Looking forward to the big move into our new home in September

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Folded Spools, part II




Folded Spools, part II


That’s how it looks like after the first seam is done. The turquoise “rectangle looking piece” is going to be the folded center square. Don’t press at this time!

Flip the two triangles as shown face to face to the center (sorry, my English isn’t good enough to explain each step correctly). I do hope the pictures will bring some light ....



That is what it looks like from the back
after you sewed the first two, opposite seams – you see, there was no pressing done.
Open the “box” and concentrate to the left side. Bring the upper and the superior edge in the center together nicely, pin it across, follow the line and secure with another pin.
Sew from the edge to the center, stop ¼ “ from the corner!
Continue on the 4th side.



Sewing is done,


please iron it carefully now:
clockwise or in the opposite direction WiTHOUT pressing the folded center square!
We don’t want to have it flat at the end

Now it is pressed, from the back the center is folding like a little 4 patch

Cut the “ears” – READY

Please let me know, if there is something wrong or uncomprehensible
and PLEASE
show me your results, if you made also folded spool blocks.


Folded Spools


My newest project was born yesterday with the little help of EQ.
I’m a fan of folded fabrics, so I designed a little wallhanging showing 6 different spool-blocks. Each block is 4” finished, that’s a total of 28” at the end.
Monika, my best friend living in the lovely village Lüneburg and I planed to start this project during the last week of August, when I’m her guest for one week.
But I couldn’t wait and started today.


To sew half-square triangles I love to work with The Angler 2. Please visit http://www.pambonodesigns.com, they offer several Videos, which shows perfect how to use it. Did I mentioned before that I love good notions?

My first spool is done like a BOW TiE block with two half-square trianlges on two opposite places with a folded center.

I’ll show the details of making on the second block. The only difference is that this block is made with 4 quarter-square triangles and the center square. You may variate the measurement of the center to get different spools ;-)
To insert the folded square there are two methods to do this block. If you prefer to sew by hand, you may give it a try to sew clockwise or counterclockwise. By sewing with machine it is easier to do the two opposite sites first. Sounds complicate, but I hope the pictures will show, what I’m unable to explain clearly.


Start with this 5 pieces, in my example the finished block is 4”. So cut two 5 ¼ squares twice diagonaly: one of the background and of the spool fabric (brown). This way you get the fabrics for two blocks. The center fabric (thread color) is 4”, but it is variable. I choose plain fabrics or Marbles, handdyed – to show the thread.





This is the first step: fold the center square from bottom to top (left side to left side), place it on top of the right side of the upper left trianlge as shown.
Flip the upper right triangle (brown) on top of it to the left side.


ATTENTION: don’t sew into the seamallowence in the center of the block, otherwise you wan’t be able to iron the block clockwise (or counterclockwise). But that’s nessecary to lay the center flat.


Wednesday, August 01, 2007

fabricstorage ...

today I'll show you my fabricstorage.
The 5 drawers are from IKEA, named "Malm", made with birch-tree-veneer.


And I'll get the 6th one this month! I have to confess ;-)
my fabrics had never been so well organized before I got them -
it is such a fun to open the drawers

this are my blue and turquoise pieces
Again my quiltrack found a nice place to show you my latest quilttop,
I finished it yesterday



13 ladies from the Dear Jane Group namend "Ruhris" presented me each a black/red block when we met in June in Essen in Sigrid's garden. Firstable I was confused how to set 13 blocks, but thanks EQ I got it and this is my first sewing I did in Szczecin.

Many Thanks to:
Anna, Daggi, Gaby, Hildegard, Ingrid, Martina, Martina, Nadja, Sigrid M, Susanne und Ulla
now I can start to quilt during cool evenings :-)