Cutting Block 3a for the U3A

Block 3a

This time we are using the rotary cutter for all the shapes.
To cut squares to make half square triangles you need to add 7/8" to the finished size of the unit, that is 4 7/8" for a 4" finished unit. Cut once from corner to corner.
To cut squares to make quarter square triangles you need to add 1 1/4 " to the finished size of the unit, that is 5 1/4" for a 4" finished unit. Cut twice from corner to corner.
For squares add 1/2" that is 4 1/2" for a 4" finished unit.

To make a block like this you need  a 4 1/2" centre square, four 4 1/2"  corner squares, two 4 7/8" squares for the half square triangles and one 5 1/4" square of each of two fabrics for the quarter square triangles.

Cutting the squares; the QST squares
are layered right sides together ready
to sew.

Arrange like this.

End of term

It was the last of the U3A sessions  until the new year and we went over previous blocks and proceeded to Block 3b entirely rotary cut. There have been some very good Show & Tells from members too. I am so delighted and surprised by the beginners' block show & tell. They are really able to think for themselves and express themselves in their work. Great fun and joy!

Janet with a dark backgound and a different spin
on colour placement.

Rosemary whose choices give a
different emphasis

Diana daring to be different and using geometrics
to good effect

Christine, solid colours for maximum contrast
 

Sue's beautifully pieced and
tasteful fabrics

Jane - don't you just love
those supersize dots.

Christine's Japanese Folded little quilt,
so soft and tactile.

Block 3a for U3A Quilters

Completed block

Block 3a is the basis for an Ocean Waves quilt, 54/40 or Fight, Tennessee Waves and any number of quilts using straight lines to create the illusion of curves. The triangle units in the side squares were christened Peaky and Spike by the late Doreen Speckman, Peaky being the larger mountain shaped isosceles triangle and Spike (like a tent peg)  the two half versions of this needed to complete the square. I haven't worked out how to rotary cut this unit using normal straight rulers though no doubt it's possible so templates are a natural if not the only way to go.
Whichever method is used you have to remember that the Spike units are REVERSED so you have to turn your your template over or cut two units at once with fabrics reversed, right or wrong sides together.
When cutting the Peaky units the short side is on the straight grain and care needs to be taken with the slightly bias longer sides.

A mathematical friend told me isosceles is Greek for long legged.
The squares are rotary cut from 4.5 inch strips.

Draft

Peaky & Spike units







Spike units need to be cut "reversed" like these pairs which
 will frame two Peaky's

Units laid out ready for assembly

Units sewn into rows ready
for assembly.

Young Quilter

 

Strip sets

My grand children are staying overnight this weekend. We went out earlier but on our return Isla wanted to do some sewing. She's fascinated by my shelves of fabrics and chose two to work with. She'd seen a design she liked in my scrapbook which was a quilt I saw at Sandown. I decided it was a two colour split ninepatch.
First we made two strip sets, one floral/green/floral and the other green/floral/green. Ideally we would have made two of the former but I decided to allow for a 7 year old attention span. Also I wanted to check my theory as to the construction of the inspiration quilt was correct.

We took two slices from the floral/green/floral set
and one from the green/floral/green set and arranged
and sewed them into a nine patch block.

We then cut the pieced nine patch in half vertically and horizontally
using the technique devised by Nancy Brenan Daniel. (Isla took
this photo)

The units were then rearranged and stitched in pairs

Finished block (Another one by Isla)





Very proud
 

 

Block 2a for U3A group

Completed block, a bit crumpled from having been folded

Block 2a introduces the quarter square triangle where a square is divided into quarters diagonally. This time the straight grain is on the long side of the triangle. If you draw the shapes onto graph paper you can easily see this. This block is called a variable star and you can colour it any number of ways from 2 fabrics upward.

Square divided into 4 quarter square triangles (QST's)

Again when drafting we start by drawing the whole block square then the ninepatch grid lines and finally mark the shapes in the individual squares, here drawing diagonal lines corner to corner in the side squares.
As before cut out the quarter square shape roughly, glue onto the shiny side of card and cut out exactly on the line. You can either use your wheel to draw round it the seam allowance directly onto fabric or use the wheel to make a second card template.
If you prefer to hand piece, draw the sewing line too and put dots at the corners.

It helps to lay your pieces out on a padded
board by your sewing machine

Now start to assemble the pieced squares

WRONG!!!
If you feed the QST's though
the machine like this they won't
match up.

RIGHT! Align and feed your pairs of QST's through the machine the
SAME way and they will match up correctly.

Once the squares are pieced join the squares into rows
then the rows into a block.

The plain squares have been rotary cut. For 4" finished squares, cut a 4.5" strip and subcut it into 4.5" squares.

Another completed block

Out visiting

Jill with a very jolly little quilt.

On Tuesday I went to Hythe Quilters to do the rulers - they were such a nice friendly group and as always I enjoyed the Show & Tell.

Pat with Christmas trees

Pat with reindeer
(Sorry about picture
quality)





Jill again with complex foundation pieced stars.
 

My namesake Mary with
seasonal placemats.

Still more from the retreat

 Heather's Winding Ways



Julie again and I think
pattern by Mandy Shaw

Susie  and quilt top showing effective use of value

Isabel's 2013 Christmas quilt

Julie doing the Tenessee Waltz

Heather with her clever blocks

Pat's very bright and happy quilt

Bits and Bobs

At Bonnie's yesterday Mavis showed her frame quilt which she is currently quilting and Fran is working on the the log cabins for her second one. Trish and I have done all our log cabins; mine are ready to add and Trish is making a pineapple block for her corner.

Mavis with her quilt
 



Rulers top

I finished my rulers top unless I add to it later. I'm sorry I cut off my bottom border triangles to accommodate the square in a square at the bottom. Later I may unpick and change it.  (In my dreams)