Sunflowers

Two new collections and a FREE design-book of Sunflowers.
This is a block / quilt I've been wanting to make for years, so I got it immediately. And to help the rest of you, I've made printing-tables for both the 6" and the 12" size.

There are two printing tables for each. Cutting out the 6" size I found that Layout 1 for both the inner and outer triangles of the Sunflower were surprisingly fiddly to cut out, so I've made two printing-tables for each size : one with Layout 1 for both inner and outer triangles, and one for Layout 2 for both inner and outer triangles.

Printing-table for one 6" Sunflower.
Printing-table for one 12" Sunflower.

If you want to make the Double Sunflower shown in the design-book, you need both collections, and you need to print most of both Sunflowers; the bits you do not print are : Background for the 6" Sunflower and Centre Circle for the 12" Sunflower.

And then pictures of back and front of just the flower part.

One of the advantages of hand-piecing (at least to me) is, that I don't press as I go. I more-or-less stitch one block all the way to the finish before I press. However, with the Sunflower, I would recommend that you press before adding the background (which transforms the round flower into a square block).
Press all the outer seams in one direction, and all the inner ones in a different one. You can then twirl the many seams that meet at the middle of the diamonds, and it will help you to keep the block flat.

(if you have trouble seeing what I mean, try clicking on the picture, it will take you to a larger version where my point might be easier to see.)

Little Blue Basket

The block for week 13 of Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler is called Little Blue Basket.

I'm sure you can make it in any colour you want :-) But the story about 'Little Blue' on her blog is very interesting.

Unfortunately, the block - as shown by Brackman - is on a 5x5 grid (is based on a 25-patch, if you will) and that grid does not translate well into a 6 or an 8" block. It does translate quite well into a 5" and a 7.5" block, so that's what I give printing-directions for. And for the log-cabin strips you need to add all the way round to make the block into the correct size.

When I finally got around to actually sewing the block, I saw my way to make it a true 6" block ... and I added a handle too. There are printing-tables now, both for Brackman's and for my version of the block.

Rather than the 3" strip used in the original, this version uses a 4" strip, which is trimmed after joining it to the basket proper of the block.

Brackman's post, with piecing directions.
Printing-table 1. (for the 5" version that is visually like Brackman's)
Printing-table 2 (for the emended, 6" version shown in the pictures of this post.)


P.S. If you're doing the 8" blocks, you can make the smaller triangles (that 'should' finish at 1.6", with the 1.59" HST found in the Storm At Sea, 6.75" collection and in the Feathered Star 30" collection. OR you could use the 1.625" HST found in the (relatively) new HST 00A-collection.
You're on your own (or rather : with Brackman) on the rest of the bits then.

Louisiana

The block for week 12 of Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler, is called Louisiana.

This block is eminently Inklingoable, both in the 6" and the 8" format.

You need to make some Flying Geese, so, go check out Linda's fast and easy way to do it with Inklingo. Go to the Inklingo Triangle Tips page, and then scroll down a bit and download the FREE pdf on how to do it.

Printing table here.
Brackman's post here.

Octagon Star

Another 'out of order' block.
Julie asked a question on the Inklingo Yahoo-group (come and join us, we're a friendly and helpful bunch for all things Inklingo). She asked whether this quilt was inklingoable. (the quilt is shown on Bonnie Hunter's blog, in this posting)
It is and it isn't.
It is inklingoable in as much as you can use Inklingo-shapes to make it, it isn't, in as much as you need to manipulate some of the shapes to make it work.

The block (without setting) uses the Free Collection.

To avoid bias on the outside of each block, I would recommend printing from Layout D, even if it is the least economical of the four layouts in the FREE collection. Each block will finish at 4.88” from straight side to straight side, and each side of the octagon is 2.02".

Printing :
Print 12 diamonds in each of two colours. I have chosen Layout D, because that one gives me no bias on the outside edges of the Octagon Star block.

Printing table here.

Manipulate 8 diamonds from each colour (click on picture to get a larger view, if you have trouble seeing the lines):
Draw a new stitching-line from corner-point to corner-point on each of the 8 diamonds (red line on picture)
Draw a new cutting-line, o.25" from this line (green on picture).
Cut at the new cutting-line.
Discard the smaller bits

Please note, that since I have printed my diamonds in two interlacing rows, I am able to cut-off 8 diamonds for manipulating, draw the new stitching-line on all 8 and just cut across (look at the picture !)


Add a cut-off diamond to each side of each complete diamond. Use Colour 1 triangles with Colour 2 diamonds and vice versa.
If you're machine-piecing, press between all seams.
Make sure you press all seams on the triangle-diamond-triangle unit to the same side ! If you do that, all the outside seams will twirl in one direction, whereas all the centre-seams will twirl in the other direction, thus minimizing bulk.


Make a total of 8 units, 4 in each colourway.

Join the units two and two. Again, press after each seam, and make sure you join them the 'same way', that all four sets are identical when opened.

Join units two and two.

Join the two halves.

Finished !

So, yes Julie, the Octagon Star is inklingoable :-)

Interlacing Block - Log Cabin collection

Linda has made a new collection. The Log Cabin-collection, which is basically lots of rectangles, all 1" wide (finished size) and all in increments of the same 1" width. Perfect for making Log Cabin-blocks.

There are other blocks that one can make with this collection, though. One is the True Lover's Knot (which is also called Interlacing Block, and I've also seen it referred to as Carpenter's Square).

I haven't actually pieced the block shown on the right side. It is the same block Linda shows on p. 5 of the Log Cabin / Rectangle collection, and it is a variation on the 'True Lover's Knot' version that Barbara Brackman has in her Encyclopedia. As you can see, this variation 'weaves' the red (dark) fabric ... a feature that could look seriously cool in a striped or otherwise directional fabric. It doesn't make for very comfortable machine-sewing in my book, though, since this version will require loads of partial seams.

HOWever, I've written up printing directions for it. I'm sure there's someone adventurous out there who's very good freinds with her sewing-machine and can whip it up in no time flat :-) I can't.
The printing table is for two blocks, since most printers have a policy about not printing anything slimmer than 3".

Printing Table.

London Square

The block for week 11 of Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler Quilt is called London Square.
It is mostly Inklingoable in both the 6" and the 8" format.

The larger triangles are not Inklingoable. For the 6" format, and if you have CD 2, you can Inklingo them, but really, HST that size are not all that difficult to make the old-fashioned way :-)

Follow Brackman's directions for sewing the block.

Printing table. Updated June 1st, 2011

Lincoln's Platform

The block for week 10 is identical to the Churn Dash block shown on this blog back in august 2009.

If you want to make the 8" format, it isn't inklingoable. To divide an 8" block into 3 equal parts (which is what is required with this block), you end up getting some seriously weird measurements, and these sizes do not exist in Inklingo. However, as a 6" block it is eminently inklingoable.

Brackman's directions here.
Printing-table here - updated May 28 - 2011