Block Party with Quiltmaker Recap

A few weeks ago I traveled to Portland, to teach at Block Party with Quiltmaker Magazine.

After checking the weather I packed lots of layers!

We spotted a double rainbow during dinner the first night!

Bonnie Hunter kicked things off with a lecture about her method of keeping and organizing scraps.

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Thursday was a workshop on my Hex N More Ruler.

I started off class by revealing Snack Time to the class at the same time that I revealed it to all of you on my blog. 

We went over how to use the Hex N More ruler and the 4 shapes.

Then students got to work on making 2 sample blocks inspired by blocks from Toes in the Sand. This gave them a chance to practice cutting and piecing all 4 shapes.

Student Blocks!

During class we cut a lot of fabric & had a lot of scraps. We decided to make a gift bag of scraps for Bonnie Hunter, the scrap Queen!

At the end of class we took a field trip to Bonnie's classroom and presented her with the gift bag!

The Class

Jill had already made Jawbreaker and brought it to show. It was hard to not steal it from her!!

Students showing off their work at Show & Tell. During the second part of class students began working on a quilt with the ruler. You can see the start of Northern Lights here.

...and the start of Lotus blocks here.

Denise finished her Science Fair quilt top on Friday and brought it back to show us on Saturday!

She used Authentic which was Sweetwater's first fabric line. Now I wish I still had some of this line to use!!

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Friday was Three in a Box. We had a small, but mighty class of 5 students.

Three in a Box - JBQ 121

As students began to finish their blocks we put them on my design wall for display.

Chain piecing makes for quick construction.

We outgrew the design wall and started "growing" out quilt out on the floor.

...and growing

We took a break to admire the beautiful rainbow outside.

Unfortunately opening the doors behind the design wall allowed the wind to knock it down!

We recovered and continued to "grow" our quilt.

By the end of the day we had 47 blocks done... and I couldn't get them in one photo!

Blocks at show & tell.

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Saturday brought a packed house for Boxed In. Boxed in was originally a block I designed for the second volume of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Issue. I then turned it into a quilt and included it in my book, Skip the Borders.

I gave students the option of bringing more than 2 "sashing" fabric options to class. This way we could "audition" the fabrics and pick which two worked best together. 

We used digital cameras & cell phones to capture pictures and help us decide. Here are a bunch of the "auditions" from class.

Once students had decided on sashing fabrics they started making blocks.

Our collection of blocks grew throughout the day.

Since class Christine has finished her quilt top!

It was a great class & a great event.

If you finish your projects from class... or if you have made any of my patterns please post photos in our Flickr Show & Tell group.

© Blog post written by Julie Herman © Photos by Julie Herman, Quiltmaker Magazine & Students.
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

Circle Quilt Tutorial

I made this quilt for Elijah & Aliyah and gave it to them a few months ago. As you can see Jonah has already begun to claim it for himself!

Quilt Details 

Fabric is Celebrate Seuss & Cat in the Hat by Robert Kaufman

Pattern - Circle Quilt Tutorial

Designed by me

Quilted by me

Started on 12/2/10

Finished on 4/15/12

Quilt measures - 52" across

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To easily create this quilt I used a 10° Wedge Ruler by Phillips Fiber Art that is 22½" long. It allows you to cut long wedges that are accurately 10° wide.

Supplies

1. I made this quilt entirely from my stash & mostly from scraps. If you are going to buy new fabric I suggest getting the ruler first so you can plan out how many wedges you'll be able to cut etc. ( I don't recommend Fat Quarters as the ruler is longer than the Fat Quarters. )

2. I used batting tape to put leftover pieces of batting together. I did a tutorial on batting tape last year. If you are using new batting you'll need a piece at least 58" x 58"

3. I used scraps for my backing too. If you are using new backing fabric you'll need to make a piece at least 58" x 58" ( 3 1/4" yards will give you 58" x 80" )

4. I used scraps for my binding. You will need enough fabric to make at least 175" of bias binding. I posted a chart on calculating bias binding in one of my binding tutorials.

1. To make the quilt you will need to cut 36 wedges 10° wide. (360° total) Adjust this quantity if you are using a 15° or other degree ruler. I decided to use 18 fabrics and cut 2 from each.

2. Start with 2 wedges and arrange them as shown.

 

3. Pin and sew a 1/4" seam along one side.

 

4. Press seam open or to the darker fabric. I press my seams open 95% of the time.

 

5. The result!

6. Continue adding wedges. Initially I made one half of the quilt with 18 wedges. I suggest dividing the wedges in 4 sections of 9 wedges.  

7. I arranges the remaining 18 wedges on my design wall so that I could make sure the order of the fabrics was the same for the second half.

 

8. This photo shows you the top right section of 9 wedges sewn together.

 

9. Then I completed sewing the top left section of 9 wedges.

 

10. Next I sewed the top 2 sections together to complete the top half of the quilt.

 

11. Then I sewed the 2 halves together to complete the quilt top. (Minus the hole in the center.)

12. The hole in the center was approximately 4-5" in size. I decided to cut a 10" circle to applique over the hole. That way it would cover the opening and hide any mistakes near the middle. I fussy cut one character from the Dr. Seuss fleece so that it would also have texture for the kids. 13. Layer, Baste & Quilt. I quilted straight lines along the wedges to keep it simple. Here is some pre-binding photos of the quilt that I recently found in my Project Life album. I can't believe how little Aliyah is!!

14. Bind the circle quilt with bias binding. I used a scrappy bias binding made from solid navy & the multicolor stripe. Make at least 175" of bias binding. How to make scrappy bias binding. How to bind curves. -- As I mentioned this quilt was originally a gift for Elijah & Aliyah. Here is my Dad helping Aliyah open the quilt at Hanukkah a few months ago.

Aliyah's first move was to do a twirl on the quilt.

Then they started searching for the books they have read.

...and then they went back to opening more presents of course!

Jonah is a big fan of the quilt.

My SIL Karin loves it because it is small enough to bring to the park, but big enough for Jonah to chill & have tummy time.

 Occasionally they still stake their claim on the quilt.

 I'm just glad it has gotten so much use & is loved so much!!

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  © 2013-2022 Julie R. Herman. All rights reserved. For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

No part of this tutorial may be reproduced without written consent of Jaybird Quilts.