Tuesday Time Tip
>> Tuesday, October 13, 2009
This week's Time Tip has a few steps to it. The Basic Idea: Little Steps Add up Quickly!
Who will benefit from this tip:
Any quilter who:
works on more than one quilt at a time
makes quilts with lots of pieces in each block unit
has little blocks of time to sew
wants to read this post!
This week's tip focusses on a few of the little steps involved in getting to the end of my queen size Lady of the Lake quilt.
Each block has 16 Half Square Triangles. I need 4 dark and 4 light fabrics for EACH block. (I'm not including the large half square triangle in the middle - the same process would work though, if like me, you want to make them ALL at the beginning to show your commitment to the quilt!)
I'm only using from my stash. My sister has sent me some fabric from her stash too as I'm not generally a 'light' value fabric collector. This step will go faster for you if you have bought specific fabrics for your project.
I have a few basic tools and used most for this step. First I need light and dark fabrics. LOTS. I also have my long grid ruler and my 6 inch square ruler. Plus my cutting mat and rotary cutter. And my measurement which has now become ingrained in my memory.
Then I follow, perhaps one of the greatest tips out there from one of the greatest tipsters and stash busters - Bonnie of Quiltville and her leaders and enders tip.
Okay, back to the tip! Once I have my most recent pile sewn, or at minimum 4 different pairs, I lay them out again on my cutting mat. This time I have the light side facing up with the pencil line going up and down and try really hard to make neat columns. Then I place my long ruler lined up with the pencil line I made to sew, and cut. Just like that.
Just to point out:
Each step along the way may be the only step that gets done in one sewing period. Or even one week! Sometimes getting enough pairs to the ironing board takes. . . well, longer than I'd like. It's okay to put the steps together in one sitting and go for it. But this is how I get my blocks done. One step at a time.
I know - there still isn't a finished block here!!!! Tune in next week for my last few steps to finishing a block.
Until then, Enjoy!
Sarah Vee
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