Laura Nownes

[Annis C.]

Annis, did you let Laura know about the miscalulation? I noticed on the pinwheels that the instruction said that we would produce 5 HSTs, but it really only gave 4. I think I wrote a comment on the class page about it. Did anyone else notice that?

I did write a comment on the class page. The instructions did not say anything about squaring them up and the 4-1/4" size for the background was not oversized. The 2-7/8" size works with a 5-1/4" background for a 2" x 4" finished block.

[Nancy R.]

Just finished this week's blocks:

Now, back to my AAQI quilts until next week's assignment....

Nancy

[Renata L.]

Nancy, your blocks turned out very nicely. Hope you'll post your AAQI quilt too!

[wendy w.]

Fabulous Nancy 8)

[Marianne G.]

Nancy, your blocks look very intriguing. I really like the way they are so different despite all being the same if that makes sense. Thanks for sharing
Annis, your expanded quilt will be stunning. So many fabulous quilts to look forward to seeing "in the flesh"
Limbania, what a great idea to use the sampler quilt as a starting point for a novelty quilt with a panel in the centre. I nearly chose to make a Christmas quilt but found I did not have enough winter/Christmas fabrics in my fabric boxes but I never thought of using a panel to "stretch" the fabrics.

I am having a very hard time making this week's block. I felt I had come a long way the last 2 weeks compared to before setting out on this adventure but I think this block is really pushing things a bit too far for me. I am trying different ways to make them and hope I end up with a method that will work for me. A friend suggested that I started with 4 ½" squares and then cut the patches down to size so I was sure they were all the right size before I put them together. I will try that today when I have used up the squares I had cut in advance starting the blocks. A bit silly to cut all the squares before trying to make a block but I had a really good result with the HSTs so I thought I was doing ok. Obviously not

Marianne

[wendy w.]

Don't feel down we are learning and that's the whole point. Why not put a post for Laura to ask her advice on the class bit.

[Lois B.]

Marianne, I had trouble with the size of this weeks blocks. It seems I got carried away and was using too generous a seam allowance. I discovered it before I was completely done but I am afraid not before there was a considerable amount of ripping to do. I thought the 4 1/4 block was supposed to be generous and allow for some squaring up in the end - but not for me. If it weren't for all the ripping I would have been done 2 days ago. I will wait until I hear more about the problem with measurements for next weeks project before I do any cutting. :? :? :? I think my most important quilting skill is persistence. :!: :!: :!:

Looking back I see Annis discovered that the 4 1/4" block was not oversized. I was expecting it to be. All my blocks were coming out short. They are fixed now.

[Marianne G.]

Don't feel down we are learning and that's the whole point. Why not put a post for Laura to ask her advice on the class bit.

Thank you, Wendy. You are right of course and I was just getting too cocky because I managed to turn out decent HSTs for the first time :P
Good idea, posting questions in the Classroom comments. I will do that.

Marianne

[Marianne G.]

When doing a diagonal cut across a square we need to add on 3/8" to the size of the square. For the hst's we cut at 4" and needed to trim about 1/8"(?) or so. For the qst's we cut 4 1/4" - only 2/8" larger - I found that I was only trimming a couple of threads off on some of my sides, or just the bunny ears (where it was a thread or so small, I just ignored it and hope it fits in the final quilt ok :wink: )

[Marianne G.]

Pinwheels -in need of trimming.

[Lois B.]

Pinwheels -in need of trimming.

Can't wait to see these with "fried eggs"! I think it will be a very happy quilt.

[Lois B.]

How I did my QST's to avoid sewing cut bias edges

I started off by drawing diagonal lines on the b/ground fabric in both directions
Next I cut them apart

nb. the white squares were all cut accurately, some of the red squares needed a clean up cut on the 4th side, which I decided could wait until the end :wink:

[Lois B.]

Just finished this week's blocks:

Now, back to my AAQI quilts until next week's assignment....

Nancy

I love your the sashing you designed in EQ7. Don't have the software but would love to do something like that with my blocks. Every time I see them I am more and more intrigued. Nice work.

[Lois B.]

Part 2

I then pressed the seams to the dark side
Redrew the diagonal line onto the dark half, with a chalk pencil(this was the only one I pinned :P

and chain stitched 1/4" either side of the diagonal line again.

[Lois B.]

Part 3

Cut them apart
and press open
then continued as for the pinwheels - check for size, trim & line up for stitching.the one on the right is due for ripping as the vertical line has a dog leg in it that I don't like.

I also tried various different styles of pressing for the seams - I got a nicer result with having the seams open on the second diagonal line, but it made it trickier for the joining up of the squares.