VACATION TIME

Block of the Month that is!   Pat Sloan has a new BOM called "Vacation Time".  I am using the same fabrics that I used for Delightful Stars quilt along as I didn't finish off the remaining blocks to be sewn for that one.  The blocks from Vacation Time will fit it nicely and I should get some sort of quilt top out of it all by the end of the BOM.  I will just keep sewing the BOM until I have enough for the quilt top.  Other blocks can become cushions or something.

I'm sewing these blocks on my Featherweight 222K.  By using the seam guide and the Perkins Dry Goods Perfect Piecing Guide, I can set a scant 1/4" seam and all of the units come out the correct size.

Happy Sewing!
Cheers from Helen

SPINNING PINWHEELS.....

BLOCK # 3 - AFA QUILT-ALONG

This block certainly tested the old Singer 201K.  I took it slowly and in the end I'm pretty happy with how this block has turned out.

I did learn one thing about sewing on the Singer.  I need to check my scant 1/4" frequently, as the seam guide 'shifts' a little without you noticing it.  I purchased a little tool to help me with the scant 1/4" .....

it's called the Perfect Piecing Seam Guide by Perkins Dry Goods.  So every now and then, I place this little guide under the sewing foot, lower the needle into the tiny little hole in the guide and then screw my Singer seam guide in place butting it up against the Perfect Piecing little tool.  I then remove the little ruler and away I go again, sewing with a true 'scant' 1/4" seam.

Now I'm making my Batik version of Block # 3.  

This time I will press my seams to one side.  Up until now, all seams have been pressed open.  I just want to see what difference it might make to this block in particular.  I like to 'stab pin' my triangle points together so I get a nice crisp centre to my pinwheel and you just can't do that using the open seams.  Well, I can't anyway!  I have referred to this method before (Civil War Quilt) - this method is from Rodale's Perfect Piecing - a book I go back to time and again.

I've updated my virtual quilt in my sidebar, it's coming together nicely.

Happy Sewing,

Helen

FABRICS USED IN THIS BLOCK:-
BROWN CONTRAST FABRIC -  "MONOCHROMATIX" BY PATRICK LOSE FOR ROBERT KAUFMAN
ORANGE - RAINFOREST COLLECTION BY  CORAL TREE FABRICS "SUMMER RAIN"

FAWN/BLUE/BROWN/GREEN -  Brook Turquoise Pebbles by CP Designs for Studio e