“Big Techniques from Small Scraps” with Sarah Fielke

If you haven’t taken a look at Craftsy.com, you have GOT to check it out.  I have taken quite a few of their sewing and quilting classes and can confidently say their classes are well worth the money.  And then there is the fact that once you have bought the class you can watch it as often as you like and they don’t expire.  It’s just a great resource.

One of my most recent classes is Sarah Fielke’s (The Last Piece blog)Big Techniques from Small Scraps“.   I recently read a couple posts that raved about Sarah’s needle turn appliqué technique and I really wanted to give it a try.  Craftsy just ran some of their classes on sale, as they often do :-), and I signed up for Sarah’s class.  I’ve gone through two thirds of her class which covered applique and deconstructive piecing.  The class goes on to cover improv curves and working with 60 degree rulers.  Sarah does a wonderful job describing her techniques and has some wonderful ideas for using scrap fabrics.

Craftsy.FielkeBlockThis is my first attempt at Sarah’s needle turn technique.  It was surprisingly quick and I’ve really enjoyed it.  I did make one mistake and used a fabric glue.  Unfortunately it was a permanent glue!  Live and learn.  I think I will get away with it on this piece, but I will know better next time.

The pale green leaves on the two tulips(?) and the yellow tulip are too light for my taste.  I plan to hand quilt this piece, which is pretty much a first for me.  I will use thread to add color to those areas and perhaps add legs and feet to the bird.  I have really enjoyed the process.

I’m considering treating this as a center to a medallion quilt.  As of today, this class is still on sale.  You should check it out.

Tell me, have you taken an online class or workshop you would recommend?  I’m always looking something new to learn.

String Fever and Scrap Busting

I have been in serious scrap and stash busting mode.  When I saw that Rachel at Stitched in Color started a Scrap Attack {String Fever}, I jumped right in.  Good excuse to hit my bucket of strip scraps.  I wanted something easy that I didn’t have to think too much about.  Using Excel, I laid out a 12″ block as below.

StripSquare

Then moved that block to Illustrator to mock up a quilt.

StripBlockQuilt

In this diagram, I am assuming 6″ width strips.  The layout shows how many 1″ strips I can layout before beginning to shorten the strips.  If I’m working with 1 – 1.5″ strips, I can cut 7″ strips (if I started over, I would start with 8″ strips to allow more room) and have a width for a 12″+ block.  If the strips are 2″ or more then they also need to be longer to allow for the 45° angle.  As the strip sets are sewn together, each strip will be offset approximately the width of the strip.  A 1.5″ strip would be offset from the edge of the previous strip by the same amount.  To be honest, the safest way for me to sew these and have good cuts is to use my binder ruler and mark the 45° degree as I sew the strips together.

Binding ruler with 45 degree angle.

The diagram shows a herringbone type join.  I’m actually sewing those in a straight 45° angle.  You can see my first finished block here.  Notice how narrow the two center strips appear.  I would have done better to start with longer basic strips so I could have worked toward a 6″ wide sewn strip, but I still like it.  I’m using different width strips and it’s going to be totally scrappy.

StripQuiltBlock

 

 

 

 

This will make a dent in my scrap box, but I’ve got a ways to go.  Do you have any suggestions for quick, scrappy quilts?  I need ideas!

Happy quilting!