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.

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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

and the other to turn the crank.

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

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

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

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

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

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-

fabric 1 square to fabric 2 square,

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

and so on …

until you have sewn…

all the pieces together…

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

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.

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.

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

I tried several different designs before settling on

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.

You can choose whichever design you like!

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.

I used a heavier variegated thread

to stitch around each leaf and add veins.

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!

Waddaudink??

You like???  I hope so!!

And, as usual…

guess what Yogi was doing…

the whole time I was making this?

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

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!!  :-)