Country Charmer Quilt Along - Post #1

Hello Everyone,

I'm going to try to do a post every other Thursday to help you with your Country Charmer quilt.  I'll also start a new section at the top of the blog just for the Country Charmer QAL so those of you that are making the quilt can go directly there for reference and inspiration.

First of all, I'm so excited to see how many of you expressed an interest in making this quilt with Lesely The Cuddle Quilter,  QuiltSue and me.  The Country Charmer pattern has been flying off the shelf at In Between Stitches and mailed out around the globe.

This first tutorial will cover how I approach the quilt and the block itself and will concentrate on Section A,  the area here with the red circle.  When in doubt read, READ the directions, look at the graphics.  More often than not, the answer to your question is right in front of you.  I'm always just an email away if you need help.  Send all emails to patched55@comcast.net and I'll get back to you just as soon as I can.

First, I'll start by selecting my fabrics.  You know me, this is going to be a very scrappy quilt.  Each of my blocks will be different.  I'll incorporate every color from the spectrum into a pleasing combination of eye candy.  After rummaging, I mean browsing through my fabric bins, I decided my first block is going to be along these lines.  I start with an interesting center and key on those colors throughout the rest of the block.

There are many keys to becoming an excellent piecer.  The first key is the cutting!  Cut carefully and accurately.  The shapes on your Country Charmer Layout chart are the exact size of the piece.  If your pieces don't fit within the designated shape, then back to the cutting board you go.  Put all of the pieces on your layout sheet.  Are you pleased with the look?  Is there anything you want to change? If you do change your mind, start little baggies to hold the pieces that may work just perfectly in another block.  Label each bag with the appropriate letter, F, G, etc.

I start stitching in a clockwise direction around the sheet.  Start with pieces A & E.

Chain piece them together.  Always press in the direction of the arrows on page 2 of your pattern.  Place the sewn piece back onto the block layout sheet.

Next, sew B to H.

A LITTLE TIPSY - When sewing a triangle to a square, trim the corners first at a 90 degree angle.  I LOVE using the Perfect Patchwork Corner Trimmer by Marti Michell.  The trimmer has both a 90 and a 45 degree cutting angle.

Piece B should look like this before you begin sewing.

See how it fits perfectly to piece H.

Chain piece them together.  Press in the direction of the arrows. TURN THIS UNIT OVER AND STITCH WITH THE TRIANGLE AGAINST YOUR FEED DOGS.  REMEMBER, BIAS ON THE BOTTOM.

Put the pieces back on your sheet.  Again, work clockwise around your sheet and you will be able to keep your wits about you.  (At my age I need all the help I can get!)

Stitch the green triangle E to H.  You know how to do this.

A LITTLE TIPSY - When stitching a triangle to a section with an angle, trim the corners at a 45 degree angle with a corner trimmer.

Like this.

Then chain piece them together.

Stitch the whole unit together, locking the seams together, and you will have (4) perfect 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" sections. Take a big sigh of relief, the hardest part is done! The rest of the block is a piece of cake.  

Trust me, you will get to the point where you will be working your way around the block in no time at all.  I will do a tutorial on SECTION B soon.

Here are two more examples of my fabric selections and the resulting block.

Note in the first two versions of this quilt, I used background fabric in the little triangles around the center square.  In my new version, I'm filling them with color......and I'm loving the addition of one more color to the block.  I'm enjoying the complexity and depth that one more color adds. I also used the same background fabric throughout the whole quilt.....but not in my new version.

You have to think a little more about what looks good together with the addition of one more color.  YOU CAN DO IT!  I know you can.

My goal for this quilt along is to help us all become better quilters.  You are virtually attending one of my classes for free!  Ladies pay big bucks to come to my classes.....but not you my faithful readers! You can attend this class in your PJ's.....I won't tell!

Soon,
Lynn

P.S. If anyone else wants to join in, the pattern is available HERE at In Between Stitches.  This is a slow-paced QAL.  Finish what you can.  Send me pictures and I'll post them.  Send me questions and I'll answer them.  I'll be posting more details along the way, so stay tuned.

Fons & Porter Free Ebook

Hello Everyone,

I was both delighted and surprised when I was contacted by the online media coordinator for Fons & Porter. I was asked if I would be interested in receiving a copy and writing a review of their newest ebook Build Your Best Log Cabin. This girl didn’t have to think twice! Fons & Porter, FONS & PORTER asking for my opinion!!! That’s like President Obama asking me for my opinion on his State of the Union speech prior to delivery. Okay, enough with the comparisons, but you get the picture. I was thrilled and jumped at the chance to write a review. The ebook soon arrived in my email inbox, which I downloaded immediately. 

First you are greeted with delicious, non-caloric eye candy which is in keeping with Fons & Porter publications……very Fons &Porteresque….(a new phrase I made up just for this review!)

The ebook contains a wealth of information about Log Cabin blocks from their history to their construction. Plus the ebook contains four new patterns many of you will be adding to your 2013 Quilting Bucket List.

Liz and Marianne give you the tools and the blueprints to add to your quilting toolbox so you can Build Your Best Log Cabin. The tools begin with easy to read cutting charts for the most popular log cabin blocks. There are charts for Traditional, Courthouse Steps, Chimneys & Cornerstones Courthouse Steps and Chevron or Off-Center Log Cabin blocks.

I followed the easy cutting chart and before I knew it, I had an extremely accurate and very cute little 5” block (4-12/” finished.)

In the past when I made a Log Cabin block, I never cut my ‘logs’ first. I would always sew using long strips, and then trim the logs. I found by cutting my logs first as suggested in the ebook, my block measurements were spot on.

I checked for accuracy after each round. I’m not saying I’m the best machine piecer in the world, but these blocks were perfect after each round!

I was so pleased with the first block that I decided to make some more blocks from the other charts included in the book. In all my years of quilting, I had never made a Chevron block. This was fun!

In all my years of quilting, I had never made a Courthouse Steps block…..until now.

Not only do you learn about different Log Cabin blocks, your toolbox includes many different setting options once you’ve made your blocks.

My brain is just spinning with ideas. What about combining the different style of log cabin blocks? Now this would be an interesting border.

I need to make a few more blocks to get a better representation of what this would look like in a quilt. This too, might make an interesting border.

Not only will you have charts to design your own quilt, you also have four new patterns to make either traditional or contemporary quilts. There’s something for every quilting style and level of quilter from challenging to easy.

But wait, there’s more! I’m anxious to try the section covering the bobbin work with trapunto using water soluble stabilizer backing. This sounds interesting and would greatly enhance my machine quilting.

 Again, in Fons & Porteresque style, there are many hints and tips from organization of strips to construction of blocks. There is also a section on binding with piping and how to join your binding without lumps. This is the method I use and it’s the best I've found.

Now here’s the best part…….you can download the book for free right HERE!  (Prior to download, you will have to key in your email address.) This ebook will make you put your thinking cap on. The ideas and blueprints are presented to you in a clear and concise manner. It is up to you to gather together a calculator, sketch pad and pencil to get the ideas out of your head and onto the paper and start building your best log cabin. The tools are at your finger tips thanks to Liz and Marianne. Start “sawing” those logs and start construction!

Many thanks to Liz and Marianne for being so gracious to make this ebook available for all of my readers first! While you are visiting their website, check out other free ebooks by going to Online Extras HERE. There is a wealth of information available on their site which will make you a better quilter. 

Thank you Liz and Marianne for giving me the honor of reviewing your new ebook. I’ve started designing my blueprints to build My Best Log Cabin!

Soon,
Lynn

P.S Some corrections: On page 15, Courthouse Steps Log Cabin Chart, the cutting directions on the bottom row for strips #15 & #16 the row should read 5", 7.25", 9.50", 11.75" and 14".

One page 18, Chevron Chart, strip #4 & 5 under 11-1/4" block should be 4-1/4"

Sew'n Wild Oaks Class WAS in Session

Hello Everyone,

I'm almost a week late in my posting, but better late than never.  The Sew'n Wild Oaks girls met last Tuesday for our regular class meeting.  Paula is almost finished with her beautiful house for Party in the Garden. She created such a welcoming cottage.  I love the way she changed the flowers and made this quilt her own.

Carol has been working hard on her Summer's Blush/Winter's Warmth quilt.  We collectively decided the gold posts were overwhelming, so out with the gold, in with the blue.  (Isn't that catchy?)

She has all of her hexies made and the flowers are ready for the setting triangles.

Louise is in yo-yo mania.  She has hundreds of them made and she's sewing them on the blocks.

These yo-yo's and cute buttons are for another project.  The buttons are a perfect addition.

Isabelle has a scrumptious stack of blocks for Minglewood.  She started attaching the sashings and posts, so we will be seeing a completed quilt top soon.

Isabelle is also one of my pattern testers and she made a block for the Butterscotch Basket quilt from my directions. She provided me with some valuable input that will make the directions easier to follow.

Kathy started preparing the applique pieces for Toyland Tree.  This class is starting the 4th Sunday of the month. I have to start getting my act together so I can make the quilt along with the rest of the class.

My sister Gail, is also one of my pattern testers and she is moving right along on her blocks for Butterscotch Baskets. Each block requires five different fabrics.  She's put over thirty groupings together and is going to have her blocks done lickety split.....all 80 of them!  This is a fun block and I'll bet you can't make just one!

She works together in groups of four.  Once the cutting is done, she starts in on her power sewing by chain piecing.

Evelynne is almost all finished with her blocks for Summer's Blush/Winter's Warmth.  She has the pinwheels and stars down pat by this point in time.

If you notice, the pinwheels are turning in different directions to make this quilt fly!

Kay has an excellent start on her House on Edgewood Lane quilt. We selected the fabric for the setting squares and setting triangles.  Kay is a finisher and this quilt top will be done by our next meeting. (No pressure Kay!)

Beautiful applique.

Cindy is very organized while working on her hexies for Summer's Blush.  I love all of her little check centers.  Just so cute and unifying.

Barbara finished another beautiful Nostalgic Christmas block.  She's sailing along on them.  Once you get the double flying geese made, the rest of the block is simple.

Kaye with an "E" found out over the Holidays her granddaughter is getting married in April.  So let the wedding quiltmaking begin!  We were playing around with block placement and discussed the quilting that could go in the center of her gorgeous log cabin blocks.

So that's it folks.  The girls have been busy, busy, busy and I expect we'll be seeing some great tops coming together over the next couple of months coming from my girls.....they ROCK!

I'm off to work my Monday at the shop.  I'll be preparing the first blocks for the Toyland Tree BOM program starting this month at In Between Stitches.  I have a couple more slots left, so it's not too late to sign up.

I can't decide if I want to start with the bear......

....or the rocking horse.

During my Toyland Tree class, I'm going to make another quilt with a white background and black polka dots.  This is going to be fun and the quilt is going to be the same.....yet so different.

Soon,
Lynn