Running out of steam...

for my Polaroid Calendar Series!

Ideas for November were scarce, especially as

 Halloween or Thanksgiving are not really celebrated 

in the Southern Hemisphere.

So for the last in the series, 

this is the best I could do!

More Spring flowers....

I have written some simple instructions, 

should anyone want to make their own 

Polaroid Calendar;

its now on a separate page at the top of my blog.

To make it up to you

 I couldn't resist a mini quilt show 

of the whole series....

This makes me smile!

Summer & Autumn

Winter & Spring

and the backs....

and them all stacked up!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

Making Sand...wiches!

From fabric hamburger....

to rainbow sandwiches.....

to Scrappy Sandwich blocks!

The scrappy strips are 

10.5" in length and 3.5" wide....

with 1.5" strips added to either side,

based on a tutorial seen here.

I finger pressed across the centre...

lined up my ruler at either end,

marking each point if required.

and cut triangles off each corner.

(I'm using these for another fun project!)

The distance across the white strip 

should measure 5"

I cut 4.5" squares of 'sandy' coloured solid 

and cross cut them....

and attached them to either side....

Square this piece off to measure

7 and 3/8 inches 

Joining four together gives the block I call....

Scrappy 'Sand'wiches!

I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial.

Happy sewing!

SUZ

It's my turn...

....as Queen for the Modern Stitching Bee!

I had seen a block I really liked, 

called Rocky Mountain Puzzle...

The ones on the left have centres cut at 4.5"         The ones on the right have centres cut at 4"
Borders are cut at 1.5"                                  Borders are 1.75" 

and decided to make this my block for June!

There is a slight variation in the samples (above)....

Choose the size to match the fabric you have chosen 

to fussy cut.

So here's a cutting and piecing guide.

CUTTING: 

*Fussy cut a 4.5" square for centre (sewing machine print)
cut 1.5" X 22" strip (blue floral) 
cross cut into 
2 X 1.5" X 4.5"
&
2 X 1.5" X 6.5"

cut 5 X 4" squares (yellow)

cut 5 X 4" squares (Kona white)

[ if your 1/4" seam is accurate these squares can be cut to 3.75"]

and cut 2 X 3.5 " squares (Kona white)

( *alternately Fussy cut a 4" square and 1.75" X 21" strip
cross cut into
2 X 4"
&
2 X 6.5")

PIECING:

1. Add 1.5" ( or 1.75") strip to top and bottom,

then sides.

This centre square should now measure 6.5"

2. Draw a diagonal line on each white square and pair 

with coloured one

3. Chain piece each square .25" on either side...

and cut to yield 10 HSTs, trim to measure 3.5"

4. Join as shown below...

This is sideways- the white squares should be in the top right and bottom left corners
 to suit your fussy cut centre!

adding the white corner squares to the each side.

* Careful pressing will get the seams nesting nicely....

And there it is....

Larger centre square, narrower border

Smaller centre square, wider border.

I have asked for blocks in the soft colours shown-

 lemon, lime, light aqua/blue, pink

with touches of grey or soft tan. 

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!



Happy  Sewing!


SUZ

My Tutorial Debut!

Here it is.....

My first tutorial.....

(A number of followers asked for a tutorial, I just hope you can understand what I have written and that I have included enough photos!)

This is a slightly different version of my Vintage Pink Scrappy Stars Mini Quilt 

I have chosen not to use scraps for this mini and to also fussy cut some of the fabric.

I think you will agree it has a different feel to it!

Enjoy!

      Scrappy Star Tutorial      

Please read all instructions before beginning!

Instructions and yardages are given for a 19” ‘fussy cut’ Scrappy Star Quilt as pictured below:

            

3 fabrics used each requiring approx. 20cm each

CUTTING:

From Fabric 1 (Eiffel Tower in this example) cut:

4  X  5” squares (piece A)

8  X  5” x 2.5” rectangles (B)

4  X  2.5” squares (C)

From Fabric 2 (solid) cut:

12 X 5” x 2.5” rectangles (D)

12 X 2.5” squares (E)

From Fabric 3 (spot) cut:

9 X 2.5” squares (F)

72 X 1.5” squares (G)

·      Before beginning to piece, rule a diagonal sewing line on each of the 72 – 1.5” squares, (as shown)

PIECING:

1.         a. Take D piece and place G piece on one corner; sew along the diagonal

(as shown)

b. Repeat for all D pieces before adding to the opposite corner on the long side.

c. Trim each corner and press the G pieces open.

d. Repeat a. on the other side.

These become piece H

2.         a. Take E and sew G piece on one corner as with previous rectangular pieces.

b. Trim and press open before adding 2^nd G piece.

c. Repeat for all E pieces

            These become piece I

 You now have the points of each star-

3.         Assemble rows- There are 7 in total:

ROWS 1  &  7- 

Piece C , I, B, I, B, I, C


(Make sure you have the star point squares facing the correct way)

ROWS 2, 4 & 6-

Piece I, F, H, F, H, F, I

ROWS 3 & 5-

Piece B, H, A, H, A, H, B

(If you have fussy cut your fabric and have used directional prints like I have, make sure they are all facing the correct way too)

4.         Pressing seams correctly at this point will assist in getting them lined up neatly (butted up is the correct term, I believe).

Even numbered rows press first piece with seam allowance IN, etc across the row

On odd numbered rows press first piece with seam allowance OUT, etc across the row.

5.  Join rows together to complete your quilt top!

And to honour my new quilt I have named this one


"Stars Over Paris"....

Should anyone out there 


a) like a PDF of this, leave me a comment and I will email you a copy...


b) make a mini Scrappy Star Quilt from my tutorial, please share it!

Happy sewing!

SUZ

                                    

Tuesday Treasure!

Melody hosts Tuesday Treasure's over here!

So today I'd thought I'd share this.....

I think this is where my love of owls was really consolidated.


This necklace was given to me by my dear husband after our first son was born 


27 years ago!


I wear it nearly every day!


It has two wee little diamonds for eyes.


And here's a sneak peak of what's coming to a blog near you....

Next time I will be sharing my FIRST tutorial...


Happy sewing!


SUZ