Tag: Free Quilt BOM 2014

Reblogging Clouds and Shadows – with Fabric Requirements

Hello! Hope you are having a great day. I realized that I had not given the fabric requirement for the background for Layout Option #1 ! So I am re-blogging the post with the measurements. But before that I would love to share with you the quilt as originally planned – only a few of these blocks made the final cut! Are there any that you would like to see in the final quilt?

Original Round the Year Quilt
Original Round the Year Quilt

 

 

I have been trying out various options for the Dusk Round the Year Quilt! I will show you one option in each of the next few posts and include patterns for sashings and borders. The next block, Block # 5, will be posted only on 15th October. In the first two weeks of October, you can catch up with pending blocks, set your circles in squares, ready the borders, sashing, binding etc! Or, if you want to `quilt as you go’ the first four blocks, perhaps you can start on that!

I will post these so that you can decide which one you want to do. Of course, each of the 16 blocks will be different, but you get the general idea!

Round the Year -Dusk (Shadows) Layout Option 1

This is one option I really like. In this layout, the interplay of dark and light grey in the background brings alive the theme of dusk falling. The blocks are simply joined together and a thin 1.5″ dark grey border and binding frames the blocks, making it up to a comfortable 75″ square size.

Here is how the Rainbow Quilt will look, in the same layout…

Round the Year Quilt Rainbow (Clouds) -Layout Option 1

 

Fabric Requirement

So now to the fabric requirement for these blocks! This will depend on the method you use to set the circles in the blocks.

There are several ways of setting the 15″ pieced circles in the 18″ background squares, each with a different fabric requirement. As I calculate, there are 4 centre blocks set in bright coloured fabric. The remaining 12 are half and half. I am presuming the border and binding will be in the darker coloured fabric. In case you decide to use different fabric for borders and binding, the calculations for that are also included in the charts.

Appliqueing the circles to the squares

You may choose to piece the whole circle and appliqué it to a background square using your favourite method. The fabric requirement for the background, borders and binding is given in this chart.

Fabric Requirement -Round the Year Option 1 – if you are appliqueing full circles on 18″ squares

The poplin that one uses for solids here in India is about 35″-36″ ; after removing selvedges, the usable width is just about 34″, which is what I have used for the calculations. The fabric is available in metres, hence the metrage… Another column gives the requirement in yards for regular 42″-44″ width.

I decided to use the Bamboo App on my ipad to share with you how I would cut my fabric if I were doing this Shadows/ Clouds option. Forgive the untidiness.

Fabric Requirement -Round the Year
Fabric Requirement -Round the Year

 

  • If using 42″ width dark fabric, it is suggested you cut a panel 18″ x 80″ for the borders and binding, before you start cutting the fabric for the background squares. Cut four strips each of 2″ and 2.5″ from this panel.
  • If using the smaller width fabric, first cut the two 21″ squares and eight rectangles 10″x 19.5″ along the length and then assess how much width is left over. You may need to cut strips along the width of fabric too – remember, you require a total of about 2″x300″ for the borders and 2.5″x 320″ for the binding.

Preparing the background squares for applique:

For the 4 centre blocks: Use the 19.5″ square from the bright fabric

For the 4 corner blocks: Use the two 21″ squares from each of the two fabrics to make HSTs and trim them to 19.5″.

For the 8 remaining blocks : Pair one rectangle 19.5″ x 10″ from each of the fabrics to make a square 19.5″ x 19.5″. Make 8 such squares.

For your convenience, I have given a template for a (quarter) circle with 7.5″ radius (without any added seam allowance). This Template D is downloadable from the link at the end of this post.

Piecing the background to the circle

The block patterns published so far have each included templates and instructions for the background.

There are basically three templates used for the background. These can be downloaded from either the respective block pattern, or even from the link at the end of this post.

In the Dahlia and Card trick blocks, the circle is pieced into halves and joined to 2 of Template C sewn together. In the Sapphire Block, I suggested you join Templates A and B to 1/8 circle wedges.

Here are the fabric requirements (for the whole quilt ) and cutting instructions if you will be piecing the blocks.

Fabric Requirement – Round the Year – Layout Option1, if you are piecing the background for the blocks

This is how I suggest you cut the fabric.( I used quiltassistant free software for this).

For best use of fabric, I have suggested you cut the binding and border strips from the length of fabric if using the 42″-44″ width and from the width of fabric if using the shorter width.

I think that takes care of everything. (It took me three days to write this post, what with all these charts and calculations and diagrams!) Everything except the promised templates.

7.5″ radius circle template

Background Templates for piecing

Fabric Requirement Clouds and Shadows – Round the Year -Layout Option 1

While all my Dreamcatcher patterns are free and will continue to remain so, may I request you to visit the webpage of my favourite not-for-profit organization Samarpan Foundation and donate whatever you deem fit towards the wonderful work they are doing to spread joy, peace and happiness through the world? 

Of Clouds and Shadows! Round the Year Quilt – Layout Option One

 

I have been trying out various options for the Block of the Month Quilt, Round the Year! I will show you one option in each of the next few posts and include patterns for sashings and borders. The next block, Block # 5, will be posted only on 15th October. In the first two weeks of October, you can catch up with pending blocks, set your circles in squares, ready the borders, sashing, binding etc! Or, if you want to `quilt as you go’ the first four blocks, perhaps you can start on that!

I shall be posting these so that you can decide which one you want to do. Of course, each of the 16 blocks will be different, but you get the general idea! In case you want the patterns for the blocks featured in this quilt picture above (or below), they are available for free, right here, on this blog! Just type “Round the Year’ in the searchbox, and the posts will pop up. I am trying to create a page where all the links will be available in one place, as soon as I can figure out how!

This is one option I really like. In this layout, the interplay of dark and light grey in the background brings alive the theme of dusk falling. The blocks are simply joined together and a thin 1.5″ dark grey border and binding frames the blocks, making it up to a comfortable 75″ square size. What would you call this layout? I am undecided between `Shadows’ and `Clouds’!

Here is how the Rainbow Quilt will look, in the same layout… A white and black combination ( instead of blue and grey) for the background would look stunning, but I would prefer that for a wall quilt rather than a bed quilt! I’ll give you a dekko at that in my next post!

 

If you come up with some options, we’d all love to see those, too! Meanwhile. I’ll get back to my design desk(top) for a few more layouts!

Sapphire Fire – Block Four of the Dreamcatcher Round the Year BOM Quilt and some Paper Piecing Tips

Sapphire Fire Quilt Block - Round the Year Quilt
Sapphire Fire Quilt Block

Sapphire Fire
is the fourth block in the Dusk colourway in the Block of the Month Quilt, Dreamcatcher Round the Year. The templates and instructions for the other colourway “Rainbow” have already been posted last week.

Like the previous three blocks, this one is also paper foundation pieced and finishes at 18″ square with a 15″ inset circle. The pattern, fabric requirement and piecing instructions can be downloaded from the links at the end of this post.

I am yet to make this block in this colourway. I plan to use 4 shades of blue fabric from deep to light in this block, contrasted with 4 fabrics ranging from deep orange through light orange and gold to yellow. The background is planned in 2 shades of grey. Here is a look at some of the fabric I have been auditioning for the block! It is Fossil Fern by Benartex – I just love that fabric!

Sapphire Fire Quilt Block
Fabric for the Sapphire Fire Block

Meanwhile, I am utilising this post to list out of a few do’s and don’t’s to keep in mind when paper piecing the blocks from this quilt!

Templates

  1. Reminder – the templates for the Round the Year quilt blocks are printed mirror images.
  2. Check to see if the templates are to be printed in portrait or landscape mode – adjust the printer setting accordingly.
  3. Take print outs of the Template file with printer settings at 100% or actual size.

I often have people ask me if they can increase the printer settings to, say, 120% if a larger block is needed. It does not work that way, if you have the ¼” seam allowance added on to the template ( as is the case with the Dreamcatcher Round the Year block templates). You will end up increasing the seam allowance also to 120%!

4.    I hate all the paper wastage involved when printing the templates – often one template occupies one whole page! Where possible, I like to use my unthreaded sewing machine to needle punch up to 7-8 templates at a time from waste paper stapled to a printed template. Tissue paper works great!

5.  I like to cut the templates a bit larger on all sides and trim them after piecing. It may be just superstition, I don’t know! I just like the thought of some margin in case things go wrong somewhere!

Cutting Fabric

6.  This can never be stressed enough – starch and press your fabric! It makes all the difference between a block that looks like it has been pieced by an experienced quilter versus a beginner! Every minute spent on this stage will be well worth it!

7.   What I love about paper piecing is that you don’t have to be very accurate when cutting the fabric. All my fabric requirement charts give you plenty of margin. Personally, I like to keep a boxful of all the scraps from the quilt blocks to look into before I start cutting fresh fabric.

8.   After cutting the fabric pieces, I can save a lot of heartburn if I remember to pin the pieces to the respective templates! At this stage, I also get a chance to check if I have missed out on a piece or two.

Piecing

9.   I like to sort out the templates shape wise unless specifically asked not to. There is a possibility you can chain piece them and why miss the opportunity?

10.  Set your machine stitch length to 1.5 (or about 15-20 stitches per inch). You want to be able to tear away the paper, without getting the stitches all loosened up.

11.   It may sound obvious, but please remember to begin with piece #1 and #2 when you start piecing a template!

Now to the piecing itself:

  • Place fabric piece #1 with the wrong side touching the paper on the unprinted side. Hold it against the light to see that the entire area of piece #1 is covered plus a ¼” seam allowance.
  • Place piece#2 on top of piece #1, right sides together. ALWAYS – right sides touching each other. Align the edges of the two pieces at seam between #1 and #2 – overlapping ¼” beyond the seam line.

  • Pin the two pieces together before flipping to printed side of paper and stitching on seam line.
  • Trim the seam allowance to ¼”.
  • Press open fabric piece #2 and hold the template against light to check that it covers the printed area #2 plus ¼” seam allowance on all sides.
  • We are now ready to stitch piece #3…repeat as for pieces #1 and #2!
  • Repeat for all the numbered pieces – in the correct order, till the whole template is pieced.

12.  When all the templates are pieced and ready to be assembled, trim the templates to the right size – to the outer dotted line in the case of my block templates.

Assembly

13.  Each of the block patterns includes a Master Template, which is a guide to how the templates are to be assembled.
REMEMBER – The Master Template is also a mirror image and shows the printed side of the paper templates.

( You can also use the Master Template to try out your own colour schemes; use colour pencils! )

14. Unlike in the case of the templates, numbering or alphabetical order does not work here! So that it is not necessary that A is joined to B is joined to C etc…Follow the assembly instructions given in the pattern (Instructions File). In case of confusion – yes – refer to the Master template.

15. There are several alignment markers in the form of crosses and tiny lines cutting across the seam line. Use these to pin the templates together.

16. You can tear away much of the paper before you start assembling the templates, especially if it does not have any alignment markers!

17. What you need to be careful at this stage is which edges you join and which template is on top when it goes under the needle. How do I know? Guess!

I think I have listed all the things to be taken care of when paper piecing these blocks! In no time you should have a perfectly pieced and assembled block. If you can think of anything else, do share it here!

Before I forget, here are the promised pattern downloads for the Sapphire Fire Block! The files are huge, and may take time to download. You need Adobe Reader on your system(downloadable free online) to be able to view/ download these files. Happy piecing and quilting!

Instructions – for Sapphire Fire, Block Four of Dreamcatcher Dusk Round the Year Quilt.

Paper piecing templates – for Sapphire Fire, Block Four of Dreamcatcher Dusk Round the Year Quilt.

Please note that the downloadable patterns and instruction files for the Dreamcatcher Round the Year quilt blocks are being migrated to my store MadsPatch and will not be available for download for free from 15th November 2020 onwards.

BUY PATTERN HERE!

Rainbow Sapphire – Block Four of the Rainbow Dreamcatcher Round the Year BOM Quilt

Sapphire Rainbow - Block 4 of the Round the Year Quilt

This “SAPPHIRE” is the fourth block in the Block of the Month quilt `Dreamcatcher Round the Year‘. I have made it only in the Rainbow colourway; the other – Dusk colourway – remains pending, as I am on enforced rest with an acute attack of sciatica.

But don’t worry, the templates and instructions files for Dusk are ready and are being published in a separate post. This is a very simple block to piece and I am sure even beginner paper piecers should be able to manage without step by step pictures.

Like the previous three blocks, this is also paper foundation pieced. The fabric requirements and Instructions for paper piecing and assembly for the RAINBOW colourway for this block can be downloaded as .pdf files from the link at the end of this post. Adobe Reader , which is required for .pdf files, is available for free download online. So here we go!

SAPPHIRE RAINBOW

Finished Block size: 18″ square with 15″ inset circle.

Fabric Requirement and Cutting Instructions


REMEMBER – The Master Template is a mirror image and shows the printed side of the paper templates. You can also use it to try out your own colour schemes; use colour pencils!

Sapphire - Block 4 of the Round the Year Quilt

  1. Take print outs of the Templates .pdf file with printer settings at 100% or actual size in portrait mode. You have the following templates:
  • 8 wedge templates numbered A, D, E, H, I, L,M and P.
  • 8 spoke templates B,C, F,G,J,K, N and O .
  • 2 background templates Q and R for the outside square. Cut 4 of each, the additional fabric margin is kept on the straight long edge.

Sapphire Rainbow - Block 4 of the Round the Year Quilt
Add a margin of 1/2″ to 1″ on the straight edge when cutting fabric for the background template.

2. Take a print out of the Instructions file and keep it at hand for reference.

3. Cut the fabric according to the fabric requirement chart, using the colour code as guide. To summarise:

  Each of the 8 wedge templates will be pieced with
  • 1 HST 5.5″
  • 1 triangle half of 3″x 6″
  • 1 rectangle 1.5″ x 6.5″

Each of the 8 spoke templates will be pieced with

  • 4 HSTs 3.5″
  • 1 triangle half of 2″ x 3.5″
  • 1 QST 3.5″ ( or 1HST 2″ may be used instead)

4 . Pin the fabric pieces to the respective templates to avoid confusion when sewing.

Piecing Instructions

1.   Piece the wedge templates

2.   Piece the spoke templates and arrange according to the master template. Trim to template size.

Assembly

Refer to the Master template as a guide when assembling the paper pieced templates. ( It is a mirror image, remember?)

Each of the wedge templates is joined to a spoke template.

So, you join A to B, C to D, E to F, G to H, I to J, K to L , M to N and O to P. There are markers on the templates to help you align the templates correctly.

Be careful you do not join 2 wedges together, or you will have y-seams to contend with! Like this!

Sapphire Rainbow - Block 4 of the Round the Year Quilt
I joined two wedges together. Here I am adding a spoke to the wedges.

Sapphire Rainbow - Block 4 of the Round the Year Quilt
When I started joining the spoke on the other side, I was confronted with a y-seam!

At the end of this, you should have 8 wedges equal to 1/8 of the circle. I have assembled my circle in quarters, don’t let that confuse you.

Final Assembly

The easiest way to join to the background would be as follows:

  • Join AB to X, CD to Q. EF to R, GH to S, IJ to T, KL to U, MN to V and OP to W.
  • Join BAX to CDQ …etc to obtain 4 squares.
  • Assemble the 4 squares; square up the block to 18.5″ . We are done!
You can BUY the paper piecing templates and instructions  (including fabric requirement) here.
  1. Templates – For paper piecing Block Four SAPPHIRE RAINBOW of the Round the Year BOM Quilt.
  2. Instructions – For Block Four SAPPHIRE RAINBOW of the Round the Year BOM Quilt.

Please note that the downloadable patterns and instruction files for the Dreamcatcher Round the Year quilt blocks are being migrated to my store MadsPatch and will not be available for download for free from 15th November 2020 onwards.

Assemble the Card Trick Quilt Block – Step by Step

The pattern and piecing instructions for the Card Trick , the third of the blocks in my BOM quilt Round the Year were posted by me a few days ago.

Incidentally, there are 26 templates and  14o pieces in this block…just so that you can boast about it!

Assembly

1. First, lay out all the pieced templates using the master template as a guide.

Lay out the pieced templates using the master template as guide
Pieced templates arranged using the master template as a  guide

2. Assembling the Inner Circle

– Pin together each triangular ‘card’ to the corresponding wedge . If one makes a mistake and  joins wrong pieces together at this stage, the ‘trick’ will not work, so follow the master template strictly!

For accurate piecing, I find  the alignment markers and crosses on the printed templates very helpful.

'Vertical' pin pushed through marker before securing the templates
‘Vertical’ pin pushed through marker before securing the templates

All inner templates ready for pinning together
All inner templates ready for pinning together in pairs

Secured with pins...
Secured with pins…

3. Sew to join together, removing pins as you are a stitch or two away.

Fix the thread as you begin
Fix the thread as you begin

...pulling out the pins as you approach them
…pulling out the pins as you approach them

Chain piecing saves time and thread!
Chain piecing saves time and thread!

Remove extraneous paper – from the seams and pieces without alignment markers. When the seams are pressed flat,  some paper at the corners will go under the upcoming seam, and will be near impossible to remove later. Take care of that. Tweezers help, as well as the ripper.

Remove paper from seam ...
Remove paper from seam …

Paper torn off from seam corners, leaving alignment markers intact
Paper torn off from seam corners, leaving alignment markers intact

4. Referring to the master template, join  the segments in pairs, aligning on the markers with vertical pins pushed through. When securing with pins, I ensure that the head of the pin is either on my right ( since I am right handed) or towards me as the fabric goes under the needle. This makes it easy for me to pull out the pin slowly , without any fear of getting poked!

Refer to the master template ...
Refer to the master template …

5. Join segment AI to CK to form a quarter circle.

6. Join segment  EM to GO to form a quarter circle.

This is as good a time as any to flip over to the fabric side to check if  you have got everything in order!  The little coloured piece on the wedge should be the same colour as the adjoining segment on its left.

7. Join the 2 quarters  at edges C and E to make the top half circle.

Top half of circle is ready!
Top half of circle is ready!

8. Join segment BJ to DL to form a quarter circle, and finally

9. Join FN to HP to form the last of the quarter circles.

10. Join these two quarter circles along edges D and F and the other half of the circle is done!

11. Now to assemble the arcs. There are only 6 arcs, so they will be joined in threes for the top and bottom halves.

QRS makes one half of the ring, and TUV makes the other, moving anti clockwise as you look at the printed  side.

Joining the arcs
Joining the arcs

12. Finally, the final step for assembling the circle! Joining the ring half to the circle half. Do not spare the pins at this stage! I put pins on every seam joint and on some alignment markers too!

Pin copiously!
Pin copiously!

Ready to stitch
Ready  to stitch

13. I find it cumbersome to stitch a curved seam with the paper attached !

It is cumbersome to stitch a curved seam with the paper attached
It is cumbersome to stitch a curved seam with the paper attached

Knowing my arc is securely pinned and correctly aligned to the circle, I can afford to tear away  bits of paper on the seam. I also have a 1/4″ stitch on my Hasina, my HQV machine so I am assured of an accurate seam!

You will notice I do not remove all the paper, as I will need the alignment markers on the outer edge of the arc when I join this to the background.

Paper removed from under the seam area eases sewing
Paper removed from under the seam area eases sewing

Here is one half of my circle assembled, the other half awaits its turn!

Time to gloat!
Time to gloat!

14.  Once both the half circles are ready, we can move to the background. Using the template W ( made of 2 paper  pieces glued together) we had cut 4 fabric pieces a bit larger on the long straight edges .  We join these in pairs, W to X and Y to Z.

15. Join one half of the circle to WX and the other to YZ.

16. Join the two block halves together to form the full square block, and trim it down to 1

An alternative method for joining the circle to the background is to join the two halves of the circle and appliqué the circle on to a background square, using your favourite method. If using this method, cut your square about an inch larger and trim to size after appliqueing.

There is also a freezer paper method for joining a circle to a background square, for which  several free tutorials are available online.

I hope you will enjoy making this block which comes up so magically!  Do share a picture of your completed block on my facebook page, the like button is on the side bar to the right!

You can BUY THE PATTERN HERE! Dusk Version Card Trick Block

Happy quilting, till I post the rainbow version of this block some time next week.

You can buy the pattern for the Rainbow Version of the Card-Trick Block here.