I attended my guild’s (Thimble Pleasures) Getaway last weekend. It was three and a half days of sewing fun!! We go to a hotel on “the Cape” (N. Falmouth, Cape Cod, MA) It has a huge ballroom of which we each get an 8 foot table to spread out! I have been there before with two different guilds. I love the view from the restaurant, makes for an even better attitude.

Many do prep AHEAD of going. More time for sewing! My friend Shari is a master planner and super preparer of blocks. Just look at her small centers and larger pieces. They are all LABELED!!! Plus she organized each block in layers, upon layers, of blocks! It sure made her piecing easier! All of the blocks were in a 12″square plastic box.

I usually do as much prep as I can at home, but this time I waited and cut at the Getaway. I knew we would have cutting tables set up for us to use. It is easier to use a large mat there, instead of at home. I needed to cut large 19″ squares to cut into side triangles. To do this I cut the square diagonally twice (from corner to corner, both directions). I do not have a ruler that will span the entire length of the diagonal. So I use 2 rulers to accomplish the cut. (Nice that our guild has rulers we can use!)

The following photos shows how laying 2 rulers side by side can make the span of the diagonal. I am right handed, so I start the cut on the right side of the bottom left ruler. Then, I slide the left ruler along the right until it crossed the opposite corner. Keeping that ruler firmly in place, I can then finish the cut along the right edge of the left ruler. (Remove the right ruler before cutting.) I’ve promised videos of my tips….I’ll work on showing this in a video in the next month. Since I’m heading to Daytona Beach in another week and a half for the AQS Quilt Week. I’ll “shoot” for March to shoot the videos!

This is where the side triangles go in this quilt. The complete the outer edges when putting blocks on point. I’m filling in the bottom of this quilt in the photo below. The bottom left corner is a half square.

Speaking of videos… Have you seen the new “Fall in LOVE with Quilting Club”? It is a new “club” that will start next week. I am one of 14+ designers that will be presenting videos, tip sheets and free patterns or snip-its of blocks to make patterns! I will add the links below but the best part of the Club, it is FREE if you use my coupon code. DEBBIE-GAVE-IT-FREE. I would love for you to join the club using my coupon! My info will be given later in the summer, but there will be several designer’s information given EVERY month for an entire YEAR!! Go here to sign up… Fall in Love with Quilting Club…It is not housed on Facebook, but there is information about it there.

#1 – Pre-cut and organize! Shari used cardstock to layer each block in her quilt and did loads of labeling to keep things organized!

#2 – Use 2 rulers to cut large side triangles. This helps to span the length of the cut!

Bonus- Sign up for “Fall in Love with Quilting” using my coupon code. DEBBIE-GAVE-IT-FREE It is totally free with the code. You work through the months at your OWN pace!!

in quilting,

Debbie