Bitsy Pink & Red Hearts New Patterns

I’ve been having lots of fun playing with tiny heart blocks.

By tiny, I mean like 1″ tiny hearts!

Trust me when I say,

Mary Ellen’s Best Press is one of my best friends!

It doesn’t make the fabric stiff, it just gives it more body.

I just spray & press each fabric with Best Press before cutting

& I have no issues working with the tiny pieces.

I had so much fun that I didn’t stop with one…

Both quilts fit onto the Ackfeld 12″ stand.

Eventually I’ll make sleeves,

but I couldn’t resist using some cool (new to me)

vintage clips to hang them instead of a sleeve.

Please forgive me.

If you’d like to make them for yourself or a friend,

I put them on my website today.

Just 1 Tiny Dresden plate

(so easy!!!)

& just $10 + shipping.

You can also find the 12″ stands on my “Notions” page.

Happy early Valentine’s Day!

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

Circle, Circles & More Circles

Yesterday while I was running errands

I bopped into a local flea market

& found that a new one popped up 2 doors down!

While there I spied this cool lithograph tin.

In case you don’t really know me…

I’m a sucker for junk that holds other junk!!!

There must be a term for people like me… (besides crazy…).

How cool is this one?

Right away I knew that my 1″ circles would fit perfectly!

I could also put 1/2″ circles in the small end.

However, that would last 30 seconds until they would all be mixed together, so no!

They will stay in their own tin.

Then 2 doors down I spied 2 tins that would hold my new size circles; 1 1/2″.

This morning I remembered that I hadn’t tried out my new 1 1/2″

circle cutters that I ordered in last month yet.

Within 5 minutes I filled the two new tins.

Voila, 216 circle templates!

Ready to start making some doll heads,

or Tiny/Mini plates for Dresden Village

or Around The Block.

Or something new…

I love cutting ahead.

It keeps me organized &

the fact that I don’t have to stop what I’m doing to get the freezer paper out

& meticulously cut circles is heavenly!

Just count out as many circle templates that I need,

whatever size I need

& start pressing them to the fabric.

That’s how I get so much done.

I’m basically lazy, true story!

Each size template has it’s own cool tin.

If you’ve had me in for a workshop you know that I’m good at sharing too.

This is my traveling workshop tin.

I bring it full of templates for the project I’m teaching & I share!

The 1 1/2″ circle cutters are now on the “Notions” page of my website.

Hopefully it’s just in time for your next Suzn Quilts project.

If you’re interested in having me come teach for your guild

check out my “Workshop” page for pricing & offerings.

Planning to get lots of sewing done this weekend, you?

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 12

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 12.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks!

It has been lots of fun watching your progress!

Today is assembly day.

Wow, these 12 Days of Christmas have passed by quickly.

It’s time to turn your cute little blocks

into a cute little quilt.

Sew the top row together in the order shown below.

For the middle row,

sew the rail fence to the heart & the tree to the log cabin

then sew them to the Tiny Dresden block.

Sew the bottom row together as shown.

Pressing:

I pressed the center row toward the Tiny Dresden plate block,

then pressed the top & bottom rows accordingly

so they would nest with the middle row.

I removed most of the stitches in all of the seam allowances

to help the quilt lie flatter.

Finally sew the 3 rows together.

There aren’t many seams that need to be pinned,

but if seams met, I pinned them.

Again, I removed most of the stitches within seam allowances

& pressed to the direction of least resistance.

It’s pictured on Ackfeld’s 12″ Meandering Stand.

This will be a great way to display your finished

12 Days Of Christmas quilt

don’t you think?

They’re available on my notions page if you’d like one.

I can’t wait to get mine quilted & finished!

How about you?

Merry Christmas

&

Best Wishes for a great 2020!

Please post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 11

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 11.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make 4 Tiny 9-Patch blocks today.

You can cut strips to make them quickly,

but……………

I want mine all different so I’m cutting squares instead.

For each 9-Patch Cut:

• 5 red squares 1 1/2″ (20 total)
• 4 cream squares 1 1/2″ (16 total)

I organized them, then chain pieced them.

I didn’t cut them apart or press them yet.

I opened each pair of sewn squares

to arrange the 3rd square nice & straight

before sewing it.

Yay for my knee lift that acts as a third hand!

I don’t press 9-Patch blocks until they’re complete.

Please don’t turn me in to the quilt police!

I find the seams “nest” better if I don’t press them.

I pinned each seam with the seam allowances toward the red fabric.

If you finger press the seams in opposite directions

the seams will nest &

make it almost impossible to not match at the corners!

I cut the 2 chain piecing connecting threads on each seam,

then pressed the seams flat as sewn with the iron.

Next, I opened & finger pressed, then I ironed them.

I didn’t cut the stitches in each seam,

I just showed it who’s the boss &

worked them free as I manipulated

the seam allowances nice & flat!

Then the iron quickly reminds me who’s

really the boss

when my fingers get a bit too close…

It’s a love/hate relationship! Lol

Actually I burn myself so frequently

that I don’t even pay attention anymore.

These are the last blocks.

Tomorrow is assembly day!

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 10

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 10.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll complete the Tiny Dresden plate block today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

For those of you not making your quilt Christmas in theme,

I have suggestions for you below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I added another background print for this block.

Notice it’s a bit more plain.

I want “Merry Christmas” to really stand out.

Cut:

• 1 square 7″, will be trimmed to 6 1/2″ after stitching

~~~~~~~~~

For those of you not making your quilt Christmas in theme,

cut your square of background fabric 6 1/2″.

I suggest using a busier print to help visually “fill” the block. 

You can skip down to “Crease the background square…”

~~~~~~~~~

Click below to print the “Merry Christmas” template sheet.

Suzn+Quilts+12+Days+of+Christmas+Merry+Christmas+letters

Be sure the 1″ box measures 1″ with a ruler after you print it.

If the box doesn’t measure 1″

go to your printer settings and be sure it’s printing at

“actual size” or “100%” so that it will print accurately.

This is my very cool, antique metal “embroidery box”.

It keeps my tiny hoop, scissors, threads &

Magnetic Needle Nanny by Puffin & Co. 

all together for just this purpose.

The needle nanny attaches itself to the side of the metal box

& fiercely holds my needles & scissors there with it.

I’ve never experienced such strong magnets!

I don’t have to worry about losing either one!

I used a stem stitch with No. 8 perle cotton thread

to stitch “Merry Christmas”.

Kismet helped in getting my blocks stitched.

(remember I’m making 2 so I can make the quilt and pillow)

I traced the 2 blocks & tucked them into my very cool old box for my O dark thirty chauffeuring job for a family member’s colonoscopy appointment this week.

I’m so impressed with myself that I thought of

tracing & taking the project the night before!

Usually I think of it after the fact…

woulda, shoulda, coulda, you know. Lol

I had the perfect relaxed spot complete with an ottoman

in the brand new outpatient surgery center at Barnes West!

My only complaint is that they’re a bit too efficient.

I only completed stitching 1 1/2 of the 2 blocks.

I had to finish the second in front of the TV that night! Lol

I need to get more lighting for my living room.

It’s on my list!

I pressed the blocks with Best Press

then used my 14″ rotating cutting mat

to trim the blocks to 6 1/2″.

It’s so slick to turn the block without upsetting the accuracy!

I don’t use this size mat very often, but when I do I love it!

The block is now ready for the plate!

Crease the background square in half both directions.

Align then glue the divots of the

Dresden plate on the creases.

Stitch the same way the center circle was stitched to the plate

with thread matching the plate fabric.

A couple of tips:

I always start stitching in one of the divots; see the thread tail?

It’s easy to conceal the start/stop point this way.

I leave the thread tail so I can easily see

when I’m approaching the start point.

If you’re not familiar with a blind hem stitch,

the machine takes 3 or 4 stitches forward (beside the applique) then a zag to the left onto the applique.

This zag is what stitches the plate to the background.

I make the stitch width & length very small so it resembles a hand stitch.

I hope you can see the detail in the image below.

I also think it’s important to have a stitch onto all 12 points of the plate.

 

If your machine isn’t going to zag onto the point of the plate,

stop & lift the foot to put the needle into the point of the petal manually.

This is super quick & easy if you have a knee lift.

I can’t imagine not having a knee lift for applique!

Put the needle back into the background fabric

to resume stitching after making the manual stitch.

Be sure to trim the thread tails close to the block.

Isn’t it adorable???

I love Christmas & little Dresden plates too!

I hope you’re having as much fun as I am.

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 9

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 9.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make a Tiny Dresden Plate today!

Many of you have my Tiny Dresden plate plastic template,

but if you don’t here is a

temporary link

to a free download to my templates:

Suzn+Quilts+12+Days+of+Christmas+Tiny+Dresden+Template

 

Cut:

• 1 Dresden plate fabric strip 2″ x width of fabric then cut 12 petals, rotating template on strip. (If directional fabric like mine, don’t rotate it, just slide it down the strip to cut the petals all the same direction on the fabric.)
• 1 Dresden center fabric square 2″
• 1 freezer paper circle 1″ from template

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All seams to be sewn a scant 1/4″.

Use a Seam guide by Perkins Dry Goods

if you’re unsure of where that is on your machine!

Available here on my notions page

along with the rest of the tools that I recommend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Fold each petal in half right sides together,

then sew from raw edge to fold as shown.

Sew all 12 petals.

Trim away seam allowance as shown.

Press flat as sewn, then turn right side out.

Using That Purple Thang

or other blunt point,

poke out point of petal.

Press again.

Do this for all 12 petals.

Sew 2 petals together (right sides together)

starting 3 stitches from edge,

back stitch to edge, then sew entire seam.

Press as sewn, then press seam open.

 

Sew pairs of petals together.

Press.

Sew 3 segments together to complete plate.

Press with more Best Press.

Trace, then cut 1″ circle from freezer paper.

Fuse to wrong side of center fabric.

Cut out fabric with 1/4″ seam allowance.

With Roxanne

or other glue &

Apliquick rods,

glue seam allowance to back side of template.

These tools make my circle almost perfect!

See, no divots!!!

Glue circle to center of plate.

Stitch to plate.

I use a tiny blind hem stitch with thread matching to center fabric.

Dampen center circle.

Let rest a few minutes then remove paper template.

When dry, press with Mary Ellen’s Best Press.

 

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 8

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 8.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make this tiny rail fence block today.

Or if you prefer a Christmas swastika???

This was my first block,

but when I was writing this post it looked more & more like a swastika

so I had to change the fabric placement on block #2!

Welcome to my life…….

Cut:

• 1 red, cream & green rectangle 1″ x 9″

Sew them together being sure

(to check color placement first & foremost, lol!)

to press each seam flat as sewn,

then to one side so the seam stays straight.

Note I didn’t change all of these images.

They’re my original block’s construction…

Check to be sure the strip set is straight by laying a ruler over it.

If it’s not perfectly straight,

take & iron it again.

If you sewed straight seams,

you should be able to straighten it out.

Cut strip set into 4 segments 2″ long.

Sew center seam.

Press as sewn, then toward the vertical strips.

See image below.

Sew second seam.

Remove stitches in center seam allowance

then press seam toward vertical strips as shown below.

 

Better looking finished block!

I took apart the swastika version &

rotated the segments so the red is on the outside of the block.

It really changes the finished block.

Or if you prefer…

 

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan