Valentines Day Showcase

Today I am kicking off the Valentines Day Showcase at Sew Bitter Sweet Designs!

The tutorial I am doing for the Showcase is the Love Braids table runner that I showed you during V-Week.

Be sure to hop on over to the Sew Bitter Sweet Blog, Michelle has an awesome giveaway starting today!

Here's the rest of the Valentines Day Showcase Bloggers:

February 2nd – Connie from Quilting by the River
February 3rd – Vicki from Sassy Blog
February 6th – Kris from I don’t have a problem, I have a well-rounded fabric stash!
February 7th – Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs
February 8th – Debbe from Pieces to Love
February 9th – Lyanna from Purple Panda Quilts
February 10th – Jenna from SewHappyGeek
February 13th – Lisa – future food and craft blogger
February 14th – Michele from Quilting Gallery

Be sure to visit their blogs everyday too and tell them Sha sent you!

And speaking of Valentines projects I took part in a Valentines Day Craft from And Sew We Craft. Here's a pic of the mug rug I made for my swapee. To find out how I made this check back in February during the Twist Along!

My first pattern...AKA Countdown to Christmas Tablerunner

Here's my very first pattern. I love all things Sweetwater including Countdown to Christmas. You can get some Countdown to Christmas at The Fat Quarter Shop.

Here's the PDF version.

Countdown to Christmas Table Runner

Fabric:

¼ yard Green                                                  16”x40” piece of batting

¼ yard Black                                                    16”x40” piece for backing     
½ yard Red
½ yard White

Note - this can also be made scrappy as long as you get the same number of squares cut.

Strips are always cut width of fabric (WOF)

HST = Half Square Triangle

Cut (the other pieces will be cut according to the technique you use for your HSTs)
12 green 3 ½” squares
24 green 2” squares

You will need to make 8 black/white HSTs

You will need to make 28 red/white HSTs

Note – If you are using a HST ruler make sure you read the how to directions first.

Here’s 2 different ways to make the HST’s.
Using a HST ruler:

( see this tutorial http://craizeecorner.blogspot.com/2011/04/using-half-square-triangle-ruler.html for more info)

Cut

2 - 3 ½” strips of red
3 - 3½” strips of white
1 - 3½” strips of black.

Place a white and a black strip right sides together. Starting with the ruler facing

this direction (like a right triangle) cut your first set of triangles. Usually it’s the direction that has the writing right side up so you can read it.

Flip the ruler and cut the second set of triangles. Continue until you have 8 black/white triangle sets and 28 red/white triangle sets cut.

Starting with the part of the triangle set with the flat tab, line your needle up with the left corner of the tab and sew using a ¼” seam allowance to the bottom of the triangle.

Make 8 black/white and 28 red/white HSTs

** See the pressing directions before pressing.

Traditional HSTs:

Cut
2 - 3 7/8” white strips, sub cut into 14 - 3 7/8” squares
2 - 3 7/8” red strips, sub cut into 18 - 3 7/8” squares
1 - 3 7/8” black strip sub cut into 4 - 3 7/8” squares

Put a black and a white square, right sides together.

Draw a diagonal line on the white square from point to point.
Sew using a ¼” seam on both sides of the drawn line.
Using a rotary cutter, cut along the diagonal line to make 2 HSTs. Trim to 3 ½”.

Make 8 black/white HSTs and 28 red/white HSTs.

Pressing: Very important

Press half the black/white HSTs towards the white and half towards the black.

Press half the red/white HSTs towards the red and half towards the white.

Adding the Connectors:

On all 8 black/white blocks and 16 red/white blocks (8 pressed towards the red and 8 pressed to the white)  you will be adding a 2” green connector to the white half of the HST block.

See this tutorial http://craizeecorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/corner-triangles-aka-connectorsa.html for an easy no-draw way to attach connector squares

OR you can do it the traditional way of drawing a diagonal line on the 2” squares and sew along that line.

I suggest only cutting the middle piece (the unused part of the connector) and not the bottom 2 layers, that will keep the integrity of the square and make piecing easier.

Putting the table runner together:

You will have 4 different squares at this point.

A – 12 - 3 ½” green squares
B – 12 - 3 ½” red/white HSTs with no connectors
C – 8 - 3 ½” black/white HSTs with green connectors
D – 16 - 3 ½” red/white HSTs with green connectors

Layout the blocks following the diagram below. Starting with the top left Block B alternate the direction the blocks were pressed. This will make matching the points easier. Make each star block and put them together.  To make sure the points match nestle the seams together on the diagonal when you are sewing the blocks together. The points will meet at one point.

Baste, Quilt and Bind as you normally would.

There you have it...a table runner that can be made for any season. Instead of the 4 A blocks put together you can fussy cut a 6 ½" square to go there.

Things that I learned...

Today I put together a new block for the Patchwork Squared Quilt-a-long. After putting it together I took a pic and once I had it on my computer I saw the square on the left. I'm sure you can see the big boo-boo I made, if not the correct block is on the right.

Then I started to think about all that I have learned about quilting and sewing so here’s a list of something’s I have learn when quilting. I'd love to hear from you so please leave me a comment and tell me things that you have learned so that maybe I won't make more boo-boos. These may seem like no-brainers but when I began quilting I had to learn some of these the hard way.

1. Do not rush your quilting; take your time even if that means it takes you an hour to finish 1 block. You'll make fewer mistakes, I promise :)

2. When sewing points together I find it helpful to stick a pin from the back to the front to make sure the points match up so you sew them correctly. Sometimes one point is further away from the edge than another and this lets me fudge it a bit.

3. Press all seams open that do not need to be butted against each other. Believe me it helps.

4. Get the best quality thread you can get, it does make a difference. I use cotton thread for any projects that use cotton fabric; it just makes sense to me.

5. Keep the little pamphlet that comes with your rulers, that has instructions on how to use them correctly.

6. If you like a particular line of fabric make sure you get enough of it. When you go back to the shop what you need may be gone. I usually get a charm pack or layer cake and 1/2 yard of what prints/solids I like in that line and 3.5 yards for backing.

7. Once I have cut and used what fabric I need for a project I cut 1 2.5" strip WOF, 1 2.5" square and 1 charm square (5" square). I have bags for each of these. Someday I am going to do a scrap quilt with these.

8. When trying a new technique I write hints that worked for me in the margins to help me remember how to make it.

9. Clean your machine a lot! I clean mine about every 8 - 10 hours of sewing. It’s nice to get the fuzz out.

10. Don't be afraid to try new techniques and blocks, that’s the way we learn and grow as quilters. I joined a few quilt-a-longs and am working my way thru 2 books right now. I learn new blocks to make and new ways to make them every week.

Sha :)