Sylvia's Widows and Orphans

May Block Review

2011-06-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

Dutchman's Puzzle
Farmer's Daughter
Follow the Leader
Fool's Puzzle
Friendship Quilt
Friendship Star
Gentleman's Fancy

Fool's Puzzle - the group decided you had to be a fool to attempt this one. All joking aside, this is a great block to practice your hand piecing on. Cut you larger piece (background) first. Also, you could definitely applique your shapes on top.

Elise did it by machine and had to use a lot of pins and then clip her seams dressmaker style.

June SBS meeting

2011-06-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

Blocks to make for for June are:
Glorified Nine Patch
Grace's Friendship
Grandmother's Fan
Grandmother's Flower Garden
Grandmother's Pride
Grape Basket
Gulf Star

Glorified Nine Patch- the templates actually work
Grandmother's Fan - Quilting News Network has good video turotials. Candy suggested going there for video tutorials for pie wedges for the Grandmother's Fan block.
Grandmother's Flower Garden - use 1" hexagon and English paper peicing using Sue Daley's method.
Grandmother's Pride - use Elise's foundation paper piecing draft
Grape Basket - Use Freezer Paper Template method; no way to make it without making templates
Gulf Star - Use Foundation Paper Piecing method

Kelli's Progress

2011-01-05T18:37:00.000-08:00

You are going to ask my what I worked on over the month of December and I was extremely busy and this is what I have to show for my efforts. . .

My Broken Dishes or you have to break a few eggs to make an omelette

2010-12-16T22:27:00.000-08:00

Broken Dishes

This is my 2nd version of broken dished. The first was made with batik and when I starched my fabrics one of the batiks bled. Then, when they dried and proceeded I learned I had cut the bocks too big. So, this time I used fabrics that would not bleed and recut according to instructions with an adjustment for using the EZ Angle ruler for the half-square triangle ruler and Elise's pressing instructions. Elise showed us how to "pop" your seam so it nests but I forgot so when I got home, I could only pop one and that happened by accident.

I'll be posting more pix of Elise's blocks and mine as I start from the beginning. Also, be on the look out for a tutorial on a freezer paper pieicng techinque that is good for inset seams.

Meeting Reminder - December 2

2010-12-01T13:32:00.000-08:00

Wanted to remind everybody that there is a meeting this Thursday, December 2, at ole HIQ from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Elise will be demonstrating an alternate paper-piecing method using freezer paper. Bring your freezer paper and machine and be prepared to get busy.

Also, we will be virtually meet Karen who will is joining our group from down under.

I scanned copies of elise's notes and sent them to her so she can forward to everybody. See ya soon.

Contrary Wife L-10

2010-11-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

Contrary Wife, L-10

This is my contrary wife block. Again, I used the EZ Angle ruler, starched my fabrics, and cut the strips at 2.5". I am having difficulty with my batiks bleedings when I starch them. Thoughts?

Shoo-Fly

2010-11-29T07:15:00.000-08:00

Shoo-Fly A-2

I used my EZ Angle Ruler for this block. It made cutting the half-square triangles much easier. I also starched the fabric.

November Blocks - Elise's Tips

2010-11-16T22:13:00.000-08:00

I took photos of Elise's tips and cropped them. If you would like to have a copy email me and I will send them to you. I am also in the process of scanning them if you would like to use the foundation paper piecing templates she drafted for autumn leaf.

Pinwheel 1 H-8

2010-11-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

H-8 Pinwheel 1

I completed the Sylvia Block of the Week Pinwheel 1. I made it using the EZ Angle ruler and cut my half-sqaures at 3.5" They turned our very accurate. I was able to get the points just right. I am debating using this method or thangles on the broken dishes block.

Blazing Star

2010-11-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

F-9

Birds in the Air

2010-11-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

Big T

2010-11-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

Bear's Paw

2010-11-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

G-3

Barrister's Block

2010-11-08T15:05:00.000-08:00

K-9

Bachelor's Puzzle

2010-11-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

I will be making this block so be looking for an example here with notes.

Autumn Leaf

2010-11-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

J-4

Bright Hopes Correction

2010-11-07T23:52:00.000-08:00

The picture in book is incorrect. Refer to the foundation paper piecing diagram for the correct block or refer to the below graphic:

This graphic is the property of Jennifer Chiaverini.
Graphic images of all the blocks are available at Sylvia's Bridal Sampler.

Also, when constructing this block I used a rotary cutter and cut a 3.5" center block and 2" strips.

Churn Dash

2010-11-07T23:48:00.000-08:00

The Churn Dash block has an error in the instructions in Step 3. It reads:

"3. Cut 4 squares 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" from blue fabric. Cut 4 squares 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" from background fabric."

You are making half-square triangles and if you look above you will see you only need 2 (which makes 4 hst's).

October's Blocks

2010-11-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

Wendy's Blocks

Elise's Blocks

Candy's Blocks

Carol's Blocks

Kelli's Blocks

Kristy's Blocks

I took pictures at the meeting last Thursday of everyone's blocks. I think they turned out great. I will be posting Elise's notes on the upcoming blocks this week.

Gulf Star

2010-11-07T20:19:00.000-08:00

Gulf Star - BOW

Just completed this for the block of the week. I think it turned out well. Make sure to trim your half-square triangles down.

Meeting Reminder

2010-11-03T22:40:00.000-07:00

Remember. . .there's a Sylvia Sit'n Sew at 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Happiness is Quilting, 217 N. Kentucky, McKinney, TX 75069.

Mariner's Compass - Take 1

2010-11-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

1/4 of Mariner's Compass Block

Here is a picture of my first attempt at paper piecing with vellum. This is what I learned:

Vellum was really stiff for this. I had difficulty getting it out of all the little pieces and seams.
I traced it by hand and I think I got the light green off because it is an accurate seam.
Don't attempt when tired and watching "Sherlock."

I do like my color selection though and I am pleased with it overall so I will attempt again using Elise's suggestion.

Elise's Emeralds

2010-10-31T17:24:00.000-07:00

Elise suggested that when producing paper piecing copies by hand, you need 4 copies, and you are using vellum to:

Copy in one corner of an 8.5 X 11" piece of vellum
Fold the vellum into quarters
Using a long stitch lenght, no thread, and traced side up, sew through the paper making holes along all the lines you traced. When you are done, you have recreated the pattern on all 4 sides and it will be easy to perforate.

Foundation Paper Piecing Throwdown

2010-10-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

I have decided to have a paper piecing throw down where I compare using:

Copy paper
Carol Doak Paper
Vellum

Stay posted for more info and part I

My Sylvia Strategy

2010-10-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about what my strategy for block completion will be. I have decided to make the Sylvia's Block of the Week through Jennifer Chiaverini's website. Between making store samples, college visits, and my own projects, I have not had much time to work on 7 blocks. I figure with Elise's working forward and Wendy working currently, I was just going to be adding expertise on how to not sew as well as Elise or Wendy. Some of you had talked about working on the Blocks on the Week offered online so I thought that might be the best use of my time and yours.

So then. . .I will make a block a week and blog away starting with Churn dash. Woo-hoo! The week before was Lancaster Rose and seeing as how I have not taken Timi Ann's hand applique class that block is not happening yet.