This is a thinking girl’s tutorial to making flying geese.Knowing how to make Flying Geese allows you to make Sawtooth Star blocks, Dutchman’s Puzzle blocks, borders and other parts needed for your quilts.
You are going to have to use the technique with your own measurements to make the geese that fit your project. There are many other ways to make flying geese.
Cut 2 Squares for each Flying Geese Element
This fabric will be used for the ‘wings’.
Draw diagonal line from corner to corner
Turn the squares over and draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. You will need to do this on all of the squares for your Flying Geese.
Cut background
Cut background, or goose, fabric.
Lay wing 1 on goose
Lay first square that will be a wing on the goose (background) fabric and pin. Make sure the pin is out of the way. You will be sewing on that drawn line, so you will need to pin far enough away so the pin doesn’t interfere with the operation of the machine.
Sew along line
Sew along line and trim threads. I use a foot that has an arrow on it. I can line that arrow up with the drawn line and sew away.
Trim
Trim 1/4″ through the wing and the goose away from the sewn line as shown above. Press the wing so the front of the wing fabric is showing.
Lay 2d square on goose.
Place the second wing on the other side of the background fabric.
Trim 2d sewn wingSew and trim second wing
Sew and trim as above. Sew so that you cross the previous sewing line.
Press back 2d wing
Press back the 2d wing and, voila’, you have a Flying Geese element.
You need four of these to make a Sawtooth Star or eight of them to make a Dutchman’s Puzzle.
Here are so more triangles for FOTY 2011. I am not pressing and cutting them as fast since I am working on other projects, but I am working on them incrementally.
A very kind person gave us tickets to the Maker Faire. It is something that I have heard lots of good things about, but never visited. Friend Julie loves it. Maureen and Amy from the Creative Mom podcast also rave about it. We finally got a chance to go and I have to say that the best thing about it was being inspired. I saw lots of this and that which had a nice line or good texture or something else that struck my imagination. It made it worth it to give up a day of sewing for that inspiration.
One of the things I really liked and did not photograph was the Steampunk costumes and fantastical vehicles. The ingenuity and creativity was amazing and oozing all over the place.
Back of Coat
I don’t know this woman. I have no idea if she knew I was photographing the back of her coat. I really liked the back of her coat. It looked very tailored, yet easy to wear.
Embroidered Buttons
I have an embroidery module on my sewing machine. Lately I keep hearing about or needing to deal with buttons. This display gave me the idea of making my own buttons from embroidered designs I can do using my embroidery module. Cool, eh?
Bathroom Quilt Idea
Every year for the past few years, I have talked about the quilt I want to make and put in one or both of my bathrooms. I saw this display and it is the same idea. I probably would make mine 4×5 rather than 3 x 12 or whatever it was. I like the idea of slipping things in and taking them out.
FabMo.org Dresden Plate
I don’t know anything about the above Dresden Plate,but the fact that it is in the FabMo booth makes me think the maker used FabMo fabrics. Isn’t it GREAT?
Inspiration Foot
In a sea of black, denim and asphalt was this kid wearing red Chuck Taylors. I couldn’t stop looking at this foot dangling off of the dad who held him for the entire 20 minutes of the Mentos/Coke Zero show. He didn’t wiggle or talk really, his dad didn’t complain about holding him and the whole time his foot dangled down waiting for me to photograph it. The socks are an added bonus. This is definitely a photo I want to draw.
These quilts returned to me by mail last week. I just couldn’t open them, because I haven’t finished the hand stitching on the others that I got back last month. Too much piecing and not enough TV watching, I guess. I need to finish the binding on the Frosted Stars and decide if it is getting a sleeve. I may give it away, thus it wouldn’t necessarily need a sleeve, but I have nobody in mind at the moment. We’ll see.
I also need to make and put the sleeve on the FOTY 2010. I am not sure if I will use the Ta Dot in Stone (may not have enough) to match the binding or some blues like the back. I think either would be fine, but am agonizing a bit.Making the sleeve should be a task for this weekend so at least I can have the hand stitching available if I have time. That baby has to be ready by July 11.
Anyway, the three quilts (above) are back.
Zig Zaggy detail
Frankly, I never thought the Zig Zaggy would get done. I really like the freshness of the colors and the piecing was just challenging enough not to be boring. That was fun. It is, however, a weird shape , which doesn’t exactly encourage me to work on it, but there it is, binding on and ready to have the binding sewn down. Colleen is a master, though, and it is due to her that the quilt is done. I didn’t expect this quilt back until the Fall. She did a great job on the quilting and really took the design to the next level.
Her quilting reminds me that the quilting aspect of making a quilt is really a design element. Kerr and Ringle discuss this in Quilts Made Modern, which I read and took notes on, but haven’t finished writing the review. In a quilt like the Zig Zaggy quilt, this concept really stands out.
SfSB Quilted, detail
Yes, that is the Stars for San Bruno #1 quilt. All of you who contributed should be proud! In the detail, you can see the quilting. It is a kind of wind blowing pattern. I asked her to do something that would last for a quilt that would be used by a non-quilter household. I don’t usually go for all over patterns, but this one looks good for the style of quilt, I think. I am really pleased that I am keeping up my end of the bargain. I am a little bit excited about giving the quilt to DH’s cousin. I know getting something out of it isn’t the point, but I can’t help being a little excited. I’ll dial it down a bit until I get the binding on. Of course, SfSB #2 is calling my name more and more insistently. 😉
JDJ Quilt
Finally, the bottom quilt is a food quilt that my mom made for my cousin. I may never see this quilt again, so here is a full photo of it minus the border.
Mom made this quilt for my cousin (her nephew) after the first quilt she made for him mysteriously disappeared. This is about the 3rd incarnation of this quilt as she kept rearranging and remaking blocks and pieces. I am sure she will write about it on her blog, so look out for that post.
The CPP is still on vacation, but I have decided to continue. I have some work stuff going on so it will be a month or so before I get back into full on CPP mode.
I am going to offer some creativity prizes to anyone who posts a response to any of the prompts between now and the post for prompt #111. Yes, I know it is end of school and vacation time. If you do a response to any prompt (there are 110), you will get into the drawing. Anyone who gets a friend to do a response will get two entries.
I am shooting for beginning of July, but I probably won’t warn you, so don’t wait until the last minute. Do your response NOW and post the link in the appropriate comments section.
See previous words and information on the Creative Prompts Inspiration Page. Do you have any ideas on changes or improvements I should make to the CPP?
I am getting ready to change out all of the designs on the items in the store. If you want any of the Seeing Red items, now is the time to get them. You know you need that iPad cover. 😉
Supplies & Patterns
I never think to look at Nancy’s Notions for quilting supplies. Not sure why. I saw an update from her on FB and checked a new product she rolled out at Quilt Market. I also looked around at her rulers and such. She has a nice selection of what looks like innovative tools and rulers.
I am sort of interested in needle felting – not actually doing it, but knowing about it and seeing other people do it. I thought this project for a felted iPad cover was a good idea. Useful as well appropriate pattern for the materials.
Fabric
Michael Miller has posted all of their new lines of fabric. They also have an Aqua Red line that includes the Little Plain Jane flower print that I am using on my latest sampler. I may also buy more of the aqua with the red dots. I love the cheerfulness of that fabric design.
Rouge et Noir looks like it also has some nice prints. I see some of them becoming bags.
Aqua Queen Street
In both of the lines I have mentioned, I see Michael Miller reusing designs, which I think it is a good idea. I still would like Windham to reissue Botanical Pop in the turquoise colorway. They might have missed their chance, because I am really liking the aqua/turquoise with white dot print in the Queen Street line (above or bottom row, 3rd from left in this photo). I also like the red, which is from the Moda Bliss line.
Michael Miller has spread dots all over their new lines. They have included some of the ‘dumb dots’ (dumb name, IMO) and the Ta Dots in their various new lines. I consider those dots to be staples and am glad to see them reappearing. I will have to search hard in the new lines to ‘replenish’ my supply. 😉
I keep hearing that grey is in for the new season of fabric. I don’t think I am buying into it. I live in the fog. Weeks can go by when I don’t see the sun and the last thing I need is more fog in my workroom.
Did anyone see anything new from Martha Negley at Quilt Market?
Quilt World News
Quilt Market has come and gone. Again I did not attend. I followed along via Twitter, which was ok. The Fat Quarter Shop posted tons of candid shots and that was fun. Stop Staring and Start Sewing has a great blog post recap about it-one of the best I have seen. Camille Roskelly also posted a nutshell recap. There is a great picture of her booth and I just love the colors. I can’t get enough of them. Front and center is a tray of Ruby charm packs. I think I have to get one. Lots of fabulous aqua and red photos in Camille’s post. Kathy at Pink Chalk Studio has a wonderful recap. She posts pictures, but also talks about the trends. Her post feeds my intellectual curiosity about the quilt industry.
C&T publishing, and their Stash imprint, was featured in an article about their phenomenal growth in a difficult industry. YAY C&T/Stash!
I have to admit that I was disappointed in the recent blog list in Quilter’s Home magazine. I like the idea of the 50 best blogs or whatever, but was disappointed (a) because mine wasn’t in there and (b) because most of the blogs were the same old, same old. I have to be honest. I work hard on my blog and it would be nice to see it show up in one of these lists sometime. Still, that isn’t the reason I write this blog, so fine, I am moving on. The other thing, though, is that the blogs they featured are great blogs: good info, gorgeous photos. There isn’t anything wrong with the blogs, but they are the popular blogs. The writers/editors didn’t have to work to make a new and innovative list.
Getting the Word Out
I am excited that another one of my posts, Hooked on Hexagons, was featured on Creating the Hive. This is my fourth post to be featured on Creating the Hive. Creating the Hive is another space for people to talk about their art. Lisa of LisaLizaLou invited me to join. If you want an invitation, let me know.
The other great news is that FOTY 2010 will be hung at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. How did I do it? I just sent in a picture for one of their shows. I am pretty excited. I finished putting the binding on, but have to get the sleeve on that baby and then I can consider it done and will show it here.
These pillows have been languishing in my fabric closet for so long they weren’t even on my WIP list. They were yelling at me very loudly on Saturday after I finished the Teacher Pillows. I was inclined to work on them since they were taking up valuable floor space in my fabric closet.
The class I took at the Sewing Workshop was called Simply Pillows and Linda Lee taught the class. I took the class in 1999. Most people didn’t piece their pillows, but since I was enamored with quiltmaking I decided to piece my pillows. We learned to do piping and the striped piping on the pillow above was already done when I took the pieces out of the bag on the weekend. I had to sew one seam and I was done. It is pathetic that I let this project languish for so long.
Actually, I was kind of surprised that I took the class in 1999, because I thought for sure I had taken it when I lived closer, but the dates are in my handwriting on the folder. Very strange.
Simply Pillows Class Project #2
The hourglass pillow did not finish as intended. I put on some piping, which was in the bag of supplies. I found out that the back wouldn’t fit, because, apparently, I needed to trim the front of the pillow before adding the piping. I took off the piping and just sewed the back to the front and called it done.
Whenever I finish the Teacher Pillow Project, I always feel a little sad. This is even after ripping half my hair out and spending way more time than I wanted in the process. Crazy, I know.Somehow the end result of a little pile of pillows is wonderful. And this is the last year I am doing this. The Young Man goes to high school next year and, except for special occasions or for special recognition, I am resolved to not make this many pillows again. (I know you are thinking “Famous Last Words.” Stop thinking that!)
2011 Teacher Pillow Group
This year I had 5 pillows to make, but decided, as I talked about yesterday, to also make a pillow for the Art Teacher, leaving me with a total of 6 pillows to make.
2011 Religion Teacher PillowReligion Teacher Back
I made a Greek Cross (pg.72) block for the 8th grade Religion Teacher.
2011 Science Teacher Pillow2011 Science Teacher Pillow back
The Science Teacher got a Big T (pg.37) block. Do you like the label? It is an exploding test tube. The Young Man’s goal of blowing something up in science class has not yet been achieved.
2011 Art Teacher Pillow2011 Art Teacher Pillow back
Art will receive a Martha Washington Star (pg.85). I really like the back that the Young Man did for her. Very appropriate, I think.
2011 SS & Reading Teacher Pillow2011 SS & Reading Teacher Pillow back
The Social Studies and Reading Teacher will also receive a Martha Washington Star. Look familiar? I was feeling uninspired. Now I think I should have made the block red, white and black, but I am not remaking it. I don’t know what the back means. Perhaps an inside joke?
2011 English/Literature Teacher Pillow2011 English/Literature Teacher Pillow back
English and Literature received a basket block pillow last year and she will receive the above Grape Basket (pg.71) this year. The fabrics and colors goes with the block I made last year. This basket block was a bit of pain. I have made a number of basket blocks and this one went together very strangely. When I had finished putting it together, I looked at it and thought that I would have done it differently, had I known.
2011 Math Teacher Pillow2011 Math Teacher Pillow back
The Math teacher will receive a Free Trade block (pg.67). see a theme here with the Sawtooth Star variations? Again, I was uninspired. The fabrics go with some I used last year. Hope she likes pink. The back depicts Pi out to a lot of digits.
In years past, I have also given the Resource teacher a pillow, but this year she is getting a quilt.
Nota bene: All the blocks are from a book called Around the Block. It is out of print, but has been been reprinted with v.2 and v.3 in a book called 501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks. Very worthwhile purchase. I would have a hard time living without this book.
I will be glad when this project is done. I wanted to finish last week, but there was too much going on. I thought I could make some progress this past week in the evenings. No joy there either. Today, I am supposed to be resting, because of this cold that I am trying to have not turn into the flu.
And this is the last year for bulk pillow making. I still have to make the raffle pillows for the Native Sons and I may make a pillow every once in a while for a special teacher, but that is it. If I go back on my word feel free to remind me.
Anyway, the above pillow is for the art teacher. She has been a rock for the Young Man and has really encouraged his creativity and has encouraged his style. The pattern is Martha Washington Star from Around the Block.
The blue and yellow pillow is Greek Cross for the religion teacher. It actually came out really well. I used my last IKEA pillow form and kind of like those forms. I wanted more robust forms, but the ones I bought are REALLY really firm and forced me to make the pillow covers a bit bigger.
Dear TFQ and Little Bluebell,
This is all your fault.
Jaye
_____________________________
Now that I have that out of the way, yes, I seem to be hooked on hexagons. The test piece is much larger. If you want to cut hexagons, like I am doing, check out Little Bluebell’s cutting directions.
Much larger hexagon test piece
I am also interested in the Spin Wheel design by Fons & Porter. I was watching, what I thought was a Kaleidoscope episode and it turned out to be the Spin Wheel episode. I took notes again so I could do a test block.
Spin Wheel drawingsSpin Wheel drawings 2
I went looking for examples people have made and only found a few. I found a tutorial, which is good since I don’t have the magazine. BeckyF also did the pattern in fun colors, which I found on Flickr. There is one on Webshots that is done more in the colors the Fons & Porter ladies like. I like this progression/gallery of photos making the Spin Wheel. Also, the blue and yellow are cheerful.
This has nothing to do with the Spin Wheel, but Daniel Rouse has put up a really cool hexagon quilt on his site. I like the small and large.
Test Pieces Arranged #2
I am also starting a scrap project using the Twirling Triangles pattern, which is, ultimately, a hexagon.
FOTY 2011 Triangles – 4/2011
Oh, of course, FOTY 2011, too. Yes, I have a thing going. Obsessed is probably a better word.
The CPP is still on vacation. Did you do any responses to the previous prompts? See previous words and information on the Creative Prompts Inspiration Page. Do you have an opinion about how I should proceed with the CPP? Are there enough prompt projects out there already? I have listed a few resources on the CPP Inspiration page.
Did you Talkback? I was glad to hear from Angela and Kim and SherriD. I want to hear from you.
These are the first bits of fabric that I have bought for the Young Man’s food quilt. He is getting a food quilt from my mom, but I am making him one as well. I am only going to use this kind of fabric for the quilt. Mom used a variety of different food fabrics. I saw a few others on Quiltshops.com, but haven’t decided how many I need, so will wait to purchase. I do want to get the raspberries and I have some cherries.
After seeing Robin’s version of the Disappearing Nine Patch at the Retreat, I decided I wanted to try that pattern as well. I am going to put a red square in the middle and then black on white or a white on black print in the outside middle positions. I am going to do a test to see what looks best or if I need to rethink my color scheme completely. Make visual decisions visually.
New Books
I went on a mini book buying binge last Monday (not yesterday). It was part of therapy after the crazy family weekend. The Practical Guide to Patchwork was not in the purchase. I had that before, but hadn’t shown it and wanted to make the picture nice and even and not show you too much of the life sucking beige carpet that in on my workroom floor. Look for reviews.
Saturday a week ago was the CQFA and BAMQG Saturday extravaganza.
Every other month, the meetings fall on the same day, which can be awesome and can be exhausting. I love being immersed in the quilting. I adore both groups, too.
CQFA was really small this time. It is a small group to start with and May always begins the end of school/graduation/nice weather demands on people’s time. Still, it was a great meeting with awesome show and tell. We rehashed the Primal Green outing and panel discussion. I got a lot of kudos for my contribution, which was really nice and made me feel good. Nancy had set up demo, which Sue gave after a brief break.
Sue's Piece
Sue makes fabric paper. She found the recipe in the book Stitch Alchemy and has been making gorgeous cards and gifts ever since. Sue’s piece for Primal Green was made from the fabric paper (above). She also sent me some gifts made from her paper. I especially liked the cards.
My CardsSue's Card - detail
Don’t you love the stitching and how it highlights and adds interest to the flower?
If I ever send you one of these cards, you had better not throw it out! I’ll have to think who will really appreciate one of them. I may frame one as well.
The thing about Sue is that she is fearless and will try anything. She really does great work and I always look forward to her show and tell.
Sue applying paper to fabric
In the photo above Sue is applying tissue paper to the fabric she has cut. I don’t remember what kind of fabric it is, but something fairly benign and not very expensive, I think.She used a water and glue mixture to apply the paper to the fabric.
Sue is a really good teacher. She was well prepared and as she talked us through the different steps, she also talked about supplies she liked (Starbuck’s tissue and colored tissue paper are the best).
Painting Fabric Paper
After the paper is dry (this was a second piece, because we didn’t have time to let the one she worked on dry), then you paint and embellish it. That stamp in the front is made from bunion foam. Great idea, huh? Again, Sue talked about things she liked and things that didn’t work out as planned for embellishing.
Painting Fabric Paper
We talked about doing this all together in August and then following up with a workshop to embellish it at A Work of Heart. We’ll see how it goes.
BAMQG is always a fun time, too. This time I brought my camera. I still didn’t take any photos except of the blocks I was cutting. DUH! I took the fabric for the Teacher Pillows and used the time I wasn’t chatting to cut pieces. I was able to cut two blocks out during the sewing time, which was great.
The meeting was good, too. It is fun to see what people are making. I had a lot to show – the FOTY 2010 (sans sleeve, so you’ll get to see when it is completely finished), the Frosted Stars Leftovers and the Purple Quilt. People really liked them and it is gratifying to get positive feedback. I was able to show the quilts at both groups and get double the amount of strokes. Thanks, everyone.
A few people finished their Robert Kaufman challenges. I brought mine, which does not have a border. Look out for a post on that coming soon to a blog near you. It was interesting to hear what challenged people about the project.
Front
Chris won the blocks from the February block strip challenge. She made a table runner and she also made some gifts to give away. I won a folder that she made using a manila folder as a pattern and Timtex as the base. Very clever.
BackInside
The outside of the folder is made from blocks. Can you see parts of one of my blocks? The inside has two pockets. Where the green meets the multi-colored print is where the pocket is.
I am kind of stuck in my ways when it comes to daily writing journals. TFQ introduced to me to the Miquelrius journals and I have never looked back.
I received these journals on the right from DH for Mother’s Day. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was looking at when I opened the beautifully wrapped gift. The spiral with the old book covers did not compute in my mind.
I admire the Art Deco (Nouveau??) design on the cover of the brown book, but really appreciated both when I opened them. The pages of the books have been replaced with blank, recycled paper.
Recycled Journals Open
There are a few pages from a book in the journal, but mostly the pages are blank.
DH works for a large educational institution and they are constantly having different events. They recently had a Green Fair and that was where he found these. I thought it was very sweet of him to pick journals for me. I guess he noticed that I write in my journal a lot. 😉
Now I have to decide whether or not to make a cover for these when I use them.
