Square in a Square/ Economy Patch

 Hello quilters! Someone mentioned that they wouldn't know how to make the economy patch by using my Electric Quilt cutting pattern.  I thought I'd show you how I would make a 3" finished economy patch block.

I'd cut the center square a tad smaller. It seems like I always lose my 1/4" seam allowance on this block.

Center square- cut (1) 2 1/2" square

background (a tad oversized) - cut (2) 2 1/2" squares, then cut on the diagonal to make 4 triangles. 

Find the center of your square and the center of you triangle. Sometimes you can just fold it then pinch, but sometimes you cannot see the line where you pinched it. 

Line up the centers on opposing sides.

And sew with 1/4" seam allowance.

Press before adding the other 2 triangles. 

Line them up the same way. 

And sew. Trim off the extra dog ears. 

Press. 

You want your block to be unfinished 3 1/2". So I line up my ruler at 1 3/4" which is half of 3.5. I line it up on the top and the right side. My blue arrows are faint. Trim the right side and the top.

Then trim the other 2 sides for an accurate 3 1/2"

Ta-da!

This is such a simple block but I've never been a big fan of assembling this one! For me the key is making the center square a scant smaller and the outer triangles a scant larger. 

I hope that helps any new quilter/piecers.

Have a terrific Wednesday.

Double Four-Patch

The double 4 patch went together pretty quickly, but deciding on a border did not!

Medium blue, dark blue....

Red....pink...

Okay, neither!I liked pink but couldn't make it work.

So I went with cheddar and brown! Weird combination, but one that said quirky and humble. I have one other quilt with a border like this and it was an accident, this one was on purpose. 

As I mentioned before a double 4 patch is an old pattern but this setting is from Red Crinoline, called Wilderness Road. It was a fun one to swap with friends and gave us a big variety of prints. Thanks Kevin and Kathy!

A close up. 

If you only want quilts, you can end right here.

Had a quick overnight backpacking trip on Saturday to the Mt Jefferson Wilderness area west of Sisters, Oregon.

Porter can't jump over the logs so we have to help. 

Fishing was not good, mosquitoes were looking for lunch, but we had a good time away.

I hope your week is going great!

This, That and The Other

Here is my double four patch  laid out as I pieced the blocks together.  Up close it looked like a jumble....

We were thinking the lights should have been more light all the way through. 

Trying to get some good lighting. 

 I plan on adding a border. I like it because it was a friendship swap, not because I love the layout.

Thanks Kevin and Kathy!!

My first project was Almost Amish, our fall quiltalong. I'll baste it and quilt it over the next few months. This came straight from my solid bin. I recommend use what you have! (if you have it)

Green, white, light brown (photo looks gray), maroon, black and blue. 

We will share our string quilts with linky on Monday July 1st.  This is Kathy's "trash" bin for doggy beds. I made a few string blocks and didn't even have to get into her stash- just the trash! LOL 

I do have my complete Not Spencer Quilt Museum and we will share those on Wednesday July 3. Let me know if you are ready and I'll link to your blog!

I asked guild members to bring antique or vintage tops or quilt to share. It goes along nicely with the lecture and is such a good way for people to share their treasures with their friends. (and me!)

Donna shared a few quilts but brought more to the house Tuesday morning. I really want to share these two with you all. 

The note attached to this said they thought this was a practice quilt for a wedding quilt. 

Take a close look at that tiny quilting!! 

It was beautiful!! The quilting was so lovely.

This was the wedding quilt that she practiced for. The setting is the same, but she  changed the quilting pattern. 

 I love this fabric!!

How beautiful is this cable quilting??

The same tiny beautiful stitches.

This was only 2 of the family quilts she brought over to share. 

Loved them all!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! See you Monday with your string quilts!

Double Four Patches Once More!

Many of you were asking about the quilt I am making the double 4 patches for, so I thought I'd share with you.

 A double four patch is a very straightforward and simple block. Here's the EQ directions for a 4" finished block.

Red Crinoline designed this fun setting using the db four patch block. There quilt pattern is called Wilderness Road HERE is the pattern. 

I'm packing for Ohio and I do not recall what their block size is. I think it is 6" finished, which was larger than we wanted.  A simple block starts to look a bit clunky if it is very big. 

(my very humble opinion) Three of us are exchanging blocks to give us a wider variety of fabric in our quilt. I'm hoping to start working on it while I'm away, but who knows!

Lizzy, Gone to the Beach, is so good at sharing what's blooming in her neighborhood, I thought I'd share a little portion of my back yard.  

Clematis, a deer favorite! (I spray repellent to keep them away- sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't)

 I just noticed Cory wrapped my coreopsis. The deer can, and will, taste those too, but I think he wrapped it to keep from mowing over them.

Mock Orange below my bedroom window.  Every shrub is pretty much taste tested about head level. If it is really tasty, the deer will stand on their back legs to reach higher.  The fawns should start coming around soon and they taste EVERYTHING! 

I hope your week is going fantastic!!

4 Patches

Who doesn't love a simple 4 patch? And a double 4 patch is double the fun!

I'm swapping with my friends Kat and Kevin next month when I go to Ohio. (I won't be seeing Kevin in Ohio, but he is still swapping with us)  I better get busy if I want to get all 200 of them made before then! These will finish at 4" and this will not be the setting . 

I generally don't piece lots of blocks at one time except in these circumstances. 

Oops.... 

 This is what goes on at home most evenings. There is a bed behind Porter but he likes the coolness of the floor sometimes. 

I'm hoping to try out my new 1 person tent soon!!

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. 

I loved hearing and seeing your first quilts! So much fun!!

More Block Fun

A blog reader, Janny from the Netherlands, reached out to me last week and asked about the quilt in this photo. 

I made this block/quilt in a string class with Gwen Marston. As all things Gwen she encouraged us to come up with something unique. The block is a Rocky Road to Kansas, but I made my own pattern. 

Here's a closer look. 

I sent this to Janny and encouraged her to do the same. I didn't have Electric Quilt when I made my block, but graph paper works just as well. 

I was thrilled when she sent me a photo of her first block. 

Sometimes it is good to do your own thing!

Here's a little project I'm working on this week, unfortunately I burned it!! Aargh! It was only 1 block, so I'll start over and coffee dye the burned piece to disguise it. 

The book sale was a resounding success! All the books are in the mail!! Thank you for your support and the extra $ that was donated for my trip. 

Have a great week!