CWD: Lincoln's Telegraph

January 10, 1864 Eldress Nancy Elly Moore wrote in her diary: - We here in the Centre Family had a tolerable lively good feeling meeting and towards the close we all kneeled down in gratitude and thankfulness for the blessings and mercy of God administered to us poor unworthy creatures thro his agency; and especially for the President's merciful Telegraph dispatch to the Provost Marshal of Bowling Green - "If there is any religious community in your district who adjure the principles of War for conscientious motives, give them an indefinite Parole if any of them should be drafted." (quote from the book Civil War Diary Quilt by Rosemary Youngs)

At first I was going to show you how to sew the Civil War Diary block #28... but I found some difficulties during the sewing... with the dimensions! Yes, I was naive and silly, when I tried to draft those pieces... and not foundation pieced this block... like a good girl would do? Do you see, I'm still a bit frustrated with myself. Although I saw that there is again quite impossible measurements, for example 3 1/16", 1 11/16", 7/16" and so on. At least they are impossible for me, because I have no such an exact inch ruler.

Even the centimeters didn't save me today...

So it happened...

that first I cut too wide blue and brown strips (1 3/4")... then I sewed little bit wider seams (a bit over 1/4") ... then I noticed the block would become too small (6 1/4" x 6 1/4") ... I unpicked and again sewed normal (?) 1/4" seams. After all I didn't know what were wrong?... and what were my original dimensions?... I was totally confused!

So it would be better that I don't give you any instructions, because I can't guarantee to you that they are correct.

The only thing that I'm 95% sure is... the brown corner squares should be 1 3/8" x 1 3/8"... I guess?

But I took some pictures during my 'journey'...

... and don't you agree that pictures, especially the 'travel pictures', are always fun to watch;o)

CWD block 28. Lincoln's Telegraph

Let's take a breath on Saturday, a new CWD block will come on Sunday

 - Battle of Springfield -

Uuuh... sounds serious... I thought today's block was a one kind of battle...

See you on Sunday!

Chez Claire - Aurifil Designer 2014

- a new year starts in Aurifil Designer BOM with Brigitte Heitland's block called

'CHEZ CLAIRE' or 'Spools'. Brigitte told about her block that: "It's easy to sew, since it can be with Precuts and because it can be sewn in a traditional style as well as in a fresh and modern style."

My theme last year with the Aurifil BOM blocks was precious stones.

I think that I won't have any particular theme in my blocks this year... maybe I'll try to find more compatibility with the shades of colors...

I found this - retired - pincushion girl from Lapland... and I think... she will adventure with my Aurifil 2014 Designer blocks this year! A traditional part?

She is a gift from my grandmother, who gave it to me in some year in 70-80 centuries. The girl's hat is missing... I remember, that I saw it somewhere, but I didn't find it today. Hopefully we'll find it before the end of this year... and also many beautiful blocks;o)

Did I try to find some modern style with the fabric choice?

I don't know... but I have never before used grey background fabric...

See you soon;o)

Celtic Solstice - Part 6

Nyt riepoo, pännii, hatuttaa, kismittää, kiukuttaa, per...hosittaa, krrrKRR!!!!

Ja syy on esillä alla olevan kuvan vasemmanpuoleisessa plexilaatikossa... krr!

I was very pleased late last night, when I got all Celtic Solstice blocks sewed in this stage... and before I went to sleep I wanted to see one Birthday Girl block and one 54-40 Fight block finished... and I also wanted to be really ready for next morning to start sewing blocks together.

 So I went and looked one more time Bonnie's clue 6 to see how she press her seams. AND... then I realized it! What I have done!?! ALL those Birthday Girl blocks (on left) were sewed wrong!

Great, you are very clever, Satu!

WHERE's the ripper?

I don't know what I had in my head that the Birthday Girl block should be like that... Maybe my head was still in a daze after quick trip to the island of Jersey.

I was able to unpick only eight blocks before I fell in sleep...

Well, I started with them...

... luckily I had sewed those 54-40 Fight blocks right;o)

Nyt ei enää niin paljon hatuta;o), mutta ratkojalle riittää töitä...

... before I continue unpicking, I'll go and admire wonderful Celtic Solstice quilt tops, here.

Hugs, Smiles And Warm Fuzzy Feelings

to every one;o)

LUS: A-4 Anneke's Choice

Loyal Union Sampler BOW sewers are back after a Christmas break...

Block A-4 Anneke's Choice

It's a foundation paper pieced block... 

it has been a while since I last sewed foundation piecing, so I would like to show you how I did it today...

... eli muutama sananen ja paljon kuvia blokin ompelusta paperin avulla. 

Joten valmistaudu nyt nuuduttavan puuduttavaan seikkailuun paperiompelun maailmassa!

Ensin otetaan kopio blokin mallista...

tai kuten laiskan pihi immeinen (= ihminen, joka ei jaksa aukaista kopiokonetta ottaakseen neljä kopiota) tekee...

 ... piirsin blokin 3 erilaista osaa mallikirjasta paperille, taittelin paperin ja ompelin ommelviivat koneella. Tällä tavalla ei ehkä saa kaikkein tarkimpia 'mallineita' aikaiseksi. Joten suosittelen, että käytät kopiokonetta;o), jos sinulla on siihen mahdollisuus.

Sitten kankaiden kimppuun...

 ... leikkasin sopivan levyisiä kangassuikaleita. Koska blokissa on myös neliönmuotoisia paloja, mittasin ja leikkasin ne jo valmiiksi oikean kokoisiksi.

Seuraavaksi...

 ... asetin kangassuikaleet oikeat puolet vastakkain, päällimmäisenä on paperimalline saumanvaran etäisyydellä kankaan reunasta. Kuvassa numero 1:n muotoinen pala ommellaan sinisestä kankaasta (np) ja numero 2:n muotoinen pala alla olevasta punaisesta kankaasta (op).

Sitten...

 ... vaan ommella hurruutellaan tarkasti merkattua viivaa pitkin, siis ei tällä kertaa sen vierestä;o)

Saumanvaran leveydellä ei ole niin väliä - ylimääräiset kankaat trimmataan myöhemmin pois,

kunhan huolehtii, että saumanvaran leveys on riittävä!

Joten muistathan tarkistaa, että olet varmasti leikannut oikean levyisiä kangassuikaleita. Itse huomasin  vasta ommellessa, että olin leikannut hieman (=1/8") liian kapeita suikaleita. Siksi leikkasin blokin reunoille tulevia paloja varten uudet, hieman leveämmät kaitaleet... siten saan varmasti blokin ulkoreunoihin oikean levyiset saumanvarat.

Ennen 'trimmausta'...

 silitän AINA saumat silitysraudalla kunnolla, silloin trimmaaminen on helpompaa ja paloista tulee oikean muotoisia. Jos ei jaksa kaiken aikaa rautaa pitää kuumana ja jos omistaa kynnet, niin sauman voi silittää kynnelläkin prässäämällä.

Koska en ole piirtänyt saumanvaroja paperimallineisiin, niin lisään saumanvarat tässä trimmausvaiheessa.

 Blokkihan alkaa näyttää jo.... melko valmiilta;o)

 Paperit ovat vielä kiinni miniblokeissa... ja oikeastaan pidän ne taustalla viimeiseen asti tukevoittamassa ommeltavia saumoja. Esim. tässä mallissa on monta vinoon langansuuntaan leikattua palaa, joiden reunat saattavat venyä ommeltaessa.

Joten annetaanpa paperien olla rauhassa...

 ... ja jatketaan palojen, miniblokkien yhdistämistä...

... riveiksi...

 ... OHO! Onpa pikkaisen vinksallaan nuo pari kohtaa... äh! Katsotaan, miten seuraavan kanssa käy!

 Kappas!

Olen näköjään vahingossa - järkevästi - osannut silittää saumanvarat eri suuntiin.

... ja rivit blokiksi!

Pitääkin vielä viimeinen sauma ommella kieli keskellä suuta...

ettei vaan tyri nyt, kuten JukkaPoika tuolla taustalla lauleskelee;o)

Vielä ennen paperien poistamista (= repimistä) - kurkkaus - miltä näyttää...

 Kelpaa minulle tänä päivänä... vaikka saumat pikkuisen vinksin ja kermanvaalea ompelulanka irvistää saumoissa. En vaan millään muista, että nämä blokit kannaisi ehkä ommella jonkun muun värisellä langalla. Muuten Huom! tikinpituus voi olla paperin avulla ommeltaessa hieman lyhyempi kuin normaalisti tilkkuja ommeltaessa, koska tikit tuppaavat löystymään, kun paperi poistetaan... eli et sitten ommellut omien oppiesi mukaan, vai? Voi sinuu, Satu!

Noh, eihän niin tarvitsekaan tehdä, miten minä teen...

vaan siten kuin sanon! ;o) ... niin parempi tulee!!;o)

Eli nyt sitten irroitetaan paperi VAROVASTI, katkaisematta ompelulankoja...

itse en ole vielä koskaan sillä tavalla katkaissut lankaa... ehkä sekin päivä koittaa.

Jos paperi tuntuu vaikeasti irtoavalta, sitä voi huoletta pehmentää esim. silitysraudan höyryn avulla. Tällä kertaa paperi irtosi hyvin senkin vuoksi, koska ompelin ommelviivaa pitkin tavallaan kaksi kertaa...

Lopuksi sitten silitetään valmis blokki ja tehdään siitä vaikka blogijuttu! TADAA!!!
Kymmenes Loyal Union Sampler blokki on tehty!

NO NIIN, herätys siellä! Ja kokeilemaan omia foundation piecing taitoja;o)

ILOISTA LOPPIAISTA toivotellen

- Satu ja Fenix -

... joka tämän tarinan aikana lämmitteli mukavasti silityslaudalla, pää silitysraudan telinekolossa... 

... vai mikä tuon reiän nimitys lieneekään?... ;o)

Lost...

...but found on the island of Jersey?

It's time to start a new AYOS (= Another Year of Schnibbles) project. In the end of year 2013 Carrie Nelson published three new Schnibbles: Jersey Girl, Hook and Chicken Feet. I can't wait to sew them...

First I thought that it would be better, if I don't NOW start this month's Schnibbles, Jersey Girl... I have other projects... BUT, when I saw Tiinatei's gorgeous blue version of Jersey Girl block.. I decided not to wait!

I was bought two Midwinter Reds Charm packs for it... as many other quilter ;o), because it is really beautiful in red shades as Carrie made it. Maybe I want to try something else...

I remembered that I have two packs and some yardage of 'Jovial' by Basic Grey in Christmas fabrics box. I have always loved Basic Grey's Christmas fabrics! So why not use it!?! Great Idea!!?

And of course this is an excellent opportunity to use first time my new marker (or ruler): Omnigrid's Marking ruler!

Why? Because there is 144 HST units in this pattern and I want to make them as Carrie did them: eight HST units from two charms. Quick and clever! So I had to mark the sewing lines...

The ruler's center line is exactly 1/4" from both edges of ruler... the marking is now more easy;o)... Besides the markings of my current normal ruler are bit faded, it's difficult to see the necessary lines on it.

I took some photos, while sewing the first 4- patch...

only to refresh my memory, what I learnt from Bonnie about the 4-patches... during Celtic Solstice...

And the photos look so Christmassy... like a Christmas card.

Carrie told us to cut the narrow sashing strips (1" x 5") individually, but I prefer to do it this way: 

First I cut wider strips and cut them after to the desired width.

And I like to use pins, when I sew those narrow strips to hold them surely straight.

The block looks nice... I don't regret the fabric choice;o)

Hopefully I'll find my way back to Ireland... ;o) and you know why?

Have a lovely weekend!!!

Celtic Solstice - part 5

I had to rush to link to part 5 of Celtic Solstice before the link is closed...

maybe the first rush in this quilt-along;o)

The last clue...

(yes, I already know it was the last clue, because the mystery is revealed... 

Bonnie did it a festive New Year's Eve! FABULOUS!!!)

... was to make 100 SPLIT TRIANGLE units for the small quilt.

Because I like to remember my journey to Ireland... I picked up these memories for this week.

Clearly those split triangles resemble rock formations on the coast of Ireland... at least in my eyes;o)

For this clue I also took out my Easy Angle ruler to cut those neutral and blue triangles. 

I followed exactly Bonnie's cutting instructions... with the missing dog ears it was easy to sew them together with orange-yellow HST units.

Was it too easy... because my sewing assistant seems to sleep?

I also had a bit of time to play with sewed units...

... and I contemplated the ways in which Bonnie is going to lay out the pieces. That kind of contemplating is a part of fun in these mystery quilts...

The all 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" units are now finished:

 - 92 star point units with orange background

- 96 star point units with neutral background

- 100 yellow/green/neutral chevrons

- 25 orange/yellow pinwheels

- 120 green/orange 4-patches

- 100 split triangle units

Hopefully I have counted them right...

Hugs, Smiles And Warm Fuzzy Feelings

to every one;o)

CWD: Gloomy Prospects & President Lincoln's Proclamation

Let's start with a bit easier block...

January 1, 1865 Rachel Young King Anderson wrote in her diary - The new year dawns upon us one more time in the midst of a frightful war. It finds myself and family all alive and well, but without a settle home. Yesterday was my birthday. I have lived 46 years on this earth. The prospect before me is gloomy in the extreme but I trust in the same strong arm has brought me safe this far. The Lord is my shepherd... (quote from R. Youngs' book Civil War Diary Quilt)

I'm not sure how deeply you are interested in to know stages of sewing this Gloomy Prospects block... but I'll show you something... in case you would like to try it yourself?!?

I decided to use my 'favorite' method, which is Sew and trim after;o)... don't worry, there is only small wasting of fabrics! First some cut instructions:

 - from white fabric:
* 4 - 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" squares
* 2 - 3 5/16" (~8,5 cm) x 1 7/8" rectangles for the flying geese

(oh, you noticed I had to use both cm:s and inches:o)

- from green fabric:
* 6 - 8,5 cm x 1 1/4" rectangles
* 2 - 12 cm (~ 4 10/16") x 1 1/4" rectangles
* 4 - 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" squares

- from gray fabric:
* 8 - 8,5 cm x 1 1/4" rectangles
* 4 - 1 7/8" x 1 7/8" squares for the flying geese

I started sewing by making two flying geese units. I sewed them together and then I sewed two green 8,5 cm x 1 1/4" rectangles both sides of them... like this. 

The unit should be measure 3 1/4" x 4 3/4"... I think. 

Then I continued by adding gray - green - gray 8,5 cm x 1 1/4" rectangles...

 

 ... between... I checked the width of the stripes. If it looked too wide, I added the seam width.

Finally I got the middle part of the block like this! It should be about 3 1/4" x 9".

Then I started to sew the 'wings' of the block together...

 ... as before... I checked the width of the stripes this way. The red arrows point the places where the seams should meet.

Tadaa! You've got a nice contraption! (= häkkyrä :o)

 Now follows the exciting phase - TRIMMING!

Are you ready?

 Here is few arrows to help you in your trimming ;o)

Girls, you made it!

CWD block 13. Gloomy Prospects

... but this tale is not yet over! There is that horrific block coming... sooooooooo tiny square in square block!

But I'm not going to tease you... or bore you to death with a long story of making President Lincoln's Proclamation block. I shall be brief;o)

I cut the following pieces:

 Do you want some measurements?

First I cut squares.

For each mini block (= a quarter of the block) you'll need:

* 1 - 7/8" x 7/8" square 

NOTE: I didn't cut this piece, because I needle appliqued it later. So I kind of hop this step over... and started from here:

* 1 - 1 1/4" x 1 1/4" square

* 2 - 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" squares

* 2 - 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" squares

* 2 - 2" x 2" squares

* 2 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares (first I cut these 2 1/4" x 2 1/4", but later I noticed they were a little bit too small)

Then I cut all squares - except the very first one - diagonally half to get four triangles.

Are you still in?

To this picture...

... I collected various sewing steps and wrote down mini-block size in each step.

After all I feared this block too much beforehand...

when I decided to applique the smallest square, it was then much easier to make.

There is one or two small bugs on my block, but... maybe I can live with it;o)

CWD block 99. President Lincoln's Proclamation

On the first of January, 1863, we held services for the purpose of listening to the reading of President Lincoln's proclamation by Dr. W.H. Brisbane, and the presentation of two beautiful stands of colors, one from a lady in Connecticut, and the other from Rev. Mr. Cheever. The presentation speech was made by C. French. It was a glorious day for us all, and we enjoyed every minute of it, - This note was written by Susie King Taylor (January, 1863) and I quoted it from Rosemary Youngs' Civil War Diary Quilt book.

Oh boy, What a New Year's Day it was!!!