STATE BLOCK CHALLENGE WEEK 1 ALABAMA

By now I am  hoping that you have picked out your fabrics. If you are having problems, feel free to use the "Contact Form" on the top left side of this blog and I will try to help you. You will also use that contact to let me know that you have finished your block, so I can give you instructions as to what to do with the image, so that you will be in a drawing this week. 

Keep in mind when making the blocks, my fabric suggestions are just that, suggestions. Feel free to shake things up and use your own fabrics in unique ways. This block challenge is for you to get out of your normal quilting mode and try something new. The possibilities are endless!

All instructions will be contained in the blog. I think you can print out the blog to save the instructions. If you can not let me know. Until I figure a way to attach a pdf to this blog, you will have to share your email address (through the contact form) so I can email any templates that you need to print out. If any of my blog followers know how please tell me!!! Print the templates out with "no" scaling or at 100%.

For a video of how to establish a perfect 1/4" seam, check out my YouTube. (Please let me know if this link does not work and I will email it to you.)

  BLOCK 1a

PREPARATION:

Determine where you want to put the fussy cut fabrics.
Make a template for the section that you want to fussy cut out of heavy template plastic. I used the corner stones for mine so I cut a square that is 1-7/8" x 1-7/8". Using a permanent marker draw your shape accurately on your template material and cut out. Follow the instructions from the previous blog to cut your repeats.

FABRICS:
Fabric 1: Overall print for fussy cutting.
Fabric 2: Light
Fabric 3: Medium
Fabric 4: Dark

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS:
From Fabric 1:
Fussy cut (17) 1-7/8" squares. I cut four repeating sets of four different designs and one single design for the center.
From Fabric 2 cut:
* (4) 1-7/8" x 1-7/8".
* (4) 1-7/8" x 7-3/8".
From Fabric 3 cut:
* (4) 1-7/8" x 4-5/8".
From Fabric 4 cut:
* (4) 1-7/8" x 10-1/8".

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS:

Make a nine patch by sewing the four 1-7/8" Fabric 2 squares, five 1-7/8" Fabric 1 squares.
1. Chain sew the center column to the first column. Press to Fabric 1. Do NOT cut patches apart.
2. Chain sew the last column to the center column.  Press to Fabric 1. Do NOT cut patches apart.
3. Matching seams, sew top row to center row matching seams. Press seams up.
4. Matching seams, sew bottom row to center row matching seams. Press seams down.

 

5. Sew a 1-7/8" x 4-5/8" Fabric 2 rectangle to the left and right sides of the nine patch. Press to fabric 3.

6. Sew a 1-7/8" Fabric 1 square to each end of a 1-7/8" x 4-5/8" Fabric 3 rectangle. Make 2. Press to Fabric 3.

7. Matching seams, sew the sections from step 6 to the top and bottom of the nine patch. 
Press to Fabric 3.

 


8. Sew a 1-7/8" x 7-3/8" Fabric 2 rectangle to the left and right sides of the block.  Press to Fabric 2.
9. Sew a 1-7/8" Fabric 1 square to each end of a 1-7/8" x 7-3/8" Fabric 2 rectangle. Make 2. Press to Fabric 2.
10. Matching seams, sew the sections from step 9 to the top and bottom of the nine patch. Press to Fabric 2.

11. Sew a 1-7/8" x 10-1/8" Fabric 4 rectangle to the left and right sides of the block.  Press to Fabric 4.
12. Sew a 1-7/8" Fabric 1 square to each end of a 1-7/8" x 10-1/8" Fabric 2 rectangle. Make 2. Press to Fabric 4. Matching seams, sew these to the top and bottom. Press to Fabric 4.

13. You will need to square up this block to 12-1/2" square. Using a square ruler place the ruler so that the 7" horizontal and vertical lines are on the bottom right corner of the center square of the block. Trim off the top and right sides of the block. Turn the block around, lining up the 12-1/2" marks on the left and bottom of the block, trim off the top and right sides to equal 12-1/2" square.

BLOCK 1b

FABRICS:
Fabric 1: Overall print for fussy cutting.
Fabric 2: Dark
Fabric 3: Medium

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS (Be sure to put some rolled up tape on the back of the templates so they don't move while you cut.)
 
Fabric 1: Cut four repeats with template A.
Fabric 2 and 3: Cut four left and four right with the template B of each fabric. Place the fabrics wrong sides together when cutting, you will get a left and right of each at the same time. You will make four cuts of fabric 2 which will give you 4 left and 4 right patches and then repeat with Fabric 3.

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Sew a left Fabric 2b to a right Fabric 3b. Make 4. Press seam open.
2. Sew a left Fabric 3b to a right Fabric 1b. Make 4. Press seam open.

   
 
 Layout pieced background and template  A making sure to keep the same color
 backgrounds on the same side.












3. Starting with one side, with the concave (inward curve/smile!) on top. Match centers and ends. Pin in the center and on each end. I weave the pins in to hold the edges together better. Put the last pin in perpendicular to the end pin to create a "T".

  Only 4 pins needed!                                                                              2 pins make a "T"

 



   







4. Sew a couple stitches and place your needle in the down position. Grab the center pin with your right hand and tug slightly to the left. Use your left hand to manipulate the fabric so that the edges are aligned. Sew to the center. 

5. Place your needle in the down position and grab the end of the seam. Give it a slight tug and line up the raw edges. Continue to sew the seam to the end. When the pin that is pointing towards the needle gets close, put your finger on the head of it and hold it down lightly on the machine surface. As you are sewing, the pin will come out. This helps stabilize the corners so that they do not get skewed. (Because my right hand is taking this photo it is not touching the fabric. You will need to hold that center point until your needle gets to that position and stop. You can see that the raw edges are together and I did not need extra pins.) Sew both sides.

Here is a short video on sewing curves. (Please let me know if this link does not work and I will email it to you.)

What your section will look like with both sides sewn. If you find that your section sticks up in the middle, spray generously with water and press from the center of the block out to the edges and corners. This will flatten it out. The sections should equal 6-1/2" square.
 

6. Sew the four sections together. Press seams open. The center seam will be very thick. I use a small mallet or hammer and hammer it into submission! It will flatten it out! The spray the whole block and give it a good pressing. Be careful not to distort the block. You can block it at 12-1/2" square or trim it to size if it is too big. 

Out of curiosity, before I started piecing I wanted to see what the block would look like with the lighter purple in the center so I layed out the pieces. I liked the dark in the center. What do you think?

 Good luck! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. Don't forget, you have to use the "contact" form on the top left of the page to get the templates for Block 1b and to send me your email address. 

As always: Do what you love and love what you do. Thank you for reading and be sure to share with your quilting friends. Toby Lischko 

 

STATE BLOCK CHALLENGE....Basic directions.

Now that you have all of your fabrics ready (or not), let me go over the basics. (You can click on any of the yellow highlighted links to take you to the product, except this one.)

Fussy cutting

You will need some heavy template plastic to cut out the pieces needed for both fussy cutting and any odd pieced  patches in the blocks. Copy the template image, cut out around it and place it on the template plastic. Cut on the outside lines. Using a ruler, draw in the 1/4" seam allowance. Then place some rolled up tape on the back of the template so that it will stick to the fabric. Use that template to place on your fabric to determine which design you want to use. Once you have determined where you want to place it, use a smaller rotary cutter (I sell the 18mm and 28mm cutters on my website) and cut out around the template. If you want perfect repeats, leave the fabric on the template, find that same design, line up your template so that the background fabric disappears into the design. Then cut out your next repeat. I did this with Block 1b. Continue to cut out the number of repeats that you need. I cut out different designs for Block 1a.

If you would like to see what your design would look like when pieced together, you can use a set of mirrors. I use Marty Michell's Magic Mirrors. Place your template in the mirrors, close the sides of the mirrors around the template and put a piece of tape over the top of the mirrors to set the angle. (The tape is difficult to see but it is towards the folded end.)

Then place the mirror on your fabric and move it around until you find a design that you like. If the fabric is an overall print, this will give you an idea of what it will look like, but you are seeing a mirror image so it might not look exactly like the images in the mirrors once you sew them together. If you are using a symmetrical fabric (one that has a center line and is exactly the same on both sides) and line up the mirror on the center line, what you see in the mirror is what you will get when you sew the patches together.

Overall print

Symmetrical print

Once you find a design you like, make sure your design is within the seam allowances of the template so you don't lose the design you found. Then follow the instructions above for cutting out your repeats.

1/4" seam allowance

When I first started quilting, I had difficulty with consistency of my seam allowance plus I was not sure exactly what a "scant" 1/4" was. Everyone has their own definition of a scant 1/4" so if you ever do blocks with other quilters, none of the blocks end up the same size. After taking some classes from Sharyn Craig and Sally Collins, who showed how to get a consistent seam, I devise my own method. I have designed a seam guide that is used just for this purpose. It has a hole at 'exactly' 1/4".

If your sewing machine has a needle right position, use your regular sewing foot and move your needle over to the furthest right position. Place the needle in the small template hole. Using a small piece of molefoam (I use Dr. Scholls Molefoam Foot pads), place it snug against the ruler. Now you have a guide for the edge of your fabric. If it is touching the foam, your seams will always be at 1/4". If your machine does not have a needle right position, place the foam in front of your foot along the edge of the guide.

  

Now you are ready to begin!!!!! The next blog will give you fabric requirements, cutting instructions, and piecing instructions for the next two blocks. 

SPECIAL.....If you do purchase something on my website for this challenge, I will include a FREE seam guide with every purchase of $25 or more. Just mention that your purchase is for this challenge in the comment box to receive the guide.

As always: Do what you love and love what you do. Thanks for reading, Toby Lischko (Please share and forward to your friends.)

STATE BLOCK CHALLENGE part 2

I hope by now some of you have been thinking of whether or not you want to participate in my State Block Challenge.  Here are the fabrics I chose for my blocks in case you did not catch my last blog. The main fabrics for fussy cutting are the same print, one with a light background and one with a dark. The rest of the fabrics are chosen from all of the colors in the main print (the more the merrier) in different shades of the color for more variety. If you have problems picking out the main print and are not sure if it will work, feel free to contact me and send me an image of it. I also have plenty of main fabrics and blenders by color on my website in case you can't find something.

Here again are the first two blocks. This one is the easier (obviously) of the two. I fussy cut the cornerstones of the sections.

The second one requires curved piecing, but I will do a tutorial of how I sew curves for those that are willing to try something a little more difficult. I don't find curves difficult and I teach these classes to a of quilters who are afraid of curves.

I will start the challenge by showing how I get perfect repeats every time when I fussy cut; how to use mirrors to see how your block will look; how to get that perfect and consistent 1/4" seam allowance; and other tips to make the process easier for you. All of the blocks will include cutting instructions, piecing instructions along with photos of each step I used to sew the blocks. This challenge should appeal to both beginner and more advanced quilters.

I do have a request. Please let me know if you plan on participating. I would just like to have an estimate of how many are interested. As we go through the blocks, if at anytime you think that I am going too fast and that maybe I ought to do 2 blocks every 2 weeks instead of a week, please let me know. I want this to work for everyone. I know that we are all working on more than one project at a time and I don't want to overwhelm anyone to think that they can't keep up. I also might hold off on posting blocks during the holiday season since we will all need a break at that time! I WANT YOUR INPUT TO MAKE THIS ENJOYABLE FOR YOU. This is my first internet challenge so it will be a learning curve for me too! 

Don' forget, there will be a prize drawing for each set of blocks (a prize for each block) so after you complete them you will need to send me an image so I can post it on my social media sites along with some type of survey email.

As always; Do what you love and love what you do. Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin' (link on side) so that you do not miss any of my posts. I will also be posting it on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest,  and Tumbler to get the word out. Thanks for reading. Toby

P.S. I will be participating in the Fabric Shop Hop in September. I will have lots of fabric specials and clearance sales.

STATE BLOCK CHALLENGE

 

Moose Jr. and Ginger

Now that I have your attention (everyone loves pictures of cats) ... I know I have been extremely negligent about writing my blog. I keep making promises to myself that I will post at least once and week and life just seems to get in the way. So..... I have decided to do something that will force me to write in it once a week. A FREE STATE BLOCK OF THE WEEK CHALLENGE!

Most of you know that I love to fussy cut ANYTHING! I have seen many weekly and monthly challenges with different themes. So I was brainstorming and thought about state quilt blocks. I looked on a variety of blogs and websites and saw that there were some that had free state blocks listed. My thought is, I will do a weekly free state block pattern once a week for 50 weeks. But there is a twist (you know how twisted I am). I want to challenge you to fussy cut some part of the block. What I will do, is once a week post two different blocks of a state. (I found these in some of my block books and on line.) One will be fairly easy and the other a little more challenging. You will get step by step photo and written directions to piece them together and my wonderful quilting tips and tools that I will use with many of them. I will even start out by showing you how to get that "perfect" 1/4" seam allowance and the tool that I had made to do it with.

Here are the fabrics that I chose to make my state blocks. I picked an overall fabric design that comes in two different color ways (one black background and one cream). Then I chose 2 to 3 coordinating prints (mostly tone on tones or small prints) in each color that I found in the fabrics plus a very dark (black) and very light (cream). I wanted a print to fussy cut that had lots of colors in it so I could have a large variety of fabrics to pick from. I tried to find a dark, medium, and light of each colorway. The main print also has to have some large and smaller designs in it so I can cut a variety of sizes to fit the blocks. You will want to have at least 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 yards of one print to fussy cut or 1 to 1-1/2 yards of two different coordinating prints. I carry lots of prints for fussy cutting on my website if you are having trouble finding something. Then choose 1/2 to 3/4 yards of the coordinating prints. I also carry a wide variety of blenders. You can find them by color on the website. Since this is somewhat of a scrappy quilt, if you run out of a fabric you can always pick another coordinating print.

I don't know how big my project will, be but the blocks will be 12" finished. So if I make it 6 x 8 blocks (I know it only equals 48 blocks) the minimum it would be is 72" x 96" without borders. I could choose just some of the blocks that I like to put in the quilt or use all 48 and then the extra two to make into pillows. I am leaving the creative choices up to you. I will simply give you the directions, show you my samples, and you have the option to do what you want with them and how many you want to make. The more creative the better! There are no requirements to complete all of the blocks so if you miss one that is not a problem.

Now here is the great thing about this challenge. Anyone who participates (and I hope we get a lot of people to join the fun) will be eligible to be in a drawing for a weekly prize. Even those who live overseas can be eligible (there will be no postage involved). I will not be picking the winner. It will be your fellow quilters who will be voting. They do not have to be participating in the challenge to vote. So get your friends to follow along to vote for your block. The quilters' names will not be listed with the blocks (but you are free to tell them which one is yours).

To get your juices flowing here are my first two blocks. I will be doing the states alphabetically so these are blocks of Alabama. (The second one I modified slightly to make it easier to piece.)

I will begin this challenge on September 4 and each Sunday I will post two new blocks. You have a week to make the block and send me images to post on my blog, along with my other social media (Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram). People will have a week to vote and I will announce the winner on the following Sunday when I post the next set of blocks. So if I post the first 2 blocks on September 4, then you have until the 11th to get me the image(s) of your block(s). Voting will take place that week and I will announce a winner on the 18th. The whole process will take 2 weeks.

Please, please, please share this with your quilting friends! The more that participate the more interesting the blocks will be. If you have any questions about how to send your images or don't understand the directions feel free to email me or post a message on my blog. I know we all have busy lives, especially before the holidays, but I hope you will find a few minutes a day in your schedule to make a block.

Since this is a new endeavor for me there may be some glitches, so be patient with me while I work through this process and figure out the best way to vote that doesn't involve too much confusion.

As always, do what you love and love what you do!!! Gather your fabrics for this challenge and come back next Sunday, September 4 for directions on these first two blocks. Thanks for reading, Toby.

WINNERS AND EXCITING NEWS!

First I want to thank all of those people who took the time to check out the Electric Quilt blog and leave a comment about my new book Kaleiodstars. All of the comments were so nice both on my blog and Electric Quilt's blog.

I have three winners to announce today. The first winner is from Electric Quilt's blog. Congratulations to Mary Furber! She wins a signed copy of my book. I will email Mary to give her the good news!

I also had a drawing for a fat quarter bundle of Paula Nadelstern's newest fabric collection called Chromazone. The response was overwhelming on my blog, and I hope that even if you didn't win, you will take a look at the wonderful fabrics on my website and consider purchasing my book. Congratulations to PJB (she didn't leave name). She said, "My favorite is Northern Lights. Congratulations on your birthday. It seems young to me as I have passed 75. I didn't start quilting until I was almost your age! I love star patterns and made a King sized quilt with a huge 8 pointed star." She won 7 fat quarters from the collection! I hope she has fun playing with these fabrics. I certainly do!

 Also on Wednesday I posted a blog about Quiltmaker's 100 Block Sampler Sew along. They posted my Ladder's Up block as the fifth, in a series of 100 blocks, that they will be sharing to make a sampler quilt. 

Congratulations to Stephanie Woodward. She won my Jacob's Ladder quilt pattern that uses that block.

Now for some wonderfully exciting news! Some of you may know that I recently filmed a class with iQuilt. 

In it I demonstrate how to make a quilt based on my Kaleidostars block, featured in my new book. Well, the opening date is fast approaching and I have 3 videos on Youtube that describe my class and some wonderful tips you will get from taking it.

Here is the opening introduction just to whet your whistle.

That is my teaser! I will show you other Youtube videos giving you tips on what you will learn in my class in the next blog. Please send this introduction of my iQuilt class to all of your quilting friends. This link will take you to the website, but my class is not available quite yet so be patient, and I will let you know when it is available.

As always, do what you love and love what you do. Thanks for reading, Toby Lischko

100 Block Sampler Sew Along

I have been lucky enough to be published in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks for quite a few issues. One of my earlier blocks is called Ladder Up from Volume 6. They are having a sew along so you will find lots of other blocks to make.

It is a variation of the Jacob's Ladder block. It is made up of half-square triangles and squares. Not a difficult block to make. The only difference is, I added triangles to the corners of the block. It is made with a traditional fabric collection by RJR, but can easily be made with batiks or more modern fabrics.

With the triangles on the corners, when you put the blocks together they create a star where they connect.

Those visiting my blog today can be in the drawing for this pattern. Just leave a comment on the bottom of the blog telling me what kinds of fabrics you would use in this block.

Continue to follow the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks to enter the 100 Blocks Sampler Sew Along.

As always: Do what you love and love what you do. Thanks for reading. Toby