Kentucky Bluebells

What a glorious spring. Our yard is just bursting with Kentucky Bluebells.

Just in!

Spring issue of Quilt Sampler

Ila's Rhubarb Pie

Many of you requested this Rhubarb Pie recipe from our bus trip to Kalona. Tis the season!

Beginner's Quilting Class

Every now and then, we get a request for a Beginner's Quilting Class. This is one we love to teach, incorporating all of our favorite tried but true techniques for CPS (Cutting, Pressing, Stitching). Class also includes straight line machine quilting and binding.

It's a challenge finding a day of the week and/or time of the day for this class that fits every one's busy life.

Give us your feedback. If you are interested in a Beginner's Quilting Class, please contact us by phone or email.  515-993-1170 or adel.quilting@mchsi.com

Let us know what day and time works best for you and we will schedule a class.

It's the weekend -----

Time to play!

It's here!

The new Block magazine from Missouri Star Quilts came in today. We have a dozen copies but they will not last long.

See the round mat under our candy dish? That was made by Joyce S. for our June 20 library fund raiser. Members of Quilt Circle are making things to sale by re-purposing quilt parts and pieces.

This was a round vintage round that Joyce added binding to. Didn't she give it a great new life?

Watch for more fun items and plan to come shop on June 20 during our Little Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show.

Happy Rainy Saturday!

Does soup sound good? Come to Adel today for a bowl of home made soup and sandwich at Brick Street Books and Cafe. 

Al Dente Toffee has also added lunch to their menu of toffee and gelato. 

Stop by the shop for dessert (fabric, dessert, that is).

We are taking orders for the 2015 All Iowa Shop Hop Fabric. Delivery is expected any day now.

Be sure to "like" the AISH Facebook page for all the news and updates of this June event.

Say it with me - - - - HOLY SCRAP!

This is Sue H's Holy Scrap quilt (see more on our Scrappy New Year page) hanging from a clothesline.  Sue made her quilt twice as long by doubling the number of rows in each unit. Then she added some sashing strips (the long grey strips) and added another 2-patch unit to each side.

Can you see how you could start your year by sewing together leftover 2 1/2" squares, a few at a time, and just adding to it as the year evolves?

Sue worked out of past scraps but, we could go forward with this as we start new quilts.

Depending on what you dabble in most, maybe have one started in just batiks and another in just brights.

I think it would be refreshing to have no real agenda, just a place to let scraps gradually gather and become a butterfly!

When a baby, anniversary or graduation pops up, you can grab some of the scrappy units and make a very nice quilt on short notice.

Thank you for sharing Sue. My Holy Scrap is still in parts and pieces on the sewing room floor but it is slowly growing.

Send me pictures of your progress. No time frames and no pressure.

Maybe we should re-name this quilt the Crock Pot quilt. It can be in the cooker for a looooong time and then turn out fabulous.

Winning Quilts at Paducah Show

Take a look.

Diana's Golden Needle

Last evening at Quilt Circle of Friends, Jackie O. shared this project from Facebook. The sponsoring FB site is Diana's Golden Needle.

Diana is a teenager with a goal of making 16 quilts to represent the 16 years she has lived in America after being adopted from a Russian Orphanage.

The quilts are all being made using Bonnie Hunter's pattern (and with her permission) called Scrappy Trips. 

The quilts will be donated to children who age out of foster care and is a Girl Scout Gold Award Project for Diana.

The request is for blocks, or piecing blocks together or machine quilting tops. Jackie is sending 7 of these blocks so they can be mixed with blocks by others (thus the Scrappy Trip Around the World pattern title). By sending 7 blocks, there can be one placed in each row. At the FB page, you will see a quilt sample using this block in a variety of fabrics.

Jackie sent these pictures to show her blocks and the steps to make them with tube piecing. 

For this project, you can use any fabrics of your choosing. Jackie decided to use this selection of bright prints. Start with 6 strips, each 2 1/2" x 15"

Stitch them together. Be sure to match ends evenly. Press rows 1, 3, and 5 down.  Press rows 2, 4 and 6 up.

Now stitch the two end pieces together to make a tube.

From that tube, cut 6 units, each 2 1/2" wide.

Next, un-sew between two squares on each tube unit. Stagger where you un-sew so that you end up with 6 pieced strips like this.
Did I just say sew so?

Stitch the pieced strips together to make this 12 1/2" block.

Note: You can make 6 blocks using 1/4 yard by width of fabric each of the 6 colors.  Using fat quarters (one of each color) you can make 8 blocks. This is a quilt where fat quarters are more efficient than width of fabric yardage.

Another tip, cut strips 16" long to give yourself a little wiggle room for straightening.

Jackie, Thanks so much for sharing! Skip on over to this Facebook page to see more.

Get out your calendar!

Here are some dates to mark and remember:

• Monday, April 20 - Quilt Circle meets in the shop - 6 pm

• Saturday, May 2 - Adel Chocolate Walk - 10 am to 3 pm

• Also on Saturday, May 2 - Iowa Comfort Quilts Community Sew Day at the Adel Library - 10 am for as long as you can help  - no sewing required - see more on their blog. Scroll down to the April 7 post.

• Thursday/Friday May 7 & 8 - Open Sew at Adel Library

New Stuff!

Hoffman Batiks - These are part of their Row x Row Experience line.

And more batiks from Moda.

Layer cakes (10" squares) from French General

Variety of colors in quatrefoil print layer cakes - my personal favorite!

More layer cakes from Kansas Troubles

 You know it's Spring when the Fall prints arrive - -- from Hoffman.

Also from Hoffman - this little bird print is just bright and pretty.

Show and Share!

We love it when you bring in your Show and Share.  Darlene T brought in this quilt. She used our idea but bumped it up to a bigger size and just used her scraps.  Love it! She has it basted to hand quilt next.

Scrappy New Year - April 15

Holy Scrap!

This is our inspiration quilt. If you are making one just like this, you should already have the center three sections made. Today we will talk about trimming the side pieces and setting this quilt top together.

Sue H. from Missouri sent me this picture of her growing units. She plans to make a larger quilt. I am pretty sure that background with the big yellow dots is her carpet. Notice she used white squares for her end pieces where I used red. I love this quilt already.

This technique for setting rows together is called Seminole Piecing.

I have not finished setting all my rows together as I also have plans to make a larger quilt. - - - I seem to have plenty of scraps on hand for a much larger quilt, if you know what I mean!

Before we go an farther - - - If you are making a larger quilt, do not trim these Seminole pieced sections yet. If you are making the quilt shown at top, - - - read on.

On to trimming the two Seminole pieced sections. When you trim the points off, you will create a bias edge. Bias edges are the most stretchy of raw edges.  If you pull the fabric as you stitch, bias edges will stretch and be ill-fitting.  However, bias edges can also be your making-things-fit-together-friend.  Treat bias edges gently and with respect and you will have no problems.

One trick for working with bias edges is to spray starch before cutting. This is when pressing vs ironing is important. Use an up and down motion with the iron rather than a back and forth motion.

After starching and pressing, leave the unit lay on the ironing board until it has completely dried and cooled.

Now lay a ruler near the edge and trim off the points. Be sure to move the ruler over enough to allow for the quarter inch seam allowance that will be coming down the road. Notice in the close-up below, the 1/4" line of the ruler is aligned with the points of the block.

Lay the three center sections, right sides together and pin well (refer to photo above) and stitch.  Pinning will help keep the bias edges in place and prevent stretching.

You are almost through with the original quilt. All you have left is to add a section to the left side and right side of center. 

These sections are made from 20 rows, each using 2 - 2 1/2" squares. I had some leftover 4-block rows so just un-stitched a couple of those to use in this section.

I also had some short strips leftover from piecing the center sections. I cut those up in 2 1/2" squares and used those as well.

If you have block parts and pieces that are 2 1/2"  or can be trimmed down to that size, use some of those as well. You will notice they have done that in the original quilt. The outside sections are mostly 2 1/2" squares but there are several 2 1/2" half square triangles mixed in as well.

Next month, we will talk about other options to make this quilt larger.  In the meanwhile, look around your sewing room for miscellaneous block parts and pieces then say it with me, "Holy Scrap!"  Don't despair. We will work these into the next step.

Several years ago, Quilt Circle did a monthly exchange of 5" squares. I still have a whole container of these. 

Then our Quilt Circle did an exchange of 9-patch blocks a couple years ago and I have not yet used mine - - - until now.

Even more recently, Quilt Circle did an exchange of half square triangle units that I have yet to use so - - - come back next month and see what's next!

Be sure to send me pictures of your progress to post here. Happy Scrappy Piecing!

Looking for a Featherweight?

Sarah Downing has a Featherweight Sewing Machine with case for sale. It's in good running condition and has recently been cleaned.

For more information, call Sarah at 515-262-7744.

It's a Quilt Happening!

Come for the "bed Turning" program and, if you bring a quilt to show, you get $1 off. Doesn't this sound fun?

It's T Shirt Quilt Time!

Follow this link to our website How To Demo page.  Among other ideas, there you will find a great video on making a T-Shirt quilt.  Our favorite stabilizer for T-Shirt quilts is fusible woven cotton, in stock now.

HOPPY EASTER!

From Cartoon Strip "Pickles"

Say it isn't so!

Deal of the Month!

These kits are 40% off, now just $23.99. Kits include front,back, binding and all of the English Paper Piecing templates to make the blocks. Sweet deal indeed.

News and Fun Stuff

Thank you to everyone that came out to Adel for the Spring Scavenger Hunt Shop Hop. What a fun time was had by all!

Shop owners will meet on April 9 to draw for the prizes so, check back to see if you are a winner:

• Each shop will draw for a $75 value basket of goodies
• Plus one lucky quilter will win the grand prize of 25 yards of fabric!

Other news:

Someone left the carrying case cover to their sewing machine at the Adel Library. We have it in storage so, if it belongs to you, ask at the Adel Library.

Fun Stuff:

Have you downloaded this quilt calculator ap? Go to Google Ap Play Store  and snag this free quilting ap from Robert Kaufman. It's a must have.

More Show and Share

This was a gift to me from Rene G, a dispenser for grocery bags. The fun thing about this gift is that she made it from scraps left over from her Box of Chocolate bom monthly kits.