Another post about those bonus HSTs...

Remember those bonus blocks that I got whilst working on my Blossom quilt? I have received some sweet comments from some rookie quilters -- they've told me that they appreciate the series of posts I've been writing. 
I'm trying to make sure that they can avoid some of the obstacles that really threw me for a loop!

(Remember? Your first line of stitching is for the quilt block, but you stitch again just a little ways over, and cut between the two lines of stitches.)

Just a quick note here, rookies: when you slice off those half square triangle blocks, and you are ready to square them up?  Don't use steam!!  Not at first, anyway.

When your block looks like this, use a dry iron (turn off the steam) and press it flat, first. Then open it out and press the seam (I usually press toward the darker fabric, so it doesn't show as much) without pulling on it. You can really distort it, and get it severely wonkified if you are not careful.  (Ask me how I know.  Or take pity on me and don't ask.  Just nod, knowingly, and pat my hand.)

After you get it nice and flat, if you want to you can use a bit of steam to coax it into submission, er, make sure it stays flat!

Then you square it up, like we did in this post.

Now you are ready to have fun!  I mean it! This is so much fun . . . there are so many things you can do with these bonus blocks.

Look, here is option number one:

Pinwheels! There's a classic for you. Lots of movement when you put those as a border. You can see that Padsworth loves his HST blocks. . . he's hugging them, whilst he tells me how to arrange them.

Next, you can line them up this way:

Or this way:

Or even this way:

You can even arrange them this way:

Now do you see why I say they are a lot of fun? Of course, my studio cat was not as excited as Padsworth was, with all of these options . . . Moses was suddenly overcome with the urge to nap. 

I'm not quite sure which way I'll use mine, but I am certain that I like how my Blossom quilt is coming along.  Click here to go to the gallery and check it out!

Do you like the colors you saw there for the lattice and the intersection blocks? Or do you like it better with this color option?  (This is a super easy switch with the OleFrogEyes software!)

Tell me what you think!  

Me? I hafta go and coax Padsworth into letting go of my HST blocks!!

Come back here, you rascal!!

Love,

Blocks with a bonus

I spent some of my time during May for Me working on my "Blossom" quilt using Butterscotch and Roses fabrics. 

You can click on this link if you want one of your own....our sponsor, the fabulous Fat Quarter Shop has these bundles in stock!

The Blossom pattern is by Joanne Figueroa, and she is the designer of the fabrics, too!

When we participated in SewMamaSew's giveaway day, some new folks joined our Lilypad community, and some of you mentioned that you were new to our addiction, er, craft. I thought I would show you the bonus that I'm getting when I make these blocks . . . 

I have a ten inch square (Note for rookies: you can get a stack of those in what is called a layer cake.) and I cut five inch squares from a contrasting fabric, like so:

I draw a line from corner to corner on the five inch square. See it?

Next, I place the smaller square (right sides together) on one corner of the larger square, and sew on the marked line.

I come screeching to a halt at the end of the line, and raise the presser foot and gently pull the squares out about an inch . . . that pulls a little of the thread out toward me, giving me some slack. Next, I sew a second line of stitching about one quarter inch away from the first, and cut between the lines. (Pssst! Those lines are enhanced so you can see 'em better . . . I don't actually mark them that much!!)

UPDATE:  One of our special Lilypad followers has mentioned that if you do this my way, you will create a one-eighth seam instead of one quarter. This has worked OK for me, but if it is outside of your comfort zone, you could always move over a little further for your second seam....you would just end up with a slightly smaller HST. No worries there.)

You veterans will know that I am creating a bonus half square triangle block for myself here, but our special peeps, our rookies, will find this interesting, I think. I may even rope one or two of them into trying this -- and end up with yet another HST quilter in our midst. 

I R Devious, R I not? (Wink)

Now, with this block, each time I make a "petal" for my blossoms, I also get three bonus blocks . . . I have quite a stack here now!! 

I'm pondering just how to incorporate these into my design. They might add a nice border, but I might also use them to create a whole different quilt --- perhaps a lap or throw quilt size.

I think I shall have to wait until I get some of the petals joined with the lattice, or sashing, and then decide on how to use my bonus blocks!

Love,

Blossom Quilt

Click here to enter our current giveaway --- luscious charm packs and Superior Thread!

I'm linking up today with Katherine's Corner and Savannah Granny, for Thursday Favorite Things linky party....because quilting is one of my favorite things! Also partying with Marcia's Minutes for Me!

Most of you know, by now, that I heart OleFrogEyes! This blog was named Lilypadquilting because of our mascot at the design wall site: Padsworth. And recently a dear, creative friend designed a quilt label especially for me to use, with a tiny froggie on it -- and I love it so much! Here he is:

Isn't he adorable? I think that she created the cutest little frog --- I can't wait to finish a project and iron him on to the white fabric I have cut and ready . . . that's why the design is reversed, ya know! 

The reason that I love OFE so much is that it makes it so easy to plan a quilt. I have started a quilt using the "Blossom" pattern from Fig Tree Quilts, and I'm using a fat quarter bundle of Butterscotch and Roses that I won this past spring, from Joanna Figueroa's blog. Here are the two blocks that I finished last night:

   

Now, when you create a quilt on OFE, you click on a square and upload a photo (em-smallened with Paint.net software) to that particular square. You add as many as you please, and then save your changes. Then you can start playing with lattice and borders! 

Here is what I mean . . . 

This is a screen shot of my gallery page, and I have uploaded the pictures of the first four flower "petals" that will make up the Blossom quilt.  I've chosen a beige-y kind of color scheme for the lattice and borders. But when I get more blocks in there, I might decide that I want a different palette . . . I'm using all of the bundle that I can, so there will be browns, reds, blues, and greens. I could decide to do this:

Hmmmm . . .

Do you know how long that took? Less than twenty seconds --- and I'm auditioning a new color! 

A bonus as I'm making these blocks can be seen here:

Yippee! Each time I add a side to a "petal" I go back and stitch again, a quarter-inch away, and then slice that off . . . I think if I use those, and my scraps, I may have a whole second quilt! Gonna use OFE to design it, too! 
As I add more blocks, I'll post some pictures, and get y'all to tell me which color scheme looks best, OK? I would appreciate the help!

Love,

PS. If you want to see the quilt in the gallery, just click on this linkie, and you can check it out!