Inspiration: How to use the Twister Tool

This month's inspiration from Ilene is a mini-tutorial on how to use the Lil' Twister Tool from Country Schoolhouse Designs.  

To make the twister blocks, you will need a charm pack or fabrics cut into 5-inch squares. If you want the twisters to "float" on a background (as shown above) you will need to cut squares from a background fabric also.

Arrange the squares and sew them together as shown above if you want the twisters on a background. If you want the twisters to interlock, simply sew the colored squares together without the background color. Add a 3'' contrasting border to the entire piece if you want a border to frame the twisters (see quilt example above- orange border). 

To cut the shapes, position the tool so the marks line up on the seams and carefully cut with a small rotary tool. 

The cut shapes should be positioned in exactly the same order they were cut so the twisters will match up and sewn together. The finished quilt will be about 1/3 smaller than the first size you start with but then you can add borders if you want

Ilene says that if you cut carefully you can use the leftover pieces to create an outer border for the quilt so very little fabric is wasted. 

5- Minute Block Challenge

 We had a wonderful meeting in August & we are sorry for those that missed it! Pictures of quilts shown will be coming  soon, but we decided to a challenge this month to bring in September.  Phyllis showed up the 5 minute block that she had found, & Stephanie is working on putting a raffle for a dear friend.  So we have decided to combine the two. So listen up . . . this is what you need to do:

  Watch this video, teaching you how to make the 5 - minute block, on this you tube video taught by Suzanne McNeill . 

What you need to do & Bring to our September Meeting:  

We have decided to do a scrappy quilt, but your center fabric (the one that is dark blue in the picture above) must white or cream. Anything else can be scrappy, as long as that center fabric is white or cream. We will be making 8 blocks.    You will need to cut your  rectangles  3" wide by  5 1/2" long. 

 Remember 8 Blocks, white or cream as the center fabric.  We are going to combine everyone blocks that are brought to our September meeting, & turn it into a quilt for Stephanie & the raffle they are making for her dear friend that lost her husband.

So get out your sewing gear & get to work! I talked to Illene who already has made hers & she says the longest part, is deciding your fabric.  We can't wait to see what you bring! 

Exploding Rail Block

A big thank you to Terry for showing us this idea (by the Missouri Quilt Co. & 3 Dudes Quilting). & then for Terry sending the link so we could all see it again.

The video is found on You Tube Here if this link doesn't work.


  Or here is the same idea, a slightly different version,  on this tutorial at Two More Seconds.


               (Picture from 2 More Seconds Blog)
  

Here is the link for the tutorial.  from Two More Seconds Version.  


So here is the Challenge for March:

  Take this video & create your own variation. You could do it with 3,4,5,6 strips, or certain colors, change the thickness. Anything you want. Just try something & then show up with it for  the March meeting & share. We would love to see your variations that you come up with & the different ways it could turn out.  So watch the video, get busy & we will see you with your completed challenge in March. 

Instructions for Pinwheel Toss

Here is the link for the Pinwheel Toss, that Ilene taught at the meeting in February.
 This picture was taken Sew We Quilt blog, but here is where the instructions for the Pinwheel Toss are at Sew We Quilt. (Just click on their name & it should link you over.) 

Picture of the finished Pin Wheel Toss block from Sew We Quilt

We will also try to get the instructions for the Exploding Rail Block on here soon, so you can complete your challenge before the March Meeting! 

2011 Block Exchange - scrappy strip block

Donna introduced us to the exchange block for 2011 - the scrappy strip block.

• We can choose to make blocks with a white background and bright colored strips OR blocks with a tan background and country/thimbleberries strips (see examples in the photo).
• Each month we need to make EIGHT blocks - keep one for yourself and bring seven to quilt group each month to exchange
• We decided you DON'T need to trim the block for the exchange - bring them sewed and finished but untrimmed - (see the block in the lower right of the photo above) - each person will trim their blocks later
• We will exchange blocks March through December. In the 10 months of the exchange you will have 80 blocks to make a quilt.

For Each block you will need:

9 1/2 inch square background fabric (either white or tan)

2 1/2 inch square colored fabric (bright or country)

several strips of fabric (bright or country)

Constructing each block:

Draw a diagonal line (corner to corner) on the wrong side of the 2 1/2 inch square. Place 2/12 square on upper left corner of 9 1/2 square with right sides together. (see photo above for placement and sewing direction) Stitch on diagonal line. Press. Trim outer triangle 1/4 inch from seam. Turn up colored triangle to corner. Press.

On background square, draw diagonal line from upper right corner to lower left corner. This line is your guide for placing the first fabric strip AND the edge of your presser foot. Place first colored fabric strip right sides together on the background with the edge on the diagonal line. Sew the first seam 1/4 inch from the edge of the fabric strip. Fold fabric strip down so right side is showing. Press.

Place second fabric strip on top of the first colored strip with right sides together and raw edges  even. Sew 1/4 inch seam. Fold second fabric strip down and press.

Continue sewing fabric strips to background until the entire half of block is covered. Press.

Remember to make eight blocks each month!  Keep one for yourself and bring seven to quilt group!