GLORIOUS CREATIONS

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING: CLUE #5

A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING:
CLUE #5

PIECEMAKERS GUILD 2013/2014 MYSTERY QUILT

A mystery quilt in 5 installments

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. Quilting Newbie’s 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:

Introduction: http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html
Clue 1: http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-mystery-in-making-clue-1.html
Clue 2: http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-mystery-in-making-clue-2.html
Clue 3: http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-mystery-in-making-clue-3.html

Clue 4: http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-mystery-in-making-clue-4.html

CLUE FIVE

TOP ASSEMBLY AND BORDERS

This is the moment you decide whether you are going to make the larger quilt or stop here and border your blocks. Join your blocks, and then make your decision. The following diagrams are how to assemble your units.

You have 4 groups of pre-made units. There will be a back slash or a forward slash behind each Unit's number. This is the direction you should place your blocks. (The units with a diagonal design on them)

ROW ONE AND ROW FIVE (Make 2)

4/ 3/ 1 3\ 4\

ROW TWO AND ROW FOUR (Make 2)

3/ 1 2 1 3\

ROW THREE (Make One)

1 2 1 2 1

When you finish making each row you will be ready to arrange the rows into your top.

The rows 5 and 4 are turned upside down. When you lay out your rows you will see a definite on-point setting.

Now you can decide if you want to add the generic borders or if you would like to do another round of 9" blocks. The blocks will be more of the Units you have already made. They will form another on-point perimeter.

INNER BORDER

For your inner border you will need the “C” Fabric. It is the fabric I mentioned you might wait till the quilt top is assembled to choose. Remember borders are frames.
You want to highlight your work. This is a pizazz moment.
It may be a small area but it can do a lot for the quilt.

FABRIC “C”: cut (5) 2 inch X WOF strips for your inner border

NOTE: When measuring for the length of your border strip, measure through the middle of your quilt top. Do not measure each end of the quilt top. This will help your quilt to stay squared. It will make the ends the same measurement as the middle.

When I sew the strips to the opposite ends of the quilt top I pin! I pin each end of the strip to the top. Then I pin in the middle. Then I lay it out on a flat surface and see if the strip is running short with the top having too much fabric for the strip. If there is too much fabric in the top to fit the strip, find the center of each section of the top and the center of each section of the strip. I pin these centers together. Attach the border strip to the top with the top on the bottom. The feed dogs help ease the fabric in.

If it is the border strip which is too generous, then sew with the strip next to the feed dogs. It will ease the excess in. (don't forget to pin and distribute the fullness evenly.

After you have attached the border strips on both ends of the top it is time to press. Press the border strips away from the body of the quilt. (BTW, set your seam before you press your strip back. It relaxes the stitches and takes out any puckering.)

It is time to measure again. You want to measure across the middle again. You will have the strips on this measurement. You can not just add 3 ½ inches to your total. (It may come out to that but you can’t trust it unless you measure it.) Everyone’s ¼ inch can vary. You use the same procedure you used to attach the strips on either end of the top. Please don’t forget to press. (If you don't press your measurements may be off because the top does not lie flat.)

HINT: If your top is longer than a WOF strip and you need to add length to it you might want to consider mitering when you join the two strips. In my opinion a mitered strip’s joint shows up less on the strip.

OUTER BORDER

FABRIC “A”: Use the (6) 5” WOF Strips you cut in “Clue #1.”

You follow the same measuring and cutting rules that were discussed in the inner border instructions.

Thank you for participating in this mystery. It has been a pleasure to plant the clues for you.

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

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING: CLUE # 4

A MYSTERY IN THE MAKING:

CLUE #4

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)

CLUE # 4

THE BIASED BLOCK

No fabric cutting this month. We’ll be using units already cut.
Read through the instructions before you begin. Use accurate ¼ inches constructing this Unit.

1. Cut each of the 4 remaining Fabric “E” 5.5 inch squares in half,

diagonally, making a total of 8 Triangles.

2. Sew the triangles to adjacent sides of (4) Fabric “A” 5 inch squares (cut in Clue # 1). When pressing open, be careful not to stretch the bias edges.

On the left you see the Unit that is above, pressed open. This is the first triangle added

Above is the unit with the second triangle added and with the unit pressed open. You will have made a larger triangle. (You will notice I did leave some selvage on the edge of one of the fabric pieces. When you are working from the stash and it is slim pickings, you use every scrap. I even pieced pieces in some areas to have enough fabric for the piece, literally a patchwork.)

3. Trim the long edge of the resulting triangle. Making sure you leave ¼ inch beyond the point of the “A” square. {Where the two small triangles cross each other}. You will be trimming the tabs off.

If you look close, A line on the ruler was used to square with the "A" square. The edge of the ruler is 1/4 inch from the from the point of the "A" square.

4. Place the unit made in STEP 3, Right Sides together, with the large Fabric “F” triangles made in CLUE 3. Stitch on the long side of the triangles. Line up the bias edges of the triangles, Do not line up from the square corners.

Notice in the picture on the right, the Fabric "F" triangle is peeking out from behind the pieced triangle. The edge to be aligned is the biased edge of the unit.

DON’T STRETCH THE BIAS EDGES WHEN STITCHING

HINT: You’ll be sewing on the bias edges. Put the solid fabric on the bottom and the pieced unit on the top. Don’t pull on your fabric, guide it.

5. Press unit open towards the “F” Fabric triangle. Picture on the right is the pressed open finished Unit.

6. Trim your four units to 9 ½ inches. Label Clue 4 and set aside for next month.

HINT: When squaring up and trimming

use the bias seam for a guide.

This is the last of the units. When you finish these you will be ready to assemble your quilt next month.

NEXT MONTH: ASSEMBLY, BORDERS

and LARGER QUILT, INSTRUCTIONS

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

Friday, February 7, 2014

BLOCK OF THE MONTH: N IS FOR NEW YORK STAR

I'm current with my blocks and it's 14 months into the project. I can't believe I have not let life get in the way. I will admit I was delinquent in December and January. I have found having a partner does help keep me on track. She is counting on receiving her blocks. I look forward to having the couple of hours once a month where I have to sit down to the machine.

BTW, the blocks don't take a couple of hours. It takes me that long because I am making 3 versions of the blocks. It can be a punishment for me if I don't fulfill my obligation each month. I have to play catch-up big time.

I especially enjoyed making the New York Star. It is a very appropriate block for me. Our son is in the Navy. I don't know if it was designed during a war period, or maybe during a Forth of July celebration, but for me it evokes a patriotic image.

http://glosgarden.blogspot.com/2013/08/buttons.html

I was especially pleased to see how it showcases the paisleys I picked for myself. If you haven't read about my constants I will say they are my least favorite fabrics. Mind you I have seen paisleys I dearly love but these were from the "dark ages". I collected them from who knows where. The only thing they had in common besides the paisley pattern is they were all 100% cottons.

I can see this block as corner stones for a Quilt of Valor quilt.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/05/quilt-of-valor.html

You would put the star in opposite corners on the block for each of your quilt's corners.

The pattern would make a great table runner. Or change the dimensions and you've a place mat.

I was equally pleased with how the block pattern looked with my friends color palette. I think this block pattern would go with any colors or styles of fabrics.

I'm really liking the fabrics I picked for my friend. I can't wait to see them all together in a quilt.

Doing the Block of the month has given me new inspiration. I find myself thinking about how I would use each of the blocks, and with what fabrics they would look best in.

The only reason I started the block of the month was to get rid of the paisleys in my stash. The different block patterns make me have to use the paisleys to their best advantage. I have made a rule for myself to try not to use any other fabrics in the construction of the blocks. I have a transgression from the beginning on my blue/burgundy paisleys. The red I chose for a third color was the perfect red and I didn't have any red paisley that worked.

This is my alternate rendition with another color way in paisleys. I didn't decide till later in the trip to make these. My decision was made when I realized I could not integrate these colors with the other paisleys. It would be too scrappy for my tastes.

Which is another side of me. If I do scrappy it has to be controlled scrappy. I can't reach into a paper bag of dark fabrics and pull out a piece of fabric and then reach into another a light bag of fabrics and pull out another fabric and sew them together. If the colors seem to clash I have to throw them back. Yes, I have been told that in the end everything will look fabulous. I agree, every scrap quilt I have seen is fabulous. It's just I can't do it.

This is about as scrappy as I have gotten:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-bits-dont-make-dollar.html

This alphabet BOM is a twenty-six month Trip with

Dorothy Young, owner, of the yahoo group "A Pocketful of Mysteries".

This Block of the Month quilt series began in January 2013, and will continue for the next two years.

The yahoo site for this trip is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apocketfullofmysteries/

I have found the construction of the blocks simple.

I recommend you start with the first block if you are a beginner.

There are simple techniques you will pick up on the journey.

I need to go back and make the first 6 blocks for the blue/green paisley color series.

I am saving that duty for a snowed in day. Missouri seems to be getting her fill of those this year.

Join us in this 2 year journey. There are several hundred friends taking the trip.

The following, are the blogs written each month on my journey through the alphabet.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/block-of-month-m-is-for-monkey-wrench.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/block-of-month-l-is-for-lady-of-lake.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/11/block-of-month-k-is-for-kansas-star.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/block-of-month-j-is-for-jacobs-ladder.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/09/block-of-month-i-is-for-independence.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/08/block-of-month-h-is-for-hayes-corner.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/block-of-month-g-is-for-glory-boxes.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/06/block-of-month-f-is-for-friday.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/05/block-of-month-e-is-for-easy-partial.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/04/block-of-month-d-is-for-double_7.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/block-of-month-c-is-for-contrary-wife.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/02/block-of-month-b-is-for-basketweave.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/01/block-of-month-is-for-antique-tile.html

I 'm hosting a mystery quilt for my guild.

This is the link for instructions for the mystery:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

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

Thursday, January 23, 2014

BLOCK OF THE MONTH: CELEBRATING THE ALPHABET

I am celebrating today. With the completion of the Monkey Wrench block I have reached the halfway point of this extended BOM. We have completed 13 blocks. I will pat myself on the back. I have managed to stay on track, albeit the last two months I had a delay.

I present to you the results of staying on the trip:

If you have been following my blogs you know I am working with fabrics I wanted to cleanse from my stash. First, they are paisleys; second, they are old fabrics; and third, they are all different weights of fabrics. The constants are a heavier weight similar to a broad cloth.

I did deviate from using all paisleys, the red was the absolutely perfect match for the reds in the constants. Seeing my blocks all together would I change anything, have I learned anything? Yes, The major thing I notice, the fabrics I added with my "constants" are too dark. I think they should be more medium. Remember though, I am trying to eliminate a certain style of fabric from my stash. I am using what's on hand.

I have a large amount of the white background paisley so I took the liberty of fussy cutting some of the units in the blocks. The only thing is I have to watch when I join the fussy cut blocks to other blocks. If the fussy cut detail is on the outside of the block it probably has a bias edge.

In one of the first blogs I stated I didn't care to do BOMs. I think the reason I didn't like BOMs was the ones I was familiar with, came in kits. They were the color choices of the designer. This one appealed to me because the colors were my own to choose. I had chosen to use my stash and not invest any money in it, thus if I decided to chuck it, I wouldn't feel bad. If I didn't like it, the plus would be, the blocks I made would make a great quilt to donate.

There is a big plus, I am doing blocks which I might have never tried.

They are giving me mental inspiration for quilts I might eventually make.

Another plus, it guarantees me at least 2 hours sewing time each month,

no matter how hectic my life becomes

If you are new to quilting I encourage you to try a BOM.

If you have trouble choosing colors, a BOM at your local Quilt store

will help you become comfortable with fabric choices.

Dorothy Young, owner, of the yahoo group "A Pocketful of Mysteries"

is the hostess and designer of this BOM.

This Block of the Month quilt series began in January 2013,

and will continue for the next two years.

The yahoo site for this trip is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apocketfullofmysteries/

It is not too late to join in. So far I have found the construction of the blocks simple.

I do recommend you start with the first block if you are a beginner.

There are simple techniques you will pick up on the journey.

Join us in this 2 year journey. There are several hundred friends taking the trip.

The following, are the blogs written each month on my journey through the alphabet.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/block-of-month-m-is-for-monkey-wrench.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/block-of-month-l-is-for-lady-of-lake.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/11/block-of-month-k-is-for-kansas-star.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/block-of-month-j-is-for-jacobs-ladder.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/09/block-of-month-i-is-for-independence.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/08/block-of-month-h-is-for-hayes-corner.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/block-of-month-g-is-for-glory-boxes.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/06/block-of-month-f-is-for-friday.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/05/block-of-month-e-is-for-easy-partial.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/04/block-of-month-d-is-for-double_7.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/block-of-month-c-is-for-contrary-wife.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/02/block-of-month-b-is-for-basketweave.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/01/block-of-month-is-for-antique-tile.html

I 'm hosting a mystery quilt for my guild.

This is the link for instructions for the mystery:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

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

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

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

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

BLOCK OF THE MONTH: M IS FOR MONKEY WRENCH

I've finished monkeying around with Lady of the lake. Making 3 color ways of each block sometimes gets my knickers in a knot. In Lady of the Lake I had 20 tiny 1/2 square triangles in each block to fidget with. I was Half-Squared out because it is a Unit in the mystery quilt I host.
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

Looking forward to this block and what do I see?
There are four more half squares looking at me.

It is the standard nine patch variation.
Works well with my fabrics, to my elation.

My paisley rendition.

The picture on the left is my alternate color way. I am trying hard to render my stash paisley less. They seem to procreate in the stash closet. I found one between the fat quarters this week.

To relieve the bulk on the back of the block I pressed the seam so they formed little four patches at each intersection like in this example.

The picture below is my friend's. To see her constant fabrics look at the blog for Block "A". I'm hoping I don't run out of her constants before the trip is over.

With the finishing of this block I am still on track "THROUGH THE ALPHABET".

This block is also the half way point in the 26 month trip.

A twenty-six month Trip with

Dorothy Young, owner, of the yahoo group "A Pocketful of Mysteries".

This Block of the Month quilt series began in January 2013, and will continue for the next two years.

The yahoo site for this trip is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apocketfullofmysteries/

It is not too late to join in. So far I have found the construction of the blocks simple.

I do recommend you start with the first block if you are a beginner.

There are simple techniques you will pick up on the journey.

Join us in this 2 year journey. There are several hundred friends taking the trip.

The following, are the blogs written each month on my journey through the alphabet.

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2014/01/block-of-month-l-is-for-lady-of-lake.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/11/block-of-month-k-is-for-kansas-star.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/block-of-month-j-is-for-jacobs-ladder.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/09/block-of-month-i-is-for-independence.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/08/block-of-month-h-is-for-hayes-corner.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/block-of-month-g-is-for-glory-boxes.html
http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/06/block-of-month-f-is-for-friday.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/05/block-of-month-e-is-for-easy-partial.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/04/block-of-month-d-is-for-double_7.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/03/block-of-month-c-is-for-contrary-wife.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/02/block-of-month-b-is-for-basketweave.html

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/01/block-of-month-is-for-antique-tile.html

I 'm hosting a mystery quilt for my guild.

This is the link for instructions for the mystery:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

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

New Blog:

http://organicinstlouis.blogspot.com/2013/08/blackberries-kitchen-aid.html

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

Sunday, January 19, 2014

BLOCK OF THE MONTH: L IS FOR LADY OF THE LAKE

For those of you who have been following my progress on this BOM, I apologize for not posting the December block on time. I was traveling in December and so far this month I have been involved with working on the clues for the mystery quilt I have been hosting. This is the link for the mystery:

http://gloriouscreations.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-mystery-in-making.html

I finished the work on the mystery this past Wednesday and can now devote my time to other quilty endeavors. Today I cut out my three "L" blocks and constructed the above block.

With this block on its way I am headed
"THROUGH THE ALPHABET" A twenty-six month Journey with

Dorothy Young, owner, of the yahoo group "A Pocketful of Mysteries" .This Block of the Month quilt series began in January 2013, and will continue for the next two years.

The yahoo site for this trip is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/apocketfullofmysteries/

It is not too late to join in. The other eleven are at the beginners level.

So far I have found the construction of the blocks very simple. I do recommend you start with the first block if you are a beginner. There are simple techniques you will pick up on the journey.

This Block requires a thorough reading of the directions. They are very explicit but me being me, did it my way. I saw what she wanted us to do and didn't look at the direction the seams were to be pressed. You see, I just spent a week making half square triangles for my mystery and all the fabrics were pressed to the dark.... I don't know whether my transgressions made a difference are not. On the block I make for my friend I will re press all the triangles the way Dorothy states and let you know.

The fabrics I am using [My focus fabric and my background fabric] are at least forty years old. They are a heavier cotton, more like the weight of a broadcloth. This makes for very heavy seams at intersections.

I do have a suggestion. When you make the 1/2 Square she tells you. Before you cut it off the rest of the square. Make your self a "Bonus" unit by stitching a 1/2 inch away from your stitched line on the seam side of the square. You will inherit another Half square triangle about 6 1/4 inches square.

If you are unsure what I am saying there is an example in clue #1 of my mystery:

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

Doing this prevents 2 fabric triangles from ending in the scrap bag. Now they are a usable Unit. The Unit might possibly fit in a later block in the BOM series.

The block below is the one I made for my internet friend. I didn't re press the other direction. I didn't have the heavy intersections I did with my fabrics. I wanted to post this before I edited it. (Today I am without my computer and using Hunny's computer. I don't know what program to use.) One more block to construct. BTW, I found a big help for me to square up the little 1/2 squares. I glued a two inch paper square on the ruler. It will wash off when I am done.

The construction of this block requires a little more than beginners level, but if you have begun at the
beginning of this journey you will get through it just fine if you take it slow and remember,

when you are joining each of your units together use an accurate 1/4 inch.

Doing a BOM like this helps you try blocks you wouldn't think of doing. It helps you to find piecing methods you enjoy or don't enjoy. This is a very lovely block,
but I will not, ever, be using the pattern to make a whole quilt with.