Sew Along Week 2 - Wonky Plus Block

Welcome back!

This week we are going to be working on our wonky plus blocks.  In the original quilt, I did one positive and one negative block of each colour, except my orange.  Feel free to use any combination of colours in your quilt, remember there are no rules!!

Each block uses a 6" square and a 1" strip of contrasting fabric

Now take your ruler (or free hand if you're feeling brave!!) and cut your first two lines going in the same direction, but at any angle you like.  

Using your 1" strip, cut the approximate length of your block (it will be more than 6") and using your 1/4 inch seam, sew those strips in, remembering to press. (On this block it is helpful to press seams open)

Then, it's time to chop again!! Two more lines in the opposite direction, and then time to piece in two more 1" strips.

I like to put my strip on the bottom, so I can watch my seams and make sure none of them flip.

When it's time to match up my pieces, I take extra care, watching where the crosses intersect.  I will often approximate my quarter inch seam, and fold over and look at how it lines up.

Press open, and enjoy your block!  If it's really square, you can just trim your ends, if things didn't line up perfectly, trim your block to 5 1/2" square (remember if you trim one, trim them all!)

Try to make sure you have a variety in the directions and angles of your lines, it will make your quilt more visually interesting.

Have fun, happy sewing, I'll get to work on the next part!

Remember if you have questions, ask away!!  Share what you've been doing here, on our Facebook group or over on the flickr page!

Sew Along Week 1 - Supply list & improv basics

 

Welcome to the Northern Lights Sew Along!!!

 

 

 

I'm so glad you're here to join me in a little improv. adventure!  My name is Jill - and as a general rule, I say there are no rules in quilting, other than enjoy yourself.  I have basically two full time jobs, plus a 1 1/2 year old boy, so time is of the essence in my world, and time at my sewing machine is a premium.  At the same time, I want what I make to look fabulous - but be time effective - so I'm going to try to show you my tips for making it look good, easily!

 

Supply List:

 

- An assortment of fabrics, in fat quarter (18 x 22") or scraps - I'm using 8 Fat Quarters and a fat eighth in yellow.  Feel free to use solids, prints, whatever you have!

- Background - 1 meter - I'm using Kona Coal - although it looks like I originally intended it to be darker :)  (if you want a quilt larger than crib size, you'll need more)

- Whatever you usually use for quilting - I like a large cutting mat, and a 6 x 24" rule, along with my rotary blade

Okay - I've got my stuff, now what?!!?


Start cutting!!  - lets make our first "rainbow panel".  Here, I'm using my ruler to cut 1" strips of background fabric approximately 22" long.  You're going to need 8 of these (or cut 4 x width of fabric & cut in half)


Then, let's cut some wonky strips to fill in between that grey!  It's okay to cut them really wonky like this, as long as you remember to cut some nearby colours the opposite way to balance out your square (otherwise you end up with a "fan" shaped rainbow)

Then, sew a 1" strip of your background onto each of your wonky strips using a 1/4" seam
















And press it open - I tend to press my seams open - I find it helps my piece lay flat, especially when there are a lot of seams in an area.  Then lay it out and admire your work.  Make sure you don't have the fan I mentioned earlier.

 

Then, following the angle/curve of your coloured strip, carefully pair up your strips, and sew, still using a 1/4" seam.  Press your seams open, and repeat, until you have an entire slab of fabric sewn together!!!

 

Once you have all your rainbow sewn together, we have the building blocks for many parts of our improv quilt! 

*** We will need 2-3 blocks for our crib size quilts***

 Please comment with questions, I will answer them all, and make adjustments to my tutorial

 - go gentle, remember this is my first attempt!!

 See you in a week or two!

 

Presenting.... A Quilt Along! With fishskin fabric

Looking to stretch your improv sewing skills? Play with colour? Have some fun sewing?  

Just need a new project?

Join us here, every week, for step by step instructions on how you can create your own version of the Northern Lights quilt.

Incentives: 

This is my FIRST quilt along ever.  It's also my first tutorial.  I like to dive into things apparently.  So, to encourage me... I want you all to join in!  If you're going to join in the quilt along fun, post about your plans on your blog and be sure to include my fabulous new sew along button (below).  

I'll add you to the fishskin fabric quilt along blog roll, on the side on my blog.  Just add a comment here, or email me (Jill(at)fishskinfabric(dot)com) with a link to your post before 4/30 and I'll add you to the blog roll!

Also, anyone that finishes their quilt top before the end of the sew along on 7/31 will be entered in a giveaway for a fabulous CUSTOM 6 Fat Quarter bundle in your colour choice 

Also, make sure you hop over to flickr and join the Northern Lights Sew Along group.  You can post photos there of your fabrics as will as your progress throughout the sew along (and finished projects of course!!)

Week 1 - Supply list & improv basics

Week 2 - Rainbow stripe

Week 3 - Plus and reverse Plus

Week 4 - Wonky stars

Week 5 - Chevrons

Week 6 - "Northern Lights" (wonky stripe piecing)

Week 7 - Putting it together

Week 8 - Showing it off!!!