August 2010  "SHUT-UP" to quote a student this past weekend when she saw how easy it is to create 4-patch or 9-patch blocks from those alluring Charm Square Paks all the quilt shops are selling!!  So I thought you might enjoy getting in on it, too!   STEP 1 -- layout all the squares on a table (you will have to take the pak apart, but it's okay) and match them into pairs.  STEP 2 -- With right sides together sew the pairs together on two opposite edges (1/4" seams, of course) so it's like a fat little tube.  STEP 3 -- For 4-patches, cut each pair in half parallel to the seams.  For 9-patches, cut each pair into thirds parallel to the seams (yep, you need to do math).  STEP 4 -- Press all seams in each set towards the same fabric.  STEP 5 -- For 9-patches, you will have one strip of each fabric -- add one to each stitched pair so it alternates and press seams as Step 4.  STEP 6 -- For each set, with right sides together, align the pieces so that the fabric is on top of the opposite fabric and first seams are meshed together.  STEP 7 -- Stitch 1/4" seams of opposite edges and perpendicular to the first seam(s).  STEP 8 -- Cut 4-patches in half and ta-da, you have two 4-patches.  STEP 9 -- Cut 9-patches in thirds and repeat Step 5 and ta-da, you have two 9-patches. 

DECEMBER 2009:  Do you recognize this quilt?  Since designing the pattern in the mid-90's, I think I've made it a dozen times.  So this time I decided to give it a twist.  It's SANDSTONE!  I designed it to be used with a fabric collection by King's Road Imports and it's simplicity made it a big hit with all of you.  When I decided to make a lapquilt for a friend for Christmas, it was the first quilt to come to mind.  The "boot" fabric has been waiting in my stash for several years for just the right quilt and I decided to make this a "stash-only" project.  There was plenty of the boots for the piecing and the border, but not all the fabrics I chose were large enough pieces.  Time to adapt!!  

I decided to replace some of the largest sections with pieced units.  I auditioned a couple of ideas and settled on flying geese which are perfect for the rectangle sections.  I used my Set B Marti Michell templates to cut the scrappy geese -- you could also use the Lazy Girl X4 Flying Geese Ruler (both can be found on my SHOPPING page).  I have to confess I often start a new quilt while still working on another one and it was no different this time.   Once the "geese" pieces were cut, I stitched them together as my "leaders" and "enders" as I chain pieced the first project.  (For a good explanation of this process which I've used for years, take a look at this website: http://quiltville.com/leadersenders.shtml). By the time the first quilt was set together, all the flying geese units were pieced and ready to assemble into groups of 2 or 4 for insertion in the new Sandstone.  I was delighted to rediscover how quickly this quilt top goes together.  In two afternoons, I had the top pieced and bordered and ready to layer.  I layered the quilt the other evening and I'm ready to quilt!!!  After the holidays, I'm going to use one of my hoarded children's fabrics to make a crib size variation. 

I'm so pleased with the look of this adaptation that I'm inserting the instructions with cutting changes for both the lap and full sizes, piecing instructions, and a crib size variation of it into the Sandstone pattern.  If you don't already own the pattern, you can order it on-line (http://www.maryhueyquilts.com/catalog/i6.html).  If you already own the pattern, send me a stamped, self-addressed evelope and $1 for the adaptation instructions! 

AUGUST, 2009  This past month, I taught a guild workshop on ADAPTING PATTERNS.  As I was pulling samples together and looking over my notes, I got to thinking about how to adapt some of the patterns I've written.  Since many of you own several of my patterns, I've decided to devote this month and next to some suggestions on other ways to change up some of them easily -- give you "more bang for your buck"!! 

This month, I'll look at QUILTERS JUST WANNA' HAVE FUN.  There are 9 patterns in this collection of simple ideas that I adapted or designed to use with all the gorgeous fabrics that appeared in the late 1990's.  I realized during the winter that the CHECKERBOARD pattern is perfect for Jelly Rolls.  If you are making the lap size, using the light background strips in the roll may give you enough contrast without buying or cutting any more fabric!  And if you add a contrasting (different color, very light, or very dark) fabric for half the strips, you should be able to make a twin size from most Jelly Rolls I've seen.  Several of the patterns, NOVELTY PICTURE QUILT, RECTANGLE 4-PATCH, and WONDERFUL AND SIMPLE are excellent candidates for showing off machine embroidery blocks or a set of redwork blocks or cute fusible applique motifs in the larger blocks of each quilt.  Since I'm currently out of baby quilt tops (try to keep at least one on hand for quicker baby gifts), I'm running my embroidery machine when I'm in the sewing room to create a set of cute little mouse motifs from a design card in my stash!  I've also used machine embroidery motifs to jazz up the FAT QUARTER PLACEMATS.  The set I liked the best was made with fat quarters of beige fabrics (normally used for background) and embroidered with herb motifs -- I layered the placemat top and the flannel inner lining, did the embroidery, and then did the final assembly with the backing so the wrong side of the embroidery doesn't show.  JUST SQUARES PLUS and SCRAPPY TRIANGLES are my favorite chameleon quilts -- changing the fabric personality makes each one look like a totally different quilt.  I've done both in fun and funky prints, sweet and charming prints, traditional -- I have the fun of working with a new set of fabric without the effort of figuring out a new set of pattern directions by repeatedly making my favorite simple quilt tops.  This is especially wise when making quilts to give away -- I want to save my energy for the special quilts -- the ones I make for me and my family!!  Another trick you can use with JUST SQUARES PLUS is to change the random 4-patch blocks to another design or to change the size of the basic squares.  A student recently adapted the size of the squares to match the size of precut squares of French fabric she purchased on a trip.  Originally SCRAPPY TRIANGLES was made with a set of prints and a set of plain fabrics which created the background.  For a change, pull one of those large prints out of your stash and use that for the "background" triangles.  Chose simple tone-on-tone prints for the other set of triangles -- wala -- you have a stunning quilt from a simple pattern because of that gorgeous large print. 

I hope these ideas inspire you to take another look at FUN, maybe to finish a project you started from the booklet or make your next quilt using a wonderful fabric from your stash!!  If you'd a printable copy of this month's entry that you can cut up and add to your copy of FUN, just e-mail me -- mary@maryhueyquilts.com -- and if you don't own FUN, you can order your own copy right here on the website!!   And if you'd like to host an ADAPTING PATTERNS workshop for your friends or guild, get in touch with me and we'll set up a date!!

July 2009  Don't you love the way designers end their patterns -- "quilt to suit".  Why can't they just tell us how to quilt it?  I still have enough quilt top around here to keep a longarm quilter busy for a year!?!  Well, as a sometime pattern designer, I'm trying to mend my ways and this month I'll share some suggestions on ways on quilting three of my patterns.  

My most popular pattern is MISSISSIPPI MUD.  Since I suggest using so many prints for the "background" around the stars, I generally do a meander pattern throughout that part of the quilt.  But the stars have always baffled me.  When I made my granddaughter, Grace's quilt, I stumbled onto a good idea for the stars that is one continuous line of stitching for each star.  Put your walking foot on the machine and use the edge of it to measure the distance from the seam.  Start at the point in the diagram marked by the red hash mark and follow the green line stopping with the needle down and turning at each corner until you reach the starting point.  Stitch a few more stitches (retracing the first line) until you reach the blue X.  Stop with the needle down and turn to start stitching the dark red line.  Continue around this part of the star returning to the beginning.  Leave a couple inches of thread at the beginning and end of your stitching so you can come back and using a self-threading needle to bury the threads back in under the quilt top before cutting them.  The self-threading needles are available on the SHOPPING page! 

The easiest way to quit MARIE'S SCRAPS is to treat each band of patchwork like a border!  Go through your quilting design books or stencils and find a couple you like.  Then alternate between the two of them and just sew right over the patchwork.  The designs don't always show up, but it's a great way to practice especially if you are still uneasy about your machine quilting.  "Stitch in the ditch" between the patchwork bands and the setting strips.  You'll be done in no time!!

Finally, SANDSTONE is such a busy quilt with no structured block pattern that a meander is perfect for it, but challenge yourself to add in a little flourish every now and then like a simple flower or a heart or a star and keep on going.  Usually an hour and a half is about all the longer I can stay at the machine when quilting, but if I do that every day for a week, I ready to bind in a couple weeks for a large quilt!!  For some good tips and a slightly different perspective on binding, visit Alicia's Attic website (http://aliciasattic.com) and watch her video on Binding: Joining Ends.  I found it very interesting!!  

I hope one of these ideas helps you get something moved out of that pile of quilt tops this summer!!  Happy quilting!!

MARCH, 2009       Do you remember when spring meant cleaning?  I have to admit I don't get far with that task anymore -- a few windows, the sofa slipcover, and perhaps a closet.  We are such busy gals these days that the thought of spending a week going over the entire house from top to bottom doesn't even show up on our radar.  But the sewing area would benefit from a going over at this time of year.  Many of us have been busy in there during the quiet months of winter and are looking forward to heading out to the garden.  Before leaving for the glamour of sunshine, I've been spending some time tidying up my room and this is one of the little projects I used to empty out a box of random color strips.  It's Rocky Roads and was made from a funky assortment of green, pink, and yellow strips sewn into "strip" sets, then cut into wedges with a Kaledio-ruler.  Any large scale shape will work for this approach.  Some quilters like to build a strippy unit onto a muslin backing using a flip and sew technique.  Either approach works fine.  If you don't like scrappy color combinations, choose two or three color families like I did and concentrate on those.  Other shapes that work well are large 45 or 60 degree diamonds or big equilateral triangles.  Starching the strippy "fabric" before you cut the units to size will make everything easier to handle in the long run since you will grainlines going in all different directions.  Okay, so I didn't empty the box of strips but this little beauty is a candidate for a new porch quilt!  I'm dreaming of using the color scheme to make new pillows and stuff for the cozy little space I create on my front porch every summer (which is the envy of all my neighbors).  Last, but not least -- I let go of a couple things!  I finished up a small UFO that has been cut and ready to sew for maybe 3 years.  Then I donated it to a fundraiser that I support every year!  It was definitely a feel good thing!