Charmed Whirlygig Quilt Preview

Here is a picture of one of the whirlygig quilts that I made with 2 charm packs. I will be using the same fabric for the quiltalong.It measured 55" by 63" which makes a nice sized lapquilt. The really cool thing about this quilt is if you get your background fabric at a good price then the cost of this quilt is very reasonable.
I make so many quilts that it is nice to not have a quilt cost an arm and a leg to make. LOL
Take care,
Cathy

Once More, From the Top

Well, at least this year I got my first post in during the month of January. It takes me a while to recover from the holidays, and with seven family (and several friend) birthdays in January, it feels like the holidays last until February.

Anyway, I'm traveling with Jim, using the hotel room in whatever city he's in as my personal writer's retreat. We're in Warsaw, IN right now, and today I worked in the swimming pool and spa room, which is all glass, and watched it snow. Yes, I do know how lucky I am. I really, really do.

Along with the usual New Year's resolutions, I've vowed to update the blog a little more frequently. It's really a waste of fodder not to, because so much material just falls right into my lap by virtue of my being a little nutty, and 98% of my family being certifiable. (Note: If you are reading this, and you are a member of my family, no, of course I did not mean you! YOU fall into the 2% of my normal blood relations.)

Things just happen to me... For instance, I always sleep with a glass of water by the bed in case I wake up thirsty. Lots of people do this, right? Well, when we're traveling, it's usually a bottle of water. (Yes, I know about the landfills and whatnot, but I just cannot drink warm tap water from the bathroom in the hotel room, out of a glass that has been gathering germs in the bathroom for who knows how long, no matter how clean it looks. I'm SO SORRY about the landfills, and will try to reduce my carbon footprint in other ways as much as possible.)

Anyway, night before last, I woke up, partially, and reached for my water bottle. When no water gurgled out of the bottle into my parched mouth, I tipped it up a little more.

No water.

I tipped it back further, and squeezed the bottle a little.

No water.

It took me a minute, in my groggy state to figure out that the cap must be on the bottle. I tried to unscrew it, but was having trouble. Then I noticed that the top of the water bottle didn't feel right. And WHAT was that goopy stuff on the side of my mouth and on my hand??

Well, turns out it was Jergens Total Nourishment, and I had been trying to drink my lotion.

I ran to the bathroom, rinsed out my mouth, and downed a whole bottle of Dasani.

I am now careful to put the lotion on the far side of the nightstand.

But this stuff happens to everyone, right?

Scraps Winner

The winner of the scraps from 2 whirlygig quilts that I have made is Jenny of Cut.Sew.Iron.Repeat ( love that blog name)!!!! Please send me your address and I will get them in the mail on Tuesday.I have a few squares leftover if you would like them also.
Here is the important picture that I left out in my tutorial. Before you sew your squares together line then up to keep things accurate.
Looking forward to Feb 1st,
Cathy

Charmed Whirlgigs Tutorial

Here is the tutorial of my favorite quilt pattern. I have named it "Charmed Whirlygigs" because using charm squares make it oh so easy. I am not a photographer by a long shot and trying to take pictures while using both hands to iron etc. make me even worse than i usually am. LOL

Materials:
Charm Packs- at least 2 packs, you will use 2 charm squares for each block. If you have a charm pack that has 42 squares then you can do a 6 by 7 square layout for your quilt.

Background fabric- I don't have an exact measurement for this because I always have a fair amount of white muslin here. You will get 18 "pieces" from each 5" strip that you cut. This will make more sense as you read further. You will need 168 "pieces" total for the 6 by 7 layout.

Directions:
Cut ten 5" strips from your background fabric using your WOF (width of fabric)
Then subcut these strips into 4 1/2" rectangles. You will need 84- 41/2"by 5" rectangles
Line a small stack of rectangles with the 5' side on the top and bottom. I use a 5" marked square on my cutting mat to line them up and to make the next step much easier.
Measure in 2" on the top of the rectangle (from left to right) and mark with a little line. Come in 2" on the bottom of the rectangle (right to left) and again make a little mark. Mine didn't show up well but if you enlarge the picture you should see it.
Now take a ruler and line it up with your little marks. Cut from the bottom mark up diagonally to the top mark. You don't have to make the marks if you want to just use the ruler to find the 2 inches in on the top and bottom. The marks just make it easier and more accurate. I do stack about 6 rectangles at once using a large rotary cutter.
Take your charm packs making sure that they are all lined up right side up and cut off 1/2" on one side only.
Place the cut charms squares in the 5" block on your cutting mat with the 5" side on the top and bottom just like you did with your background fabric. Mark and cut.
Place your cut pieces beside your sewing machine exactly the way they are going to be sewn. It is easy to get these backwards and this helps that not to happen.
Pick up the charm piece and lay it on top of the background piece with the tip just a smudge peeking over and a little background showing at the bottom. Look at the picture below to see.
I chain piece all my pieces, but I would recommend making a test square first to make sure everything is lined up correctly.
Press the seam on the charm side and then open and press toward the charm side.
I forgot an important picture here and don't know blogger well enough to slip it in but I take all 4 pressed pieces and line them up by my sewing machine the way they will look when completed. Again, this just helps in not sewing pieces in the wrong way. Sew the 2 top pieces together and then the bottom 2 pieces.
Press your top and bottom pieces toward the charm side and then place together pinning at the middle seam, nestling the 2 seams together. This is very important because will insure accurate piecing.
Sew together and then press to one side and stand back and admire your beautiful block. And no trimming!!! When I first started making this quilt, the directions made the block with sides sticking out and you had to trim the whole block. Because I really don't care to trim ;-) I fiddled around till I came up with this method. I am sure many others have come up with the same idea. I just wanted to share with others.
If my directions aren't clear please let me know......this is my first tutorial so I am kind of green.
I was thinking that we should maybe start on February 1st for our quiltalong. That will give everyone time to buy fabrics if they need to. I will also have time to set up a flickr account for us. I will also post directions for a 5 1/2 " by 6" rectangle if anyone want to make larger squares.

I will post the giveaway next.
Thank you everyone,
Cathy

Whirligig Tutorial- Coming Soon I Promise!

I have not forgotten the tutorial....I have been helping my daughter get moved into a new apartment and adopt a new kitten. I was all set to begin today when she called and asked me to go to Petsmart with her to look at a kitten. Of course, I dropped everything to help. Then we had to get the little one (Peyton) settled.

Take care all and be with you hopefully tomorrow,
Cathy

Whirligig Quiltalong

I am so excited about the results of doing a quiltalong. I will post a tutorial in the next few days and then maybe we can start sewing on Feb. 1st. I will do the tutorial in 2 sizes....one for charm packs and then one with the whirligigs a little bigger.
I will also draw a name for the scraps in the next day or so.
Thank you so much!!!!
Cathy

Is anyone interested in a Whirlygig Quiltalong...complete wIth a tutorial?

I have that little voice inside me saying "it's time, it's time- time for a whirlygig quilt.....you can't possibly think that you have made enough of them," So I thought I would see if anyone wanted to make one together? The pattern that I came up with (quite possibly out in the quilt world though) is one where you do not have to trim the blocks after constructing them.I can do a short little tutorial and then we could get really crazy and swap 5 1/2" by 6" Pieces of fabric to use if people were interested.

PLease let me know if you are interested. I think it would be so fun and for those who have never make this quilt will see how much fun it is to make. Easy, fast and a lot of pizazz!
I have some scraps from the quilt right above if anyone would like them. I made 2 quilts with the fabric and the leftovers need a new home.
Hopeing to hear from you!!!!
Cathy

Hourglass Love and a Little Retro

I did not mean to fall off the face of the Earth lately! I have been sewing some, in fact have enough blocks finished to put 2 new tops together. First up is some hourglass blocks made with "Bijoux" fabric by Heather Bailey.Next are some blocks made with Moda's "Hello Betty". I am not a "retro person", but thought this fabric would look great in our Airstream Trailer. Also, I have seen the fabric made up in a few quilts and fell in love with it. It was one of those should I, shouldn't I decisions. ;-) Glad that I made the right one and it was on sale!
I hope that everyone is doing well and getting a lot done. My backlog of quilt tops to be quilted is reaching 8 which is more than I like. How many unquilted tops do you have laying around?Nosy, err inquiring minds would love to know!

Take care,
Cathy