Last night was my little quilt guild, Wego Quiltin'. I provided the program for the evening.
Several readers gave me some ideas for what to present. ES (sorry a noreply blogger) sent me this link, as an idea, thinking that it could work with fabric, not just paper. Since it was Easter themed, I decided to go with it.
Instead of using a frame, I went to Hobby Lobby and got some crafting cards, an X-acto knife (no idea where mine was) and some ideas. I came home and pulled out some strips that have been sitting in a bin (from baby quilts last year) and got started. (I've really been using some of my scraps this year)!
First, I used an Easter egg shape, from a banner, as my template. I traced around it (inside the card) and proceeded to cut it out. I then traced it onto fabric, and cut it out, leaving a large extra edge (between 1/4" & 1/2"), and started sewing strips on the fabric.
I then taped this to the inside of the cut out card. I cut another card in half, and glued it to the back of the fabric egg, so that it would look nice inside the card.
This was quick and easy.
On Friday, after the quilt show, I went to a quilters sale, and, they had a bag with finished blocks for $2. Woohoo! All the blocks would fit nicely in the cards I'd already purchased. Most of the blocks had foundation backing, so, they worked well. It was harder to work with the blocks that didn't have a foundation backing. They were much flimsier. I proceeded to make several more cards with those blocks.
I'd seen a cute box at Hobby Lobby, and decided that it would also work with these blocks. I saved the last block for the box.
It was a bit harder to work inside the lid, but, it worked well.
This was a fun project, and the ladies liked it. I'll do this again.
I have to make several sets of Half Square Triangles for an exchange I'm doing. I decided to try a different way to make the HST's, using 'The Magic 8 Method' from Genius Hacks Every Quilter Should Know, on Craftsy (pgs 7-8). I hadn't tried this method before.
I followed the directions, and made my HST's (oops, I forgot to take pictures). The first set turned out nice, except, I think I'd add 1 inch to the equation, instead of the 7/8", so that I could trim my HST's down. I used a scant 1/4" seam, and my HST's just barely came out. The directions call for a full 1/4" seam. I'll make the next sets with an even smaller seam size, just in case (I already cut out the material, oh well). I did use my BlocLoc ruler to square the HST's up (I love my BlocLoc ruler).
I've saved all the ideas that everyone sent to me, and will be using them in future guild meetings. Next month someone else is doing the program. Thanks for all the ideas! They will come in handy.
Several readers gave me some ideas for what to present. ES (sorry a noreply blogger) sent me this link, as an idea, thinking that it could work with fabric, not just paper. Since it was Easter themed, I decided to go with it.
Instead of using a frame, I went to Hobby Lobby and got some crafting cards, an X-acto knife (no idea where mine was) and some ideas. I came home and pulled out some strips that have been sitting in a bin (from baby quilts last year) and got started. (I've really been using some of my scraps this year)!
First, I used an Easter egg shape, from a banner, as my template. I traced around it (inside the card) and proceeded to cut it out. I then traced it onto fabric, and cut it out, leaving a large extra edge (between 1/4" & 1/2"), and started sewing strips on the fabric.
 |
| strips stitched to foundation fabric |
 |
| finished Easter card |
On Friday, after the quilt show, I went to a quilters sale, and, they had a bag with finished blocks for $2. Woohoo! All the blocks would fit nicely in the cards I'd already purchased. Most of the blocks had foundation backing, so, they worked well. It was harder to work with the blocks that didn't have a foundation backing. They were much flimsier. I proceeded to make several more cards with those blocks.
 |
| using 3 tiny blocks together |
 |
| this would have done better on a card that wasn't white, so that you could see the white fabric better |
I'd seen a cute box at Hobby Lobby, and decided that it would also work with these blocks. I saved the last block for the box.
 |
| block in a box lid |
This was a fun project, and the ladies liked it. I'll do this again.
I have to make several sets of Half Square Triangles for an exchange I'm doing. I decided to try a different way to make the HST's, using 'The Magic 8 Method' from Genius Hacks Every Quilter Should Know, on Craftsy (pgs 7-8). I hadn't tried this method before.
I followed the directions, and made my HST's (oops, I forgot to take pictures). The first set turned out nice, except, I think I'd add 1 inch to the equation, instead of the 7/8", so that I could trim my HST's down. I used a scant 1/4" seam, and my HST's just barely came out. The directions call for a full 1/4" seam. I'll make the next sets with an even smaller seam size, just in case (I already cut out the material, oh well). I did use my BlocLoc ruler to square the HST's up (I love my BlocLoc ruler).
I've saved all the ideas that everyone sent to me, and will be using them in future guild meetings. Next month someone else is doing the program. Thanks for all the ideas! They will come in handy.
Love your Easter egg idea - I just did the same kind of thing with my grandkids last week using yarn. We just put lots of yarn across the egg shape and taped the ends; then glued the front of the card with the cutout over it. Great find on the quilt blocks! ~Jeanne
ReplyDeleteYou found great ideas for teaching your guild friends; I especially like the Easter egg card. And what luck to find those blocks to make more cards and the box looks great - you know that I love boxes ;)! Thanks for the link for the quilting hacks. I'll go and download it right now. I'm always eager to learn something new.
ReplyDeleteThose cards are so cute! My favorite is the egg.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea. Love the cards too, and some orphans have found a home.
ReplyDeleteThat's a darling idea! I love the idea of incorporating quilt blocks into cards...I love sending cards (I love getting mail and I learned very early on that it happens a lot more quickly if one *sends* mail, too)!! I often use photographs I've taken to customize and print onto cards, but I love these fabric cards! The egg really is darling! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Love the cards you made. That's a great use of orphan blocks.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Your cards are lovely! What a neat idea for a smell group!. I have never been able to get the magic 8 to work out correctly!
ReplyDeleteGood job coming up with an idea that was a hit with all.
ReplyDeleteYou're so creative :). I love these ideas. When I use the 8 at a time method they don't always come out at the right size plus I hate drawing the lines so I went back to the 4 at a time, I think it actually works faster even though I'm only making half.
ReplyDeleteLove your cards! I actually have I kits that I purchased many mooons ago that have paper pieced fabric designs to put in cards. Never made them!
ReplyDeleteGreat project. All turned out great!
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I've made quilted cards before. They're a three-fold card and one side folds over the back of the little quilt blocks. They work great.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI like the Easter Egg card. Plus, a great way to use up scraps too!
ReplyDeleteI've just caught up with some blogs, your Easter egg card came out great! I'm happy the idea worked for you! I really liked the orphan block cards!
ReplyDelete