Week 3 flying geese block
 

Here is this weeks block. It is a version of Flying Geese. I make my geese with 2 HSTs. Of course you are welcome to make yours any way you like.

this week's quilt block uses a 2 1/2" quilt block

Here are my HST tutorials
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ks-t37915.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...rs-t46365.html
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ts-t23252.html

This is the version I use alot. I like to vary the reds and the blues etc. You can make each one diff where here I paired up 2 the same in each color group.
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You could also do them all scrappy with no controlled look. I did use the same color in the center as I think it allows the geese to show up better.
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Or you can do the geese scrappy and use a solid background.
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Here is the layout. You can just use whatever color way above you like. the layout will be the same.
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Hope you all have fun with this one!

Well, I got the first 2 weeks done (after completing my UFO goal, yeah!)......
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I cheated on the corners of the star, but I really wanted the star to be the most obvious part of the block. I'm trying to used these 12.5"scrap blocks to go into a quilt for which I already have blue/yellow/white starts collected.

Rhonda, this week's block is lovely. I have to confess; I'm one of those people who rarely makes a recipe exactly the way it is written. I find I'm having that tendency with these scrappy blocks. So, even though I think you're blocks are great, I find myself unable to resist altering them a tiny bit to suit me or the quilt I think they need to go in. I hope that doesn't offend, it certainly isn't intended to.

I like your blocks foxflower!

You're blocks are great! I'm not offended. I am the same way. I like to put my own touch on what I do. I love to share my methods and when I am teaching it is more important to me to get across the method of making hte Boston blocks or any other of my shortcut blocks.

Oh good. I've been using the template you sent (thanks again!). I haven't had much trouble with the bias either. The trouble I have had is with that stretch denim I used....too thick. Thanks for the fun new method. I think my blue and yellow scraps are going to get used.

Thank you Bbemerald :)

Rhonda - have a question -- when you use your cut down method, do you typically use "close to similar" sizes for the strips or doesn't it matter?

Also, if you have some "wider" strips that you're sewing together for this method, would you make the HSTs the largest size you can? or do you stick with typically 2-1/2" HSTs.

reason I ask -- I'm using Bonnie Hunter's Leaders and Enders method to get some of these strips sewn up but don't want to bother with making specific cut strips first. I just pulled a bunch of light and dark scraps and making a straight line for stitching together. If I need to make everything specific sizes, I might not and end up with even more scraps.

thanks for any tips .... love your cut down method and want to utilize it as much as possible.

I'm basically lazy so for me I don't go to any more work than I have to. I would use what you have and don't cut to any specific size for the strips. I rough cut mine which means I look at the fabric and just cut off a piece without measuring. I tend to cut wider than I think I need and my strips are never cut precisely to a size. I worry more about not having it wide enough and less about having any leftovers.

as to the size of the template. I start out planning to make a certain size HSTs. so if I need 2 1/2" then that is what I cut my strips for. I dont' measure I eye the fabric and just cut wide so it will not be less than I need. If you have scraps already then just use them how they come but make sure they are wider than the template you are going to use. If my scrap is too small for a 2 1/2 then I use it for a 1 1/2" etc.

If you are doing a scrappy I like to lay them in two piles and I can then pull from the top of each pile and sew those two together and continue doing that til I have the piles all sewn together.

BTW I am a dump cook too LOL I never follow a recipe exactly. I just put in what I want to put in! LOL

Rhonda - thanks for the tips. My scraps can be up to a FQ but usually just leftover pieces from projects. So, I have different wide strips and odd sizes. I'm also doing the quilt-along and the BOM here on the board so between your scrap blocks and these, I should destash quite a bit this year....at least that's my plan :-)

Oh, and I guess I'm a dump cook too. That's how my mom taught me to cook -- "just put some of this, some of that". After years of practice, I figured out what "some of" is LOL

Okay, here's more proof I'm a maverick and can't leave well enough alone, that I've been affected more than I thought by the "modern" quilt movement, and that it's really hard to get imprecisely cut tiny triangles to match up. I can think of all kinds of names for this block but haven't settled on one....wild goose chase, winter migration, merrwe go round, silly geese, winter whirlwind....
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When I saw all the geese of Rhonda's block going 'round I thought, cool, what if they were going round a star in a night sky? I cut a bunch of squares and rectangles to make the geese. Then I though, what if I can make it look more 3-d and use a bunch of those weird triangle scraps I saved? I see I also reversed their direction.

LOVE IT!! I love the creative thought process that went into this!! I love being the inspiration or your springboard for thinking outside the box.

I'm glad you like it!!!

Very clever Foxflower. Now if you were a liberated quilter you would make those triangles off kilter so they wouldn't have to line up!

:D So true! I guess I just don't have my wonk on. I don't like geese with tweeked heads either but couldn't avoid them completely.

Foxflower are you left-handed? One reason for your geese flying the other direction. I love the baby geese growing up & becoming adults. Very creative.

Actually, I'm right handed. Funny thing though, I had to turn three sections around after sewing them in because I'd sent them the wrong way! Maybe that's why.

Thanks everybody for the sweet compliments. Is anybody else working of the blocks?

I find I am left right challenged and always have to carefully think of where pieces should go:eek:
Wish I could join on the quilt along. Actually am working with my GD on making quilts from her GGPA's old shirts. We have 1 done and working on the second.

Count me in for this quilt along. I have soooo much scraps 4 extra large rubbermaid containers to be exact. I inherited my grandmother's quilting things including her stash. I have found original material from the 50's and later.

I do need a 3 1/2 template. PM is on its way!

Thanks!!

What a blessing for you to inherit your Gma's stash! Template's on the way!

Well here are my 3 blocks so far. The flying geese block was fun. Mine does look a little abstract, so I made the middle block as one block to help solidify.[ATTACH=CONFIG]392102[/ATTACH] I put all the blocks together.

I'm always fascinated on how people use colors. I love the look you got with your! They are lovely.

Those are really neat bbemerald!

I love scrappy and crazy quilting, my block is 31 pcs for a 12-1/2" sq of a mess of pcs. When does it qualify as crumb. Is there a number?

Got my template in today's mail. Gonna get started on my blocks next week. Have to sort the stash. I just put it all in the tubs and didn't organize it. That was a mistake! Live and learn.

This Week's Scrappy Quilt Block
 

Okay here is a quilt block that you can make with the 3 1/2" template.
If you need a template just pm me and send me your postal address.

Here is my HST method but you can use any method you prefer.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ks-t37915.html

I love any size scrap!

Mine is mailed out and going north. I cant post pics, maybe my partner can.
also sent some nice batiks herr way. Hope you can use them in your next few blocks.

I am saving these, I love scrap quilts and I am going to use my program to print out the hst's to finish at 3" so I can do an 18" finished block. Have to get a couple of other block exchanges out first. But will do a catch up next week. So do I need to PM you to participate.

No just jump in anytime. everyone is welcome to follow along or use the quilt blocks any way you want to.

WEEK 5 - Xs and Os - Kansas Dugout Blocks
 

Here is this weeks Quilt Block

This one uses the kansas dugout block. It is a traditional block or unit so it is not my original design
but it isn't hard to make.

Here is my shortcut method for making these.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ks-t59742.html

So you make as many Kansas Dugouts as you need and then sew them into the quilt block.

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I'm gonna have to do this one....hope I have time!

I've been working on creating a variety of Rhonda's blocks as I'm working on other UFOs. Hope to have enough cut soon so I can start playing...

Quilt Block for this week Feb 18
 

Here is the quilt block. Sorry I lost track of time and didn't get it posted on Sunday.

this one uses my Kansas Dugout cut down method and my 4 Patch squares cut down method.
so this is still a 4 rows of 4 blocks per row.

Kansas Dugout directions - cut down method
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ks-t59742.html

4 Patch squares directions- cut down method
http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...ks-t59742.html

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Week 8 - Cross
 

This week I want to try something new when it comes to explaining how to piece the quilt block I chose for this week.

This quilt block is made with HSTs - Half Square Triangles and plain blocks

You will need a 2 1/2" template to make a 12 1/2" quilt block.

My HST tutorial
Really Easy Half Square Triangle Blocks

I used 6 rows of 6 "blocks" per row. I broke that down into 4 - 9 patch units
So I am going to show you the 9 Patch first and then show you how to make that unit.
You will need to make 4 of these units. Then sew the 4 -9 Patch units together into the 12 1/2" quilt block. I think and I hope this will make the process easier to understand. Any feedback on this is greatly appreciated. Positive and negative comments will allow me to adjust my teaching methods.

Here is the 9 Patch and the layout of the blocks and where the colors go.
You'll need to make 4 of these. they should measure 6 1/2" for each unit.
this is the place to trim or to fix any seams that aren't right.

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After you make all 4 units then sew them together into the quilt block

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Very pretty block Rhonda.....directions look pretty clear to me.

Rhonda, what is the cutting width for last weeks Kansas Dugout block? The week before we did the 2 1/2 blocks. Maybe I'm just confused, but not sure of the cutting measurements for the width for the middle portion of the Kansas block on week 18. Any info would be appreciated. I really like this weeks block. Very pretty.

I'd say probably 1 1/4" cut from the seam. It just depends on how much diff you want between the seam of the 4 patch block and the seam of the Kansas dugout block. an inch would get the same design but put just abit more space between the two seams making it show up a bit more.

thanks FF which way of showing the block do you like better? the way I was doing it with just a pic of the block and a pic of the layout or do you like it broken down more? It would also depend on the level of skill of the quilter looking at it. so it might depend on if the quilter is a beginner or not. which would be more helpful and less confusing for a beginner. this new way was just a thought I wanted to try out and see if it would be a better way to go or not. any input from anyone is more than welcome positive and negative.

Wow, love all the possibilities. Not sure how I missed this thread but I am going to try to follow along.

Ronda and Oksewglad, I love your little scrappies. I have scraps all over the place and keep forgetting all that can be done with them.