New England Block

Week 2o of the Brackman Civil War Sampler Quilt.

... and isn't it fortuitous, that Linda is now out with a collection of HST in 'odd' sizes ? Last week, she had a post on square-in-a-square on the All About Inklingo blog.
Now she has issued a collection of 'odd size' triangles (pieces or fractions of eight) that are needed, just as they are needed.

I think it is nifty, because having the 'of eight' increments in HST, means that this block is fully Inklingoable in both sizes.

Please note, that in both sizes, you print some rectangles from a Log Cabin collection. They need to be cut down to size after printing, but you can use the printed squares in the block as a 'ruler' to get the correct length.

Also, if you are making the 6" version, using the 0.5" Log Cabin collection, remember that the seam-allowance on these are NOT 0.25" but are slimmer.

Brackman's post.
Printing Table

Comfort Quilt

Week 17 of Barbara Brackman's Civil War sampler uses the Free Collection ! at least for the 6" block.
But both sizes are Inklingoable.

The greatest problem with the 6" size, is the weird size rectangle you need for the outsides of the block, but they too are easy to make ... using Inklingo :-)

Read on, and click on the picture if you have trouble seeing the lines on the print-out.

The rectangle for the sides of the block needs to finish at 1.32 x 3.39"
The size is seriously weird, but here's what you do :
Print the 5 x 8" piece of fabric with squares. You'll have four partial squares on one side of the fabric, and that is as it should be !
To get the weird length, you need two complete squares, WITH seam-allowance, PLUS one extra seam-allowance. Look at the picture.
Red line (which is originally a cutting-line), is your new stitching-line.
Green line (which is originally a stitching-line), is your new cutting-line.
Cut into 4 strips, each with 2-squares plus 1 seam-allowance.

The trick is basically the same for the 8" block, only, you add 0.5" to the 'two-square' unit, not just 0.25", so you need to get out your ruler for that.

Check piecing-directions on Brackman's post
Printing-table.


P.S. For the inquiring mind, that wonders how I came up with this one, here's the math :
1.32 + 0.5 + 1.32 + 0.5 + 0.25 = 3.89 (cutting lenght)
3.89" minus seam-allowances (3.89 - 0.5") = 3.39" ... the weird length you need.

and for the 8" block :
1.75 + 0.5 + 1.75 + 0.5 + 0.5 = 5" (cutting length)

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 :-)

Free Pattern - Passacaglia

In the year 1973, the British author Lucy Boston made a quilt for her friend, harpsicordist Colin Tilney.
As all of her quilts, it is fairly simple in it's basic construction, yet very intricate in its execution.

In early August of this year (2009), I was given a copy of Diana Boston's book "The Patchworks of Lucy Boston", and saw the picture of the quilt.

The book has no directions, just a few pictures, but since when has that stopped a determined quilter :-) I fell in love. Hard. Really, really hard :-) And started to make blocks to make my own version of this quilt. As of now (December 2009), I have finished 30+ blocks, all of which you can see on my other blog.

Then, a couple of months ago, I wrote Diana Boston, and asked her permission to make a pattern, and she graciously granted that. The quilt is not in her posession, however, but resides in Canada, with Colin Tilney.

When I started to write the pattern, it turned out to be very, very difficult to make lucid AND comprehensive, wherefore some very hard decisions were necessary. This is why the pattern I'm giving away this Christmas, is a pattern for a table-runner, and not a full quilt. Should you want to make a full quilt of your own, however, it should be possible to do with the information in the pattern.

The pattern turned out to be impossible to write it up for the blog, which is why you need to download it at Linda Franz Inklingo home-page. It is written for the Free Collection, so if money are low, but stash is high, you need not go out and buy anything at all.

You can buy Diana Boston's book direct from her, right here, or, if you are in North America, from Linda Franz, right here. Be aware, though, that there are no patterns in the book, just pictures of the quilts Lucy Boston made.

You can download your free Passacaglia pattern here : http://lindafranz.com/product.php?productId=55

Merry Christmas ! And if you don't celebrate that, then Happy New Year :-)

Bonus block - Rolling Star

Uses either the free collection or the 6" LeMoyne star collection.

This too is an "outside of the normal order of things" block, because this - like Dove at the Window - ends up completely wrong size compared to the majority of the blocks in this Sampler project.
It ends up same size as Dove at the Window, though. If you use the Free Collection, it will be 6.125", if you use the 6" LeMoyne collection, it will be 8.5"

The Free Collection

Fabric 1 (background)
4.25 x 8" (p. 16, 8 squares, 1.32")
3.5 x 6" (p. 22, 4 HST, 1.86")

Fabric 2 (focus A)
6.25 x 7.5" (p. 8, 12 diamonds, for centre star and the outside round)

Fabric 3 (focus B)
3.5 x 5.5" (p. 8, 4 diamonds, for the centre star)


The 6" LeMoyne Star Collection

Fabric 1 (background)
5 x 9.5" (p. 26, 8 squares, 1.75")
4 x 7.5 (p. 28, 4 HST, 2.5")

Fabric 2 (focus A)
7.5 x 9.25" (p. 18, 12 diamonds, for centre star and the outside round

Fabric 3 (focus B)
4 x 6.5" (p. 18, 4 diamonds, for the centre star)

Start by printing all your shapes. The pages on which you find the shape catalogued, is in the parenthesis behind the measurements you need.
Cut fabric and freezer-paper the same size.
Press fabric to freezer-paper
Print.

When you have cut it all apart, make the LeMoyne star the way you prefer. I usually make them by machine.

Add the squares, one in each corner of the star. I prefer hand-piecing here, because I am (still) not particularly good freinds with my sewing-machine.
If you hand-piece, all the squares can be added with one, continuous thread. You can find this technique described in the Inklingo Handbook, p. 53

Add the outside row of diamonds. Again, if you hand-piece, they can be added with one, continuous thread.

Finally, add the corners. Hand-, or machine-piecing, as you prefer.
Press
Finished.

If you hand-piece, throughout, the pressing can be left until last. If you machine-piece, though, I would recommend that you press after each step.

If you know of patterns or books that uses this block in this size, please let me know, and I'll make links to each of the ones I'm aware of. miz_pal (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Barbara Brackman's "Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns" # 3805

Bonus block - Dove at the window

I am posting this one outside of the normal order of things; that is because it will end up "wrong size" no matter what LeMoyne star collection you use.

If you use the free collection, it will end up at 6.36" square, if you use the 6" LeMoyne star collection, it will end up 8.5" square. Neither is possible to fit in with the general scheme for this sampler, of making blocks that are 6" or smaller (and thus can be made into 6" blocks), but I just think it is too, too lovely not to make and show.

You could "just" make it, and then use it (either size) to make one of Tilde's Tiny Totes, or make 4 (or 6) and make a doll-quilt, or hot-pads. I can always find a use for a loose block (or two), so I don't worry about what will happen with mine :-)

There are many blocks called Dove at the Window, but I think this one is my favourite :-)

If you look at the two blocks, you can see, that the colour-distribution on the diamonds differ. Choose which version you want to make before you start sewing.


The Free Collection (6.36" finished size)

Fabric 1 (background)
4.25" square (to print four 1.32" squares, page 16)
3.75 x 10" (to print twelve 1.86" QST, page 22)

Fabric 2 (focus A)
3.5 x 9.75" OR
5.25 x 6.5 (to print 8 diamonds, page 8)

Fabric 3 (focus B)
3.5 x 9.75" OR
5.25 x 6.5 (to print 8 diamonds, page 8)

Fabric 4 (focus C)
One 1.86" square (Cut 2 3/8", no printing available)


The 6" LeMoyne Star collection (8.5" finished size)

Fabric 1 (background)
5" square (to print four 1.75" squares, page 26
4.25 x 11.75" (to print twelve 2.5" QST, page 28)

Fabric 2 (focus A)
6.5 x 7.5" (landscape, to print 8 diamonds, page 18) OR
4 x 11.5" (portrait, page 18)

Fabric 3 (focus B)
6.5 x 7.5" (landscape, to print 8 diamonds, page 18) OR
4 x 11.5" (portrait, page 18)

Fabric 4 (focus C)
2.5" square (cut 3", no printing available)


Start by making 4 identical half LeMoyne Stars
Add two triangles and a square to the halves, making this shape.

Make the centre economy-patch.

Join a half LeMoyne star to each side of the economy patch centre. There is an almighty congestation of seam at the middle of each side of the centre patch. Make sure you do not sew into seam-allowances, because if you do, twirling of this intersection might be impossible, and you will have trouble pressing this meeting of many points flat.

Join the LeMoyne star halves to each other, sewing the last 4 seams.

Finished.

If you know of other patterns or books that uses this block in this size, please let me know, and I'll make links to each of the ones I'm aware of. miz_pal (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Barbara Brackman's "Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns" # 2539

LeMoyne star

I've decided to start this sampler with the free collection. You need to register to "buy" it, but it is free, and Linda is one of the Good Guys and will not abuse your information.

To see other interpretations of this block, click right here.

She and Monkey even printed and made some lovely, bright LeMoyne stars for us to start with :-)

Directions on how to download an Inklingo collection, are here.
The free download on printing custom paper sizes is right here.

One Block

Fabric 1 (Background Fabric)
3.75 x 8" (printed in Portrait mode)

On page 30 of the Free Collection, you find the catalogue of the combo shape-collection. Pick the ink-colour that works best with your fabric, and print 1 set.

Fabric 2 (Focus Fabric)
Either 3.5 x 9.75 (printed in Portrait mode)
OR 5.25 x 6.5" (printed in Landscape mode)

On page 8 of the free collection, you find the catalogue of the diamond shape. Pick the ink-colour that works best with your fabric and print 1 set.

Directions / Help on how to sew a LeMoyne Star can be found in chapter 1 of the Inklingo Handbook. This chapter is a free download, and comes with the free collection (pp H1 - H48).

Before you start joining the bits, lay them all out on a scrap piece of batting, to make sure you have all the bits.

I prefer to do LeMoyne stars by hybrid piecing. I piece the star by machine and do the inset seams by hand.

If you want to make this block a 6" finished, cut 2 strips 1.25 x 5" and 2 strips 1.25 x 6.5 ", and 'log-cabin' the block.

6" LeMoyne Star
This star is sewn exactly like the above. The only difference is in their finished size, and therefore, in the fabric requirements.

One Block

Fabric 1 (background)
4.5 x 9.75" (portrait)

Fabric 2 (focus)
4 x 11.5 " (portrait)
or
6.5 x 7.5" (landscape)


Doll-quilt :
To make 12 blocks with same background-fabric throughout, here are the requirements when using the free (4.5") collection

Fabric 1 (Background Fabric, page 30)
4 sheets, each 7.75 x 10.5", printed in landscape mode

Fabric 2 (Focus Fabric, page 8)
4 sheets, each 7.5 x 12.25", printed landscape mode
OR
4 sheets, each 7.75 x 11.5", printed portrait mode
OR
6 sheets, each 6.25 x 7.5", printed portrait mode (in case you only have letter-size freezer-paper)

You could also do like Linda has done : Print the combo on p. 32 and make two (or more) mirror-image blocks. One combo-set reqires a sheet, 6.75 x 9.75"
You will also need fabric for sashing (if you want that) or setting-squares, and for border, binding and backing as well. The requirements above are solely for the making of the blocks.

This block, in the 4.5" size, is used in the Dear Jane quilt.
If you know of other patterns or books that uses this block in either of these two sizes, please let me know, and I'll make links to each of the ones I'm aware of.

You can contact me at : miz_pal (at) hotmail (dot) com.