Ahh, the sun! It is melting the snow! I was away for a week and came back to 1 foot less snow. Still over 4 feet in some piles. See the difference a month and warmer sunny days makes!
Feb. 20, 2015
March 24, 2015
I spent a few hours this weekend deciding on and making a guild challenge. Since I am the Challenge Chair, I decided I better follow through. I used the Egyptian Treasure fat quarter collection by Andover that I picked up at Fall Market. Love these colors! And love the designs! Of course, I’m a nut for anything Egyptian.
My guild’s Challenge is “Half-Square Heyday”. I teach a class of the same name! I just love all the possibilities of half squares!! I Cut the 14 FQs into 9″ squares, drew a line down the middle of the lighter ones, put two squares RST and began sewing a quarter inch on each side of the line. My featherweight loves to eat the first couple threads of a seam every now and then so I always start with a leader/ender (starter/stopper). This secures the first couple stitches in fabric and I chain piece from there. Try it!
Starter/Stopper
Starter with half square
#1 – Use a starter piece of fabric to begin a line of stitching.
Stopper becomes Starter
Once your are finished with your chain of sewing, end with another piece and you are ready to start again.
56 squares stitched, cut and pressed in just two hours! Now, 56 half squares ready to arrange into a 7 x 8 quilt. I trimmed them up to 8 1/2″ as they go together so much easier if ALL the same size. I didn’t used to square up half squares, but I do now!
#2- Square up blocks for ease of construction!
Another hour of sewing and my quilt top is DONE! A sneak peek (shhh, don’t tell any of the Blackstone Valley Heritage Quilters…the reveal is in May). The large blocks made for fast work!
Egyptian Half-Square Heyday
The white paper in the top left corner has the top size. If I don’t write it down, I’ll remeasure it umpteen times. I actually prepared the back so it is ready for my Longarm!!
in quilting,
Debbie ~ Wendt Quilting
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