Innholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2019 i Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting

As spring rolls around, I always think that I should put my sewing and quilting supplies away because, after all, it’s that time of year when I can start doing all those outside springtime things. I love that I live where there are four distinct seasons. Spring is my favorite season. I like putting away the coats, gloves, snow shovels, and all the winter gear. I find it delightful to play in the dirt in my yard as I prepare to plant my garden. I thoroughly enjoy watching the rhubarb and perennial flowers poke up through the soil announcing that spring is here. I truly appreciate being able to open the windows and doors at home to let in the fresh air. But I never totally put my quilting away…

This is my version of Red Between the Lines, from Love of Quilting January/February 2017. It was also part of a two-episode installment on Love of Quilting TV. I must have watched the shows a dozen times as I worked through each border. I made my quilt larger by adding a piano-key and red paisley border with pinwheel accents. I love the quilt and plan to make it my Christmas quilt. Thank you for providing such helpful guidance for us quilters! Sandy Hoffner Yankton, SD I made the crib quilt, New Arrival, from the January/ February 2018 issue of Love of Quilting. For border #4 I used another technique, which was more time-and fabric-stash-friendly. Every square has the same four corners. Now, I’m waiting for my bundle of joy!…

FINISHED SIZE: 70"× 70" FINISHED BLOCKS: 24 (8") blocks MATERIALS • 1⅛ yards white solid for blocks • ½ yard dark green print for blocks • ½ yard medium green tone-on-tone for blocks • 1¼ yards red tone-on-tone for blocks and setting squares • ⅞ yard light red print for setting squares • ⅝ yard white text print for border 1 • 1¼ yards medium green print for border 2 • ⅞ yard red and green stripe for bias binding • 4¾ yards backing fabric • 78" × 78" batting NOTE: Fabrics in the quilt shown are from the Chloe collection for Maywood Studio. CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. Border strips are exact length needed.You may want to cut them longer to allow for piecing variations. = cut in…

FINISHED SIZE: 34"× 47" FINISHED BLOCKS: 35 (5") blocks MATERIALS • ½ yard assorted dark blue prints for blocks • 1⅛ yards assorted light prints for blocks and sashing squares • ⅞ yard red print for sashing rectangles • ½ yard blue print for binding • 1½ yards backing fabric • 38" × 51" batting CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. FROM ASSORTED DARK BLUE PRINTS, CUT: • 4 (3½"-wide) strips, subcut: • 35 (3½") squares (A) FROM ASSORTED LIGHT PRINTS, CUT: • 3 (2"-wide) strips, subcut: • 48 (2") squares (D) • 18 (1½ "-wide) strips, subcut: • 35 matching sets of 2 (1½" × 5½") rectangles (C) and 2 (1½" × 3½") rectangles (B) FROM RED PRINT, CUT: • 12 (2"-wide) strips, subcut: • 82 (2" × 5½")…

FINISHED SIZE: 60"× 84" FINISHED BLOCKS: 6 (18") blocks MATERIALS • 3⅝ yards tan print for blocks and strip sets • 3⅛ yards dark blue print for blocks, border, and binding • 1⅜ yards light blue print for blocks and sashing blocks • 1⅜ yards red tone-on-tone for strip sets • Foundation paper • 5½ yards backing fabric • 68" × 92" batting CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. Pattern for foundation unit is included. Fabric pieces for foundation piecing are cut oversize. Border strips are exact length needed.You may want to cut them longer to allow for piecing variations. FROM TAN PRINT, CUT: • 16 (3¾"-wide) strips, subcut: • 168 (3¾ " × 3¾ ") foundation 1 squares • 22 (2½"-wide) strips for strip sets FROM DARK BLUE PRINT,…

1. Trace or make photo copies of the foundation pattern. Be sure the pieces are numbered to indicate the stitching order. 2. Using fabric pieces that are larger than the numbered areas, place fabrics for section #1 and section #2 right sides together. Position paper pattern on fabrics with printed side of paper facing you (Photo A). Make sure the fabric for section #1 is under that area and that edges of fabrics extend ¼" beyond stitching line between the two sections. 3. Using a short machine stitch so papers will tear off easily later, stitch on line between the two areas, extending stitching into seam allowances at ends of seams. 4. Open out pieces and press or finger press the seam (Photo B). The right sides of the fabric…

NOTE: Instructions are written for trimming 8" finished blocks. Measurements in parentheses ( ) are for trimming 3" finished blocks. 1. Cut a 2" (1") square from paper to use as a centering guide when trimming 8" (3") finished blocks (Photo A). 2. Cut an 8½" (3½") square from template plastic. Draw lines to divide the square in quarters (Photo B). 3. Position 2" (1") paper square atop template square so corners of paper square are aligned with drawn lines on template square. (Photo C). 4. Draw around center paper square using a fine permanent pen.This will allow you to see the pieced center square. 5. Place prepared template square atop pieced block, aligning drawn square with block center square. Draw around template; cut on drawn line (Photo D).…

NOTE: Perfectly straight and accurately cut strips are essential for strip sets. If strips are cut across folded width of fabric, open strips to see that they are straight. If strips are not cut exactly perpendicular to fold, they will bow where they were folded, making a crooked strip. 2. Fold top fabric strip back, revealing right side of seam and strip set. Gently, with side of iron, press seam open on right side with seam allowances to one side. Strip set should be straight, without any distortion along outside edges. Press from wrong side to help set seams. 3. Add third strip to complete strip set and press as described above (Photo B). If making strip sets with more than three strips, join strips in pairs and then sew…

CREATIVE QUILT PLANS The Quilter’s Planner has everything you need to organize the personal and quilting parts of your life to decrease your stress, increase your creativity and bring your life into balance. It even comes with a gorgeous collector’s magazine filled with a block of the month pattern and inspirational quilting projects for you to sew. quiltersplanner.com DAZZLING SCRAPS Want to be a scrap quilter? Great! Want to think like a scrap quilter? Learn from a master! Lissa Alexander has spent three decades honing her scrap-quilting talents, and in her first solo book, she offers page after page of tips for making dazzling scrap quilts bursting with colors, prints, and textures. Learn Lissa’s secrets for deciding which fabric combinations work (and understanding why others don’t). Best of all, with…

FINISHED SIZE: 28"× 34" FINISHED BLOCKS: 4 (7"× 6") blocks MATERIALS • 1 fat eighth* each light, medium, and dark gray; light, medium, and dark gold; light, medium, and dark green; and light, medium, and dark orange (12 total) See NOTE below. • ½ yard light blue tone-on-tone for blocks • 11 (2½ "-wide) strips assorted blue tone-on-tones for water background • 3 (2½ "-wide) strips assorted brown tone-on-tones for earth background • ½ yard blue print for binding • Foundation paper • 1 yard backing fabric • 32" × 38" batting *fat eighth = 9" × 20" NOTE: Select gray, gold, green, and orange tone-on-tone fat eighths in 3 different color values. Study the quilt photo and choose your desired value placement for each snail. After you've decided, sort…

FINISHED SIZE: 82" × 114" FINISHED BLOCKS: 35 (14") blocks MATERIALS • 3½ yards blue tone-on-tone for strip sets and binding • 3¾ yards gold solid for strip sets, blocks, and sashing squares • 1⅜ yards blue print for blocks • 1⅜ yards cream print for blocks • 2⅝ yards cream dot for sashing rectangles • 8 yards backing fabric • 90" × 122" batting CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. FROM BLUE TONE-ON-TONE, CUT: • 35 (2½"-wide) strips for strip sets • 11 (2½"-wide) strips for binding FROM GOLD SOLID, CUT: • 3 (2½"-wide) strips, subcut: • 48 (2½ ") squares (D) • 78 (1½"-wide) strips. From 53 strips, subcut: • 70 (1½ " × 8½ ") rectangles (B) • 70 (1½ " × 14½ ") rectangles (C) •…

"I love the farm," wrote Mrs. G.B.S. of Saline County, Missouri in 1922,"and I had rather be known as a farm woman than by any other name."When Laurie Aaron Hird stumbled onto a collection of letters from 1920s farm women, she was charmed. All the letters answered a question posed by The Farmer's Wife magazine: "Would you have your daughter marry a farmer?"The letters—all clear-eyed, heartfelt, valuing both the independence and joy of farm life—answered the question with a yes, and inspired a legacy of sampler quilts. Laurie Aaron Hird was no stranger to both the hard work and the joys of living a family-centered life in the country. She and her husband live in rural Wisconsin, where they raised 11 children, she says “on a 6½ acre farmette complete…

FINISHED SIZE: 69"× 79" MATERIALS • ⅞ yard teal swirl for strip sets • ⅞ yard teal small floral for strip sets • ¾ yard teal large floral for strip sets • 1 yard light teal print for strip sets and patches • ⅞ yard purple large floral for strip sets and patches • ⅝ yard purple small floral for strip sets • 1⅝ yards purple swirl for strip sets, border 1, and binding • 1¼ yards light purple print for strip sets and patches • 1⅜ yards light blue floral for border 2 • 5¼ yards backing fabric • 77" × 87" batting NOTE: Fabrics in the quilt shown are from the Jacqueline collection by Studio 8 for QT Fabrics. CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. Border strips are…

FINISHED SIZE: 48½ " × 48½ " FINISHED BLOCKS: 2 (13½ ") blocks MATERIALS • 1 fat quarter* each black and white print, aqua tone-on-tone, orange tone-on-tone, and pink print • ⅜ yard dark gray solid for blocks • 1¾ yards medium gray solid for piecing** • 1¼ yards black solid for border and binding • 3¼ yards backing fabric • 53" × 53" batting *fat quarter = 18" × 20" **Medium gray solid won't be necessary if you are using blocks from a block swap like Sara did! CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. Border strips are exact length needed.You may want to make them longer to allow for piecing variations. = cut in half once diagonally = cut in half twice diagonally FROM BLACK AND WHITE PRINT FAT…

1. Mark center of curve on both pieces by folding in half and creasing or by making a small clip (Photo A). 2. Working with background piece on top, pin at curve centers, taking a small bite with the pin. Pin at both ends of seam, taking deep bites with the pins (Photo B). 3. Align pieces at beginning of seam. Stitch to middle of curve, using your fingertips, a stiletto, or a wooden skewer to help keep curved edges aligned (Photo C). 4. Leaving needle in fabric, raise presser foot and align curved edges for second half of seam (Photo D). 5. Lower presser foot and continue stitching, until about 1" from end of seam. Stop again and adjust top fabric so ending edges are also aligned. Stitch to…

1. Place Fons & Porter’s Quarter Inch Seam Marker diagonally across wrong side of lighter square, yellow center line positioned exactly at opposite corners. Mark stitching lines along both sides of the Quarter Inch Seam Marker. Repeat for opposite diagonal (Photo A). NOTE: If you are not using Fons & Porter’s Quarter Inch Seam Marker, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner across square. Then draw sewing lines ¼" away from each side of the first line. 2. Place marked square atop darker square, right sides facing; stitch along both sets of marked sewing lines (Photo B). 3. Cut stitched squares into 4 equal sections (Photo C). 4. Cut between rows of stitching to make 8 Triangle-Square Units (Photo D). 5. Press seam allowances toward darker fabric (Photo E).…

FOR LONG CUTS Tape a measuring tape to your cutting or sewing table with clear packaging tape to measure long pieces of batting or fabric. This comes in “sew handy!” Jane Schueller Sherrill, IA SAFETY ‘TIP’ The end cap from a ballpoint pen fits over a pointy pair of scissors, keeping them from puncturing your fabric or hurting anyone. Toni Kok Kingsville, ON ISOLATION To frame part of a quilt that you aren’t identifying easily (such as a block), cut pieces of a heavyweight paper in the shape of an L and move them around until you find what you want to see. Carol Zsedeny Dent, MN GIVE IT A RING! I cut swatches of fabrics that I need to find coordinates for, put a slit in…

FINISHED SIZE: 80"× 95" FINISHED BLOCKS: 30 (15") blocks MATERIALS • 4¼ total yards assorted red prints for blocks • 4½ total yards assorted white prints for blocks • 4⅞ total yards assorted blue prints for blocks • 1 yard blue solid for border • ⅞ yard blue gingham for binding • 7⅞ yards backing fabric • 88" × 103" batting CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. Border strips are exact length needed.You may want to cut them longer to allow for piecing variations. FROM ASSORTED RED PRINTS, CUT: • 1 (8"-wide) strip, subcut: • 5 (8") squares (F) • 2 (4⅝ "-wide) strips, subcut: • 6 sets of 2 matching (4⅝ ") squares (A) • 22 (4¼ "-wide) strips, subcut: • 8 sets of 4 matching (4¼ " ×…

FINISHED SIZE: 80"× 92" FINISHED BLOCKS: 30 (12") blocks MATERIALS • 2⅛ yards cream tone-on-tone for blocks and pieced border • ⅞ yard pink print for blocks • 3¼ yards gray print for blocks and borders • ¾ yard orange print #1 for blocks • ¾ yard purple print #1 for blocks • 1½ yards multicolor print for blocks and pieced border • ½ yard orange print #2 for blocks and pieced border • ⅝ yard orange print #3 for blocks • 1¼ yards orange print #4 for blocks • ¾ yard purple print #2 for blocks • ¾ yard purple print #3 for borders • ⅞ yard multicolor stripe for binding • 7⅞ yards backing fabric • 88" × 100" batting NOTE: Fabrics in the quilt shown are from…

FINISHED SIZE: 80"× 80" FINISHED BLOCKS: 25 (12") blocks MATERIALS • 3 yards white tone-on-tone for blocks and triangle-square units • 3⅞ yards assorted dark green tone-on-tones for blocks, triangle-square units, appliqué, and binding • 1⅛ yards assorted medium green tone-on-tones for appliqué • 1⅛ yard lime green tone-on-tone for setting triangles and border 1 • 1⅝ yard light green tone-on-tone for border 2 • Fusible web • 7¾ yards backing fabric • 88" × 88" batting NOTE: Fabrics in the quilt shown are from the Basics Collection for Timeless Treasures. CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. Patterns for appliqué pieces are included. Make templates from patterns at end of instructions. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for using fusible web. Border strips are exact length needed.You may want to cut them longer…

Right or wrong, quilting has been perceived as “women’s work” for centuries. While more and more men are discovering the craft, according to the 2017 “Quilting in America” study conducted by The Quilting Company, in partnership with Quilts, Inc., only one percent of the estimated 7 to 10 million quilters are male. Even though their numbers are small, the male quilters are finding ways to connect. Men from all over Canada recently attended an all-male retreat organized by “The Canadian Male Quilter Group,” and several Facebook groups are devoted to “Men Who Quilt.” MICHAEL SMITH When Michael Smith started quilting, he felt like he was the only guy in the entire world to like quilting. “I’m sometimes asked in quilt shops if I’m there with my wife, or if I’ve…

FINISHED SIZE: 60"× 60" FINISHED BLOCKS: 16 (12") blocks MATERIALS • 1⅜ yards coral print for blocks • 1⅜ yards green print for blocks • 1 yard white solid for blocks • 1¼ yards green stripe for border 1 and binding • 1⅛ yards white floral print for border 2 • 4⅛ yards backing fabric • 68" × 68" batting NOTE: Fabrics in the quilt shown are from the Garden Variety Collection by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. CUTTING Measurements include ¼" seam allowances. Border strips are exact length needed.You may want to cut them longer to allow for piecing variations. = cut in half once diagonally = cut in half twice diagonally FROM CORAL PRINT AND GREEN PRINT, CUT: • 1 (13¾ "-wide) strip, subcut: • 2 (13¾ ")…

NOTE: Choose a lightweight fusible product. The staff at your favorite quilt shop can recommend brands. Always read and follow manufacturer’s instructions for proper fusing time and iron temperature. 1. Trace appliqué motif onto paper side of fusible web, making a separate tracing for each appliqué needed (Photo A). 2. Roughly cut out drawn appliqué shape and follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse to wrong side of appliqué fabric (Photo B). 3. With small, sharp scissors, carefully cut out the drawn shape. (Photo C) 4. Peel off paper backing. Position appliqué in place on background fabric, and fuse shape in place. (Photo D) 5. Using matching thread and your preferred stitch, machine appliqué outline of shape. (Photo E) TIP Use tear-away stabilizer under your work  to stabilize the block when doing…