A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING: CLUE #2

"A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING”

PIECEMAKERS GUILD 2013/2014 MYSTERY QUILT

A mystery quilt in 5-6 installments

(6 if you do the larger quilt)

Finished small Quilt 57” sq. with borders

Small quilt without borders 45 ½” sq.

Larger quilt, 64 ½” sq. without borders)

Thank you for participating in this mystery. I hope it will be fun, easy, and educational.  Beginners should be comfortable working on it.  Newbie’s to the world of quilting may need a little help.  If you understand how to sew a quarter inch, and a scant quarter inch you should do fine. 

If you have just found this clue and need the introduction to this mystery you can find it here:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-mystery-in-making-clue-1.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-mystery-in-making-clue-3.html

Every so often I will post items I find on the internet which help improve our piecing.  Today in an email I received is this one.
Hint for the day: Pressing.  I can't impress upon you how important it is to press as you piece.  This video is excellent.  When I piece, on my right is my ironing board.  It is set up as an additional work surface.  The plus is I don't have to get up to iron my pieces.
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/pressing
If you are a beginner or not normally a presser I recommend watching this video.  Even if you are an experienced quilter she might have something to offer you.  BTW, I am a steamer.

Now, what you came here for:
Clue #2 takes less time than Clue #1.  You will spend less than 2 hours working on it.  Heading into the Holiday season you don't need projects which will bring anymore stress than normal.  This clue is totally separate from the other Unit.   We will not have a clue in December, we will return January 15 with Clue #3.

 

“A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING”

CLUE # TWO

CONSTRUCTING FLYING GEESE (Also bonus “half square” triangles)

From Fabric “D” cut:
(2) 5” X WOF strips; cut into (4) 5” x 9.5” rectangles
and (8) 5”squares

From Fabric “E” cut:

(2) 5” X WOF strips; cut into (4) 5” X 9.5” rectangles
and (8) 5” squares                        

(3) 5.5” WOF strips; cut into (16) 5.5” squares

1.  (8) Fabric “E”, 5” squares: draw a line diagonally with pencil (don’t use pen or marker it may bleed through the fabric).  If your fabric is dark use a light colored pencil.

***For Fabric "D" 5" squares Repeat Step one: Mark on the wrong side of (8) Fabric “D” 5” squares.  

2.   Fabric “D” 9.5“x 5”  rectangle and place a “5” marked, fabric “E” sq on one half, Right Sides Together.  Stitch on the seam side, one stitch away from the Diagonal line. Do this on all 4 rectangles.

***For Fabric “E” rectangles, Repeat step 2: Take a 9.5“x 5” Fabric “E” rectangle,  place a “5” marked, fabric “D” square on one half, Right Sides Together.  Stitch on the seam side, one stitch off the Diagonal line. Do this on all 4 rectangles. 

    LEFT WING OF GEESE

Press the triangles to the outside corner of the geese, then trim away the fabric 1/4“ away from seam line. (Skip this Step if you are making the Bonus Unit.  Refer to the directions in Clue 1.)  This will give you 8 half-square Units

When you have finished stitching to accommodate the half-square triangles,  press your triangles to the outer corner, and trim between the stitching lines (forming one wing of the geese).   

3. Repeat Step two on the right side of the rectangles.  (Be aware of the direction of the angle you are stitching.)  It should be angled opposite from the completed wing.

      RIGHT WING OF GEESE

You now have 4 light flying geese and 4 dark flying geese.  

If you did the bonus step you will have 8 more half squares to add to your collection.  You have a total of 16 half square units in this Clue.

FINISHED GEESE UNIT

4.  Take a light geese and a dark geese.   Place right sides together, pairing them.  Make sure the points of the geese are the correct direction (see picture).  Make sure the dark fabric geese and the light fabric geese are facing the same direction in each pair.   The dark fabric geese is on the bottom of each pair.  The points of the geese point to the right when the units are right sides together.

FINISHED KISSING GEESE UNIT

HINT:  Pin this unit if you’re persnickety about points matching and not being cut off.  First I pin the long side, which doesn’t have the points on it,  pin those two corners.  Then smooth out your unit, making sure your points of your geese lay on top of each other.  Then I run my fingernail down the diagonal seam line to the corner, making sure the diagonal seams line up.  Pin the center points together at this time.  Pin from inside the body of the unit, not from the outside edge. (Pinning from the out side edge pushes the thick joint apart and out of place.)

Now smooth the unit to the outside corners and pin.  If you have fabric sticking out on the edge above the other geese, use that as your edge to stitch your 1/4 inch. (Not the shorter edge)

5.  Stitch ¼ inch on the right side of the unit. (When pressed open your geese should be kissing).  When pressing the units, press the seam open.  If you press to one side you will have too much bulk in the center of the block.  You will have 4 Blocks measuring 9 .5 inches each. Label clue 2, place in a bag for later.  Also label and bag your Half-Square units.

Other blog sites by me:

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/

Where I have stories of my cats and other pets

a blog about my courtship with my husband,

and a blog about my most embarrassing moment.

A "Soap box" blog where I do air my opinions.

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/

blogs about the wildflowers on our farm
Organic methods we use, some cooking and some poetry,

blogs about Seed sprouting, insects, and garden pictures

Blog about an endangered beneficial beetle

All recipes, pictures, and writings are my own.

I give credit for items which belong to other people in my blogs.

Please do not copy without permission