Summer SpinOut - July 2017 Block Lottery

To say we were excited about the Kona's 2017 Color of Year announcement is an understatement.  

Nothing says Florida (or summer or fun) like Flamingo Pink. 

It's an iconic association, along with orange groves, beaches, and alligators, that immediately comes to mind when you think of the state we call home.  

We (your ECMQG 2017 Board) knew we wanted to use it several different times throughout the year for guild projects.

  
As soon as Faye mentioned showcasing Flamingo for her stint as the July Block Lottery hostess, we jumped.

Years ago, like we all do whether from Pinterest, a blog, Flickr, etc., Faye saw a tutorial for a block that she wanted to make.  Also like many of us, she never actually found the time to do so.  That sad tale ends here, because Faye found the tutorial, chose her colors and fabric inspiration, and presented it last week.

For the month of July, Faye asks that we make SpinOut, a block and tutorial John Q. Adams, aka quiltdad, designed for The Desperate Housewife's Quilt blogfest.  (Strap yourself into the Way Back Machine.  This happened back in blogland during 2011, which is eons ago in the age of changing social media platforms.)

Colors are Kona Flamingo (or a pink that is REALLY close such as Kona Melon or Kona Punch), a solid gray (more on that in a moment), and a print that has Flamingo in it. 

Natalie helped determine the color challenge.  When selecting the gray - any shade/any manufacturer - fabric, look for the VALUE difference (contrast) between it and the Kona Flamingo.  We found during Saturday's meeting, there is little to no contrast between Flamingo and Kona Medium Gray.  

Notice in the mosaic below, the contrast between the two solid fabrics is lost in the images on the right.  That's what you want to avoid.  

  

Faye said the things she liked best when constructing her sample blocks was the ability to fussy cut her favorite Tula Pink images and the ease and organization that chain piecing allowed.  Additionally, she particularly liked the secondary pinwheel design the little flamingo corners make once multiple blocks are positioned next to each other.  

Please refer to Faye's blocks for visual placement of your fabrics.  John's tutorial can be found here.

You will need to cut fabric as follows for each 8.5" (unfinished) block:

Cut four (4):

Flamingo - 2.5" x 2.5"

Print - 2.5" x 4.5"

Gray - 2.5' x 2.5" AND 2.5" x  4.5"

Let us know your thoughts.  To make a decent sized quilt with no sashing or borders, we'll need to receive 56 blocks.  It's a good thing these are a fast make! 

Fractured Curves - June 2017 Block Lottery

Greetings Modern Quilters!

I’m Natalie and here is this month’s block lottery. 

I drew upon two awesome creators for this block, Carole Lyles Shaw and Anne Deister at SpringLeaf Studios.

We are having some improv fun this month with a beautiful block that Carole Lyles Shaw developed for the 2016 Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop called Fractured Curves. Carole describes herself as a modern quilt designer, author, and workshop instructor. She takes a modern, improvisational approach to her quilting projects and enjoys the free expression and individualism that modern quilting embraces. You can find out more about Carole at her website carolelylesshaw.com

We are also experimenting with an analogous color scheme and Anne Deister of SpringLeaf Studios wrote a blog with a great visual of all the analogous combinations on the color wheel we are studying, along with stunning photos that are helpful. With a background in graphic design, Anne confesses a love for combining fabric patterns and colors and her obsession is now a full-time pursuit. You can find out more about Anne at her website springleafstudios.com

With this block, we will explore two different skill sets – improvisational piecing with drunkards path blocks, slicing, rearranging, adding – AND the analogous color scheme with a 4 step value change.

LETS GET STARTED!

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:

Each block requires 4 – 10” square pieces.

One 10” square must be EITHER – Kona, Bella, Blake, Miller WHITE OR Alison Glass Abacus Carved in Charcoal

Before choosing your next 3 fabrics, read through Anne’s blog post Analogous Colors (November 27, 2015) Analogous Colors blog by SpringLeaf Studios

The remaining 3 fabric 10” squares must be SOLID, Moda Grunge, or Moda Grunge Hits the Spot in any combination you choose. They must represent an analogous color scheme – meaning they are right next to each other on the color wheel. You may choose 1, 2 OR 3 colors. Regardless of how many colors you choose, you must have 3 different values represented. Use the mono or black and white setting on your phone and select a light, medium, and dark value. 

You will also need 2 pieces approximately 4”x7.5”. You won’t use these until the very end so don’t cut these out yet - see Tip for Step 11.

SEWING

Carole created a free detailed tutorial for the block

Fractured Curves Block Tutorial PDF File  

HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL TIPS:

·       Starch those 10” squares before cutting. Because we are working with curves, there is a tendency to stretch the fabric on the bias which makes wonky things happen. Starch will help the fabric retain its shape.

·      In step 2, Carole cuts from R to L going down – it was easier for me to go from R to L in an upwards direction.

·      In step 3, I placed my top fabric away from the edge about ½” – 1” and continued sewing. My result was more balanced. 

·      In step 4, I ironed out toward the “L” shape regardless of light or dark. There was less bunching of the eased-in fabric. 

·       At the end of step 9 – you could be finished, the block looks pretty cool, but keep going!!!

·       In step 10, I cut through the block on the diagonal right through that very middle seam where the 4 different fabrics intersect – the 5” measurement didn’t work for me for some reason. Use whatever angle you want here as long as you cut through that intersection.

·      In step 11, for the 4” x 7.5” pieces you have 3 choices:

o   Continue to follow Carole’s directions,

o   Make your own scrappy fabric from your trimmings,

o   OR choose a single piece of fabric in one or two of your 4 colors. I like this one best.

·       In step 14, trim to 12.5” square. YOU decide what sections to keep and what sections to cut off. The best part, SAVE what you cut off. If you turn in these final trimmings in with your block you receive two tickets, WOW!

Remember to use hashtags for our social media friends

@carole_lylesshaw #fracturedcurves #springleafstudios

Have fun sewing improvisationally!

Natalie

@nurturecreations

Block Lottery - Transparent Play

If you attended either the August meeting or the September meeting, you know the block lottery format changed a little bit.  

Laraine, the second of our guest presenters, chose the block shown September 17th and due October 8th.  Wanting to give us "something new, different, cool" to sink our teeth into, she chose the block called Transparent Play that Kitty Wilkin designed last summer.    

You can find Kitty writing about quilty things over on her blog, Night Quilter, and sharing pictures and snippets of her family life in rural Maine.  On Instagram, she is @nightquilter and would love to be tagged in your photos.    

As with all of the blocks presented for ECMQG's block lottery, please review our guidelines and rules.  Ask questions; share ideas, tips, or ah ha! moments.  You know if you have them, someone else does too! 

Transparent Play is a 12.5" unfinished block.  Laraine's examples showed us blocks made entirely with solid fabrics; but she said you can make them with prints if that's more your style.  Whichever you decide, please use Kona White for the background.  

Colors can be within the same color family (note the green block and the blue block) or, as in the middle picture, can be what happens when you blend colors like you do when mixing paint.  Fun, fun, FUN,   

Ideally, this block will allow you to explore color theory and color value.  As Laraine says "In selecting your solids, COLOR VALUE will play an important role.  Use the mono filter on your camera to see the correct light/medium/dark contrast." 

Two links that Laraine suggested for more in-depth knowledge of color value can be found here and here.  
  
Kitty's tutorial is detailed and straightforward.  Laraine recommends printing it to help you stay organized as you cut, pin, and sew.  She found it easy to cross through and check off items as she went along.    

Another item Laraine really liked from the tutorial, although not spelled out, is labeling your pins to help with that staying organized thing.  This block has a lot of pieces - 19 - to keep track of.  A good organization plan is key.  

Also, 19 pieces means a lot of seams.  Make sure your .25" seam is scant (by 1 width of your needle) before you begin.  When it's not, your final block size will be incorrect.  There is no point in being frustrated at the end, when you can prevent this from happening with a little bit of troubleshooting beforehand.  

Lastly, starch is your friend.  Both before you cut fabric and as your are pressing seams.

Thanks so much for trying this block and please don't hesitate to ask questions!

Laraine and Cindy