly what I'm doing with this BOW! I'm using a stash of 30's prints, tho I do have a nice stash of colors similar to yours. Thanks for a fun blog post! It's great to "meet" some new designers! Warmly, Priscilla (Pris) Phillips from Idaho

    PS We are new grandparents... it's the BEST!!

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  24. Love the sunflower block! I usually press my seams to the dark, but sometimes that doesn't work out. In those cases, I press in the best direction for that particular block, or section, to lay flat.

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  25. Love sunflowers! One of the very first quilt blocks I ever made was a sunflower from a Dresden Plate pattern. Pressing depends on the block(s). If nesting will help it all fit better then I'll press to whatever side is needed to make that happen. I prefer to press to the dark side if it'll work, and while I rarely press open, I will when it's a small block or when pressing to one side will make things too bulky.

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  26. Love this block! I need to get started on these real soon!

    I press my seams to the dark side most times, unless it can't be done that way for the way the block goes together. I tried open seams, but it just doesn't work for me. :)

    Sandy A

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  27. Love the sunflower for this week! I usually press my seams to the dark. However, if I am doing miniature work I press them open. I am loving these Blockhead blocks! I think I will be finishing mine in my favorite "potholder" method where by each block will be quilted and bound and then stitched together. I have made 20 or so in this method and these blocks are just asking to be finished this way. Time will tell. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  28. This weeks Sunflower Block is awesome!! Just in time for some summer sewing!!

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  29. Love sunflowers!! On seams, I press them towards the dark side when possible and in a lot of cases I do open the seam. I mostly press however looks neat and works for the project I am working on. I use the steam iron too!! I love the freshly ironed look!!

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  30. There is a somewhat offensive ad on your blog site, which I doubt that you placed. Just thought I would let you know.

    Charlotte

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  31. Love the KT fabrics on your block. Very pretty and thanks Carrie for the sunflower pattern. I usually press my seams to the dark side and open on 1/4" small block seams. I'm loving the blockheads blogs & posts. I learn so much. Thanks for participating, Lynn.

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  32. Love the Blocks! I usually press my seams to the side. Eileen ekmvalencia@gmail.com

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  33. I usually press to the dark side (I always think of Star Wars when I say or type this ... LOL). BUT if there are a lot of seams I'll try and press open to give it ease so it lies well. Love Best Press spray which helps get them into submission. LOVING these blocks ... such fun!! Linda H

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  34. I usually press to one side so I can nest the seams but I've been pressing them open on most of the six inch blocks.

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