Laura Nownes

[Nancy R.]

Thanks Nancy, I have been so psyched to try this but I didn't want to be stealing your design. I need to wait until I start adding some of the more graphic fabrics to the mix which will come with the stars and log cabin blocks to see what I would want to put in those amazing sashes. So I am asking official permission to use your design. Please? This is FUN!!

Lois - You are always welcome to use anything that I post! This frame is actually one of the ones that comes with EQ7, so it's not even mine. Have fun!!
Nancy

[Nancy R.]

Just to make sure, since it sounds like you haven't dropped them before, did you try sewing after pushing the button to put them in the up position? You probably already know this, but thought I check just in case. On my machines, you push the "feed dogs down" button again to put them in the up position, but they don't actually move until your first stitch. You probably tried this, but wanted to make sure just in case.

Well, Thanks a million, Nancy. I tried what you suggested, and I guess that you can tell I'm out of my comfort zone now. It worked! Guess I should read the manual that came with the machine. .... I didn't " 'probably already know this, or "try this" '. Which is one reason why I love this forum and all the sharing and learning that goes on, and we get pushed beyond our level. I think it may be at at least another decade until I can produce 'an artistic statement' as Rosemary told us about!
Thanks to Lois, I'm in the uncomfortable zone of FMQ, but I imagine, like most things, it improves with practice, practice, practice. At least I took the jump!

I'm SO glad that was it! I hate being without my favorite sewing machine! Enjoy the FMQ. Although I still stress over the designs, I've gotten to really love FMQ!

Nancy

[Annis C.]

I did a little redesign on my quilt layout. I wanted to use more of the leaf print on the front. Thanks to Nancy's inspirational blocks, I twisted some of the blocks for a different look. I've already made the square-in-a-square blocks. Just 24 twisted blocks to go and the quilt will be ready to assemble. Too bad my design wall is packed away. I will have to wait to lay it out on the floor on the day I plan to put it together. My goal was to have the sewing done this week but it looks like I will have to find a few more hours next week to finish the blocks and maybe take a day for assembly. I have to get back to my cleaning and packing.

[Nancy R.]

Annis - I LOVE it!

Nancy

[wendy w.]

Thanks Rosemary that ways worked for me for the four squares going together

[Marianne G.]

Yankee Puzzle blocks finished! Pyh; that was tough going :shock: but after 6 different ways of doing them I have now found what works for me which is what it is all about. I can't say I have taken to this block but I can see it can be a good block to use for blending different fabrics. It was great fun to make the last 2 which are not at all up to standard because it was leftovers from cutting, a bit like the last biscuit dough that gets sculpted into all sorts of interesting biscuits. They always taste the best (can you tell I've been baking this morning?
Thank you, Renata, for showing us how to get a secondary pattern out of this block and everybody who shared the different ways of making it up. I am now looking forward to tackling the Flying Geese in the Sawtooth Star block that is the next challenge. I am sure there are several different ways of doing those too :roll: :lol:


Marianne

[Nancy R.]

Great job, Marianne! They look great!

Yes, it seems like there might be more ways of doing flying geese blocks than any other blocks I've ever seen. It will be interesting to see what everyone does with those!

Nancy

[Marianne G.]

Thank you, Nancy
So far I have found 3 different ways apart from what I think must be the traditional way of doing them. Add to that the different ways of pressing - that should keep us out of trouble for the next week
Marianne

[Annis C.]

That was a good lesson for week 4. Once I got the right measurement for the squares everything worked well. If you are making these exact be skimpy with your seam allowance or the flying geese blocks may be a little small. This is how I did my last set. I cut them oversized, adding 1/4" to each measurement (adding 1/8" would also work but it's easier for me to trim off the extra 1/8" than a 1/16"). So my cut sizes were 4-1/2" and 2-5/8".

I didn't like the extra fabric that got caught in the tips of the geese so I trimmed it off before sewing. Place the blocks on the corners of the larger square and measure the amount that overlaps.



For my oversized blocks I needed to trim 3/4" triangles off the tips. When adding 1/8" just trim 5/8". It is necessary to trim for the oversized blocks because some of that excess fabric may end up on the front of your finished block. Ask me how I know.



And if you are cutting exact and want to trim that excess, trim off 1/2". Place a square ruler as shown for this block size only if you don't have a triangle ruler.

[Annis C.]

Mark down the center if you haven't already and sew.



Cut and press.



Mark and sew again. Cut and press. Do not trim triangles off the corners of the squares for this step.

[Annis C.]

Square the finished blocks using a ruler with marks at the 1/4" lines. Or use a specialty ruler made for flying geese if you have one.



During assembly I measured after every addition to make sure my seams were accurate. I did do a little resewing next to the first sewing line but didn't have to do any unsewing. My finished blocks were close enough.

[Marianne G.]

Thank you for the photos, Annis, and the trick of cutting the corners off the squares if we want to make the geese slightly larger than need be. Something I intend to do after my QST trials last week. Easier to cut a bit off than add to :wink:
Looking forward to getting stuck in tomorrow.
Marianne
PS I like how you have fuzzy-cut the centres of the star block.

[Marianne G.]

Whoo-hoo, I'm nearly as famous as twiglet 8) - my pinwheels have been featured in the TQS newsletter, but without my name

Previous to this I would have said that I was just notorious :lol: :P :lol:

[Rita C.]

Whoo-hoo, I'm nearly as famous as twiglet 8) - my pinwheels have been featured in the TQS newsletter, but without my name

Previous to this I would have said that I was just notorious :lol: :P :lol:

Or infamous and notorious. 8)

[Nancy R.]

Beautiful blocks, Annis! I love the fussy-cut sunflowers!

Congratulations, Rosemary! I haven't gotten to the newsletter yet, but will now!

Nancy