College Days Blog Hop Post July 1st 2014

Hi everyone! Welcome to Day 1 of Whims and Fancies “College Days Blog Hop”!!! I was so excited when Soma asked me to participate… My college days are long since passed, but I do remember them fondly. I attended a small community college in Northern Wyoming. I designed my pattern based on all of the Nursing Text Books I’d haul around with me from class to class. That was one heavy backpack! Now, I must admit that I didn’t enjoy reading those text books nearly as much as I love reading fiction…

As a freebie, I’m including the patterns for this little wall hanging, “Loves 2 Read” featuring my 10 inch Blog Hop Book block. (Say that 10 times fast!)

*If your pattern is printing out to 5.5 inches, try printing it at 182% for the 10 inch size…  It printed at the correct size on my computer, so I’m not sure how to fix it, but I’ll see what I can find out!  Sorry about that!!!

 
Supplies
-Variety of Fabrics for Book block
-Copies of Paper pieced “College Days Book block” Patterns
-BSK (basic sewing kit)
-Iron
-Sewing Machine
Book block pattern:

Use this for pattern placement-  https://ruthiequilts.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=2198

https://ruthiequilts.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=2196 

https://ruthiequilts.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=2197

*Be sure to add ¼ inch to all paper piece edges as they are not included in the patterns!
Stich paper piece sections as numbered. (I like to color code the pattern before I cut it up so I know which colored fabrics go where.)
Sew upper book section together first A-B-C, then D. Set aside.
Join E-F, and G-H-I. Stitch EF unit to GHI unit. When you stitch these together, there is a slight curve toward the center. Just match up your edges appropriately and pin in place.
Stitch ABCD unit to EFGGI unit. Add J strip to the bottom. Ta da! You are finished!!!

“Loves 2 Read” Pattern:   https://ruthiequilts.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=2201

https://ruthiequilts.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=2202

https://ruthiequilts.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=2203

*If you have any problems printing out the patterns, right click on image, “save as ______”,  click on saved image and print.
Supplies
-scraps of fabrics left over from Book block above
-½ yard background fabric (I always get more than needed when paper piecing. You can use extra for backing if you have enough!)
-Two 3 x 10 1/2inch background rectangles.
-Two 5 ½ inch background squares.
-Completed Book block as above.
-Copies of Paper pieced “Loves 2 Read” Patterns
-BSK (basic sewing kit)
-Iron
-Sewing Machine

Loves 2 Read Piecing instructions:
*Be sure to add ¼ inch to all paper piece edges as they are not included in the patterns!
Paper piece all sections as numbered.
Stitch AA-BB. Then add CC,DD, EE, and FF This will complete the word “Loves”.
Stitch GG-HH, add to II. Join JJ to GGHHII unit. Add KK, LL, and MM. This completes “2 Read”.
Trim edges of paper pieced words to ¼ inch all sides. Using the word “Loves” stitch 1 5 ½ inch square to right of word. Stitch last 5 ½ inch square to left of “2 Read” paper pieced section. Sew 3 x 10 ½ rectangles to either side of paper pieced book block. Sew “Loves” section to top of book block section, and “2 Read” at bottom of book block section. All done! Now for quilting…
I quilted mine with a variety of stitches in each of the books. I did a thin shadow quilting where the pages of the open book are to represent the paper. I did clamshell in the table section. And last but not least, I stitched in the ditch around the letters and then filled the rest of the space with McTavishing. I hope you like it! Thanks for joining me in Whims and Fancies, College Days Blog Hop!

Spring Fling Blog Hop 2013!

Spring Fling Blog Hop 2013!, a photo by ruthiequilts on Flickr.

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to Ruthiequilts!  And quilts…  Because that’s what I do!  LOL!   Thanks to my friend Soma at Whims and Fancies for hosting this fabulous Blog Hop!!!  You can find a link to her blog here: http://www.whimsandfancies.com/category/spring-fling/

I am so excited to share my bunny pattern with you!  I’ll admit it isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re comfortable with paper piecing, it is definitely fun to do!

Cover page:  https://ruthiequilts.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/spring-bunny-cover-page-001-e1364862412252.jpg

Page 1: https://ruthiequilts.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/spring-bunny-pattern-page-1-001-e1364862448404.jpg

Page 2: https://ruthiequilts.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/spring-bunny-page-2-001-e1364862475783.jpg

There are many different techniques for doing paper piecing…  I like the pattern pieces to be cut without the ¼ inch seam allowances.  This makes it so I don’t have to tear paper out of the seam.  (Just be sure to add ¼ inch or slightly larger around all edges!)

There are ways to use less fabric when paper piecing, but I find I’d rather cut a little bigger than worry about whether my piece is going to fit perfectly or not.

Without further ado, here are the steps for the Bunny in Spring pattern!

Step 1- Stitch fabric to back side of patterns in order noted until all pieces are stitched.

Step 2- Join A-B, C-D, then AB unit to CD unit.  Join E-F-G-H-I.  Add J.  Join K-L-M and add to main bunny piece.

Step 3- Join flower pieces, N-O, then join to bunny piece.

Step 4- Add P to bunny/flower piece.

Step 5- Prepare “Spring” pieces.  Join R-S, add Q on the end.  Join QRS unit to T.  Join U-V.  Add to QRST unit.  Join QRSTUV unit to W.  Join X-Y.  Add to QRSTUVW unit.  Add Z piece to end.

Step 6- Add AA piece to bottom of “Spring” section.  Stitch spring onto bottom of bunny/flower section and you are finished!!!

Thanks for joining me in the Spring Fling Blog Hop!  Stop by anytime!  I’m always stitching something fun!

Frankie’s Bride…

Frankies Bride…, a photo by ruthiequilts on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
This was day 7 in the Halloween Blog Hop hosted by Soma at Whims and Fancies www.whimsandfancies.com/category/halloween-paper-pieced-2…. This one was designed by Deborah at Little Ms. Sew-Unsew sew-unsew.blogspot.com/! Another great pattern!!! Thanks Deborah!

“Batty About Halloween”

Woo Hoo!  It’s here!  October 1st, 2012…  Day 1 of the Halloween Blog Hop, “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, hosted by Whims and Fancies!  Thanks for inviting me Soma!

I’m just “batty” about Halloween, so what better pattern than a batty bat!  And who doesn’t love candy corns?  (I have to admit that I don’t eat them, but they are so darn cute!)  I thought you might enjoy meeting me, so here I am!  Hi everyone!  (Waving madly!!!)

Just in case we have anyone who is new to paper piecing, I thought I’d leave it to the expert for paper piecing instructions!  Here’s Sewhooked’s tute for paper piecing:  http://sewhooked.com/2008/10/28/paper-piecing-step-by-step/  (Thanks for allowing me to share your link!)  I’ve been a fan of Jennifer for many years, and she is one of our designers!  Lucky us!

Here are the 4 pages of patterns that I have made up for you!  I have them in pdf format now, so they should print up better!

Page 1  https://ruthiequilts.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/page-1-batty1.pdf

Page 2  https://ruthiequilts.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/page-2-batty.pdf

Page 3 https://ruthiequilts.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/page-3-batty.pdf

Page 4  https://ruthiequilts.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/page-4-batty.pdf

Use the line drawing as a guide to help you put your paper pieced sections together…  When you have finished paper piecing your sections and joining them into a block, it’s time to decorate them!  For the eyes and fangs, I used fabric paint that requires heat setting to make it permanent on fabric.  (Heat setting is ironing after 24 hours of letting it dry.  You need to iron the front and the back of the painted areas.)  I used buttons for the pupils, and embroidery (stem stitch) for the bony hands, feet, mouth, and hair.  I also used the stem stitch for the candy cane hangers.  I used a little circle of wool (I prefer a wool fabric to wool felt as it holds up better overtime…) for the nose.

I hope you all enjoy making my Halloween Bat!!!  Thanks for playing!  Let me know if you make him!