6" Nine Patch Swap - 20 people = 38 & 1 6.5 inch squares - Page 6

giraffe_baby · #**151** 08/01/12, 01:26 PM

Finished my blocks today ( must say the last 10 gave me a headache!! they were the ones done in the strip method (as provided) and OMG my seams kept coming apart!!, I must say doing each tiny square is easier than rip/snip/seam them all again!!)

Now to label and get them pkg'd... I wont be able to mail til the 15th due to pay day ( but I think thats in time for the date cut off... gonna dbl check!!!)

cc · #**152** 08/01/12, 02:25 PM

I sewed my blocks together and washed them in a net bag then trimmed any that needed it. Since I sewed them with scant 1/4" seams it seemed to have worked.

nanavicky · #**153** 08/01/12, 05:10 PM

Belfrybat, thank you for the braid quilt block info. For some reason I was thinking I needed 5 strips of each color for the blocks, when in reality only needed 3. Sooo, this will be great to use up all those extra strips I find myself with, and much more interesting that a log cabin.

All my blocks are sewn and trimmed, just needing to be labeled. And Just to confirm - we are sending 20 sets of 2, (which includes 1 for Prairie Girl), and an extra one or two for the hostess.

Also, I have about half in brighter/darker colors and half in more pastel type colors. How should I group them: Dark with dark and pastel with pastel or one of each?

Belfrybat · #**154** 08/01/12, 09:34 PM

You are welcome. I'm working on a throw that will be three or four lines of braid about 8" wide each. I enjoy doing it, except having to pop up and iron after each sewing line. I haven't figured out how to make them more efficiently. I paired my squares pastel with dark, but there apparently isn't any rule about that. I figured by mixing them up, folks would get a good selection.

HorseMom · #**155** 08/02/12, 12:40 AM

I just paired mine so nobody got 2 of the same block and everyone got 1 block that had handyed fabric in it so ya'll could sample it. Hand Dyed Fabrics by Lori in case someone missed the link. Such eye candy on that site.
Heidi

countrysunshine · #**156** 08/02/12, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngieM2

Tetris quilt - please explain this one. Sounds interesting.

Here is the link

Happy Quilting: Tetris Quilt-A-Long - The Rundown and A Giveaway

She gives us 9 more pieces (36 tiles) each Tuesday. You are supposed to fit what you can into a 6x6 grid. I am just using graph paper that I had. That is the block for that week. I am carrying mine over into the next block instead of truncating. I also reduced the size of the tiles so that I have room for some "falling" pieces at the top.

She is using white as the background/filler. I am using black. One of the participants is using this really cute black with little white dancing skeletons on it. Super fun!

If you do a google image search for Tetris quilt you will see where some people have pieced each tile with 4 to 9 pieces. I am not that dedicated! All of my tiles of one color are from the same fabric but I kind of wish I had mixed them up.

I think it would be kind of fun to do as a quilt along on here, if any one is ever interested.

I am posting about it in my blog and she has a flickr album for completed blocks.

giraffe_baby · #**157** 08/02/12, 07:34 AM

Oh wow the Tetris thing looks cool!! I bet we could do one in like a "holiday" theme fabric ( thinking Christmas or Fourth Of july!!! (red white blue) (lol for me Im thinking ohhh that would be cool in a giraffe/animal print version too!!)

countrysunshine · #**158** 08/02/12, 12:35 PM

I had thought it would be fun in Christmas colors. I have week three done but haven't posted it yet. I did it the day the blocks came out and before I went to work. Kind of addictive.

maxine · #**159** 08/02/12, 05:03 PM

Thanks Belfry..I do like to do the Braid..have done lots of sizes...sometimes it's nice to sit and sew without having to think too much about what I'm doing.. very soothing.. and sometimes,, infact lots of times, my brain just goes for a "walk about" all by its self!! so I know what you mean Tallpines..!! maybe our minds are out together!! hope they are having fun..mine never tells me where it's been.

)

HorseMom · #**160** 08/04/12, 12:29 AM

Mine are in the truck waiting to be mailed. Just haven't been able to make it to the PO or the grocery store for that matter, lol. I did make it to watch my daughter graduate Safety Town today. 21 days and she starts school :-(
Heidi

Belfrybat · #**161** 08/04/12, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxine

Thanks Belfry..I do like to do the Braid..have done lots of sizes...sometimes it's nice to sit and sew without having to think too much about what I'm doing.. very soothing.. and sometimes,, infact lots of times, my brain just goes for a "walk about" all by its self!! so I know what you mean Tallpines..!! maybe our minds are out together!! hope they are having fun..mine never tells me where it's been.

)

I too like the braid. I've always used log cabin as my "mindless" quilt sewing for small projects (our swap was my first full-sized quilt), but the braid is so much more interesting. I was in the quilt shop yesterday and the owner was finishing up a braid table runner that really caught my attention. Not sure I can describe it, but it was two braid pieces put end to end with a square turned on it's corner in the middle. The braid points were to the ends of the runner. This was done in shades of brown with a small white/beige print border around it. Gave me an idea for a Christmas project.

countrysunshine · #**162** 08/04/12, 10:24 AM

I am a in a funk about this swap. I think I am going to have to give in and wash fabric to use instead of scraps. I have a tremendous amount of scraps but I hate washing them and trying to sort that mess out.

I will get them done on time, ladies. I just am finding no pleasure this time. I might if I actually started!!!

maxine · #**163** 08/04/12, 10:43 AM

countrysunshine..how about if you put them together first, then washed them??..iron and square them up after washing them..make them a little but bigger than 6 1/2 for shrinking..this way you won't have frayed small strips to deal with..

cc · #**164** 08/04/12, 11:46 AM

Maxine & Countrysunshine: I did that, made blocks and then washed them in a net bag. They really didn't shrink much at all. worked great.

JanO · #**165** 08/04/12, 12:17 PM

Sorry about not being on much ladies. Life has kind of gotten in the way. Strips are ready to go, just need to get them to the machine and start sewing.

CC thank you for the beautiful card. I really needed it when it arrived.

Happy sewing everyone!

tallpines · #**166** 08/04/12, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxine

countrysunshine..how about if you put them together first, then washed them??..iron and square them up after washing them..make them a little but bigger than 6 1/2 for shrinking..this way you won't have frayed small strips to deal with..

But doesn't some fabric shrink differently than others?

Half of squares out of the nine may shrink a bunch while the others may not shrink at all.

Then you've put time into making a block that ends up too distorted to be ironed out and squared up.

The only way to avoid this may be to not wash and dry on the HOT cycle......but then you do not acheive the primary purpose of the instructions that tell us to WASH and DRY on a hot cycle.

Belfrybat · #**167** 08/04/12, 10:13 PM

Well, I don't own a dryer, so none of mine were machine dried. I put my scraps in a dishpan with Dawn and poured boiling water over them. Stirred well and let sit until the water was cool enough to handle. Then drained, rinsed, and ironed them dry. Figured the heat from the water and the iron should do any shrinking. At least I hope so. But by using that method I didn't lose any to fraying.

cc · #**168** 08/04/12, 10:23 PM

Tallpines, since mine were from a jelly roll they were all the same type of fabric and did not really shrink very much at all. I think most good quality modern fabrics don't really shrink very much like the older fabrics did.

tallpines · #**169** 08/05/12, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc

Tallpines, since mine were from a jelly roll they were all the same type of fabric and did not really shrink very much at all. I think most good quality modern fabrics don't really shrink very much like the older fabrics did.

Mine are truely odds and ends from a stash that is from a wide time span.
I don't think my blocks from this project includes any original old flour sack fabric but I do indeed have some in my stash.

**AngieM2** · #**170** 08/05/12, 11:42 PM

I've got strips of 2 widths started, sets of pink, and sets of yellow/red. So I did get something done tonight.

Pauline · #**171** 08/06/12, 08:09 PM

all my block pieces are cut out need to find cord for machine i know it is in a box somewhere in the pile in the front room will be sewing on wed. and thurs. hope to be half done if not finished by sat. evening then back to putting house back together

maxine · #**172** 08/07/12, 10:49 AM

Mine are done, envelopes addressed and ready to go.. I will mail tomorrow.. I've been making more 9 patch blocks.. have been using up Halloween fabric to make a table cloth..then want to make a Thanksgiving one..lots of fun putting all my fabrics together and seeing the result..will probably put braided borders..my life has turned so exciting... 9-patch and briaids...wahoo!!!!!!!!

Belfrybat · #**173** 08/07/12, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxine

Mine are done, envelopes addressed and ready to go.. I will mail tomorrow.. I've been making more 9 patch blocks.. have been using up Halloween fabric to make a table cloth..then want to make a Thanksgiving one..lots of fun putting all my fabrics together and seeing the result..will probably put braided borders..my life has turned so exciting... 9-patch and briaids...wahoo!!!!!!!!

Oh, I hadn't thought about nine patch with braided borders! YES! Thanks for the suggestion.

Patches · #**174** 08/07/12, 08:18 PM

Well, I am still here, but have made ZERO progress since my last check in. (over a week ago, I think). Just can't seem to get up there to that sewing room!!! When is the deadline again

?? I think I can finish up this week. Everything is cut and sorted, just waiting for me to sew. I promise I will finish soon. Thank you for the card cc, it was so unexpected and so cute. I just love our group. I am very busy tomorrow, gotta go to Springfield and move my son from Bolivar to Springfield where he is working at the hospital and going to school. He wants to get closer to work since his lease expires this month on the house in Bolivar. Then Thursday and Friday, I think I will be home alone and so should be able to get a lot of sewing done. At least I hope so. You all are making me look bad!!!!!!!!! Happy sewing.

**Melissa** · #**175** 08/08/12, 10:05 AM

I have squares cut but no sewing done YET! They are laying right by the machine though. The kids bought a used pool and between moving it, getting it set up and the ensuing clean-up etc... it has been busy here. Now I just need to sew instead of hanging out in the pool! Plus it is the height of canning season here and Roy's cow is fresh and drowning me in milk. I am making cheese 3-4 times a week which is more than I want to. But I am going to age them for later so the effort will be worthwhile in the long run!

RedHeadedTricia · #**176** 08/08/12, 10:15 AM

Man I just can't seem to gat back to these blocks since I last checked in. But I promise to get back to them .... well today would work ... I guess since as far as I know there is nothing on the schedule. It's the standing over the iron that has put me off as my back has been giving me fits but I am going to try sitting down to do it since I'm using the tabletop ironing board. All I really need to do is sew the rows together so it shouldn't be taking along to finish these.

CC thank you for the card.... that was sweet of you. I'll get an e-mail out to you some time this week. Hope YOU & Max are doing okay.

Well I guess I had better go & get productive.
RHTricia

tallpines · #**177** 08/08/12, 10:28 AM

I'm making progress.
Stopped at the post office this a.m.to pick up the free tyvek mailing envelopes. They had a whole stack of them right out in the lobby.

I've got to say, I've not begun to make a dent in my stash.
Still have the fabric to make a zillion more blocks --- it's time that is lacking.

I have to make 8 more blocks before FINISH!

nanavicky · #**178** 08/08/12, 05:58 PM

Blocks are in the mail... 1st timer so hoping I did it all correctly.

DC: 0312 0090 0000 3115 3503

CC, I kept the receipt portion of the DC for the mailing back to me. Was this the right thing to do? If not, I'll be glad to drop it into an envelope and mail it off to you. Just let me know.

Can't wait to get it back. Wishing I had thought to get some of the tyvek envelopes they had out, looked at them, but my mind was on other things I guess.

cc · #**179** 08/08/12, 07:11 PM

I hope that everyone got my little thinking of you card. You girls don't know how very much your friendship means to me, I feel like I know each of you in a very special way.

Seems like everyone is on track to finish up this quick swap. I am really looking forward to putting these to good use, not sure for what but I know something will come up. Table cloth, bed or couch quilt, wall hanging, HUMMMMMMMMM so many decisions!

Billie in MO · #**180** 08/08/12, 10:52 PM

I haven't been on here since last month (just couldn't bring my sad news to you after the last swap where so many of us were hit with a variety of things) so I stayed away. But my blocks are done. I still have to iron them and put labels on. We leave for CO at the end of the month to go visit Bill's family so they will be mailed before we leave.

cc--thank you so much for the card you sent. You don't know how much it meant to me. Lifted my spirits when it was needed very badly. Thank you!!!