Tag: Quilt Block of the Month

Quilt Block “Hope”

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Back in February, I told you about the Quilt Block of the Month program that is being done in Hancock Fabrics stores around the country. Today, I would like to share with you my tips on the creation of the second block in that program (for those of you who missed the first block post, it can be found here).

First, I have to tell you, if you are still interested in joining the Quilt Block of the Month program at your local Hancock Fabrics, you are welcome to do so. Stores will be glad to help you catch up with the program, and as you can see in this link: Journey Quilt, you will have a beautiful quilt when you complete the program.

All stores have free demonstrations of the block, and a quilter on hand to assist with any questions you might have with the current or past blocks. Generally the free demonstration is on the third Saturday of the month, but some stores have chosen alternate dates, so make sure you check with your location before you plan to show up!

Now, on to the block itself! This block was actually the March block (I’ve been so busy with my running around that I just got it stitched up for you), but as I said it’s never to late to get started.

The quilt this year was designed by Laura Jones who did a great job coming up with the ideas for our “Journey” quilt. The block from the first month was called “Treasure” and this block is titled “Hope” Laura choose to use a sun for this block. What a great choice – doesn’t the sun have that effect on us and our hopes and dreams? And particularly this time of year when so many of us are looking at rainy skies and ‘hoping’ for the sun to chase out the clouds.

This block is an appliqué block. I suggest that you draw the sun flames and sun center onto the fusible web – I used wonder under from Pellon.

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Next,iron the rough side (the side with the glue on it) to the fabric you will be using to create the appliqué. Make sure your iron is applied only to the paper, and not to the fabric – that way you won’t get any glue on the surface of your iron! After the paper and fabric have completely cooled, cut our your shapes. Here I am working on the sun’s flames.

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Once you have finished cutting out your appliqué shapes, it’s time to apply them to the block. Peel the paper off the back of the appliques. Place the design on the block and iron again. This will join the applique with the quilt block. When you are finishing off the edges around the sun you can appliqué in many ways: blanket stitch by hand or on your machine using a choice of decorative stitches. I decided to use a satin stitch fairly tight. Whenever you pile a lot of stitches in a small space (which is what I did using the zig zag stitch or satin stitch) you need to use a stabilizer on the back so that your fabric doesn’t stretch out. I used the stabilizer – Totally Stable from Sulky. Totally Stable is a tear away stabilizer. Pin it to the back of your project, then I iron over it and it clings to my project – this gives your fabric some extra body for the stitching you are about to do. Finish up with your satin stitch design and than simply tear the stabilizer away. Here are pictures of the stabilizer package (so you can find it yourself), and the back of my project after I have finished the satin stitching and as I am tearing the stabilizer away (the section I have removed is in the upper left corner of the project).

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You now have a sun palette to finish anyway you choose for the center of the sun. You can add yarn, trim, beads, satin stitch in a swirl, or leave and quilt the design later.

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Here are some of the ideas I’ve seen used to finish the center of the sun. As you can see, a swirl is what the pattern calls for.
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Finished with a dress trim

A dark tan yarn in the center

A variegated yarn to finish, this yarn is heavier than the one that uses the dark tan.

As you can see, this is a quilt that will include a lot of the quilter’s personality, which is perfect because it truly is a ‘journey’ that we will all go through as we complete this quilt. Are you ready to join the Journey?
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

Quilt Block of the Month – Journey Quilt

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Yesterday I told you about the Journey Quilt that Hancock Fabrics has chosen for the Quilt Block of the Month program. I thought you might like to see a picture of the completed quilt. The ‘treasure’ block from yesterday’s post is the block in the upper left corner of the picture.

Fabrics, kits and instructions are available at any Hancock Fabrics store.
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila

Quilt Block of the Month

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Hancock Fabrics will begin its Quilt Block of the Month program for 2008 this month. Each year a different quilt and theme are chosen for the Quilt Block of the Month, and this year the theme is called “Journey”. This quilt is a great one for beginning quilters, so I encourage you to take a look at the program if you are looking for something new to do.

I have taken pictures of some of the fabrics to give you an idea of the quilt colors for this year. As you can see, the fabrics are so beautiful; you’ll want to purchase enough to make other things to go with your quilt.

Of all the quilts that have been chosen for Quilt Block of the Month in the past, this is one of my favorites. I have brown leather furniture in my family room, and this quilt will go perfectly in there.

If you are interested in participating in the program, check with your local Hancock Fabrics store. This program will be in all stores, and most will have demos for the Quilt Block of the Month program on the 3rd Saturday of each month. (However, stores do have the option to adjust this day, so check to see when your store is doing the demos.) Stop in at your local Hancock Fabrics store and pick up the instruction book. You can either have the fabrics cut for you or buy a kit that includes the book and the fabrics already cut for the quilt.

The creator for this year’s quilt is Laura Jones. Laura choose to call this quilt “Journey” because she knows that everyone has a journey in this life, everyone’s journey is different, and yet we can make the journey together – as we are each doing in completing our ‘journey’ with this quilt. Each participant will learn different things, and take away different memories – and yet we will journey together in completing this year’s Quilt Block of the Month.

The first quilt block is appropriately titled “Treasure”, because there is a pocket in the center of the block for you to put something into. The possibilities for what might go into this pocket are endless. Here are two pictures of the block, the first is just the quilt block – and the second is the block with a piece of lace that my Grandmother crocheted.

If you are going to give the quilt as a gift you might include a copy of a quilt journal designed specifically for this quilt. (Don’t know what a quilt journal is? Check out this link)
Another idea would be to include items from a trip that you have taken – something memorable. Perhaps you’ll choose a memento from your wedding, something that was important to you as a child, or a photo of a family member. Use your imagination!

I was so inspired by this block that I had to make another one, so I dug out some prints that might be fun for a child. Here’s what I came up with:

I think I’m going to make this up into a pillow – I can just see my granddaughter’s smile when she sees this! The block came out to 12” square without any borders – so to make a good size pillow I will add borders before I finish it off. Think about giving this to a child who is going into the hospital, the pocket could contain a favorite stuffed animal, or notes of encouragement. Using the same idea, you could make this block several times and create a throw blanket – each pocket could contain a different note or small gift for the recipient.
Sheila Reinke, Heart of Sewing
Sheila