Last week you learned how to make a Bear's Paw quilt block using my cut down method.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-77412-1.htm

You can use the quilt block you made last week if you like but I prefer to have mine just a bit smaller so it balances better in the center of the 4 1/2" x 7 1/2" quilt top.

I use 4 1/2" x 7 1/2" as a goal not an absolute measurement for the whole top. This includes any sashing and borders. You can make yours a bit bigger but I wouldn't make it any smaller. I ended up using a 4 3/4" by 7 3/4" for this one. It is a bit bigger than absolutely necessary to fit the checkbook cover the bank gives you but I usually stick papers (used checks receipts credit cards etc) behind my checkbook so it takes up space in the checkbook cover.

So if you are using the quilt block you made from last week's class you can go back and cut down the sashing to 1/2" instead of 3/4" or you can use 5/8" if 1/2" Is too scary sounding. But since it is already sewn on before you cut down it isn't hard to do. I like the look of the 1/4" finished sashing or border.

You can use the quilt block just as it is and add a 1/2" to top and bottom for a border or you can leave it just the way it is and not add any borders. I like the look of the border because it stops the eye and creates a finished look. But it is entirely up to you.

I am posting other ideas for extending the sides of your checkbook cover so you might want to check them out before you make this one. The only thing I did differant ly in them was to repeat one half of the center block on each side or I used combination triangle or square blocks. Or I used a row of hsts along the edges on each side. Easy to do if you want a differant look than the one I chose today.

I will show you how I did mine. Any way you would like to make variations feel free to do so!

So today I took my quilt block and I recut the sashing down to 1/2". Then I reassembed the quilt block.

For the sashing
I cut two strips that were about 1" wide by a bit more than the length of the side of my quilt block. I don't like to rely on accurate measurements here because the side of my quilt block might not be exactly the same as the other side no matter how much I trimmed my quilt block.
So I prefer to cut the strip and then pin it on and sew it on so the ends of the strip are longer than the side of the quilt block.

I did that for the other side too. Then trim the ends even with the quilt block.

thank you!

Sorry it took so long to get it on. With getting ready for Thanksgiving and having grandsons I haven't gotten it done til now.

Thanks Rhonda....I've been Black Friday shopping anyway. It's a tiring sitting in front of this computer doing that as it is going to the stores. So tomorrow will start on this. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving!!!!!

Hope you found lots of good bargains! We had a great time yesterday. Lots of food and enjoyed time with family. Thanks hope your Thanksgiving was fun too!!

I am never eating again. After yesterday, then leftovers for lunch and now for dinner. My stomach is so full. We had a good Thanksgiving. And today, I spent to much. But I am done for a while.

Thanks so much Rhonda. Several of my fellow guild members have been making minuatures of the URR patterns as they finish the full-size blocks. You have given me the courage to try that as well. I picked up a couple of tips that will benefit me when making my future full-size blocks. All tips are greatly appreciated by this relatively new quilter. Thanks again

Thank you so very much! I have your e-books and love the way you teach. You always inspire me to try new things.

Ok Rhonda, smack me up one side of my head and down the other. For the life of me I am doing something wrong. Do you have one pocket, or two? I thought I had this done about 3 hours ago, but I'm not doing something right.

Top piece with bear paw sashings all done. Which side do I put the pockets on, front or backside. Then there is another whole piece the same size as the front??? Or am I adding something that isn't there. Help!!!!!

Ok your top is done
add the back to the top
turn the top/back face down and cut out the lining(same size as the top/backing

two pockets that go on the lining
Sew one onto each end of the lining. Sorry I should have shown a pic of this. Guess I got in a hurry.
Leave the pockets slightly wider than needed til after they are sewn on. then trim them to match the lining

Place the top/backing face down onto the lining so the pockets are inside. pin and sew around

You can add another pocket onto the backing for a pocket on the outside of the cover if you like. I would add velcro if you did add a third pocket. this could be used for keys or change etc.

Does this help Katie?

Yeah, after I read my own message, I knew what I was doing wrong. I've just finished it and ate lunch since I sent that last post. I'll take picture now. It has to be a very bad senior moment. LOL

I didn't even think about centering the design on the back. was thinking in to many other directions. But I love it.

Oh, wow is that gorgeous. Hope mine turns out half as good.

Katie I love it!!!

It will!. I spent the afternoon doing everything backwards, then bingo...it clicked. I just wish I had paid more attention to the back that I very easily could have centered. Next one I will.

I so agree BettyGee that is really really gorgeous Katie!!!
I've said and I'll say it again I love love your color choices!! That looks like flames in the picture. probably doesn't look that way in real life but it is really pretty!! and brown and orange aren't my favorite colors but you did a really good job on this!

I want to see everyone else's too!

Rhonda,
If I make the little triangle blocks to go on each side then do I have to cut them down again like we did when putting the block together?

The funny part is that I don't particularly care for brown and orange, but the orange fabric is southwest desgin and it was a scrap I had left from a previous quilt. The brown is really a tan batik (it's the sashing in my avatar) and my husband loves this color, and I've been trying to find more on the internet, and so far eveything I've ordered comes in to gold. Then I just used the black because it looked good with it. The back was southwest fabric left over from another quilt. Glad you like it.

I have to agree with your husband.....lol I love those colors you chose. Wish I could find more Southwest fabric here. I made a Navajo wall quilt for my living room and it was the first thing I did free motion quilting on. I chose some fabric that was about as close to southwest as I was going to get and it turned out okay. My FMQ I wasn't satisfied with but it was the first time so I can't beat myself up too bad. :)

If you want them the same size then I would use the same cut down method.

Katie how did you do your HSTs on the sides? Did you do the cut down version?

OOOH YOU ARE SO TALENTED, THANKS!!!!!

thank you for the templates, I got them this week but will have to wait to start!! your tut's are wonderfully written,,,,,,Jacie

Thanks everyone! Hope to see more pictures of checkbook covers!!

Great job!

awesome and as usual...did a great tute !

Thank you thank you! LOL Are compliments like bringing an apple to the teacher?? :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :lol:

You betcha, or maybe you'd like chocolate. LOL You changed your Avatar again. Do we have that bottom right block in your sampler?

No I don't think so. I'll go look it up. I think it is a 4 x 4.
This is the center of a doll quilt I made for the doll quilt swap several months ago. I love samplers can't you tell? This was the second one I did for the doll quilt swap.
The hardest part wasn't making the blocks it was deciding how to put the sashing. I arranged and rearranged a dozen or more times. It is also the first time I ever used any embellishments. I added 2 little heart buttons and the bow. Not alot but my first try at it.

What was your finished size of the entire quilt. In order words, what size constatues a doll quilt, or minature.

the rules of the swap are anything between 12" and 24" in any shape such as circle or rectangle etc. I think this one was 14" x 18" or there abouts.

As for a mini that is matter of personal perception. I have seen people call a quilt a mini at 36" x 36". It is all in how you view it. I prefer to keep mine under 14" because they are easier to quilt down. I am not good at that part and the smaller it is the easier it is for me to handle turning it under the needle and less bulk to deal with. I got frustrated with one I did that was 18" because I am not used to having to move bulk around. I kept having to rearrange and move the excess and that frustrates me. One of the reasons I will never do a full size quilt again.

Yep, when I did my granddaughters quilts there was so much shoving and pulling and my shoulders hurts for days. So I'm making smaller ones. Although I have my day bed cover and two others that I am just making blocks and I'll put them together. Then I'll decide what and how I want to quilt it. Hate sending them out, costs more than I can really afford for the number of quilts I'm making.

Oh, I didn't see the picture til now. I like that. I guess I should start making really little quilts.

Here's the Bear's Paw Doll Quilt I made for the doll quilt swap

the bears paw doll quilt....... it is beautiful.... hope I am on your lists for a swap someday.

jacie

I love this. I'm going to have to start trying to make miniatures. I did figure out how to make "thinking outside the block" yesterday. I used 1 1/2" strips. I should have gone smaller like 1". But I wouldn't have even tried to figure it out if it wasn't for my #1 teacher......

:thumbup: :thumbup:

I hope to get back into the swaps someday. I had to bow out for awhile as I haven't had the time to do them.
They are fun!!

I remember seeing the name but don't remember what the quilt looks like.

This is it. Just strips, Log cabin but I would have never even attempted trying to figure it out before you. Didn't need the pattern. :)

What did I have to do with you figuring it out Katie? I love the look of it! Beautiful colors as always!!