Monday, September 27, 2021

My Happy Place Sew Along - Week Three!!





"SEWING MACHINE"




Welcome to week three of the 
"MY HAPPY PLACE"
Sew Along!
Join me here each week 
when I will be doing tutorials
 on the blocks for the quilt.

 I will be posting each Monday 
right here on my blog 
and you can follow my tutorials 
any time during the week that 
 is convenient for you.



For this sew along...
We are making the 
My Happy Place Quilt
74" x 88"

I've been sew excited to begin...
This is going to be fun!!


The quilt is made with my newest fabric
 collection called STITCH...



Along with several Bee Backgrounds:)


If you are just joining us and you 
are looking for a kit...
simply do a quick google search of 
"My Happy Place Quilt Kit" 
and I'm thinking that you will easily 
be able to find quilt shops 
that still have a kit available:) 


As all of my 
Sew Simple Shapes Sew Alongs go...
 The pattern for this quilt are
these three things:   
1. Sew Simple Shapes 
set and of course the 
2. Sew Along Guide 
and finally my weekly 
3. Tutorials 
that I do for you each and 
every week during the sew along.

The set of shapes that we are
 using for this quilt are called
MY HAPPY PLACE

I have already posted the
 post which details all of the supplies
 for the sew along and how it works.
I have also given the link there 
for the free PDF Download 
of the Sew Along Guide

to read that post.


As per the sew along guide 
cutting instructions...hopefully
 you were able to have 
everything for this weeks block 
 all cut and ready to go.
The tutorial for this week
is a video tutorial on my 
YouTube channel where you can 
watch me sew the block.
to watch my video tutorial.



For the Sewing Machine Block 
you will need:
1 - L11
1 - L12
1 - L18
1 - L19
1 - L20
You will need to 
have all of your 
background fabric and prints 
for piecing the block cut 
and of course all of that cutting is 
in the sew along guide:)


After I showed you how I 
pieced the sewing machine 
I want ahead and pulled everything 
next to my machine to sew the two diamond 
sew simple shapes and the Tomato Pincushion 
sew simple shapes that sits on the machine:)


Ready to glue baste onto the sewing machine!!



"SEWING MACHINE BLOCK"
should measure 
20 1/2" x 26 1/2" UNFINISHED
and will measure 
20" x 26" finished
after it's sewn into the quilt.



All of the blocks that we have
 made so far are on my design wall
 and ready for appliqué!

P.S. I forgot to say that 
we will be doing the 
Fat Quarters Block 
in one of the up-coming weeks
 of this sew along...
I wasn't able to fit it in this week!
But now worries...
it's an easy peasy block
and we will get to it:)



I love how they all look together:)


Remember that the patterns 
for the embroidery 
are in the sew along guide.

I hope that you have fun 
making your 
sewing machine block this week...


And I'll be right back here 
next Monday for week four 
when we will be doing the
 Ironing Block!
xx
Lori



Click on the links below 
to visit each week of this sew along:



 

Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet
"Vintage 1966" 

Monday, September 20, 2021

My Happy Place Sew Along - Week Two!!



"SEWING SCISSORS"


"KNITTING BLOCK"


"CROCHET HOOKS"


Welcome to week two of the 
"MY HAPPY PLACE"
Sew Along!
Join me here each week 
when I will be doing tutorials
 on the blocks for the quilt.

 I will be posting each Monday 
right here on my blog 
and you can follow my tutorials 
any time during the week that 
 is convenient for you.



For this sew along...
We are making the 
My Happy Place Quilt
74" x 88"

I've been sew excited to begin...
This is going to be fun!!


The quilt is made with my newest fabric
 collection called STITCH...



Along with several Bee Backgrounds:)


I have had several questions 
from those of you who are new 
to my sew alongs about if you 
should have your kit cut separately
 into each individual block.
My answer is:
That is what I do because 
it makes the sew along and
 each week go very smoothly.

Chances are that if you 
have the blocks cut and all 
ready to go each Monday
you will be able to keep up!
Of course...
with all of that being said...
you can do it as you go 
if that's what you enjoy more.
It's all about having fun and 
making your own choices.



As all of my 
Sew Simple Shapes Sew Alongs go...
We are using the shapes
for the pattern of this quilt
and of course the Sew Along Guide and my tutorials each week.

The set of shapes that we are
 using for this quilt are called
MY HAPPY PLACE

I have already posted the
 post which details all of the supplies
 for the sew along and how it works.
I have also given the link there 
for the free PDF Download 
of the Sew Along Guide

to read that post.


As per the sew along guide 
cutting instructions...hopefully
 you were able to have 
everything for this weeks blocks 
 all cut and ready to go.
This weeks tutorials 
are here on my blog
and let's get started on them!


For the Sewing Scissors Block 
you will need:
2 - L15
2 - L16
2 - L21
You will need to 
have your background cut:
11" x 14"
and you will trim it to 
9 1/2" x 12 1/2"
AFTER
it is appliquéd:)
 

Don't forget to trace one of the
 L21 scissors blades in reverse:)


Pair up the traced interfacing 
with the fabrics and 
stitch stitch stitch!


Trim your red sewing scissors shapes
 with your red sewing scissors:) 
LOL


Outside curve seam allowances
 do not need any clipping before turning...


However this inside curves on the
 scissor blades will need clipping:)


Cut an X in the oval shapes
 but just do one long cut 
for the blades because of their narrow shape.


I turned and shaped the blades 
and then used my 
Quick Press Seam Roller
 on the edges...


And then pressed it with the iron.
Using all three of these tools
 plus the iron helps to 
shape up these blades very nicely!



All ship shaped and ready for glue basting:)


Before basting I pressed my background 
in half so that I could easily
 center the scissors when laying them out.


The bottom of my blades measure 7" wide...


And my scissor handles measure 7 1/2" wide.


From top to bottom measure 10 1/2" 


Now to sew on one large red button.
Remember you can choose when to 
sew your button onto your scissors.


SEWING SCISSORS BLOCK
will finish at  9" x 12"
AFTER 
it is sewn into your quilt.
After appliqué you will trim it down to
the unfinished size of
9 1/2" x 12 1/2"

I haven't appliquéd my blocks yet
 but I am going to go ahead and 
sew on all of the buttons onto each
 of my blocks before I applique
 so that I can take pictures
 of each block to show you:)


Now let's prepare the 
Knitting Block

You will need 
1 - L3
Sew Simple Shape

2 - 5/8" x 21" strips
for 1/4" straight bias

Your background will 
need to be cut 
12" x 16"
and trim it down to 
10 1/2" x 14 1/2"
unfinished size 
AFTER applique


Layout your 9 squares 
onto your design board like this...


And sew them into a 9 patch block 
using an accurate 1/4" seam allowance.


Press your seams open so that
 your applique will lie flat:)


Use the lines on the circle shape
 and mark them onto your traced circle...


This will help you to center 
your traced circle over your patchwork:)


Sew directly onto your 
marked lines and trim:)


(View from the back before turning)


Turned...shaped and pressed!
Now you have a cute patchwork 
yarn ball all ready to go.


I ran my 2 strips through the 
1/4" bias tape maker 
and then I decided to do the same 
for the straight bias for the 
Crochet Hook Block 
that we will also be doing this week.

If this is your first time 
or you need a refresher 
on how I do this...
to watch one of my videos 
where I talk all about my 
bias vs straight bias strips
 for my sew alongs and I show you
 my process of running the strips
 through the makers. 



I pressed my background in half both ways.


Okay...now for glue basting! 
First I placed the yarn 
right in the center of the background.
Then I placed the two strips 
for the knitting needles underneath
 in a criss cross like this.
Notice that I used the corners
 of the background fabric to line up
 the angle of the knitting needles.
That's a good guide to go by 
in keeping them even.


For the bottom end of the knitting needles
 I'm taking advantage and using the end
 that goes through the bias tape maker
 first because it kind of is always a
 little narrower and tapers in a bit.

I'll end up sort of "pinching" those ends
 to more of a point and trimming off
 the selvedge part when I stitch them down
 so that they are looking a bit more 
like the end of a knitting needle:)

As far as the measurement goes
 it will end up 4 1/2" from the yarn ball
and pointing towards the corner of the background fabric.


At the top I just measured up 4" 
and clipped off the remaining.
This is where my buttons will be
 sewn for the knitting needle tops.


The entire knitting needle length
 will measure about 15" long when
I am finished with the applique.


Go ahead and save the pieces 
that you trim off for the 
Cross Stitch Block 
to use for the screw in the hoop.
We will only need a few 
short pieces and these will work perfectly!


I took a photo of pinching the 
bottom ends of the knitting needles 
so you could see what I was talking about:)


I'm using the red buttons again
 for the top of my needles.
 Of course you will use your own
 personal preference or if you
 didn't happen to get a lot 
of red buttons in your bag.

As I have said before...
these buttons are scooped up and 
put into the bag and sold by weight 
and not by even amount of colors.

I'm really excited about these buttons.
 I designed them to look like the 
 vintage buttons that I collect 
and I'm really happy 
with how they turned out! 


KNITTING NEEDLES BLOCK
will finish at  10" x 14"
AFTER 
it is sewn into your quilt.
After appliqué you will trim it down to
the unfinished size of
10 1/2" x 14 1/2"



Here is what you will need 
for the Crochet Hooks Block:
2 - L23

1 - 5/8" x 21"
for 1/4" straight bias.

You will also need to cut 
your background 4" x 12"
as it says in the guide:)


Time for sewing the crochet hook handles!


After trimming...
you will need to clip the inner curves
 near the top of the handles.


I shaped these in the same way 
that I did the scissor handles 
because they are long and narrow as well...


Then ironed them and used the clapper
 so that they are nice and flat:)


For the hooks I cut 2 strips 3 1/2" long 
and pressed one end under.
I cut 2 more strips 1" long and
 pressed them in half for the hook ends.


This is how I laid out...
pinned and glue basted the hooks ends.


They measures about 9 1/2" long
 from end to end of handles:)

Glue basted and ready for applique!


You can save the leftover
 straight bias strip
 and put it with the 
Seam Ripper Block 
just in case you decide that you want to
 use it in place of the satin stitch.


CROCHET HOOKS BLOCK
will finish at  2" x 10"
AFTER 
it is sewn into your quilt.
After appliqué you will trim it down to
the unfinished size of
2 1/2" x 10 1/2"



I hope you enjoy making your 
3 blocks 
for this week.
We are now on our way
to making the quilt...
YaY!!

Next week on the schedule is the
Sewing Machine Block 
I'll meet you right back here on Monday!
xx
Lori

Click on the links below 
to visit each week of this sew along:

 

Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet
"Vintage 1966" 
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