|
|
|
|
|
October 2017
Take the FUSS out of Fussy Cutting
One of the things I love about the clear Eppiflex templates is that they make fussy cutting your printed fabrics so easy. You dont need a separate perspex template to cut the fabric - you can use the template you sew with to make a "mask" of the fabric repeat you want.
This is something that we demonstrate at Quilt Shows, but I thought it was about time we got it on to the website so everyone can see how I do it.
I'm using one of the blocks from the gorgeous New Hexagon Quilt by Katja Marek. Im really enjoying making her design - the small blocks are just right for a busy person and most can be sewn up in just one session. In this block three rhombus meet in the centre of the hexagon. I want to put one flower right in the middle. I will need three of the same flowers to make this block. ie three repeats.
You'll need the following basic supplies to give this technique a go.
- a fabric with repeating pattern that you can fussy cut
- a Sewline Stayer pen ( or any thin nibbed black marker that doesnt smudge - you dont want black ink on your fabric)
- a water erasable marker ( I use the generic blue markers that come out when spritzed with water)
- your Eppiflex EPP templates
- Scotch tape or masking tape ( sticky tape can be a bit painful to remove later)
Firstly position your templates edge to edge in the pattern they will be sewn together. Flip them face down on a mat, keeping the edges together. In most instances face down will be the same as face up - but in my example here it isnt. Place a small amount of tape across the edges to hold them temporarily together on the back of the templates.
When they are taped, turn the taped piece face up so that you can start to trace the fabric pattern
Place the taped piece on your fabric, over the particular design that you want to fussy cut. In this case - I want to put the green lotus flower in the centre of my 3 rhombi.
When you are happy with the design thats showing through your "window" begin tracing with your pen, making sure you avoid the cut out circles in the centre of the Eppiflex. Youll need to trace quite a few lines of your fabric so that your mask is accurate and easy for you to use later.
When you are satisfied that you have traced enough of the fabric pattern to find it again later with your template - separate your templates by removing the tape from the back. ( Now you can see why you need to tape the back and not the front. If you had taped the front all of your pen would come off with the tape)
Now you need to find three of the same flower ( repeat) on the fabric.
Each one will be traced around with your new "masks" that you have made with your templates.
Use the blue erasable pen to trace around the template as it will just wash off later.
See how the black pen marks line up with the fabric design? Draw around all the sides of the templates.
Once you have done this, cut your fabrics out, adding a seam allowance ( DO NOT CUT ON THE DRAWN LINES)
Now you can attach the fabric to the templates using your preferred method. At this stage do not iron the fabrics or you will set the blue pen. The blue pen mark should sit exactly on the edge of your shape which will give you a perfect relica every time.
Have a go at fussy cutting some shapes - youll never look at your fabrc the same way again!
NSW, Australia
So here they are - all your blocks... Pretty impressive I think. I have put the first name of each maker under the block, and which country they are from.
Have a block to share? You can post it on our facebook page or email it to me
January Blocks
Amelia, NSW, Australia
Anne, Georgia, USA
Rachel, NSW, Australia
Jo, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Maribeth, Missouri, USA
Marj, NSW, Australia
Kim, NSW, Australia
Lana, NSW, Australia
Jayne, NSW, Australia
Maggie, NSW, Australia
Christine, NSW, Australia
Sandra, NSW, Australia
Sharanne, NSW, Australia
Sue, NSW, Australia ( two blocks)
Trish, NSW, Australia
Jacqui, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Carolyn, NSW, Australia
Patricia, NSW, Australia
Betty, NSW, Australia
Elayne,NSW, Australia
Janet, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Kirrilly, NSW, Australia
Linda, NSW, Australia
Leonie, NSW, Australia
Lynette, NSW, Australia
Sandy, Florida, USA
February Blocks
lia
Anne, Georgia, USA
Rachel, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Marj, NSW, Australia
Kim, NSW, Australia
Lana, NSW, Australia
Amelia,NSW, Australia
Jayne, NSW, Australia
Sandra, NSW, Australia
Sharanne, NSW, Australia
Jacqui, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Jo, NSW, Australia
Judy, NSW, Australia
Maggie, NSW, Australia
Patricia, NSW, Australia
Sue, NSW, Australia
Linda, NSW, Australia
Carolyn, NSW, Australia
Elayne, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Leonie, NSW, Australia
Lynette,NSW, Australia
Sandy, Florida, USA
Cherylle, NSW, Australia
March Blocks
Maggie, NSW, Australia
Carolyn, NSW, Australia
Christine, NSW, Australia
Dianne, NSW, Australia
Elayne, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Jo, NSW, Australia
Lynette, NSW, Australia
Lana, NSW, Australia
Rachel, NSW, Australia
Sharanne, NSW, Australia
Cherylle, NSW, Australia
Jan,NSW, Australia
Judi, NSW, Australia
Judith,NSW, Australia
Kim,NSW, Australia
Kirrilly,NSW, Australia
Linda, NSW, Australia
Trish,NSW, Australia
Sandy, Florida, USA
Patricia, NSW, Australia
April Blocks
Christine, NSW, Australia
Cherylle, NSW, Australia
Elayne, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Janet, NSW, Australia
Jayne, NSW, Australia
Jo-Anne, NSW, Australia
Judi, NSW, Australia
Kirrilly, NSW, Australia
Lana, NSW, Australia
Linda NSW, Australia
Lynette NSW, Australia
Maggie, NSW, Australia
Rachel, NSW, Australia
Sharanne, NSW, Australia
Trish, NSW, Australia
Anne, Georgia, USA
Maribeth, Missouri, USA
Sandy, Florida, USA
Judith, NSW, Australia
Patricia, NSW, Australia
Kim, NSW, Australia
May Blocks
Cherylle, NSW, Australia
Elayne, NSW, Australia
Jan, NSW, Australia
Jayne, NSW, Australia
Jo-Anne, NSW, Australia
Judi, NSW, Australia
Kim, NSW, Australia
Lana, NSW, Australia
Leonie, NSW, Australia
Linda, NSW, Australia
Christine, NSW, Australia
Maggie, NSW, Australia
Patricia, NSW, Australia
Trish, NSW, Australia
Maribeth, Missouri, USA
June Blocks
Trish, NSW, Australia
Sue, NSW, Australia
Patricia, NSW, Australia
Marj, NSW, Australia
Maribeth, Missouri, USA
Maggie, NSW, Australia
Lana, NSW, Australia
Kim, NSW, Australia
Jo-Anne, NSW, Australia
Elayne, NSW, Australia
Christine, NSW, Australia
Are we there yet?
Just one more block and we can start putting this quilt together. Have you began thinking about how you are going to quilt it yet? As you know I love free motion quilting, but on this one I'm a bit stuck. Thank goodness there are another 75 quilts on the go to keep me busy while I work it out!
November's Block is called Strawberry Smoothie - although in my colourings, I'm thinking mango smoothie. I have always known this block as a type of Card trick - with the right colouring it can look very 3D.
Here is the layout and cutting guide for the block
A - 4 7/8" squares, cut once on the diagonal
B - 5 1/4" squares, cut twice on the diagonal
C - 4 1/2" square ( in either a colour OR a background fabric)
Firstly make your quarter square triangle units and your half square triangle units
Put the half square traingle units ( on the left in my pic) to one side.
Next use the quarter square unit ( on the right) to make the finished quarter square blocks
Trim off the dog ears on the corners.
You now have all the units made to make up the block in three rows.
Lay them out before you sew to make sure you dont flip anything around the wrong way.
And that's it for another month. You'll be pleased to know life has settled down a bit. I'm going to update the makers album over the weekend, so keep an eye out for your blocks!
So far on this BOM project I have made sure that the blocks were all ready to upload before the beginning of the month, but I think I can safely say that as today is the 12th October, I have failed!
Please accept my sincerest apologies - I had the best intentions when we went up to Brisbane for the Brisbane Quilt Show. ( laptop in tow)
There must be a thinning of the air in Queensland because my brain just couldnt get the laptop turned on. It may also have had something to do with the hundreds of quilters we served daily at the show - either way - well it just didn't happen.
But here we are ready for the next block and just think ...by the time you are finished this one, November block will be on the blog too!
This months block is a simple pinwheel star, made entirely of HST ( Half square triangles) and a square on each corner.
Here is the layout and cutting guide for the block
A - 3 1/2 " squares
B - 3 7/8" squares ( you can either cut them in half or make easy HST's)
I almost feel like this block needs no instruction what with the far more complicated blocks you have made so far. Hopefully you are also feeling a bit more confident putting blocks together.
Your main task is to make all the HST units first - they are easily speed pieced.
Remember to trim those nasty dogears off after you press each unit.
Although you could easily construct this block in 4 rows, because the centre of the pinwheel is the focus, I like to piece it first and get the seam right
If you didnt get the centre right first go, its much easier to unpick than if you have joined two whole rows of your block.
Now you can attach the side units and make top and bottom rows, and then join them on.
I hope you enjoy making this block and that you forgive me for its late arrival!
|
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
