APPLE PIE IN THE SKY QUILT ALONG BLOCK 5

Yankee Puzzle

 This block will sew up quickly.  Especially since you know how to make flying geese four at a time.  The original pattern called for all half-square triangles.  But I decided to get ride of at least 8 seams for you.  If you are making a scrappy Yankee Puzzle and you want to make half-square triangles, I have included some instructions at the end.

 Cutting instructions:

• Cut one square from a print 7 1/4" x 7 1/4"
• Cut one square from another print 7 1/4" x 7 1/4"
• Cut 8 background squares 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" 

 With a pencil, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 3 7/8" background square.

 This is the same flying geese technique from Block 1, except larger.  Place a 3 7/8" background/white square on the corner of one of the print 7 1/4" squares.  Place another 3 7/8"square on the opposite corner overlapping the points in the center.  Pin in place if needed.

 Stitch a 1/4" seam along each side of each pencil line from corner to corner.  Yes, right through the overlapping squares.  Just click on the picture if you need a closer look.

 Using your rotay cutter and ruler, cut on the pencil line separating the two units.  Press the seams towards the  white triangles.

Place another white square in the corner or point of the heart shaped unit.  The diagonal line is vertical.  Stitch a 1/4" seam along each side of the pencil line.

 Using a rotary cutter and ruler cut along the pencil line.  Press the seams towards the white or background triangles.

Trim of the dog ears.  True up the rectangles to 3 1/2" x 6 1/2".  There will not be much to trim off.  Make sure those diagonal seams in the corners are centered.

 Lay out the flying geese units in the order that you want them.   Sew one red flying geese unit to one green flying geese unit. The red will be at the base of each unit.  You will have 4 units of two flying geese measuring 6 1/2" square.  Press all seams towards the top green unit.
Again lay each unit out forming the block design. Sew two units together forming a row.  Press seams towards the bottom of the red flying geese triangle.  Sew the two rows together, nestling center seam.  Press center seam to either side.

And there you have it...............  Yankee Puzzle

Note:   If you want a more scrappy look and want to make the half-square triangle units, here are the directions.  Cut 8 print squares and 8 background squares measuring 3 7/8" x 3 7/8".   Sew them together using the half-square triangle method we used in the Whirpool Block CLICK HERE.  Arrange squares in the Yankee Puzzle pattern above and stitch them together in rows.

Now for the fun

Congratualtions to  Jeanenne Nielsen

winner of last weeks block submission drawing!  

 Jeanenne Nielsen's Clay's Choice Block - love that red print!

 Sandra's Clay Choice - great combo

Colleen Fifield's Broken Wheel.  Love the Noteworthy gray in the center.

 Another block from Colleen - her Clay's Choice.  Colleen I love that stripe and polka dot together!
 

My Christmas Clay's Choice Block 

And your block will go here.........please send it to me!  Even if you are just beginning and are on block 1 we want to see it!  Send your pics to sistersandquilters@gmail.com

Happy Sewing!

Helping Little Hands featuring This Way & That Quilt Pattern

Polly is always sewing something fun and wonderful.  She just made Sandra's This Way and That pattern and is featuring her quilts on her blog today.   Click on the link below to see all her fun pictures.

http://helpinglittlehands.blogspot.com/2013/05/this-way-that-quilt-in-rocket-lauch.html

We think Sandra's pattern would be wonderful with the many Art Gallery Modern Prints as well.   This pattern sews up quickly!  Just in time for summer quilts!

Thanks Polly and Sandra!

APPLE PIE IN THE SKY QUILT ALONG BLOCK 4

Clay's Choice

This is a wonderful block for Mother's Day week.  Minimal piecing!  Sews up super fast.  I think I spent more time cutting than sewing.

Cutting Instructions:

•  Cut 4 background or white squares 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
• Cut 4 light color (yellow) squares 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
• Cut 1 background or white square 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
• Cut 1 light color (yellow) square 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"
• Cut 2 dark color (red) squares 5 1/2" x 5 1/2

With right sides together, first match up the 5 1/2" light print square with a 5 1/2" dark print square.  Also match up a 5 1/2" dark print square with the 5 1/2" background white square.  Match all outside edges.

Stitch around the outside edges of the matched squares, allowing a 1/4" seam allowance.   Yes, all four sides.  This is a great way to make fast pinwheel blocks.

 Using your rotary cutter, cut through the squares on the diagonal, from corner to corner.  This will create four half-square triangles. Press each of the half-square triangle units open with the seam towards the dark print.

 Sorry for that little glare.  "True up"  or "Square Up"  the half-square triangles to 3 1/2" square.   Line up the diagonal seam with the 45 degree angle marking on the ruler.  Find  3 1/2" measurements on each side and trim.  Make sure those angle seams are centered right to the point of each corner.  There won't be much to trim off.  And trim off those dog ears.   How easy was that?  This is a great way to make half-square triangles.  The only drawback is that your outside edges will be on the bias.  Try not to stretch those seams when you sew.

Arrange the blocks into the Clay's Choice pattern. Sew rows together first.  Press the seams of each row in alternate directions so your seams will nestle when you sew the rows together.  Sew the four rows together matching seams.  Press the 1st and 3rd seams towards the outside of the block - there are less seams.  You can decide which way to press the center seam.  

TIP I make sure that all of the outside squares/patches are on the lengthwise grain.  Do this with all blocks when possible.  This will help the block lay flat with minimal stretching.  Give each square a little tug - the crosswise grain will give a little.  The lengthwise grain will not.  Lay each of the non-pieced squares with the lengthwise grain up/down or vertical. 

And there you have the fun Clay's Choice Block!

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Now for fun!    Please remember to send in pictures of your blocks.  Email them to sistersandquilters@gmail.com.  We would love to post them. You could win a $10 Gift Certificate.

Congratualtions to Leisha Farnsworth  

winner of last weeks drawing!  

If you missed Block 3 Broken Wheel, CLICK HERE for the link

Your blocks......

This Broken Wheel block is from Jeanenne Nielsen. Beautiful!  The fabric collection is PB&J by BasicGrey.  Jeanenne - I can't wait to see this quilt finished.  I love this collection.

 Sandra's version with the fabrics from Friendship Collection For a Cause by Howard Marcus.  The red floral is from La Belle Fleur by French General by French General.

A Christmas version with Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas.

Colleen Fifield's Broken Wheel block.  Willow mixed with Noteworthy.  Love the soft yellows and grays.

Sandra also finished her Whirlpool Block.  Garden Grove fabrics designed by Kim Diehl.  The center block is from the Friendship for a Cause Collection by Howard Marcus.  Thanks Sandra!  Love your selection.

Colleen sent me her block out of the soft and pretty Willow Collection.  Thank you Colleen!  This is going to be a beautiful quilt.

 Getting caught up on the Christmas blocks.  Here is the Whirlpool.

Send me your pics!  Keep them coming even if you are only beginning!  You will be entered in the drawing if you send me a block pic - any block.  

Happy Sewing!

A SHARING DAY OF FABULOUS PROJECTS

First....

Happy Mother's Day to all of you! 

To show our appreciation we are giving you free shipping on all of your U.S. orders over $50 today  through May 12, 2013.  International orders will receive a $5.95 discount on shipping with orders over $50.  

Just enter FREESHIPPING into the coupon code at checkout.

For international orders at our Etsy shop, we will reimburse you or you can convo us for a custom listing.  The coupon code will work at our sistersandquilters.com shop. 

I am so excited for you to see these first few quilts - all pieced by the same quilter, Donna Kirk.  Not 1, nor 2, but 3 quilts from the pattern Looking Glass by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.   This gorgeous brown version is made with the fabric collection Little Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings.

This soft, pretty blue version is made with the Blueberry Crumbcake Collection by Blackbird Designs for Moda Fabrics 

And this version is a collection of Little Pink Stars II by  Margo Krager for Newcastle Fabrics.    There are  a few other fabrics in this collection as well.  Isn't this stunning?  Thank you Donna for sharing these with us.

The quilt Donna is currently working on.  The fabric collection is Tapestry.  So beautiful.  Donna is still adding the borders.  Please Donna send us a final picture of this quilt to share!

 Michelle Thompson finished her Sweet Sweet Emma quilt.  Beautiful work quilting and piecing Michelle!   We  are so excited when you share your quilt projects that we have designed.  Isn't this so bright and cheery?  The fabric is Emma by Cathy Heck and the pattern was designed by Kristin Andersen.

Evelyn Dodson made this adorable quilt for her coworker's new grandson.  What a nice coworker she is!  We love this little boy's collection - it is Scoot by Deena Rutter for Riley Blake. 

Lucky Lucky grandson!  Thanks Evelyn for sharing this quilt with us.

Becky Smith makes these darling skirts perfect for the summer months ahead.  So cute!  Becky has an Etsy shop named Tulip Boutique with several adorable items for purchase.  You can find Becky's shop by CLICKING HERE  Thank you Becky for sharing your talents with us.

Lisa Whitham made these fun baby collection of bibs and burpcloth.  We love the Simply Color grey chevron from V. and Co paired with the Ann Kelle Ready, Set, Go helicopter print.  So fresh and bright!  Lisa sent us a picture of what she does with these baby gifts......

How cute is this!!!  So creative.   This is just so fun.  It makes me smile!  What a happy gift.  Thank you Lisa for sharing your creative talents with us!

Ramona Fonnesbeck has made this wonderful Pumpkin Patch fall table topper.  We love your pieced pumpkins! The quilting is by Leisha Farsnworth of Quilting It.  We love this fall Pumpkin Patch Quilt Pattern designed by Kimberbell.  Sandra and Leisha made it smaller to fit your table.  And they selected the perfect combination of fall fabrics for you.  We have just sold several of these recently - now is the time to get ahead with your projects.  We only have a few of these kits left.  Get yours before they are gone.

Thanks everyone for sharing your wonderful projects with us!  

Happy sewing and keep the photos coming!

APPLE PIE IN THE SKY QUILT ALONG BLOCK 3

Broken Wheel

 What a fun block this is to put together!  You will love it!

Quick Tip for the Day!  From time to time you may see my scraps of batting that I use for thread collectors.  This one is a work of art! Save those small squares and use them to dust your sewing space as you sew.

 Cutting Instructions:

• Cut 1 square 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" for center patch
• Cut 2 strips  2 1/2" x 18", one of each of the coordinating fabrics.  You will need 18" for the blocks so you may want to cut it just a little longer.
• Cut 4 squares 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" for corner square in a square patches
• Cut 12 white or background squares 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"
• Cut 4 squares 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" from the same fabric you are using for the inside strip

 Remember all seams are 1/4".  Sew the two 2 1/2" x 18" strips together.  Press seam to the dark side or to the outside of block.  Cut sewn stripe into 4 squares 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".  Set aside.

 Corner squares are small Square in a Square Blocks.  There is a little waste in this block by this method but you will love the way your blocks come together.  No zonky blocks here!  First draw a diagonal line on the 12 white background squares and the 4 small print squares with a pencil.  On these blocks, I definitely would take the time to draw the lines.  With your half-square triangles you can use guides like tape on your machine to follow instead of drawing all those lines, but then you usually true up and trim down your squares. We want these perfect as can be to begin with!

 Begin with the print 2 1/2" square.  With wrong sides together, place the small square in the corner of the larger 4 1/2" square with the penciled diagonal line on the diagonal.  Stitch directly on the pencil line.

 Place a see-through ruler with a 1/4" marking line directly on the stitched seam and trim off the excess with your rotary cutter, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.

 Set aside those triangles for another project.  Press seam towards the outside or small square.

Repeat the same process with the opposite corner of the large square, this time using a small background white square on the corner.  Press seam to the outside of the square or towards the background fabric.  Repeat the process on each of the other two corners.

 One finished square.  Sew the remaining squares in the same fashion. You should have 4 finished Square in a Square Blocks when you are finished.  Now that you know how to assemble the blocks, you might want to chain stitch the blocks as you sew.

Press all seams to the outside of the block or towards the background fabric.  Looks pretty even on the back!

 Just a hint when sewing directional fabrics.  First I cut them all on the same strip so that the pattern is the same on each square.  Before sewing each of the green squares, I marked the corners to keep the pattern flowing in the same direction.

 Lay out your patches forming the Broken Wheel Block.  Stitch the patches or squares together in rows first.

 Press the seams in center section towards the outside of the block.  Press the side rows towards the center. Nestle up those seams, match the points, pin, and stitch the rows together.  Press final two seams towards the center of the block.

And you have .....The Broken Wheel

Please remember to send me pictures of your previous week's blocks so I can post them here!

And just to entice you......each week we will have a drawing with the names of those who submit their pictures for a 

$10 Gift Certificate to use at SistersandQuilters.com.

Even if your making the blocks from scraps....we would love to post them!

Last weeks winner of the $10 Gift Certificate is ........

                                      Colleen Fifield   

Congratulations Colleen.  We will get that information out to you right away.

And here are your fun blocks!

Leisha completed her Whirlpool Block.  Love these color combinations!  Thanks Leisha for sharing your block.

 Colleen Fifield's Willow Whirlpool block.  So soft and pretty.  Thanks Colleen for sharing your block with us.

Here is Sandra's Whirpool Block with some of the Garden Grove fabrics designed by Kim Diehl.  The center block is from the Friendship for a Cause Collection by Howard Marcus.  Thanks Sandra!  Love your selection.

 

The Christmas version.  This is from scraps I had left over from a quilt two years ago.  I have not idea what collection that cute green fabric is from.  The blue is from Kate Spain.

Please send me your pics so I can add them here....

Happy Sewing!