Simple Patchwork Border

Anyone who works on a quilt, who devotes her time, energy, creativity, and passion to that art, learns to value the work of her hands.  And as any quilter will tell you, a quilter's quilting friends are some of the dearest, most generous, and most supportive people she knows.  

Jennifer Chiaverini

Adding a pieced border to any quilting project always sets it off and shows that you put more effort and thought into your project.  This is a simple but stunning way to make a pieced border.  There are a number of ways to create one like this. You can make them with quarter square triangles on the outer edges so that they will be on grain, but for this project I just went with simple strip construction.  The only down side to doing it this way is that you end up with bias along the edge of the border but I will give a few hints on how to deal with that.  

Note:  These instructions were written for the Hexagonal Tree Skirt in my Christmas in July Post.  This border could be added to any quilt project but you probably would be working with 4 sides not 6 so adjust the number of strips accordingly.

I decided that I wanted the squares on point and that I didn't want them to touch the edges of the strips or wedges.  That way the squares would not be chopped up when the wedges were joined together and the squares would be floating on the background in each section.

Here is what I used for the pieced border unit:

2 - 2 1/2" strips of green

2 - 2 1/2" strips of red

4 - 3 1/2" strips of white

6 - 8 1/2" squares cut diagonally for 12 half square triangles

12 - 2 1/2" strips of green for the edges of the pieced border unit

You can change any of these measurements just keep the background strips 1" larger if you want the squares to float.  If you want the points of the squares to touch the edging strips the background strip only has to be 1/2" larger than the strip for the center squares.

The size of the squares for the half square triangle is determined by the width of the strip set when it is sewn together.  2" + 3 1/4" + 3 1/4" = 8 1/2"  This makes the triangles over-sized for the ends which is what you want to be able to cut the angle of the wedge easily.

Construction is easy.

Tip:  It's a good idea to spray starch these sets while pressing them.  

This will help keep the bias from stretching.

Time Saving Tip:  Layer the units and cut all four at once.  This is a big time saver and works great!  Just lay the strip sets down along one of the horizontal lines on the cutting mat.  Each one is layered a little lower than the one under it so the seams don't overlap.

You don't have to alternate two colors like I did.  You can use more colors or all one color.  Sew units together off-setting the center squares.

How many to sew together?  Depends on how you want it to look.  You can lay it out below the center wedge as you sew it and see if it is as big as you need.  You can do the math.  Multiply the finished size of the square by 1.41.  Mine were 2" finished so 2 x 1.41 = 2.82

Now add the large triangles to each end of the unit.  Attach them with the bias edge of the triangle being the one sewn on.  Since they are slightly over sized sew them on so that you are getting the maximum width possible if you will be cutting an angle like I did for this project. 

To stabilize the bias edge you will have decide where you want to trim the edge.  I left an inch of background on each side.  Using a marking pencil draw a faint line where you will be cutting.

Tip:  I measured from the tip of the squares.  You could also measure from the center line of the squares where they touch tips.  That way you could cut the width of the border unit to be an even 1/4" or 1/2" measurement.  Mine turned out about 4 5/8".  In this project it didn't matter but on a quilt border the math for additional borders would be easier without figuring in 1/8" inches.  ;-)

Tip:  When marking lines for reference in piecing or quilting only make the marks as dark as you need to see them.  The lighter they are the easier they are to get rid of.  In this case they are in the seam allowance and should not be a problem.

Stitch about 1/16" or 1/8" inside this line with a long stitch (4.0) or 6 stitches per inch.  Use a walking foot if your machine wants to gather up the fabric while doing this.  The fabric should remain flat or easily press flat after stitching.

Note:  If you want to add this in the middle of a quilt border and need longer ends just cut a background strip the same width as the pieced unit.  Trim the pieced section as shown below first.  Cut a 45 degree angle at the end of the background strip where you will join it making sure it points in the right direction and attach.  Measure the total length needed for your project and trim ends to size.

Press unit flat and trim to size along the line drawn previously.  Attach the plain strips to each side of the pieced unit before adding it to your project.  Match the centers and pin in place.  Sew with the bias edge of the pieced unit down against the feed dogs.  Do not trim until after it is attached to the wedge, then trim at the 60 degree angle as shown in the previous post.

That's all you need to do for the pieced border.  Do you think you will add one to something you will make?  I'd love to see it if you do.

Linking with: Freemotion by the River and Sew Many Ways

More Christmas in July

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.

Albert Einstein

I've been so busy working on my project that I forgot to post the link for today's hop.  If you like to make your table look special during the holidays you will love what you find at Sarah Rose Quilts today! 
Tomorrow's post will more than make up for my brevity today!

Christmas in July Continues

Short and sweet today!  Check out this great post that Elaine At Summercrafter did for the Hop.  It's a great idea!
Gotta go get busy!  My project and post must be done in less than 40 hours.  Oh My!!!  If you've seen any unemployed elves about send them my way for the day!

Want to Have Some Fun?

Make a memory with your children,

Spend some time to show you care;

Toys and trinkets can't replace those

Precious moments that you share.

Money doesn't buy real pleasure,

It doesn't matter where you live;

Children need your own attention,

Something only you can give.

Childhood's days pass all too quickly,

Happy memories all too few;

Plan to do that special something,

Take the time to go or do.

Make a memory with your children,

Take the time in busy days;

Have some fun while they are growing,

Show your love in gentle ways.

Elaine Hardt

The Summer is rolling along, so far it has been filled with more rain than heat, but let's not talk about the humidity or the mosquitoes.  If you need some fun things to do this weekend here are a few suggestions.  Some of these can be done with kids if you have a few underfoot.

It's day TWO of the Christmas in July blog hop.  If you didn't get over to see the pillow Amy Made yesterday you need to hop on over!  Today you absolutely must pop in to see what Amanda's Joy and Gingerbread Men are like! 

Now be sure to tune in at the The Crafty Quilter for the next few days to keep up with the Christmas in July Hop.  My days is coming soon so I must dash to the studio to get my project finished.  

In case the projects above inspire you and you still need to give those underfoot an activity you might suggest that they work on this list for a while.  Make sure they take a camera along to record the fun.  Let me know what the results are.  Of course, I'm assuming you can unplug them from their electronic devices for a while. ;-)  Good luck with that!

Christmas in July is Coming

Friendship is a precious gift.  To give at Christmas time.  A Cherished gift, a treasured gift that lasts through all time. 

Unknown

This is a busy week for me.  The two quilting groups I participate in usually meet the first week of the month on Wednesday and Thursday.  This month they both moved to this week because of the 4th of July Holiday.  

I'm also working on getting my project done for the Blog Hop below.  It is going to be so pretty!  I can't wait to share it with you!  If you want to see/learn what is going to be happening click the button below or the one in the sidebar.  

My project is also going to tie in with my Christmas linky party.  Last year I did the Christmas Stocking Hang Out and there were a lot of great Christmas Stockings shared as well as some tutorials during the time is was open.  Read through more than one of the posts I did that month to get some good tips or Click on Stockings in the Labels Section.

This year's Christmas Linky Party will be on another Christmas Decoration and you will find out what it is next week so you will have plenty of time to get one made if you don't have a handmade one already.

I hope you will join in the FUN!!!

Jacob's Ladder

Mistakes are merely steps up the ladder. 

Paul J. Meyer

I realized that I haven't posted many pictures of my own quilts.  I worked hard for a while taking pictures of as many of them as I could back in the Fall but didn't share all of them.  Since then I have moved to other subjects but I thought I would make an effort to share them one at a time along with a little of the story of how they were made and what I may have learned along the way.

Jacob's Ladder Quilt
"A Few Fell Off"

I won these blocks at my quilt guild back in the mid-90s.  As with most blocks made by a group of people they varied in size and fabric content.  I selected the ones that fit together the best in color and size and made the top.  I seem to recall redoing a few seams in a few of them to get the sizes more consistent.

I went out on a limb and used contrasting thread for the stippling.  I had practiced several days while I had jury duty.  Each juror was given a small legal pad and a pencil.  It was a very boring experience as the defendant was late and there was a lot of waiting around with nothing to do and so I doodled stippling. ;-)

If you compare the density of the quilting in the border here to the left and the one below you can see that this one is more loosely quilted.

The one below is more densly quilted.  There is a reason for this and a lesson that was learned.

I had pieced the border into a long strip carefully matching the tiny plaid.  I then cut the needed length from the strip for the top and bottom and one side and added them.

I was working on it in my shop and had to stop frequently to help customers.  I was also working with a deadline of a quilt show that I wished to enter it in.  At any rate for some reason I didn't measure and cut the last border to fit but instead just sewed it on.  When I was done with it I saw that there was extra fullness in it but I didn't have time to change it at that point.  The solution was to put more quilting in along that border and to work in the fullness as I came to it.  After it was finished the difference was hard to see since it was on opposite sides of the quilt.

The other thing I learned recently from this quilt is pictured above.  While I had so many quilts laid out for taking photographs I had them draped over a chair in front of a window.  The afternoon sun found it and as you can see the fold that was exposed faded.  Other quilts in the stack were not affected.  You can never tell which fabrics will be light sensitive.  I think the newer ones are more dye stable than the older ones but it's always a possibility.

"A Few Fell Off" onto the back

This quilt was also the first of my quilts to have 'Back Art'.  When I was pressing the fabric that I had selected for the backing I found several small holes in it.  Since I still had more of the blocks I hand appliqued them over the holes.  You can see that the colors of these did not go very well with the ones used on the front.  

I also added the folded flat piping at the border line.  I cut the plaid on the bias and it seemed to add just the right touch to accent the quilt.  All the fabrics were from my stash and it did hang in the quilt show.  Not a prize winner though.

Things I've learned from this quilt:

1. Expect blocks made by different quilters to be different sizes.  If they are all the same you are really blessed.  If they aren't you can work with them anyway. 
2. No matter how rushed you are, take the time to measure and cut borders accurately.
3. It is possible to quilt out some extra fullness sometimes.
4. If there is a problem with the backing fabric approach it creatively.
5. Folded flat piping adds a great accent.
6. Using contrasting thread can look good and add a lot to the quilt.
7. Don't leave a quilt where the sun will shine on it for days.  Fabrics fade.

This quilt has been used and loved.  My children used to sneak it from each other to use in their room.  Now they have moved out and on with their lives but I still have it and my memories of them using it.

What have you learned from your quilts?

July Goals

When you can think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear, you are near contentment. 

Unknown

Yes, another month has flown by.  I knew at the start of it there would be several trips and so it would be difficult to accomplish many goals.  I was right I spent about half the month away from home.  No regrets, time with family and extended family is to be savored regardless of the circumstances when we live so far apart.  Quilting is after all something I do with a creative purpose.  People and relationships are more important! 

Goals for June:

1. Get the Baby Blanket Finished (and the tutorial written) - Not Done
2. Get the Top done for the Grandson's Quilt - Blocks Made
3. Spend MORE QUALITY TIME with my new INNOVA!!! - One Quilt Done
4. Get at least one Charity Quilt Quilted - Done
5. Make progress on piecing a Charity Quilt - Churn Dash Units Made
6. Quilt and Bind Log Cabin Quilt - No Progress
7. Quilt Turning 20 Quilt - No Progress

I will have pictures of the Charity Quilt when I get it bound.  Right now it is off the longarm, has been trimmed and the binding is cut.  The blocks shown above have been pressed and are ready for their corner triangles.  I'll have more about which pattern I am using and the book it is from later.

July WILL BE MORE PRODUCTIVE!!! Because I say so AND because I am participating in the two blog hops which have buttons at the top right of this blog.  I'll be tell more about them soon and have to concentrate and work fast to get things DONE!!!

July Goals:

1. Get Christmas Project #1 made and blogged about
2. Get Christmas Project(s) for Blog Hop #2 done and ready to blog about
3. Get the Baby Blanket Finished (and the tutorial written)
4. Get the Top done for the Grandson's Quilt
5. Spend MORE QUALITY TIME with my new INNOVA!!! 
6. Get at least one Charity Quilt Quilted 
7. Get at least one Charity Quilt Bound
8. Make progress on piecing a Charity Quilt
9. Quilt and Bind Log Cabin Quilt 
10. Quilt Turning 20 Quilt 

I have been trying to get this post written for several days.  The weather has been a factor in that the router goes off when there is thunder and lightning.  Google has also been off line for me some this week and my laptop has been giving me grief too.  Sigh.

The good news is that due to my internet and computer difficulties I made some progress in my studio.  This was done in spite of my husband having a four day weekend.  ;-)  Why is it so much harder to get things done when he is around?  Anyone else have that problem?