Here is a great two color quilt for you to make!

Cincinnati, Ohhhh

Quilt Size -  73" x 85"
Block size - 11 1/2" finished 

Fabric Requirements

Fabric #1 - 2 1/4 yds.
Fabric #2 - 2 1/4 yds.
1st Border - 1/2 yd.
2nd Border - 1 1/2 yds.
Backing - 5 1/8 yds.
Binding - 5/8 yds,

BEST PRESS FABRICS #1 & #2 BEFORE CUTTING!  (You can purchase a 16 oz. spray bottle of Best Press at our shop and refill it on the 2nd Friday of each month for $5!)

Instructions

 1/4" seam allowance

1.     Fabric #1:  Cut (8) strips 10" x wof (width of fabric - selvage to selvage).  Sub-cut into (30) 10"   squares. 
Repeat for Fabric #2.
 




2.     Layer a  Fabric #1 square, right sides together, on a Fabric #2 square.  Press together.  Pin around all edges.  Flat flower head pins are the best to use as you can lay your ruler on them.







 3.     Make a mark 2" from a corner along one side.
Repeat on opposite side

4.     Sew  a seam, starting at the 2" mark and across the square.  Repeat on opposite side.
Sew all the way down the two other sides.  You now have a square with all four sides sewn.  Two of the sides will be sewn completely and two will have a 2" opening at opposite corners.

5.     Cut your unit in half diagonally, through the stitched corners.

6.     Cut each triangle half as illustrated,
2" in from edges.

7.     Each triangle will yield these pieces.

8.     Layout pieces as illustrated.

9.     Sew pieces into diagonal rows.

10.     Sew rows together to form a block.  Your block will have uneven edges.

11.     Square block to 12", unfinished.  You may square it smaller if you choose, but why waste fabric?

12.  You can now choose to set your blocks to form a square where the blocks meet,   OR

Set them so the opposite fabrics meet.


13.  Cut your 1st border 2 1/2" wide.  I used the blue fabric.

14.  Cut your 2nd border 6 1/2" wide.  For this I used the yellow.

Starching your fabrics first is a MUST with this block, as you are working with bias edges.  I use Best Press because it gives it a good finish and leaves no residue.

Have fun experimenting with your Two-Color Quilt!

Scant 1/4" Seams

 

Are you having trouble getting those scant 1/4" seams?  Yes, a quilter's foot for  your machine is great, but can be expensive.  I have tried using painter's tape, masking tape, sticky notes (stacked up) and mole skin. Nothing was satisfactory to me.  The tapes came off too easily (when I didn't want them to), the grandkids had too much fun with the sticky notes and the mole skin wouldn't come off!  :-/

One of our customers told me of this neat trick.

The only thing you need is a lined index card and a sewing machine that the needle will change positions.

Line up the side of the presser foot with a line on the index card.  Now, start sewing.  Move your needle position so it is just barely to the right of the line.  Wah La! You  now have sewn a scant 1/4".  Just make sure you record exactly which position you needle is in for future use. 

Fabric Hoarders Beware!

A recent study has indicated that fabric gives off certain pheromones, that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase ungodly amounts.

When stored in large quantities in enclosed spaces, the pheromones (in the fabric) cause memory loss and induce the nesting syndrome (similar to the ones squirrels have before the onset of winter, i.e. storing food) therefore perpetuating their species, and not having a population loss due to their kind being cut up into pieces and mixed with others.  Sound tests have also revealed that these fabrics emit a very high-pitched sound heard only by a select few of women known as customers.

When played backwards on an L.P., the sounds are heard as chants: “Buy Me”, “Cut Me”, “Sew Me”!  In order to overcome the so-called feeding frenzy effect that these fabrics cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility and use ear plugs to avoid being pulled into their grip.  (One must laugh, however, at the sight of customers in a fabric store, with WW2 army gas masks and headphones!)

Studies have also indicated that aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effect that these fabrics have on the human population.  They are called “Fabrics Store Clerks”.  It’s also been my experience that these same pheromones cause a pathological need to secret the fabric purchases away when taken home (or at least blend them into the existing stash) and when asked by a significant other if the fabric is new, the reply is “I’ve had it for a while”.

(Originally published in August 1997 in the Western North Caroline Quilters Guild Newsletter)