Hita's Whimsy: January 2023

Here are some photos from the January Use Your Stash workshop!

It was a full house, but we could've comfortably had 2 more participants on the tables behind me taking this photo.

Reenee was working on her 9-patch quilt from a class I taught last year.

And Pat was working on putting borders on a sample she had made for the store.

While I was going around getting a few photos, Dee was showing off her colorful socks.

I think she color coordinated her socks to her quilt blocks!

Christine experimented with Michelle McKillops sew and flip method, my fabric saver method, and came up with her own unique speed construction.

She was testing layouts in no time.

And even went home with a couple rows sewn together!!

Shaune had a really good start too. Love the retro colors.

Kim went with red, white, and blues!

I can't wait to see the final layout.

Sarah came in a bit later. We sorted through the stash pieces she brought in and came up with a plan. She had enough time to complete two blocks. This is going to be beautiful with pinks and reds.

I definitely didn't get enough photos!!

We have planned a UFO challenge for February. Everyone brought in a project they want to finish. If they bring it in complete in February they will be entered in a drawing for a prize.

Also, if they complete their Magic Carpet quilt top by the March workshop, we will have another drawing for a prize. I'm so excited!! Thank you, quilters for your enthusiasm 💖!

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The original pattern comes from Michelle Mckillop's instagram pictorial Magic Carpet .

The following is my fabric saving method using an Easy Angle 6" ruler.

CUTTING:

I marked my ruler with masking tape so I can easily find the lines I want to line up along the edges of the 5" square.

the 1" line on the bottom, the 3" line on the right, and the 6" line on the top.

Trim the right corner on the diagonal.

Trim the opposite corner in the same manner.

Save these triangles that are trimmed off for a different project.

Cut 1" strips for the accent strip.

I do cut these for ease of piecing by lining up the 3.5" marks on a regular ruler along the long side of the trapezoid shape. These pieces are a bit oversized and will need to be trimmed after pieced.

For the corner triangles, I used the Easy Angle ruler and a 2.5" fabric strip.

Line the ruler so that the blacked out corner hangs over the fabric and not on it, the 2.5" line is on the opposite edge of the strip. Trim the triangle, then rotate the ruler to cut the next triangle. Again, notice the placement of the blacked out corner (that is the dog-ear that we usually trim off after piecing.)

PIECING:

Place an accent strip on the main fabric on diagonal edges so that there is an even amount of overhang on each side.

Stitch with a scant 1/4” seam. Press to the accent piece.

Trim the excess from the sides, squaring up to 5" again. (I apologize for the blurry photos. They look clearer on my phone!)

Now you have a choice of leaving the accent piece as it is and sewing the corner to complete the square. This option might give a varied accent strip for a more organic flow. The 2.5" triangle will be a bit oversized and you will have to trim to a 5" square. I didn't do this so I don't have pictures. But I wanted to mention it and you can decide whether or not to do the trimming in the next step.

To keep the accent strip size consistent, here's how to trim the width using the Easy Angle ruler.

Again I stuck a masking tape with an arrow, this time to the 3.5" line. Trim the diagonal edge.