We did it!  All the blocks are ready to go!!

Well, I am actually very close.  I have 5 of 6 blocks done this week.  I mis-cut one of the templates and didn’t have enough left over fabric to make a new one.  I called my local quilt shops and noone had this fabric so I ordered it online.

I ordered the wrong color!

So, I am waiting for another package to arrive.  I ordered backing for the quilt as well while I was at it.

This up coming week is going to be a busy one.  I will be putting this quilt top together and preparing a special blog.

Next week is the Sew Pro Star blog hop and I am participating  along with many wonderful people.  I will have my first pattern to share with you for free!

Lovingly,

Lissa

Look how sweet this week’s blocks look!

They are just lovely.

Not much new for me to report this week.  The blocks went together very smoothly and I even was able to work on other things this week.

Linda asked me if there is enough fabric to cut the pieces for the fan bigger.  The quick answer is yes.

Your fabric is 9 inches wide and you are cutting one strip, some are 7 1/4 inch and some are 6 1/2 inch.  You can cut these widths up to the 9 inches.

You then cut 6 rectangles from each strip at 4 inches each.  That is 24 inches all together.  Let’s underestimate and say the width of fabric is only 40 inches, that leaves you 16 inches extra fabric, so you can add up to 2 inches on each rectangle and still have a little left over.

If in doubt, grab some graph paper and draw it out before you cut.  That’s what I did to figure out this answer.

Next week is our last set of blocks.  Wow!  This is going by so fast.  I did try to order a backing but the store didn’t have enough yardage.  What are you thinking of for a backing?  Will you be purchasing the suggested fabric or going with something different?  I would love to hear about your choice!

Lovingly,

Lissa

Here we go!!!  It’s time to cut into all that delicious fabric!  But first, let’s organize it because there are 26 different prints to work with.

I received Alpha Bitties in my Sew Sampler box a while back so I brought those out along with clips to attach them with.  I labelled each fabric piece and then grouped them according to cutting directions.

I love how organized this looks.

Ready to go?  I am.  I used my trusty 6×24 cutting ruler. I also have a 6 1/2 inch square that gets used quite a bit and some larger squares that get used from time to time.  For this project I did use my 20 inch square as well.

I began with all the rotary cuttings.  As each fabric was completed, I clipped the alpha bittie label back on the cut pieces and then put all leftovers in my new Tula Pink scrap bag.  Something wonderful will happen with all those leftovers I am sure.

When that was all done, I pulled out my templates I made last week to trace and cut.  The first thing I discovered was how slippery those templates are.  I grabbed some masking tape and placed it on the wrong side of the template.  Not as great as some no-slip tape, but a world better than what I had going on before.

Remember the arrows we traced on the templates?  Those are to show you the direction to place the template in.  It says to go with the grain.  The grain of the fabric runs parallel to the selvage end.

When I was tracing templates 1 and 4 to fabric Y, which is the solid charteuse, I made sure to make a small x in a corner to mark the wrong side BEFORE I cut it.

I’ve also already marked the seam allowances on all fabric I cut from templates 2 and 3.

I do suggest placing the templates over each piece after you have cut them to make sure you don’t have any fabric over the cutting line.  Remember those 1/16 inch overages soon add up to 1/4 inch and then can really start throwing everything off.

Here’s everything all cut up and ready to be sewn.

Another suggestion I have is regarding fabrics Y and Z which have a large edge of bias on them.  If you have somewhere to store them flat, do so.  You don’t want to have to iron them before you stitch them to the other pieces.  Ironing bias edges can make the piece distorted if you are not extremely careful.  In fact, if you haven’t cut template 4 or the setting triangles yet, don’t.  Just wait until you need them and then cut them out. The other templates have bias edges to them too, but not as long as the other ones.

The last thing I did was group the fabrics together for sewing.  I am now all ready to start sewing!

I will be working on group 1, steps 2-6 for next week.  See you then!

Lovingly,

Lissa

Here we go!  Getting all ready to make the beautiful Fandango quilt by Stacey in Stitches featuring the Slow and Steady fabric line by Tula Pink

First we have to get the templates together.  I took the pattern to a copy place and enlarged the pieces 200%

In the upper right corner of each template page you are copying is a small square.  This square should measure 2 inches by 2 inches after you enlarge the pattern.  It is REALLY, REALLY important to check and double check this before you continue copying.

Also, Templates 2, 3 and 4 have a 6 inch measurement guide that should measure 12 inches after copying.

This measurement guide came in very helpful for me, since one of my templates didn’t overlap after I copied them.  I was able to line it up with the ruler and add a piece of paper in the gap.  You can see it above on the right.

I purchased template material at my local store, but sadly it didn’t measure big enough for template 4 so I had to tape two pieces together.

I laid the paper templates on my cutting mat and taped them down, then I laid the template acrylic on top and taped it down.  Seriously, I did a lot of taping.  In fact, the hardest part of all of this was tracking which child had taken my tape dispenser from my room!

I used an extra fine tip sharpie to mark the templates and then a razor blade and ruler to cut along the outer lines

The curves were done free hand, very slowly.

All cut out and I still have 10 fingers!

The paper piecing templates were just enlarged onto 11×17 paper.  I’ve always used regular paper when I paper piece with very tiny stitches and its always just been fine.  There are two curved pieces on the original pattern and you are supposed to make 12 copies.  I couldn’t see any difference between the two, so I enlarged the top one and made 30 copies (24 plus extras for mistakes)

I am looking forward to playing with the fabrics this week!  We are cutting the fabric next, but will be sewing soon!

Are there any tips in prepping that you used?  Feel free to share them here and on my instagram, @lovinglylissa.

Lovingly,

Lissa

Have you seen the Fandango quilt kit using Tula Pink’s newest line, Slow and Steady?

It is breathtaking.  Mine arrived in the mail today.

If the picture of the finished quilt isn’t tempting enough, look at these fabrics

My word, I’m just drooling.  Look at these two pieces!  I think I may need some yards of these.

Let’s take a moment just to admire all of the above.

Done?  Good…down to business. (Don’t worry, you can always scroll back up to admire some more)

I’ve been looking over the directions and here are some things I want to share.

Techniques for piecing this include Foundation and Curved piecing and y-seams.  It is labelled advanced skill level.

Templates included need to be enlarged 200%.  And you will need plastic template materials.

I will be gathering all this up by next Tuesday, I hope you can too.

I’ll also be re-acquainting myself with paper piecing.  It’s been a while since I’ve done this.  The directions suggest this Paper Piecing Tutorial.

Craftsy has a nice step by step tutorial as well.

I’ve come up with a bit of a time line for this Quilt Along.  I plan on completing the steps on the following dates.  These can be subject to change as we go along.

October 4 – templates copied and prepared

October 11 – fabrics cut

October 18 – Group 1 blocks complete (steps 2-6)

October 25 – Group 2 blocks complete (steps 2-6)

November 1 –  Group 3 blocks complete (steps 2-6)

November 8 – Group 4 blocks complete (steps 2-6)

November 15 – Quilt top assembly.

December 1 for quilt finishing.

Now, this may be an ambitious timeline.  If it is, we can change it.  No worries.

I’ll be posting pictures on my Instagram, @lovinglylissa, so follow along there as well.  There will be more details and tips on the blog.

The pattern must be purchased with the kit, I will not be posting the pattern.

Everyone ready to dive in?

Let’s go!

Lovingly,

Lissa

 

Hello Everyone!  Long time no see.  The summer went by swiftly and we sure kept busy!

There were fairy gardens made

 

Wizarding wands magicked

I attended the Art Quilt Symposium in Columbus, OH

I also attended SewPro in Chicago and met Tula Pink and Pat Sloan and many other wonderful members of the quilting industry.

Lucas took a whirl at the sewing machine for the first time and made himself a pillow.

And he picked out fabrics for me to make him his own quilt.  The first of my three children to receive a handmade quilt from me.  I also made a matching toothfairy pillow that also works as a pillow for Rory.

There were also trips to see family and Harry Potter; visits to museums and beaches; days lounging at the pool or playing video games.  Such a fun filled summer.

Now that the kids are back to school, its back to work for me.  Guess what I’m doing?

A QUILT ALONG!!!!!

Yuppers.  I have purchased (as have many others) the Fandango Quilt Kit featuring Tula Pink fabrics.  I drooled over the quilt when I saw pictures of it at Quilt Market.  It was released recently and I thought I would do Tula Tuesdays here and on Instagram so that those of us who are making this piece have somewhere to share our journey.

I will not be posting directions for the pattern.  You must buy the kit for all that.  Please do and follow along.  It’s going to be a great time!!!

See you soon.

Lovingly,

Lissa