Twist Along...The Big Finish!

Hi fellow Twisters! How did you do last week? From the great pics on the flickr page I think you all had fun twisting and have that move pretty much down pat now...good job!

This week we will be putting the outside border on. It's totally optional and a great way to increase the size a bit. I did a tutorial on how to add borders to a quilt during week 2 of the Twist Along which can be found here.

Don't forget to add your pics to the flickr page, I love seeing the quilts!

Twist Along Week 3

Now that you have your 36 patch with borders on and have best pressed or starched it, it's time to start cutting. As I mentioned before, It's a good idea to be able to cut all 49 pieces at the same time. It makes keeping track of your piece placement easier.

The Twister ruler is a square ruler with lines drawn a little wonky. These are the lines you will be lining up on the seams.

Starting at the top left corner, place the ruler along all 3 seam lines. You will only have 3 here because the border is sewn on without any seams. Make sure there are no bumps under the ruler. It's easy to get bumps since the ruler is on 'stilts'. Then cut around all 4 sides of the ruler. Be sure to no go more than a 1/4" past the sides or it will cut into the next piece.

Remove the square from the cutting table and put onto a design wall or table.This is what the 36 patch will look like now.

Here's the fun part. Twist the block clockwise until the block is a straight square.

Repeat for each square, remembering to line up the lines with the seams. On any piece that has a border included there will only be 3 seams to line up with and on all the rest there will be 4. This is what it will look like after 2 squares are cut. 

Keep cutting and adding squares to finish the first row. Notice how you can see the twisted pinwheels forming.

Then start on the 2nd row. This is what it will look like after the first two squares of the second row are cut. You can see the first twisted pinwheel now.

After you have all 49 squares cut out then sew them back together just like you did for the original 36 patch, but you will have 7 rows of 7 this time. Remember not to pull the fabric when sewing it back together because it is cut on the bias and has extra stretch.

Now I just need to give this a quick press. Next week we will be adding an outside border or 2 if you want. I have some of the black Sassy with the little paisley print for the border, but an thinking of doing a turquoise for a first border.

Don't forget to link up your twister quilts on the flickr page.

 

Twist Along - hints

Hi Twisters! I hope you all have your borders on your 36 patch now, but if not there's still time to catch up. I wanted to share a few hints for when we start cutting the twisted squares out.

1. I strongly suggest starching or using best press before cutting the twisted squares out. This will give it some body and have less stretch when cutting on the bias.
2. Don't start cutting the twisted squares out until you have a block of time to get it done. It took about 45 minutes to cut all 49 of my twisted squares out.

Jane from Quilt Jane has some great hints for whenever you cut on the bias:

Stretching or distortion can occur as the fabric gives. Some pieces and blocks will have bias edges and will be prone to stretch. Give the fabric a tug lengthwise, across the grain and on the diagonal (bias) and see the different ways the fabric responds.

1. When you can follow the grain line on the pattern piece. This is not always possible on scraps so give the fabric a tug and work out where you can place pattern piece to minimise bias.
2. Minimise distortion by pressing with dry iron and not attacking block.
3. Use starch to stabilise the block
4. Sew a stay stitch (longer straight stitch which can be unpicked later) around the edge of the block. I made a quilt with large setting triangles so I stay stitched around triangle to keep it in shape.
5. Handle with care. Don’t keep pressing and handing pieces and blocks unnecessarily. The more you handle the fabric, the more likely stretching will occur.

So your twister homework for today is to starch the 36 patch with borders. Then on Sunday you will be all ready to start cutting and sewing the quilt top back together. Here's a sneak peek at the doll quilt top I made. Its made with only a 16 patch (4 rows x 4 columns) and the border. Its the perfect size for a doll quilt.

  
Don't forget to start posting your pics on the flickr page.

Twist Along Week 2

Are you ready to work on your Twister Quilt some more? If you missed week 1 here's the link to that post.

This week we will be putting the borders on the 36 patch you made last week. Then later in the week we will be cutting the twister squares.

If you are using 10" squares for the 36 patch you will need to cut 8 - 6.5" x WOF strips then sew 2 strips together to make 4 long border strips.
If you are using 5" squares you will need 4 - 3.5" x WOF strips

Here's a short tutorial on how to sew strips together with a bias seam.

Here's a technique I use when putting borders on my quilts. I used to sew a strip of fabric onto the quilt that was bigger than the quilt length and trim the overhang off to be even with the quilt. But that just got me a wonky quilt. The secret is to cut the opposite side borders the same length and then make the quilt fit the borders so both sides are even.


1. Lay your quilt top out on the floor and take 2 of the border pieces. Pin them to the middle of the top part. Have a helper hold where the fabric is pinned together or put a pin cushion or something else that has a little weight to it on the spot where the pins are. The middle of the quilt is the most stable and least wonky part.

2. Now smooth out the 2 border pieces over the quilt, trying not to pull the border strips or the quilt.

3. Trim the ends of the border strips off where the bottom edge of the quilt is (I use scissors). These 2 borders are for the sides of the quilt. If you cut the pieces a tad bit wonky you can straighten them up.

4. Fold the quilt top in half along the side. If the half way mark is not on a seam then finger press a crease or use a pin to mark the center.

5. Fold the border piece in half and fold to make a crease or use a pin to mark it.

6. Line up both the half way marks and pin.

7. Now pin the border to the right end of the quilt. I find it helpful to pin along the top and then one pin along the side edge to prevent any part from stretching. If it is a tad bit to small or big you can spread out the problem throughout the entire side so it won't even be noticeable. This is how you fix a too big or too small side. Now pin half way between the 2 pins and so on till the entire right half of the border is pinned. I usually like to have a pin at least every 3 inches.

8. Repeat with the left half until the entire border is pinned.

9. Repeat for the opposite side so you have both borders pinned on.

10. Sew using a 1/4" seam. Then press towards the border.

11. Repeat for the top and bottom parts.

Walaa! Borders on the quilt that have right angles for the corners!

I'd love to see your progress, don't forget to post them on the flickr page for the Twist Along.

This should keep you busy for a while. Later in the week we will start cutting the twister squares and sewing them together. That part will take the longest so I have allowed a few extra days for it.

Till next time

Twist for the week

Welcome to the first week of Twist Along with Sha Quilt Along!

First some info...
1. There is a flickr page set up for this QAL http://www.flickr.com/groups/1879756@N24/

2. There's a Twist Along tab at the top bar of the blog, this is where all the links for the QAL can be found if you get lost along the way.

Now onto the fun!

This week is simple, but the most important one in a way.

You will need 36 - 10"x10" or 5"x5" squares to start with. You can use either a layer cake, charm pack or cut your own squares.

Once you have them all gathered together it's time to decide on the layout. You will be making a 6x6 grid (6 across and 6 down) so start playing around with a layout. The important thing to remember is that you want lots of contrast. Try to spread the lights and darks around so they don't touch each other, as well as squares that are the same color. The more contrast the better the pinwheels will be seen.

Once you get a pleasing layout, take a picture and look at it on your computer to get a better look at it. This way you can try different layouts if you want. 

Now it's time to sew the rows together into a 36 patch. Here's a tutorial on making a 36 patch for those who need it.

That's all for this week. Here's what my 36 patch looks like.

  
I'd love to see your progress, why not post it to the flickr page?

Till next time,

Twist Along Flickr Page

I hope your ready to Twist with me!

I have started a Flickr page so we can all upload our pics.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1879756@N24/

Twister Quilt-Along

A few months ago a friend of mine from Quilt Sitters at The Berry Patch in Fort Worth showed me a quilt that she made with one of these rulers.

You all know how I love rulers, I knew I just had to have these. And you know how I have been wanting to make something scrappy? I think this is the perfect first step for me to take in my scrappiness journey.

So how about joining me? All you need is a layercake and 1 1/4 yard of fabric for a border and the big ruler or a charm pack and 1/2 yard of fabric for a border and the lil twister ruler. I ordered mine from The Fat Quarter Shop and with how fast they ship you would have the ruler in no time at all.

Here's the link for the ruler http://www.fatquartershop.com/store/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?T=1&Store_id=499&page_id=17

This Quilt Along will start on Feb 12th and will run for 4 weeks.

So how about it, are you ready to do the twist?