Union Square Quilt Along @ Fat Quarter Shop

Here is my first block for my Union Square Quilt.

FQS Union Square Free Block Pattern Here

I love this block.

For this quilt I am using this stash fabric I bought at the nearby

February Fabric Blowout

I am sewing along with the  Union Square Quilt Along at

Fat Quarter Shop.

This is part of their Classic and Vintage series.

I was having a time deciding on a pattern for this fabric until I saw this pattern.

It is my perfect choice.

Union Square Quilt Kit

The lovely traditional fabrics in this kit are

Susanna's Scraps by Betsy Chutchian for Moda Fabrics

Visit

The Jolly Jabber

to learn how to make this classic and vintage block. 

FQS Video Tutorial Here

I made the first block according to the pattern instructions,
which are very good.

Then I started thinking about making more blocks for my quilt
and I came up with this layout:

Fabric needed to make this  61" square lap quilt as shown:
3 yards light background fabric (cream)
1 and 1/2 yards dark fabric (red)
1 yard medium fabric (pink)
To this I am adding some Porcelain Charms in the center of the blocks.

Then I thought about using a few quick piecing
tips and tricks I have learned ...

First Quick Method:
I do not like the draw lines and sew and cut method.

My HSTs are much quicker and more accurate when I use:

Triangles On a Roll

This is for the finished 2" size need in the Union Square quilt.
Simply cut two 6" squares,
sandwich right sides together
with the paper pinned on top an follow the stitch lines.

Then cut apart along the cut lines, peel off the papers,
trim off the dog ears and there are perfect 2.5" triangles ready to sew into the block.

One paper yields eight HSTs, enough for two Union Square blocks

Second Corner Cutting Trick:

The rectangles (Pieces G and D) in the corner units
also call for the draw a line and sew then cut method.

I like to use a ruler with a clear 1/4" line and measure and cut my seam allowance
before I sew.  Cuts out some steps, too.

Here are the pieces ready to sew into my corner units.

Quick Sew Method # 3:
(my favorite new trick for this quilt)

Easy Four Patch Hourglass Blocks

I did the math and the test blocks for you here ... 

Cut 4 squares of each of your hourglass fabrics
at 3 and 3/4"
for Four 4 and 1/2" Hourglass Blocks

Sew into 2 Four Patch  Blocks

 Press and sandwich right sides together,

alternating colors as shown.

Here is another view of the sandwiched blocks.

Sew a 1/4" seam on all four sides of the Four Patch Blocks

Nest these outside seams carefully as

they are the centers of the Hour Glass blocks. 

This is the seam on the fourth side.

 You can see the center of the blocks are not stitched together.

On the cutting table carefully align your long ruler 

to make a diagonal cut 

through the two corners and center seam.

Turn and align the  ruler on the other diagonal 

through the two corners and the center seams. 

 Cut on the second diagonal.

You can see my orange cutting mat between the first diagonal cut

if you look closely.

Flip open along the outside seam and there it is:
a perfect 4 and 1/2" Hourglass Block.

I placed my Block Loc ruler on my block to show the size and accuracy.

It could be used to trim the dog ears, but I just used my small scissors and snipped.

Here are the units laid out for my second Union Square Block.

I decided to use some of my Porcelain Charms cut to 4.5" square
for the centers of my blocks.

Here is my second Union Square block.

I am really enjoying quilting along on this project.

Hope to have my finished quilt to show you soon.

See All the inspiring Quilts in the Making Here

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop 
for another wonderful quiltalong! 

I Like Thursday ~ #6

The first bloom of Spring. 

I watch for the first one every year.

That first purple crocus that declares all is right in my world.

This one bloomed not where I was watching.

It bloomed on the other side of the yard where we have never planted bulbs.

I suspect that one of those pesky squirrels that are always digging up my bulbs and plants relocated this one to a spot under the tree where they have their nest. 

May they leave this little garden to grow.

Sometimes you just have to look for beauty where you do not expect it.

Just have to keep your eyes open and your heart full.

It has been a good week.

My machine is humming happily along after her visit to the spa.

These are   Triangles on a Roll

This is my new favorite way to make Half Square Triangles.

Drawing lines on the back of fabric is my least favorite thing to do when quilting.

Sometimes I cut the squares in half and chain piece.

I love the easy convenience and accuracy of these papers, though. 

More of what I am making with these pieces tomorrow.

I reconnected with a few of the online quilters I swapped with years ago 

and we are swapping again.  This makes me happy

Our first swap is this scrappy heart block.  

Read Here for more Info on this Block

I really like this block.

I started a new read,  

Birds in the Air by Frances Dowell

I am only a few pages in and have never read this author before 

so I have not formed an opinion yet.

Last weekend we visited my sister-in-law and her husband in CT.

I was nice to relax and nosh and talk.

There was even a bit of Quilt Shop Fun on the way home. 

Despite the fact the kitties were well taken care 

as our son stopped in on Saturday to give them dinner and pet them,

they have been particularly "helpful" and following me 

around to make sure I do not disappear on them.

Nutmeg says, "Don't leave me again!"

 I do not know how Maestro managed to get under the fabric.

Katniss tries to supervise them but it is quite a task.

The kitties and I are happy it is Thursday.

 We  will be visiting my new friends 

@
 I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color 

I like Thursdays ... :-) 

Lucky Fabric Winner ~ Me !

Home Grown by Nancy Halvorsen for Benartex Fabrics

I was the lucky winner in the  Home Grown Blog Hop Giveaway 

@

My Quilt Infatuation

I was thrilled when Kelly contacted me 

because I loved the fabric line and creations in this blog hop.

I loved these fabric line so much I had already purchased the book, 

the panel and the dark blue and red stripe print.

I loved the book so much that I also purchased the tea towels to make these projects.

I have never made teas towels before.

With the addition of lovely fabrics in my win, 

looks like I am all set to make the tea towels and

some other goodies to warm my home.

There were so many fun free projects in this blog hop.

I also found this free pattern from Benartex

"Our Nest Is Best" Free Pattern from Benartex

I have been lucky lately in the blog hopping giveaways.

May you be lucky, too.

Keep blog hopping and entering!

Have a happy fabric day! 

Strip Piecing

Strip Sets for making my blocks for my

Scrappy Heart Swap Started Here

Right now I have to make about 10 blocks to send.

Since these will be in different quilts they will look scrappy

even thought I made the constructions easier 

by breaking the pattern down into strip sets.

Here are my pieces. 

I sewed 6 four strip units and 2 two strip units

and cut them into 2.5" strip sets. 

I carefully pressed to nest and chain sewed.

Here are the four block units I made.

Sewed into two units.

Finished block.

Here is the back of my pressed block.

There are a lot of seams in this block.

Even with careful measuring and sewing to make my seams all an accurate 1/4" 

and careful pressing to make sure no fabric was left in the seams,

this is just barely a 12.5" block.

I will be adjusting my needle in future blocks to allow a few more threads in the seams

to make the blocks a smidge larger.

I am not a fan of "scant" quarter inch seams but this block requires it.

The pattern calls for more white background fabric between the blocks

so a minimal size variation should not be an issue

but I like to get my blocks to be the correct even size.

I do love the block pattern though and am looking forward 

to making and sending and receiving the swap blocks.

Looking forward to making the quilt, too.

:-) 

New Month, New Swap Group, New Project

This block was made from this free tutorial ...

Valentine Candy Block by JENNR8R onThe Quilting Board

There is also a photo of her beautiful quilt made with this block  HERE

After I posted my 

String Swap Block Quilt

a few of the quilters who were part of that swap  said they wanted to 

start a swap group again.

The scrappy Valentine Candy Heart Block is my test block for the first swap for this group. 

I am really enjoying reconnecting with these old friends and making new ones. 

I love this scrappy heart pattern.

Since I have to make multiple blocks to send, 

I am planning to use some strip piecing 

to ease the construction of this block.

More photos coming soon.

Happy April!