Welcome back to the Hurrication QAL!
This week is all about the extra HST you can make from your snowball corner leftovers!
Let's get started. :)
I like saving all of my triangles for the end for a couple reasons. One, I don't always use the background fabric and pair up the prints instead. Two, they make a good leaders and enders while piecing other projects.
Reminder, these are on the bias so handle gently when sewing!
If you click on the Week 2 link above, there is section on sewing an extra line 1/2" away from the original. Cutting in between these two lines gives you the extra HST without having to sew them separately later! If bias edges are troubling for you, do it this way to avoid that issue.
Press your HSTs open or two the side (whichever your preference), and square to 2.5". They will finish at 2" when sewn together!
The Rainbow Sherbet Pouch by Great Heron Thread Co is my newest obsession. I made one to hold my hand embroidery projects, and I loved it so much I used my HSTs from my cover quilt and my QAL quilt to make two new pouches.
Don't tell the others, but the ombre effect from my QAL pouch is hands down one of my favorite things I've ever made. The ombre continues on to the back and it's just so fun!
For the blue pouch, I attempted some improv style patchwork. I randomly paired triangles together to make the HSTs and then randomly paired the HSTs when sewing them together. It was freeing to not worry about matching points!
I used this pattern by Something from Nothing to make a journal cover that fits over a composition book. When sewing these HSTs, I randomly paired the fabrics together omitting the background fabric altogether. I had less HSTs to work with, but this was a small project so it worked out just fine!
Each week I will be giving away a FQ bundle curated from my own stash! Here is this weeks bundle!
To enter in the giveaway:
– Share your progress on instagram using the hashtag #hurricationqal and #rsqpatterns. (Your Instagram account must be public or I won't be able to see it.)
– Because I want this to be a stress-free QAL, any picture of your progress counts! It doesn't have to necessarily “match” the prompt. If you don't have your fabrics yet, post the QAL graphic. If you have your fabrics, show them off so we can see what you're going to make! If you want to post more than once, go for it! All of it counts. :)
I will randomly pick one winner on Sunday night and announce it in next weeks email newsletter and in my IG stories!
Jill of J. Coterie is giving away free long arming services (up to $250) and will offer 20% off on any quilt you send in to her!
AND
Rachel of Saltwater Fabrics is giving away a $50 gift card to her shop!
We're almost done! If you haven't finished your blocks yet, next week is a good chance to do that before we finally assemble the tops!
Welcome back to the Hurrication QAL!
We are almost to the halfway point, how are you feeling!?
I don't have much to share this week, so I thought I'd share some of the posts from the Instagram hashtag. Everyone is making great progress, so hopefully you are feeling inspired and motivated to finish!
Let's get started. :)
These are just a handful of the quilts being shared on Instagram. Be sure to follow the hashtag or check it out here!
Each week I will be giving away a FQ bundle curated from my own stash! Here is this weeks bundle!
To enter in the giveaway:
– Share your progress on instagram using the hashtag #hurricationqal and #rsqpatterns. (Your Instagram account must be public or I won't be able to see it.)
– Because I want this to be a stress-free QAL, any picture of your progress counts! It doesn't have to necessarily “match” the prompt. If you don't have your fabrics yet, post the QAL graphic. If you have your fabrics, show them off so we can see what you're going to make! If you want to post more than once, go for it! All of it counts. :)
I will randomly pick one winner on Sunday night and announce it in next weeks email newsletter and in my IG stories!
Jill of J. Coterie is giving away free long arming services (up to $250) and will offer 20% off on any quilt you send in to her!
AND
Rachel of Saltwater Fabrics is giving away a $50 gift card to her shop!
Next week will be all about snowball corners! I'll share what I'm making with my leftover HSTs, give you some other ideas what you can make with yours, and have a handy tutorial for you. :)
Welcome back to the Hurrication QAL!
This weeks' post is a short one. I had a few questions throughout the week, so I wanted to address them here in case you also have a similar question.
Let's get started. :)
Starching Fabric
I was asked about how often I starch my fabrics, so here is my process in a little more detail. I ONLY starch once - before cutting my fabric
I do not starch again after my fabric cut or after I've started sewing the pieces together because starch can cause the fabric to shrink.
Starch washes out completely and you will still get that quilty crinkle after it has been washed. I've also used starch in wall hangings that have never been washed with no negative effects.
Trimming Blocks
If you are having trouble with squaring up the blocks - sewing with a scant 1/4" seam, and pressing seams OPEN will give you a little more wiggle room when trimming your blocks to size. This can be particularly important if you are working with a thicker fabric like wovens or flannel.
Each week I will be giving away a FQ bundle curated from my own stash! Here is this weeks bundle!
To enter in the giveaway:
– Share your progress on instagram using the hashtag #hurricationqal and #rsqpatterns. (Your Instagram account must be public or I won't be able to see it.)
– Because I want this to be a stress-free QAL, any picture of your progress counts! It doesn't have to necessarily “match” the prompt. If you don't have your fabrics yet, post the QAL graphic. If you have your fabrics, show them off so we can see what you're going to make! If you want to post more than once, go for it! All of it counts. :)
I will randomly pick one winner on Sunday night and announce it in next weeks email newsletter and in my IG stories!
Jill of J. Coterie is giving away free long arming services (up to $250) and will offer 20% off on any quilt you send in to her!
AND
Rachel of Saltwater Fabrics is giving away a $50 gift card to her shop!
If you have any questions or any issues making a block, please let me know so I can talk about it in next weeks newsletter! From here on out, we will we be making our blocks. :)
See you next Monday!
Welcome back to the Hurrication QAL!
We are starting our blocks this week and I can't wait to see them come together. If you are making the throw size quilt with me, we have 20 blocks to make and five weeks to do it. You can either make 4 blocks a week, OR make 5 blocks a week with a catch up week at the end. Either way you go, this should give you plenty of time to keep up!
If you are making a different size quilt, divide the total number of blocks needed by 5 to see how many blocks you need make each week.
Let's get started. :)
I highly recommend making a test block before diving into the rest. It can be a good way to make sure you know what you're doing and a good visual check as you make your blocks. It is also a way to test of your fabric placement and to make sure you like the flow of your block.
In order to get the best results when making these blocks, I recommend pressing creases into the E1 square so you can easily center the triangles on the square fabric.
Fold the fabric in half horizontally and use your fingers to press down on the crease. Open the square, rotate it 90 degrees and repeat the process. To be honest, I don't bother to do press a crease into the triangles, but you can also press the triangles in half to find the center point.
If you pressed a crease in the triangle, line up the two creases and pin in place. If you did not, line up the center point of the triangle with the creased line.
I repeat this process again before attaching the B triangles. Because of the way the block rotates, you will need new markers. However, I use the same marks for C and D triangles, but you can re-press if need a more obvious line.
Finger pressing works well for me, but you can also use your iron if you are wanting a deeper crease.
Chain piecing is my favorite quilting short cut.
If you are making the Modern Solids version, chain piecing is a piece of cake! Make a pile of triangles and a pile of background squares and dive in. Just be sure you are sewing the correct color in the correct orientation!
If you are making a Scrappy or Ombre version, chain piecing takes a bit more planning.
First, I make ALL 20 blocks with the A triangles. I make these one at a time so I don't accidentally mix up any of my sets. Once all 20 A triangle blocks are made, pressed, and trimmed, it's time to chain piece!
I find it easiest to work in batches of four or five (see how that worked out! ;). I will gather the remaining triangles in the colors needed next to my sewing machine. That way, I can quickly I grab the correct color and size triangle from the stack as I need them.
I also like to set up a small pressing station next to my sewing machine so I can easily press each set blocks before sewing the next step. After each round of triangles, I square them up and repeat the process until the four blocks are done. It makes the process so much faster!
In the pattern, I suggest pressing the A, B, and C triangles to the side and the E1 triangle and snowball corners open. Those last two seams will line up with the seams on other blocks so pressing them open helps to reduce bulk.
Certainly, all seams can be pressed open if you prefer to do so. Remember, when pressing open, trim the dog ears before attaching the next set of triangles.
Do not skip this step! I know it can be tempting to think it looks square enough and you really just want to move on to the next set of triangles. Don't do it! Each round of triangles makes a block that is slightly oversized and needs to be trimmed down to the appropriate size to work. Accuracy is important here since each round of triangles builds on the ones before.
When lining up my ruler, I do a quick visual check of an inner square with the ruler so I don't accidentally square the block a little wonky (see photo above). I also check to make sure I have 1/4" from the point on all sides. Double check everything again, and trim the right and top edges. Rotate the block 90 degrees and do it again!
TIP: Place washi tape on your ruler to easily see where you are supposed to trim. Place tape JUST outside of the marks. If you place the tape directly on the lines, it can be hard to see if you are covering up the fabric with the tape.
If you don't have a large square ruler (I'm using a 16.5" creative grids rulere here, I love this one and I use it every quilt I make): here are two resources that can help!
I have a blog post/video tutorial on using two rulers to square larger blocks, and Jen of PiperAutumnFabrics made a similar reel squaring her Hurrication blocks. Check them out below!
The last step in making the block is adding the snowball corners. You're in the homestretch now!
Mark your squares. I like to use hera markers or a frixon pen to draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the square. I sew my seam JUST to the right of that line.
TIP: fold the D square over and press it BEFORE trimming off the excess. It stays more square this way.
Also, save the extra triangles to make a bonus project. I'll be back later in the QAL with some ideas of what you can do with them.
TIP: Sew another line 1/2" from the first and then trim down the middle. This quickly gives you the extra HST without having to sew them later.
Each week I will be giving away a FQ bundle curated from my own stash! Here is this weeks bundle!
To enter in the giveaway:
– Share your progress on instagram using the hashtag #hurricationqal and #rsqpatterns. (Your Instagram account must be public or I won't be able to see it.)
– Because I want this to be a stress-free QAL, any picture of your progress counts! It doesn't have to necessarily “match” the prompt. If you don't have your fabrics yet, post the QAL graphic. If you have your fabrics, show them off so we can see what you're going to make! If you want to post more than once, go for it! All of it counts. :)
I will randomly pick one winner on Sunday night and announce it in next weeks email newsletter and in my IG stories!
Jill of J. Coterie is giving away free long arming services (up to $250) and will offer 20% off on any quilt you send in to her!
AND
Rachel of Saltwater Fabrics is giving away a $50 gift card to her shop!
If you have any questions or any issues making a block, please let me know so I can talk about it in next weeks newsletter! From here on out, we will we be making our blocks. :)
See you next Monday!
I'm so excited to make this quilt and share my tips with you along the way.
Here's how it's going to work: each Monday for the next 7 weeks, I'll share a blog post with the weekly focus and any tips, tricks, or tutorials for the week. Each blog post will be linked to the Hurrication QAL page (bookmark this page!). I will also send an email with a link to the blog post and the giveaway winner. Plus I will share it on my social media, so you don't miss anything!
If you are on Instagram, share your progress using the hashtag #hurricationQAL and #hurricationquilt so I can see and cheer you on! Be aware, your account must be public for me to see it.
First things first, if you don't have the pattern already, you can download the PDF here, the PRINTED version here, and download the free alternate version here.
Before we jump in, let me introduce myself really quick! My name in Julie and I am the pattern designer behind Running Stitch Quilts. I started quilting in 2014 when I bought a sewing machine on a whim and I haven't looked back since. My husband is in the military and we have lived all over, but we are currently in Michigan with our two daughters and two dogs. When I'm not quilting or wrangling kids, I'm probably running. So far, I've done one marathon and five half marathons with another coming up in October!
This week we will be focusing on choosing, prepping and cutting fabric, and getting organized.
You have a lot of options with this quilt. It can be made with yardage, half yards, or fat quarters. In addition to that, I made an alternate version that has slightly different fabric requirements. You can get more information on that here.
No matter which version of the quilt you make, the key is staying organized. To help you with that, I've linked the coloring page here. Print off as many as you need to plan your quilt!
If you are making the Modern Solids version, it can be helpful to make a swatch card to keep by your sewing machine for easy reference! Glue, tape, or stitch down your fabric in the desired placement. It is a great visual cue when sewing.
If you are making the scrappy or ombre versions, I talk more about how I keep those layouts organized below. For now, make sure you get your pieces mixed and matched or laid out in an ombre pattern.
Starching your fabric is not required if you want to skip this step. However, I like starching my fabrics because I think the stiffer fabric is easier to sew with and helps with accuracy. I like it for this pattern in particular because of the bias edges in the pattern. Bias edges are prone to stretching and distortion, so you'll need to handle them with care, but starched fabrics can help with that a bit. I have a blog post where I talk more about bias edges.
If you want to starch your fabric, do it this week, BEFORE you cut into it. Starch can cause a small bit of fabric shrinkage, so if you spray down fabric that has already been cut, you run the risk of trying to sew with pieces that are too small.
I shake out my fabric and then spray it down pretty good. I let it dry a bit, then iron out any wrinkles and creases. If I'm not cutting into it right away, I will drape it over the back of a chair to minimize putting creases back into it.
Cutting for this quilt is fairly straight forward. Please make sure you are following the correct chart and read through all of the instructions before starting!
TIP: Use a fresh rotary cutter blade (your hands and wrist will thank you!), and measure twice and cut once. ;)
If you are making the alternate version from the pattern extension: You will need to refer to the original pattern for B, C, and E1 cutting instructions. Please let me know if you have any questions!
For ALL versions: Don't forget to cut the appropriate pieces diagonally into triangles. Refer to your pattern or pattern extension for specifics.
When you are finished cutting, plan the scrappy or ombre layout.
TIP: If you are making a scrappy quilt, you need four different fabrics per block. When mixing and matching (or planning the ombre) only work with the small A triangles. This way you aren't handling the bigger triangles more than necessary.
This is how I planned the ombre layout for my quilt!
If you are wanting to make the ombre scrappy version, this blog post goes into more detail about how I planned that quilt. It also has a color key you can refer to that can get you started. Depending on your fabric, you will probably need to make some tweaks, but it is a good starting place!
Each week I will be giving away a FQ bundle curated from my own stash! Here is this weeks bundle!
To enter in the giveaway:
– Share your progress on instagram using the hashtag #hurricationqal and #rsqpatterns. (Your Instagram account must be public or I won't be able to see it.)
– Because I want this to be a stress-free QAL, any picture of your progress counts! It doesn't have to necessarily “match” the prompt. If you don't have your fabrics yet, post the QAL graphic. If you have your fabrics, show them off so we can see what you're going to make! If you want to post more than once, go for it! All of it counts. :)
I will randomly pick one winner on Sunday night and announce it in next weeks email newsletter and in my IG stories!
Jill of J. Coterie is giving away free long arming services (up to $250) and Rachel of Saltwater Fabrics is giving away a $50 gift card to her shop!
We are jumping right into block assembly next week. I'll be sharing my tips for chain piecing and trimming the blocks at each step.
If you have any questions, drop them in the comment box below!
See you next Monday!
