A PRESSING SITUATION

April 25, 2017 Carol Detloff

A favorite customer popped into the shop recently and asked for tips about pressing quilt blocks. Here is a sharing of some different pressing tips that I have learned and used along the way. ALL of these have all been talked about & learned by most of you at one time or another,. but I guess it never hurts to review some of the basic things that can help us make our finished quilt projects come out neat and as close to perfect as a girl can manage to get them.☺

Read on and if you try some of these tips, let me know if you achieve a more righteous quilt block then you did beforehand. (Use the comments section below. Oh and please share any other tips or suggestions that you can think of.)

PRESSING Q & A

Which brand of iron is the best?

Any brand of iron that gets hot and stays hot will work.

Should I use steam?

Steam is personal preference. Use steam, OR if you like to use a dry iron, keep a spray bottle of water handy for those stubborn creases.

Should I use starch?

Starch or spray product like Best Press, can also be a personal choice . They can keep your piecing crisp and square as you work and are certainly optional, and not a 'must-do' part of quilt block pressing. There are some types of patch work that are going to benefit from using a starch product. For instance I do like to get out starch (or a similar spray product ) when I am working with really small pieces, OR when the cotton fabrics I am piecing seem especially soft or unstable.

UNFOLDED FAT QUARTER NEEDS YOUR PRESSING ATTENTION

PRESS BEFORE CUTTING?

Pressing fabric that has comes off the bolt, or has been folded as a Fat Quarter, or scraps that have been bunched up, is important before cutting into it. Fabric that has been on the bolt is almost always creased sharply at the fold.
Quilters like who pre-wash their yardage find that pressing it when fabric comes out of the laundry is often a necessity. If you pre-wash and are going to press the entire length of your yardage, Consider using steam and starch, this can really help avoid problems later. Avoid the dreaded strip "elbow" and get your yardage smoothed out before cutting

Why is the seam that I stitched as a straight line now a curve?

This can happen when you are IRONING and not PRESSING. If straight seams are now curved, or strip sets are no longer straight, then too much pressure is being applied and the iron is being pushed across the fabric.
- PRESSING requires a motion where you bring your iron straight down onto your fabric from above with light pressure, letting the heat of your iron do the work. It is the best way to press the seams of your quilt blocks.
- IRONING is a motion where you have placed your iron onto your fabric and you are moving the iron to to and fro and from side to side without lifting it off of the fabric very much. It works well when you are ironing the folds out of your new fat quarters and yardage, or when you have just fetched a wadded up ball of scrappy bits from one of your stash bins and you need to get them put back to rights before cutting out some quilt pieces. Also it's how you would use your iron on clothing - but it is not the best motion for ironing quilt blocks as it may distort your seams.
- If you are getting distortion when pressing strip sets, try laying the strip set on top of a striped fabric to see where things are not staying straight. Lining up the strip set along the printed stripes of the fabric will help you to straighten it out again.

SETTING THE STITCHES FIRST

Do this step first to get straight, flat seams:
- press the seam while closed, before pressing to the side ( or pressing open if that's what you are doing). Leaving your patchwork unit just as you have sewn it , press along the stitching line.Your stitches are set in place and the seam is nice and flat.

PRESSING SEAM ALLOWANCES TO THE DARK SIDE?

It's always a help to me when a pattern shows which direction is best to press your seam allowances . It can be a simple note usually saying that seams should be pressed toward the dark fabric, or a pattern may have more detailed instructions, sometimes including illustrations with arrows (my favorite). Pressing seam allowances toward the dark keeps the darker colors from "shadowing through" the lighter colors when the quilt is finished.

NESTING SEAMS

When seam allowances are pressed toward the darker fabric THEY will then face opposite seam allowances on the piece that they will be sewn to when building your block. Having seams nest, or face away from each other at intersections helps to reduce bulk and increase accuracy. Reducing bulk at intersections will help your completed block come out to be the right size.

Do we ever NOT press our seams towards the darker fabric?
- Sure ! - A quilt pattern may tell you to press your seams in a specific direction You may find that you will have to press some seams away from the darker fabric so that you can "nest" your seams when needed.

PRESS TO THE DARK SIDE: START WITH DARK FABRIC ON TOP, FINGER PRESS OPEN, SET WITH HOT IRON.

ON THE BACK OF YOUR PIECE THE SEAM ALLOWANCE IS NOW PRESSED TOWARDS THE DARKER FABRIC ☺

PRESSING SEAM ALLOWANCES OPEN?

If your pattern calls for pressing seam open, should you? Yes- whoever wrote this pattern knows this particular quilt block will work well within the quilt & look its best with the seams pressed open. HOWEVER- Pressing all your seams open, for all your work, all the time is not the best practice. Seams that have been pressed open are not as strong or durable as seam allowances that have been pressed to the side. But when your pattern or situation calls for pressed open seams try these tips:
- Using the tip of the iron, or a TOOL to open the seam will prevent burns to finger tips. Go slowly, and with a light touch. Too much pressure will distort your seam.
- Turn the patchwork over and press again from the front to really set everything into place. Open seams can reduce bulk and bumpy intersections in some types of piecing.

PRESSING SEAM INTERSECTIONS- tips:

If you have ever struggled with a bump in the middle back of your quilt block? These two bump reducing techniques may help.
- MINI 4-PATCH CENTER: on the back of a 4-Patch unit you will see that there are a couple of threads keeping the two middle seams together. Clip out only those couple of threads stitched just into the seam allowance. Now press the clipped seams in two different directions. This pressing creates a miniature 4-Patch design which helps reduce that 'bump' in your block.

TRIANGLE or PINWHEEL CENTER- This works in the same way to reduce bulk (as shown above ) for the back of a half square triangle block (or pinwheel block). Clip those few threads in the seam allowance on the back of your block, press the seam allowances in opposing directions - This pressing creates a miniature pinwheel on the back of your block and really does reduce bulk and minimize the bump on the front of your block.

Going over these tips for this blog post got me back into a grove of better pressing habits again. Here's a block I just finished for a new Block of the Month we are getting ready to start. Click on the picture to read more about this new BOM program.

Please use the comments area below to share any other tips or suggestions that you can think of.

Thank you for reading, until we blog again, take some time to Enjoy the Sew!® - Carol

Farm Girl Vintage Round Up

April 23, 2017 Carol Detloff

Last month, Rocking Chair Quilts was honored to be able to host a get together for all of our 2016 Farm Girl Vintage club members. Our club spent a year sewing charming quilt blocks from Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage Book. This event was an ideal way for everyone to get together and share the quilts and projects that they had put together with their blocks.

An evening of good company, good food, wonderful quilts and a silent auction was shared by all of our club members and their guests. Thanks so much to all our club members and everyone who attended. Here, for your enjoyment, is a gallery of candid photos from the event.

thank-you-vintage-card-with-ornaments_23-2147498386.jpg

Photo credit to Wendy Smith.

A special thank you and shout out to Justine, Connie, Wyatt, Wendy and Steve for hanging out late and helping us mop up☺

Happy Spring!

March 31, 2017 Carol Detloff

Bunnies and Cream fabric collection from Penny Rose Fabrics by designer Lauren Nash

Somebunnies are ready to sew. Enjoy a springtime sewing project with Lauren's enchanting debut fabric collection.

Bunny Tea Towels

Tea anyone? Don't mind if I do.

Bunnies and Cream Quilt Kit

Carried Away Quilting blog.

Bunnies on a roll! Sew sweet.

Visit Lauren's Transient Art Blog and take a spin on the Bunnies and Cream Blog Tour - see all the cuteness and bunny ideas the blog designers have put together for you ☺

Photo from Lauren's Transient Art Blog

Little Lambkin - Ellis and Higgs Blog

Vivid Felicity Blog

Charming Bunnies

♥ ♥ ♥ Churning for You ♥ ♥ ♥

February 9, 2017 Carol Detloff

Happy Valentine's! Here's a darling mini Churn Dash quilt pattern for you to stitch. It's a scrappy happy little quilt. These miniature blocks (3" finished) don't need very big amounts of fabric to complete. You can probably find the fabrics you'll need in your scrap box.

A little more fabric is needed for the sashing and borders & binding -1/2 yard should do.

A Fat Quarter is enough for backing on this wee quilt.

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE PATTERN

For Valentine's I am starting with a pile of pinks, reds and some lights for background in my blocks. Look at all that delicious Moda Fabric! This mini would be charming made up in brights, low volume, civil war, ....almost any fabric that makes your quilter's heart happy♥

You'll need to make some Half Square Triangles (HSTs) for your mini Churn Dash blocks. In this tutorial I will showcase using the Creative Grids 4 in 1 Half Square Triangle Ruler CGRBH1 to make my HSTs......But you can create your your HST using any method you like for your little quilt. As long as they will finish to 1" x 1" size .

Creative Grids 4 in 1 Half Square Triangle Ruler (CGRBH1). Click on the ruler photo to learn more about this fun tool and watch a product video too.

♥♥CHURNING FOR YOU ♥♥

Valentine Mini Pattern from RockingChairQuilts.com

14 ½” x 18” finished Size

Tools: Rotary cutter, straight ruler and cutting mat

Creative Grids® Half-Square 4-in-1 Triangle Ruler - CGRBH1 (option A) Aurifil Threads to match or any color of Aurifil thread that makes you happy today☺

Fabrics:

½ yard for Border, blocks, sashing, binding:

Cutting:

Cut two 2 ½” x WOF (border)

Cut two 2 ½” x WOF (binding)

Cut three 1” x WOF (sashing)

Cut two 1” x WOF (blocks, cut in half at fold to make 4 pieces 1: x 21”)

Background -12” x 21” piece (or can be scrappy)

Cutting:

Cut four 1” x 21” (Blocks)

TO MAKE THE Half Square Triangles for your blocks use one of the following OPTIONS:

If using the Creative Grids® Half-Square 4-in-1 Triangle Ruler - CGRBH1. FOR EACH BLOCK you will need to cut strips of background and prints 1 ½” x 5” and pair them RST then use your 4 in 1 ruler to cut your HST segments (see illustrated steps below) each 1 ½” x 5” strip will make 4 HSTs – enough for one churndash block. If you want 12 different blocks you can use 12 different prints with your background fabric or you could make all your blocks alike and use only one color print strip with your background strips, or any combination in between.
Use triangle paper that makes 1” finished size HST.
Cut three 1 7/8” x 21”, from these strips cut 24 – 1 7/8” squares then cut on the diagonal to make 48 triangles. These background triangles will then be paired with print triangles to make 4 half square triangle units (HST) for each of your 12 blocks.
Use your OWN preferred method to make the 48 HST units

Blocks – up to 12 different prints - you’ll need a piece 3 x 7 for each block

Cutting:

Cut one 1 ½” square from a variety of prints (this is the center square) you will need 12

See Step 1 under the background cutting. Whichever method you want to use to make 48 HSTs you will need to cut the same size and amount from your variety of prints as you cut have cut from your background fabric.

I will be using the Creative Grids 4 in 1 ruler so I will cut a strip 1 ½” x 5” for each block I want to make. In my sample quilt, I made two or 3 blocks from each of 5 prints until I had a total of 12 blocks

Backing – Fat Quarter will work for your backing

Sewing:

MAKE BARS AND BACKGROUND UNITS: Using the 1” x 21” background and border strips. Pair a background strip to a border strip and sew with ¼” seam allowance. Repeat to make a total of four. Cut the sewn strip sets into 48) 1 ½” segments. They should measure 1 ½” x 1 ½” when pressed open.

USING THE CREATIVE GRIDS 4 IN 1 RULER TO MAKE YOUR HALF SQUARE TRIANGLES

start with strips cut 1 1/2" wide

with strips RST use your ruler to cut

triangle segements

stitch on longest edge and press open

MAKING HALF SQUARE TRIANGLE UNITS (HSTs) Pair each print 1 ½” wide strip RST (right sides together) with a 1 ½” background strip. Use your CGR 4 in 1 ruler* to cut sets of triangles. Chain piece paired triangles using a ¼” seam along the longest edge of the triangle pair. Press open and admire your work ☺*refer to markings on the ruler OR the printed instructions that come with the ruler for placement before cutting

ASSEMBLE BLOCKS:

Place one 1 1/2" center square, 4 HSTs & 4 Bars and Background units as shown here.

Stitch together as shown, use 1/4" seams throughout. Press and square up to 3 1/2" (unfinished size) if needed. Make 12 Blocks

QUILT ASSEMBLY:

Layout your blocks in 4 rows of 3, in an arrangement that pleases you. Using a 1” x WOF sashing strip, Cut 8) 1” x 3 ½” pieces. Sew these pieces to the right side of the first 2 blocks in each row. Press toward the sashing. Sew the rows of 3 together and press toward the sashing. Using the rest of the 1” sashing strips sew a strip between the rows as pictured.

Add the 2 1/2" border strips to the sides, press towards the border

Add the 2 1/2" border strips to the top and bottom. Press to the border. Layer, quilt, bind and then LOVE your quilt♥

If you make this mini , we'd love to see your version, please share a photo with us:

WAYS TO SHARE a photo with us:

Post your photo on Instagram and tag us # rockingchairquilts
post your photo on our Facebook page- CLICK HERE to get to the Facebook page.
Tweet a photo @makeaquilt or tag us in your tweet @MakeAQuilt
send your photo in an email to me : Carol@RockingChairQuilts.com
If you live nearby you can pop in during SHOP HOURS each week we'll take photo of your quilt for you.
Please use the comments area below for comments and questions

CLICK BELOW TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

Thank you for reading, until we blog again, take some time to Enjoy the Sew!® - Carol

#MODA FABRICS #AURIFIL Bright Day Fabric Bundle Giveaway

February 4, 2017 Carol Detloff

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED, CONGRATULATIONS TO cAROL yATES! THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL WHO ENTERED, BE SURE TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG SO YOU WILL KNOW WHEN THE NEXT GIVEAWAY BEGINS.

Hello you beautiful bright bundle: 40 count fat quarters of Fiji Batiks from Moda Fabrics and 3 AURIFIL BIG SPOOLS of 50 wt MAKO COTTON MSRP $179.99 (yowsa)

We've had a fairly mild winter here, were we work and live at Rocking Chair Quilts. Not bitterly cold. nor a great deal of snowfall, but I must say that the sunny days have been few and far between this season.

To brighten our moods and celebrate the sunny days that we do get to enjoy, we are hosting this giveaway of a BRIGHT bundle of Moda Fiji Batiks and AURIFIL threads.

Soon we'll be enjoying the early Spring and all the sunshine that those days will bring.

While we wait for those bright days ahead, what could be better than busting open this colorful bundle and starting a cheerful quilt (or two) ?

Leave a comment on this blog post to enter for a chance to win this prize . You can submit even MORE entries when you use the Raffle-copter widget (click inside the white box below).

This giveaway ends Friday, February 10th at 11:59 p.m. CST.

I ♥ AURIFIL

I ♥ MODA

To read All the usual rules that apply to our regular giveaways and sew on and sew forth CLICK HERE

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED, CONGRATULATIONS TO CAROL YATES! THANKS SO MUCH TO ALL WHO ENTERED, BE SURE TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG SO YOU WILL KNOW WHEN THE NEXT GIVEAWAY BEGINS.

CLICK TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK>

a Rafflecopter giveaway

thank you so much for reading this and being a part of our giveaway.

Until we blog again take time out to Enjoy the Sew!®- Carol

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#Moda Super Heroes on the Go

January 29, 2017 Carol Detloff

SUPER HEROES ON THE GO

Tote & Simple Wallet: A free pattern from RockingChairQuilts.com

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR A KIT TO MAKE THIS TOTE & WALLET

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE PATTERN

Do you know Moda Man? The saga of how he saves a damsel in distress is captured forever on a fine cotton canvas. We have been enjoying this 'Super Heroes In Disguise' fabric from Moda United Notions here at RockingChairQuilts.com. We first met Moda Man in Moda City at 2016 Fall Quilt Market in Houston. When this amusing fabric arrived here at the shop, we got busy and made this roomy Super Heroes on the Go Tote Bag and a simple wallet. This is a big, roomy tote because of its flat bottom . It makes a great re-usable grocery tote - or maybe it could be used to carry a lot of quilty items out of your local quilt shop ;) Thanks so much to the kind folks at Moda Fabrics for keeping our quilting life full of wonderful choices!

TOTE MATERIALS:

2/3 yard MODA ® Super Heroes canvas weight fabric for tote

1/3 yard Moda Bella Super Black Solid for handles

1/8 yard 44” wide Décor Bond (optional handle reinforcement)

Matching Aurifil thread

Optional: 12"x 8 1⁄2" cardboard for bottom

SIMPLE WALLET MATERIALS

1/3 yard Super Heroes canvas fabric

1/4 yard* Moda Bella Super Black Solid for binding *more is needed if you want to make bias binding.

8” square Décor Bond (optional - gives your wallet some stiffness, leave it out if you want a flopsy wallet☺

Matching Aurifil thread

TOTE CUTTING:

Tote Fabric (Super Heroes canvas) • CUT two pieces 16"x12 ½” for front and back • CUT two piece 9" x 22" rectangles for sides and bottom

Handle fabric (black) • Cut two pieces 5" x 44" for handles. • optional - If you want your handles stronger- reinforce with Décor Bond – cut 2 pieces 1- 1/4” x 44”

The 'Super Heroes In Disguise' fabric is directional so we have some tips for you on cutting out the bag panels. Then, when you stitch them together your Super Heroes are all headed in the right direction on your finished tote.

Start with 2/3 of a yard of Moda Super Heroes canvas fabric. Trim off the selvedge edges and the fold edge with a rotary cutter. Keep the edges square and straight.

Double thickness of canvas fabric is shown here.

cut out bag front and back, then cut 2 pieces 9" x 22" to make sides/bottom panel of your tote, as shown.

Photo #8

Put the two 9" x 22" side/bottom pieces right sides together making sure the images will be facing upright on both sides of your bag, then sew (or serge) them together with 1/4" seam along the bottom 9" edge. (bottom center seam)

After stitching the bottom center seam the two 9" x 22" panels will face in opposite directions. Your side/ bottom panel piece should now measure 9” x 43 ½”. (see photo #8)

ASSEMBLY:

1. Fold black handle pieces in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold edges in to middle. Refold and press. Open handle fabric back out and Place cut strip of Décor Bond with one edge along center pressed line in fabric. Press Décor Bond in place,

3. Reinforce bottom corners of tote front and back with stay stitching ¼” from tote edge and clip corners to stay stitching. This will help ease the bag corner seam as you stitch the front and back pieces to the long sides/bottom panel.

Place inside edge of handle 3" in from each edge of front. Top stitch both sides of handle to bag, but STOP stitching about 5" from the top (see picture #4). Repeat with back piece.

2. After pressing Décor Bond in place, refold edges of handle fabric back to middle enclosing the strip of Décor bond inside the handle fabric. Baste with matching Aurifil thread along open edges of handle .

4. STOP stitching about 5" from the top of the bag. Repeat with back piece. (you will finish stitching the handles down after you hem the top of your bag).

5. Pin front piece RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER to the long seamed side/bottom panel 9" x 43 1/2" (clipping seam allowance to stay stitching where needed and pivoting at corners). Stitch. Repeat with back piece.

Press seams toward sides. Optional: seams can then be finished with zigzag stitching or serging. Be careful to keep handles free.

6. Fold down 1 ½” all along top edge of tote and press. Now turn raw edge under 1⁄4" and press. Pin in place if needed. Then stitch top hem in place keeping handles free.

7. Now ....where you had left the top 5” of the handles free from the bag- it is time to stitch those down. SO Continue top stitching handles to outside of tote and all along handle edges, over basting. To secure, reinforcing by stitching an X or a box at top edge of tote.

8. Optional: Cover 12" x 8 1/2" cardboard rectangle with fabric and place in bottom of tote. Sometimes instead of cardboard I cut my tote rectangles out of old rotary cutting mats that have gotten too cut up to use for anything else. They don't bend or get soggy like cardboard sometimes does ☺.

SIMPLE WALLET

CUTTING:

Cut 2 rectangles 8” x 4 ¼” canvas (outside wallet piece) *NOTE: because your outside wallet fabric is directional you will cut 2 rectangles 8” x 4 ¼” then pivot one of the rectangles 180 degrees . (See photo #9) Now stitch the two 8 x 4 ¼” rectangles (right sides together) along the 8” edge. This stitched piece should now measure 8” x 8”. This is done so that the directional print of your SUPER HEROES fabric will be going in the right direction when you look at the outside of your wallet. If you don’t mind where your superheroes are headed you can just cut one 8” x 8” square for the outside piece of your wallet.
Cut one 8" square* canvas (inside)
Cut one 8" square Decor Bond (optional)

POCKETS from SUPERHEROES CANVAS (photo #10):

Cut two 8"x 7" (large pockets)
Cut two 8"x 4" (smallest pockets)

from Moda Bella Solid cut two 8"x 51⁄2" (middle pockets)

BINDING FABRIC: from Moda Bella Solid Cut one 1 1⁄2"x 34" (binding). If you want to cut your binding fabric on the bias you will need more fabric than the 1/8 yard shown in materials list.

Photo # 10 : Cut 2 each of the 3 pocket pieces: small (canvas), middle (black) and large (canvas).

Photo #9

Photo #11: Press all pockets in half lengthwise, Right sides together

Photo #12: stack pressed pocket pieces, keeping raw edges even.

ASSEMBLY: Fold all pieces for pockets in half lengthwise and press (photo #11). Place optional square of Décor Bond on the wrong side of the inside 8" wallet canvas fabric square, press to secure the Decor Bond to the wallet square. Put the inside and outside 8" wallet squares wrong sides together, with inside wallet fabric facing up. Beginning with largest pocket, place on inside aligning edges and bottom on top and bottom of wallet. Continue with each pocket. Baste around all edges. Catching in all layers.

FINISHING: Fold 1-1⁄2"x 34" BINDING piece in half lengthwise and press. Open and fold edges to middle. Refold and press. Stitch binding to of basted edge of simple wallet, pivoting/mitering at corners so they lay nicely. (or cut and apply binding with your favorite method).

Thanks for reading - I hope you will enjoy making a tote , This is a big, roomy tote because of its flat bottom . It makes a great re-usable grocery tote - or maybe it could be used to carry a lot of quilty items out of your local quilt shop. It would be fun to make using other pretty fabrics as well. If you decide to make one, please share a picture of your finished tote:

WAYS TO SHARE A PHOTO OF YOUR tote WITH US:

Post your photo on Instagram and tag us # rockingchairquilts
post your photo on our Facebook page- CLICK HERE to get to the Facebook page.
Tweet a photo @makeaquilt or tag us in your tweet @MakeAQuilt
send your photo in an email to me : Carol@RockingChairQuilts.com
If you live nearby you can pop in during SHOP HOURS each week we'll take photo of your quilt for you.

Please use the comments area below for comments and questions

Until we blog again - Enjoy the Sew!® - Carol

SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE AN EMAIL WHEN A NEW BLOG POST IS PUBLISHED:

Got Cake?

January 20, 2017 Carol Detloff

Introducing Cake Mix Recipe Papers from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company

What's all the hub-bub about cake? Well it's cake after all (my favorite is chocolate with chocolate frosting ☺) . but because it's January I am trying to make some lower calorie/better calorie choices for my daily indulgence........when - HELLO ! - along comes quilting genius Carrie Nelson with a calorie free solution for me.

Deeply satisfying, certainly an indulgence, I can partake as often as I wish and never have to log a single calorie in my smartphone's fitness app.

Carrie's brand new CAKE MIX RECIPES have just arrived here at Rocking Chair Quilts!

So what is a Cake Mix? It’s a 10″ x 10″ pad of triangle paper sized for using with Layer Cakes. There are 45 sheets in each pad – one for each piece of fabric in a Layer Cake plus a few extras for “testing”. (click on the Cake Mix images below to see more details for each)

*Recipes? There are four different grids so there are 4 different recipes. Two of the recipes make two different sizes of half-triangle squares from the same paper, and the remaining two recipes make a single size half-triangle square on each sheet.

Each recipe pad includes at least four block options for the HTSs made with that recipe grid. There is also information on simple settings and layouts, and how big the quilts would be.

The specifics about each Cake Mix are:

Recipe 1 – 4″ and 8″ finished
Recipe 2– 2 1/4″ and 4 1/2″ finished.
Recipe 3 – 2″ finished
Recipe 4 – 4″ and/or 3 3/4″ finished

The number of recipe cards required to make a block varies – it depends on the block and the recipe.… it’s kind of like how many slices of cake you can get from a 9″ square cake. It all depends on how you cut it – squares or rectangles – and how big the pieces are.

Each Cake Mix pad includes a quote from Julia Child. My favorite is – "A party without cake is just a meeting." Layer Cakes and Cake Mixes.*

*this text has been excerpted from Carrie Nelson's BLOG post on the Moda Cutting Table Blog.

Here is Carrie's Video Demo of her Cake Mix 2 Recipe:

Just to get your thinker thinking, here is a collage of the quilts the crew over at Moda have been making.. We are working on some cake mix quilts here at the shop and hope to add our photos here too. (A click on each picture will enlarge it)

Thanks Carrie! Miss Rosie's Quilt Company's designs and patterns are always on the top of our list.

Thanks to all of you who are reading this post - if you are dreaming of making a cake mix quilt, and your dream becomes a REAL quilt we would love to see your photos too.

WAYS TO SHARE a photo of your cake mix quilt with us:

Post your photo on Instagram and tag us # rockingchairquilts
post your photo on our Facebook page- CLICK HERE to get to the Facebook page.
Tweet a photo @makeaquilt or tag us in your tweet @MakeAQuilt
send your photo in an email to me : Carol@RockingChairQuilts.com
If you live nearby you can pop in during SHOP HOURS each week we'll take photo of your quilt for you.

Please use the comments area below for comments and questions

Until we blog again - Enjoy the Sew!® - Carol

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#MODABEMYNEIGHBOR BE MY NEIGHBOR QUILT-A-LONG GALLERY OF FINISHED QUILTS

December 26, 2016 Carol Detloff

click this photo to get your free tree pattern download

Hello neighbors!

Sixteen weeks of sewing and sharing has gone spinning by sew quickly. Here is a wrap up of what's happening this week as we finish up our Quilt - A- Long:

If you have your quilt put together please share a photo and we will post it here in our Quilt Gallery. See how to share a photo below
Your quilt doesn't have to be quilted -later when the quilting gets finished you can send a another photo of it if you'd like.
We had as many as 53 different quilters sharing block photos for this quilt along. AND....the highest number of pattern downloads in a given week was 836! Wow that was for block # 4, for most of the weeks we had a range of 400 to 700 patterns being downloaded from the blog posts. That is a LOT of neighborhoods.
Our final prize winner for those sharing a photo of Block #16 has been selected in a random drawing. Congratulations to Susan Garofalo!
As a thank you to everyone who has stopped in to read the blog - whether or not you enjoyed the free patterns from Moda or have sewn a stitch on a neighborhood block- we are sharing a free pattern for you today- it's my Standing Tree Block . This block has instructions to sew it in EITHER 6" or 12" finished sizes. I have included some photos of what we made here at the shop with this block. While the pictures we are showing you today are holiday themed - you could use any fabric to change up the feel of this block and create your own project. Anything from a mug mat to a bed size quilt - whatever makes you happy.

A mini quilt made with 6" blocks and quilted with Razzle Dazzle silver thread

Ben is here to help you select some fabric☺

We made a small hanging using a 12" block and some strips and scraps of Christmas fabric.

The 12" size block works nicely as a stand alone mini quilt.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FrEE TREE PATTERN DOWNLOAD

Thanks so much to everyone who joined us for the Be My Neighbor Quilt-A-Long. I look forward to all new things we will be a part of in the coming year. i hope you will join in when you can.

In the meantime, stay in touch, Make a Quilt and Enjoy the Sew!® - Carol

WAYS TO SHARE YOUR PHOTO with us:

send your photo in an email to me : Carol@RockingChairQuilts.com
post your photo on our Facebook page- CLICK HERE to get to the Facebook page.
Tweet a photo @makeaquilt or tag us in your tweet @MakeAQuilt
Post your photo on Instagram and tag us # rockingchairquilts
If you live nearby you can pop in during SHOP HOURS and we'll take photo of your block for you.

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gallery of Be my neighbor quilts

uploads from participants

(you can click on each quilt to enlarge it)

Brenda Rife Mashaw

Brigitte Cammi

Diana Brewer

Katherine Irwin

Lynne Deitrick

Mary Ann Matson

Rosemary Hendley

Rosemary Hendley 2nd Quilt

‎Sandy Lachowski

Sandy Moore

Sandie Swartz

Nancy Vibeto

Carla Walton

Darlene Adams

Gay Lynn Beard

Teresa Dickenson

Wilma Eichler

BE MY NEIGHBOR QUILT -A- LONG • FINALE• #MODABEMYNEIGHBOR • WEEK 16 •

December 19, 2016 Carol Detloff

WELCOME BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD • WEEK 16 •

LAST WEEK / LAST PATTERN FOR THE BE MY NEIGHBOR QUILT-A-LONG

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GOOD FOLKS AT MODA FABRICS / UNITED NOTIONS

Hello neighbors (waving at you),

Posting this from sunny Commerce, Texas this weekend (Not too far from Moda Fabrics headquarters). I am so fortunate to be able to travel here to attend our eldest daughter's commencement ceremony as she graduates from Texas A & M University. Congratulations Katie! A job well done and now that your book work and studying are finished.... in addition to the dynamic career advancemnet that awaits you, you'll now have more time to get back to quilting. Hurray- Hurrah!

And now let's get to what you came visiting here for, Block 16!

What an enjoyable group of participants we have had for the Be My Neighbor Quilt-A-Long. It really does feel like a neighborhood community of quilters. Thank you so much to everyone who has been a part of it. Today is the release of your final pattern #16; The Meeting House. You will find the download below - and if you want to set your blocks together like the folks at Moda did, once again we have the setting pattern here on this blog post for you to download.

If you have just discovered this quilt along and need ALL 16 patterns, below is a button for you to get the printable downloads for every block in this quilt(we would love to see pictures of your blocks, whenever you get them stitched up).

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLAOD ALL 16 BLOCK PATTERNS

BLOCK 16 PATTERN DOWNLOAD

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD QUILT SETTING PATTERN

Are you quilting along with us?

If you're building your neighborhood we want to see your blocks too. If you'll share a photo of your block 16 with us this week you could win a prize. Read how below:

READ ABOUT THE PRIZES:

get your free downloadable blueprint for Block 16 here on the blog today .
Stitch up your house block.
Share a picture of this completed house block with us by Sunday, December 25th , at 12 Noon (see below how to share a photo )
We'll enter your name into a random drawing for a prize. Winner for this last week's Prize will be announced on a blog post soon after that DEC. 25th end time (Merry Christmas ☺)
Every Monday for 16 weeks we have started fresh with a NEW house blueprint to download and a NEW contest to enter. You can send a photo from anywhere. if your name is chosen as the weekly winner we can and will ship prizes all over the world so that opens the fun up to our international friends too! - We are a global neighborhood☺
This is the final week and so begins the LAST contest for a new prize. The entry period for this final photo share ends Sunday, Dec. 25th. at Noon at which time we will have a random drawing from all the names of people who shared a photo during the week. AND THEN the Be My Neighbor Quilt - A - Long is ALL DONE, sigh.

WAYS TO SHARE YOUR WEEKLY BLOCK PHOTO:

send your photo in an email to me : Carol@RockingChairQuilts.com
post your photo on our Facebook page- CLICK HERE to get to the Facebook page.
Tweet a photo @makeaquilt or tag us in your tweet @MakeAQuilt
Post your photo on Instagram and tag us # rockingchairquilts
If you live nearby you can pop in during SHOP HOURS and we'll take photo of your block for you.

PRIZE WINNER FROM WEEK 15

A RANDOM DRAWING WAS HELD AND THE WINNER FOR WEEK fifTEEN IS:

Katherine Irwin

CONGRATULATIONS KATHERINE ! YOU HAVE WON A copy of Winter Wonderland by Sherri Falls of This and That Pattern Company • AND • A Christmas Fat Quarter Bundle to get you started playing with some of the sweet Christmas block patterns in the festive book . Please contact us privately with your complete shipping address and we will get your prize shipped out to you. You can email your address to me here:carol@rockingchairquilts.com

NEIGHBORHOOD PHOTO GALLERY

UPLOADS OF BLOCK 16 FROM QUILT-A-LONG PARTICIPANTS

(you can click on each block to enlarge it)

Susan Garofalo

Diana Brewer

Mary Ann Matson

Sandy Moore

Lynn Deitrick

Gay Lynn Beard

Sharon Tune Tate

‎Brenda Rife Mashaw

Carol Palmer

Darlene Adams

Katherine Irwin

Brigitte Cammi

Nancy Vibeto

Rosemary Hendley

Brenda Towsley

Kathy Galauner

‎Anne Sweat Summitt‎

Debbie Conner

Becky Wolfe

Patty Gallmeyer

Teresa Dickenson

Pam Cuilla

Sandie Swartz

A NEW WEEK HAS BEGUN AND WE HAVE A NEW PRIZE!

•THIS WEEKS GOODIES •

Everything you need to make a Charm Party tote bag: Charm Party Pattern, Polka Dots and Paisleys Charm Pack, Polkas Dots and Paisleys yardage for your lining & pockets etc., and some hardware to finish!

Here's a photo of the Charm Party Tote that we made, hanging in the shop (finished tote is not included in the prize package).

Share a photo of Block #16 with us by Sunday , December 25th, and we'll add your name to the drawing for this prize ☺

Thank you for reading! I have been enjoying the quilt a long immensely and wanted to extend my thanks and appreciation to everyone who has followed along - We are just about finished with Be My Neighbor , Now that you have your final Block #16- I hope some of you will then share a photo of your finished quilt- No hurry on when to get finished - please think about sharing some pictures when you get them put together . I am not the only one who would like to see the blocks all put together. ☺

Happy Holidays!

Carol

BE MY NEIGHBOR QUILT -A- LONG • WEEK 15 • #MODABEMYNEIGHBOR

December 12, 2016 Carol Detloff

WELCOME BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD • WEEK 15 •

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE BE MY NEIGHBOR QUILT-A-LONG

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GOOD FOLKS AT MODA FABRICS / UNITED NOTIONS

VISIT OUR BLOG EACH MONDAY TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE BLUEPRINT AND BUILD YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE COMPLETE QUILT WHERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE SETTING PATTERN AT THE END OF THIS BLOG POST.
IF YOU DIDN'T GET THE PATTERNS FOR BLOCKS ONE THROUGH THIRTEEN YET, CLICK ON THE GREEN BADGE BELOW TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE PATTERNS.

CLICK TO LIKE US☺

QUILT-A-LONGS
GIVEAWAYS & PRIZES
TIPS & TUTORIALS
LOADS OF OTHER QUILTY FUN!

Are you quilting along with us?

If you're building your neighborhood we want to see your blocks too. If you'll share a photo of your block with us each week you could win a prize. Read how below:

READ ABOUT THE PRIZES:

Each Monday come here to our blog get your free downloadable blueprint .
Stitch up your house block.
Share a picture of that week's completed house block with us by the following Sunday at 12 Noon. Central Time (see below how to share a photo )
We'll enter your name into a random drawing for a prize. Winner announced on the weekly Monday blog post along with the next pattern download.
Every Monday we have started fresh with a NEW house blueprint to download and a NEW contest to enter. You can send a photo from anywhere. if your name is chosen as a weekly winner we can ship prizes all over the world to our international friends too! - We are a global neighborhood☺
When the final week starts Monday DECEMBER 19 th the LAST contest for a new prize will begin, then end the following Sunday at Noon. AND THEN IT'S ALL DONE, sigh.

WAYS TO SHARE YOUR WEEKLY BLOCK PHOTO:

send your photo in an email to me : Carol@RockingChairQuilts.com
post your photo on our Facebook page- CLICK HERE to get to the Facebook page.
Tweet a photo @makeaquilt or tag us in your tweet @MakeAQuilt
Post your photo on Instagram and tag us # rockingchairquilts
If you live nearby you can pop in during SHOP HOURS each week we'll take photo of your block for you.

PRIZE WINNER FROM WEEK 14

A RANDOM DRAWING WAS HELD AND THE WINNER FOR WEEK FOURTEEN IS:

DIANNA EICKHORN

CONGRATULATIONS DIANNA ! YOU HAVE WON A CHRISTMAS QUILT KIT , TITLED 'SUGAR', IT IS FRIVOL #10, FEATURING THE COOKIE EXCHANGE FABRIC BY SWEETWATER FOR MODA FABRICS

HERE'S THIS WEEK'S BLOCK:

BLOCK 15 : PAGODA HOUSE

BLOCK 15 PATTERN DOWNLOAD

NEIGHBORHOOD PHOTO GALLERY

UPLOADS OF BLOCK 15 FROM QUILT-A-LONG PARTICIPANTS

(you can click on each block to enlarge it)

Kay Morris

Leslie Grivich

Sandy Moore

Sharon Tune Tate

Mary Ann Matson

Katherine Irwin

Nancy Vibeto

Judi Gordon

Diana Brewer

Sandy Lachowski

Rosemary Hendley‎

Gay Lynn Beard

Brenda Rife Mashaw‎

Darlene Adams‎

Sara Ciesla

Susan Garofalo

Lynn Deitrick‎

Anne Sweat Summit

Becky Wolfe

Beth Ann Perry

Carla Walton

Annette Whitmill MacConnell

Debbie Conner

Kathy Galauner

Pam Cuilla

Shirley Easter

Carol Palmer

Jan Behm

Patty Gallmeyer

A NEW WEEK HAS BEGUN AND WE HAVE A NEW PRIZE!

•THIS WEEKS GOODIES •

Winter Wonderland by Sherri Falls of This and That Pattern Company • AND • A Christmas Fat Quarter Bundle to get you started playing with some of the sweet Christmas block patterns in the festive book

Share a photo of Block #15 with us by Sunday , December 18th, and we'll add your name to the drawing for this prize ☺

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT

CLICK ON thIs picture to get your settiNg PaTTERN

YOUR BE MY NEIGHBOR QUILT -FROM MODA:

The finished quilt will measure 68″ x 84 1/2″.
There are 16 blocks in the quilt top. The rows are separated by horizontal sashing strips.
These are very scrappy blocks so exact yardage for a set number of fabrics has not been calculated. Mix your favorite Moda prints to create your colorful neighborhood!

Fabric Requirements:
16 House Blocks: Assorted Prints & Solids
Background and Sashing: 4 -1/2 yards
Borders: 1 – 1/4 yards
Binding: 2/3 yard
Backing: 4 – 3/4 yards

For a quilt using the same background for blocks, sashing and borders, you will need 5 – 3/4 yards total. For scrappy backgrounds, sashing and borders, allow for just a little bit more fabric.

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Thank you for reading! I have been enjoying the quilt a long immensely and wanted to extend my thanks and appreciation to everyone who has followed along - even if you haven't decided to share a picture - just knowing you're out there somewhere sewing along is also very gratifying . We are just about finished with Be My Neighbor , The final Block #16 is slated to drop next week - I hope some of you will then share a photo of your finished quilt ( here or anyplace on Social Media )when you get them put together .

Happy Holidays!

Carol

BE MY NEIGHBOR QUILT -A- LONG • WEEK 14 • #MODABEMYNEIGHBOR

December 5, 2016 Carol Detloff