Guest #27 Dorian with playing with strips and and a striking collection giveaway called NEW LONDON

(giveaway today) 

Hello everyone, I'm Dorian from RidgeTopQuilts. So happy to be included in this Wantobe Quilters Campaign, thank you Samm.

I want to talk today about using strips for making certain blocks. I'm sure those who are 'old hands' at quilting know these tricks. So this is more for you new quilters.

When I learned to quilt, 17 yrs ago, one of the first books I bought was "Quilters Complete Guide" By Fons and Porter. I learned how to use strips to make 4-patches, 9-patches and HST's (half square triangles). And have preferred this way every since. It's quicker than cutting your pieces into squares or triangles, then sewing them back together. It's also easier as you aren't dealing with cuts on the bias (which is more stretchy than with the grain).

The 4-patch is a very simple, easy pattern. You can make a whole quilt just with these 4-patches, if you wish. Or they make great setting blocks, adding a different block in between, to make other patterns. It's one of the most basic blocks, and you use it as a basis for more complicated ones.

Take two strips, cut the same width and length. Lay them with the right sides together, and pin along one long edge.

Sew all down that long edge, with a ¼” seam allowance. Press open (don't saw back and forth with the iron, just press it down all along the seam line). Then you want to cut all along the strips, the cuts being the same width apart as the original strip (I used a 2” strip, so I cut every 2” ).

When your whole strip is cut. Take two units, flip one unit around so the colors are opposite, put them right sides together, pin and sew with a 1/4” seam allowance.

You can make these any size you want to, just making sure your strips are all cut all the same width.

Then next up is the 9-patch block-variation. Jane told us how to do a regular 9 patch last week, here. So I will show you a variation. This one you will need to make two different strip sets. I am only going to use two colors for this example, but you can use more, depending on how you want your block to look.

You will need one strip from both Fabrics A and B that are twice the width of the 2 smaller strips on either side. So for my example, my small strips are 1 3/4" wide, and the larger strips are 3.5" wide. Sew two fabric A 1 3/4" strips, to either side of fabric B 3.5" strip. And sew two fabric B 1 3/4" strips, to either side of fabric A 3.5".

Now you have two different strip units. Press open. Making your seams go the same way on strip set 1, and opposite of that on strip set 2. Cut 2 strips per block from strip set 1, at 1 3/4" (the same width as your small strips). If you are going to make ten 9-patch blocks, then cut 20 of these smaller strips.

From strip 2, cut all down the length every 3.5" (the same size as your larger strip).

Now sew a smaller strip set to either side of the larger strip set.

Always press open your blocks when done, and trim the edges up so they are even and all the same size.

And there is your simple 9-patch variation. You can make these in a variety of different colors. Using only 9-patches in your quilt, or using them as setting blocks.

The next one is the half square triangle (HST) blocks. These are very popular to use, in a variety of different settings.

When cutting strips for HST blocks, you need to ADD an extra 5/8" to the width of your strips. To allow for the seam allowances. My blocks unfinished (meaning sewn together, but not sewn to other blocks yet) are 3.5". So I want to add 5/8" to that, meaning I want to cut my strips at 4 1/8".

Put two strips right sides together. On the lighter fabric, you need to mark lines going down the strip, the same width apart as the original strip (4 1/8" in my example).

Then mark zig-zag lines going from corner to corner.

Now you want to sew 1/4” on BOTH sides of your diagonal line.Following the red arrow.

Now cut on all the solid lines.

Press your blocks open, and trim off the dog ears (the little triangles sticking out). When trimming HST blocks, put your rulers 45 degree mark along your seam, line up the corner with the width you want (3.5" in my example) and trim. Rotating and trimming all four edges.

This way makes a lot of HST blocks quickly and accurately, without having to deal with the stretchy triangles.

One of my favorite patterns is the Irish Chain. It's so simple, yet very elegent. There is a single chain, double or triple chain, and many different variations.

It looks complicated, but it isn't. These all use strip piecing, so something complicated is actually easy.

Images and free patterns for these can be found at
http://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/irish-chain-quilt-pattern.html

You can do a lot with strips. Making all kinds of different variations, and interspersing this blocks in with different blocks.

A block using  HST's and 4 patches is called Jacob's Ladder. Another great block to play with different color variations.

image found at http://quilting.about.com/od/blockofthemonth/ss/jacobs_ladder.htm

Another of my favorites is the Lone Star. Sew and press your strips, and cut them on the diagonal (usually at a 45 degree angle). Then sew your strips together to make the Lone star.

Tutorial and quilt along can be found at my blog.

I hope you've enjoyed my tips on using strips!

I have made a special lap quilt just for you, to practice the 4-patch, 9-patch and HST blocks.

Thank you so much for having me here, it was indeed my pleasure to share this tut with you!

Dorian

Giveaway today is for our QUILTERS

this is a brand new collection

not even available anywhere 

from Marcus Fabrics

( will be out in the fall)

It is called New London by

FAYE BURGOS

 7 .5 yards of this collection

cut into 1/2 yard bundles.

I am loving this myself....oh my it is striking..makes me think of coffee...lol

We also have some coordinating Presencia threads

from Colonial Needle.

( you can purchase these threads

at Jane's Fabrics

I am even going to throw in my COFFEE MUG

it just goes sew nicely...

Sew what can you do to win..

OH please follow Dorian..she would love that sew much....

Be a follower here, you are aren't you?  

Tell us what you would like to make with this collection..

Big thanks goes out to Dorian, 

Marcus Fabrics, Colonial Needle,

Great Gerberas for my roses  and gerberas...

and YOU for sharing with your family-

friends- about this most amazing

passion of ours -Quilting!