YouPatch tutorial - How do you put a pixel block together?

For those of you who have downloaded the FREE Marilyn pixel quilt pattern from youpatch.com and would like a bit of help assembling your blocks, here is a tutorial for you!!

The first thing you need to do is organize all your cut pieces. I like to keep mine in those little plastic snap-lock bags so I can easily find them when I need them.

Once you have all your fabric cut and organized, select and lay out the pieces you need for your block.
This is block B2 from the Marilyn pattern.

The first stitching you need to do is sew the smallest squares into pairs to create the smallest rectangle shape.

Now sew the smallest rectangles together to create squares

Next we need to create 8 rectangles

Getting the idea? Can you see what comes next?

I bet you can work out the rest now :-)

TA DAAA!!!!

You are well on your way to making your pixel quilt.

Happy pixelating!!

Andi xx

Tutorials in Wonderland

Made myself a Biscornu pincushion today using this tutorial.


Fabric is from the Wonderland range by MoMo.

Also using the same fabrics (2 charm packs and a jelly roll plus some linen from Amitie), I made this quilt top .....

Now I just need to baste, quilt and bind. No biggie!!

Aaaaargh!!!

Also, I made another one of these for another gift .....



A couple of people have asked me for a tutorial on this one. It's in the pipelines but I haven't yet perfected the method.
Need to make a couple more, me thinks.

(What is the ettiquette for offering a tutorial for something that wasn't your idea in the first place?)

On the back, I gave it a label .... (Sorry about the blurry shot).


To make the label, I used this tutorial that I found via Bec's blog.

That's all for now.

I'm off to bed.

Happy stitchin'.

Andi :-)

Thanks Nichola

Last night, Nichola taught me how to put in a zip using my zipper foot.

I am so chuffed at how it turned out.
I never thought I'd turn out something so professional looking.

Here is the finished item on my couch with another new cushion I 'whipped up'.



Thanks again Nichola.

Andi :-)

Thankyou Kathy

I have just read a great tutorial here about improving images using photoshop.

I had a go myself!

Before ....



After ....




Not the greatest photo to begin with but this process really makes the colours pop.

Have fun!!

Andi :-)

Breaking the drought (and also a little tutorial)

After a 3 week drought, I was very excited to get back to my Tuesday night 'Stitch and Bitch' class at Amitie.

It was lovely to see my very patient and talented teacher Judy again.

She has taught me so very much.

Numerous other happy patchers and quilters came along tonight.

(Note the empty champagne flutes).

And I got started on a new project for my mum's birthday coming up in December.

I used a technique that I learned watching the (online) Quilt Show. This technique was described in the show that you can watch for free. (I hope the episode hasn't changed).

In any case, I thought I'd show you how I do this gorgeous block.

It is a 'Flying Geese' block made (incredibly) with

only 1 seam!

Check this out .....

First, you cut your pieces.

I'll give the dimensions for a finished block that is 3 inches x 6 inches.

You need two 3.5 inch squares that will make the corners of the block. And you need to cut a rectangle 3.5 inches x 6.5 inches, which will make the central triangle of the block.

These ...

will eventually become these....

Here's how ...

Take the rectangle piece and fold it in half with the right side on the OUTSIDE.

Then make a sandwich with this folded rectangle as the 'filling', and 2 of the squares as the 'bread'. The 2 squares should have their right sides facing INTO the sandwich.

You will notice that the folded rectangle is the same width as the squares but 1/4 inch shorter. Place the fold of the rectangle at the end with the 1/4 inch gap (see above).

Then, with the sandwich in this same position, sew a 1/4 inch seam down the right hand side of the sandwich. (Once you get used to this process, you can chain piece lots of blocks in one go).

That's all the sewing. Amazing!!!

The magic happens with the ironing.

First, with the fold of the rectangle at the top of the block, iron out the right hand square.

Then, grab the bottom left hand corner of the folded rectangle and bring it over to the right hand side to make a folded triangle.

Iron this down ....

and voila!!!

You now have a block that can be joined together in any number of ways. Here's how I have joined mine ...

I'll show you how the whole quilt will come together once I've done a bit more work on it.

In the meantime, time for me to get to bed.

Sleep well and happy quilting!

Andi :-)