Friday, September 30, 2011

AccuQuilt Fall Blog Hop 2011

I love my GO! As cutting out stuff for quilting is my least favorite part of the process, using my GO! sure makes me happy! And, as autumn is my favorite season, I used my GO! to make a beautiful table runner I can use all season.

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The dies used for this project are the fall medley # 55041 and the 2 1/2” strip cutter # 55017.

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The first thing is to select some gorgeous fall leaf colors.  I used stash and scraps to collect 3 or 4 different values and textures of main leaf colors…including pink!!

You will also need some fusible of your choice!

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I plan to use this runner on my dining room table, so I used several darker values of blues for the background fabrics.

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I am only using the leaf and acorn potion of the die, so I cut the fabric only big enough to cover that portion.  After cutting and pressing the size rectangles I needed for the leaf/acorn die, I pressed fusible onto the back of each piece of fabric.

Using the GO! is pretty much the same with all dies.  First off, here’s a little tip. The GO!, although quite heavy, can slide a bit sometimes while in use, so to avoid this, I use this rubbery Grip It Shelf and Drawer Liner underneath it.

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Lay two fused fabric pieces on top of the dark rubber side of the die over the cutting area which is much easier to  see if you beforehand outline the cutting edges on the rubber with a black Sharpie.

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Next, lay the thick white plastic mat over the fabric and die.

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Slide the two as if one under the center bar using one hand to push

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and the other to turn the crank.

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When it has passed all the way under the bar and out to the other side, it is done!

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Now, remove the plastic mat and separate the cut out leaves and acorns from the leftover fused fabric.

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I like to keep the leftovers as they are all fused and ready to be cut out and used on small appliqué projects,

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so I stack them up and put them in a big ziploc for safe keeping!!

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Now, do the same process until all the leaves and acorns are cut out using die # 55041 and then

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use die #  55017 to cut out at least one 2 1/2” by width of fabric (about 42”) for each of 9 blue fabrics for the background blocks.  You won’t need that much for the center strips of the blocks… so use up those scraps. 

Now, sub-cut those 2 1/2” wide blue background strips for the 10 1/2” log cabin blocks as follows-

cut four 2 1/2” square from fabric 1

cut four 2 1/2” square from fabric 2

cut four 4 1/2” piece from fabric 3

cut four 4 1/2” piece from fabric 4

cut four 6 1/2” piece from fabric 5

cut four 6 1/2” piece from fabric 6

cut four 8 1/2” piece from fabric 7

cut four 8 1/2” piece from fabric 8

cut four 10 1/2” piece from fabric 9

Now they will be sewn together in exactly the order that they were cut-

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fabric 1 square to fabric 2 square,

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then press, add fabric three rectangle to the first two pieces you sewed/pressed,

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and so on …

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until you have sewn…

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all the pieces together…

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to create the 10 1/2” log cabin block.

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Repeat this process to create all 4 blocks!

Next cut out three 10” squares from one of the blue fabrics then cut them in half diagonally.  These are your setting triangles that fill in the spaces on each side of the log cabins on point.

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Lay them all out and sew them together in diagonal rows, pressing as you go.  Cut out your batting and backing fabric a tad bigger all around, pin it all together and quilt as desired.  I did an all-over meander with variegated thread.  Press then trim off the excess batting and backing.

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Next is the fun part!!  You can use your leaves and acorns to create any design on your table runner you like! 

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I tried several different designs before settling on

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this one with four oak leaves and an acorn centered symmetrically on each log cabin block and one maple leaf centered on each setting triangle.

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You can choose whichever design you like!

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Now, we have to remove the paper backing off all the leaves and acorns.  Here’s another tip!  Score the paper on the back of each leaf/acorn with a sharp pin then, slightly fold it on that scored line and slide your fingernail under the scored edge and the paper can then be easily peeled off leaving the cut edges intact.

I pressed the fused leaves down first- leaving off the center acorns.

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I used a heavier variegated thread

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to stitch around each leaf and add veins.

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Then I fused on the four acorns and stitched around them, as well!!  And that is it!!  The table runner top is now complete!!  Just bind it and add a label on the back!  All done!

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Waddaudink??

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You like???  I hope so!!

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And, as usual…

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guess what Yogi was doing…

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the whole time I was making this?

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YUP!!  Snoozin’ away!  What a life, huh?

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Would you like some fusible fall leaves of your own to use on a fall project?  I’m giving away a bag of pre-cut leaves ready to use!! 

Only two requirements!! 

Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me you are a follower…

and tell me your favorite fall childhood memory!! 

I’ll draw a winner and announce it on Sunday night!!  Good luck!!  Happy Fall Y’all!!  :-)

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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Day Four of Accuquilt Fall Blog Hop

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Here’s this week’s lineup!!

Monday, September 26th-

Darlene from www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, September 27th -
Terrie from www.terriesandelin.blogspot.com/
Sharon from www.craizeecorner.blogspot.com/Wednesday,

September 28th -
Katrina from www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/

Today head on over to Connie’s blog first for some tips and tricks on how to use the Go! and the fall leaf medley die to make a beautiful Maple Leaf Centerpiece mini-quilt!!  So cute! And be sure to enter her givaway for a kit of precut fabric to make your own centerpiece mini-quilt just like hers!!

Then head on over to Mary’s blog for another quilt using the tumbler die- but it makes a lantern quilt!  Just wonderful!  And be sure to enter her givaway for a kit to make a wallhanging created with her Roly Poly Owl Block!

Thursday, September 29th -
Connie from  www.conniekresin.blogspot.com
Mary from www.tulip-patch.blogspot.com

And most importantly, Friday is MY day!!  So make sure you come back to see me on Friday!!  I’ll be posting a fall table runner tutorial AND offering a great givaway,too!

Friday, September 30th-
Polly from www.auntpollysporch.blogspot.com/

See you at the HOP!!

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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Day Three of Accuquilt Fall Blog Hop

AccuQuilt_Fall_Blog_Hop_badge_copy

Here’s this week’s lineup!!

Monday, September 26th-

Darlene from www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, September 27th -
Terrie from www.terriesandelin.blogspot.com/
Sharon from www.craizeecorner.blogspot.com/

Today head on over to Katrina’s blog for some tips and tricks on how to use the Go! and three dies- the chisel die, the square die and the pumpkins die to make an awesome fall table runner!!  So cute! And be sure to enter her givaway for a kit of precut fabric to make your own fall table runner just like hers!!

Wednesday, September 28th -
Katrina from www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 29th -
Connie from  www.conniekresin.blogspot.com
Mary from www.tulip-patch.blogspot.com

And most importantly, Friday is MY day!!  So make sure you come back to see me on Friday!!  I’ll be posting a fall table runner tutorial AND offering a great givaway,too!

Friday, September 30th-
Polly from www.auntpollysporch.blogspot.com/

See you at the HOP!!

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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Day Two of the Accuquilt Fall Blog Hop

AccuQuilt_Fall_Blog_Hop_badge_copy

Here’s this week’s lineup!!

Monday, September 26th-

Darlene from www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

Today is a “twofer”, so start out by heading on over to Terrie’s blog for some tips and tricks on how to use the Go! to subcut a charm pack and you should see all the cute stuff she made!!  And be sure to enter her givaway for some adorable mug rugs!!

Then, be sure to go to Sharon’s blog to see how she used the new breast cancer ribbon die to make a little memorial quilt in honor of her Mother-in-Law who passed away due to cancer.

Tuesday, September 27th -
Terrie from
www.terriesandelin.blogspot.com/
Sharon from www.craizeecorner.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 28th -
Katrina from
www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 29th -
Connie from 
www.conniekresin.blogspot.com
Mary from www.tulip-patch.blogspot.com

And most importantly, Friday is MY day!!  So make sure you come back to see me on Friday!!  I’ll be posting a fall table runner tutorial AND offering a great givaway!

Friday, September 30th-
Polly from 
www.auntpollysporch.blogspot.com/

See you at the HOP!!

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Monday, September 26, 2011

Day One of the Accuquilt Fall Blog Hop

AccuQuilt_Fall_Blog_Hop_badge_copy

Here’s this week’s lineup!!

Today, head on over to our fearless leader- Darlene (aka Sewcalgal)’s blog for some tips and tricks on how to use the awesome tumbler die to make a super fun and fast Halloween quilt!  It’s a real stashbuster!!  And she’s giving away some pre-cut tumblers so you can make your own Halloween lap quilt!!

   Darlene from www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, September 27th -
Terrie from
www.terriesandelin.blogspot.com/
Sharon from www.craizeecorner.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 28th -
Katrina from
www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/

Thursday, September 29th -
Connie from 
www.conniekresin.blogspot.com
Mary from www.tulip-patch.blogspot.com

And most importantly, Friday is MY day!!  So make sure you come back to see me on Friday!!  I’ll be posting a fall table runner tutorial AND offering a great givaway!

Friday, September 30th-
Polly from 
www.auntpollysporch.blogspot.com/

So, hurry over to Sewcalgal’s blog today and start hopping!!  See you at the HOP!!

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Thursday, September 22, 2011

I’m Still Alive…

but this says it all….

pencil stab

Boy, do I need some quality quilting time in my sewing room!!

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Sunday, September 18, 2011

Ready to Hop??

Next week, some Accuquilt bloggers will be participating in the Accuquilt Fall Blog Hop!  Darlene, aka Sewcalgal, has organized a fun and informative week of Accuquilt Go! tutorials, designs and givaways! 
Won’t you join us?
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Here’s the lineup!!
Monday, September 26th -
 Darlene from http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/    
Tuesday, September 27th -
 Terrie from http://www.terriesandelin.blogspot.com/
 Sharon from http://www.craizeecorner.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 28th -
 Katrina from  http://www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 29th -
 Connie from  www.conniekresin.blogspot.com
 Mary from www.tulip-patch.blogspot.com
Friday, September 30th-
Polly from  http://www.auntpollysporch.blogspot.com/

Yogi and I hope you will join us on Friday,
September 30th for a new Accuquilt Go! tutorial
on a new fall themed tabletunner!!
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I’ll also be giving away some beautiful fall leaves
with fusible on the back, cut out with my Go! and
ready for the winner to use on a fall project!! 
      Mark your calendars now!!
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