Author: modalissa

Surrounded QAL- Week 5- Side Bars

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Side Bars- That is kind of a funny name for the pieces we are going to be working on this week, but I had to name them something.

These little side pieces are interval in making the design happen. Thought I would share a little history about this quilt design and my inspiration for this color option.

The geometric pattern of this quilt–commonly known as Burgoyne Surrenders or Burgoyne Surrounded–is said to refer to one of the most pivotal events in the American Revolution. In 1777, the British failed in their attempt to take control of the strategic Hudson River, and in the end British General Burgoyne with nearly six thousand of his men were surrounded by American troops and forced to surrender near Albany, New York. Burgoyne’s army is represented by the squares at the center of the blocks, encircled by the American troops. This design design could have also been inspired by the simple, grid-like patterns seen in handwoven linens and woolen coverlets of the first half of the nineteenth century.

When my book, Oh Scrap launched there were several quilt alongs using this design, but I fell in love with Haley Anderson of @happinessinthemaking Christmas version of 2019. I knew I needed to make it just like that! Does that happen to you?

Katrina Thennis you are the winner of my book, SCRAP SCHOOL.

Next week we will start assembling blocks together. Several of you are already doing this and it is so great to see your progress. Be sure and use #ohscrapchristmasqal when you share your blocks so I can follow along.

Each  post will go live at 6:00 pm central.
-Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top

 

Surrounded QAL-Week 4- Center Blocks

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I sew any chance I get. I quite often get up early so I can sew a little before work or stay up late to work on any project I am obsessed by. To be able to work on items in short little burst of time, I have a few processes to help keep me on task. Today I am going to share how I pieced the center section of the block together. The is somewhat a mindless, therapeutic method that lets me stop and start without loosing my place.

I shared with you that the main focus fabrics for this quilt were from Hustle and BustIe by Basic Grey and that I also added some of Christmas Morning by Lella Boutique. The fabrics above are from Christmas Morning and Red Barn Christmas by Sweetwater. Those of you that follow me often know that I am obsessed by dots. Everything I make has some dot fabric in it. I would buy an entire bolt of the red and green dot shown above. It is just that good!

I stack all my pieces on one design board and chain sew  working vertically down each section.  This helps me keep all my pieces in order. (shown above is just 1 layer, normally I would have layers for all the blocks needed for my quilt.) 

Shown above – all my center 9 patches chain pieced and ready to join into blocks.

I do not clip the threads so this keeps the sections in order and eliminates pinning. it is hard to see in the picture but there is a few stitches from chain sewing that hold these sections together. As I sew, I flip the seam allowance towards the dark and they nest together beautifully.  If you like to press your seams open, not cutting the threads can be problematic. You will need to trim the threads once you have sewn the pieces together to press open.  I press my seams to the dark side so don’t have to worry about that. (remember mindless, therapeutic sewing!)

 

Here you can see how one side of the block is sewn together and the other side is just “hanging on by a thread” waiting to be joined.

Last week I shared how I make some of my own design boards, so if you missed that post, click here.

Week 3 of this QAL is a perfect time to include a GIVEAWAY for one of my other books, SCRAP SCHOOL.  This book has a fantastic line up of designers like Kim Diehl,
Amanda Jean Nyberg of Crazy Mom Quilts, Connie and Mary of Country Threads, Lisa Bongean, Susan Ache, Amy Smart, Sarah Huechteman, Gudrun Erla and Sherri L. McConnell.

Leave a comment and check back here next Wednesday to see who is the winner of their own copy of Scrap School. Also giving away a copy on my instagram so , visit @modalissa for another chance to win.

Join me back here, Wednesday Nov. 3rd  to make side bar section of the block. We are almost done with the sections!

Each  post will go live at 6:00 pm central.

Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top

I hope each of you have a fun Halloween and enjoy something sweet. What is your favorite Halloween candy?

#ohscrapchristmasqal

-modalissa

 

 

Surrounded QAL- Week 3- 9-patches

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How did you do on your four patches? Did you get them all done? I know it is a crazy time of year to try and tackle one more project, right? Just do what you can each week.

What is a 9-Patch?
9 squares joined together to make one block or section of a block.

For this quilt, we will be making
2 different sizes
and
styles of 9- patches.

This week is a simple basic 9-patch where all the squares are the same size. Next week will be a combination of different sizes.

If you have time and want to keep sewing, go ahead and put together your 4-patches and 9- patches into units as shown in the picture. You will need 4 per block.

I don’t have any tips on making the 9-patches but wanted to share the design boards that I use all the time. (shown above)

These design boards come ready-made in variety of sizes but I use a ton of these so I make my own from left over batting. They aren’t as pretty but they work just the same.

Shown above a variety of boards I use. The black one is the back side of one of my boards. The 2 with trim are ones I have bought.

Foam core board is available at most craft/art stores in assorted sizes. I also use the boards that are sold for science experiments which is easily assessable at many stores. Cut the foam board to your desired size and using spray adhesive, coat the batting and board  following directions on the label. I wait to trim the batting to size until after I have glued it to the board. Flip over the board with batting on the bottom and using a rotary cutter you can trim the batting to the exact size of the board. 14″ is a good size for me. It fits nicely in the sewing space I have and works well with any 12″ block.

These come in so handy to stack up pieces to sew together.I don’t use a board for each block but instead use one board and stack the sections to chain sew. Plus I can put them away quickly without disrupting the pieces if I need to work on something else or the grandkids want to sew.

I can’t wait to see your progress.

Be sure and share using #ohscrapchristmasqal.

See you next week- Wednesday October 27- Center Blocks

-Modalissa

Each  post will go live at 6:00 pm central.
-Wednesday Nov. 3rd – Side bars
-Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top

 

Surrounded QAL- Week 2- 4- patches

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WEEK 2 of  #OhScrapChristmasQAL

Wednesday, October 13th- 4 patches

Whew! that was a lot of cutting, right?

Last week when I mentioned cutting the biggest pieces for the quilt out first, we are going to do the opposite when it comes to sewing. Begin strip piecing lights and darks together. Sew, Sew, Sew. This is somewhat mindless sewing while binge watching your favorite show or listening to an audible book. This part seems like it will never end but just keep sewing.

GENERAL TIP: I like setting my seams by pressing the strips right after I sew them. This seems to help keep everything nice and straight before pressing the seams to the dark side. The picture below is charm packs, cut and chain pieced together. Use you favorite way to press, but for this project I pressed everything to the dark side to make the seams nest nicely. I put together a few videos to explain these tips.

 

 

 

I stacked up sections right sides together with darks opposing and sub cut into the size needed for 4 patches. This gave me sets to sew, already paired up and could chain sew them. The combinations can be as scrappy as you choose.

 

 

 

-Save any leftovers of strips or 4 patch sections for possible use later.

-Wednesday, October 20th- 9 patches
-Wednesday, October 27th – Center Blocks
-Wednesday Nov. 3rd – Side bars
-Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top

Use the hashtag #OhScrapChristmasQAL so I can follow along.

Enjoy!! ( sorry my videos are sideways!)

Surrounded Christmas QAL- Week 1- Cutting

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Welcome! Hope you are here to join the Surrounded Christmas QAL. This is week 1 and the goal is to get your entire quilt cut out.

You will need Oh Scrap book available at quilt stores now for the actual measurements.

Today ‘s post is about yardages and cutting for the SURROUNDED QAL.

The original quilt used light sashing so the yardages from the book will vary some if you want dark sashing like I used in my version.

IF using a Fat quarter bundle, cut your sashing pieces first ( Listed under fabrics A in the book- qty 49) This is always a good rule of thumb when cutting fabrics, start with the largest cuts first in case of a mis cut. It is always easier to replace a small piece of yardage than to have to replace fabrics for bigger cuts. Most patterns/books are written this way but always pay attention to this..

Then cut your 80 block rectangles ( also listed under A).
On some of the blocks I cut 4 of the same so they would match especially on the fabrics that would add a bit of pop. This was also where I used some fabrics that I just had small bits.

Shown above where the aqua fabric is

 

Everything else is pretty much exactly like the book says regarding if it is a dark or a light.

I always cut extra. I don’t know if it is a character flaw or what, but I like to have options.

Keep your pieces together, labeling them by the size. Some of the same size pieces are used throughout and some pieces are almost the same size so it is easy to get then mixed up!

I did not subcut strips into squares for four patches and nine patches. Instead I strip-pieced and then subcut. Do whatever you are comfortable with. Next week we will start sewing 4 patches and I wanted to show you that I even cut strips from charm packs or scraps for this. Next week we will start sewing 4 patches.

 

GENERAL TIP: Sorting through scraps does add some time to the process. Anytime I straighten up fabrics, i don’t just cut a sliver to straighten the edge, I go ahead and cut at least 1 1/2″, sometimes 2 1/2″ depending on much fabric I have. Once I finish cutting any project I go ahead and submit the remaining fabric into “scraps” and sort them by size. I tend to do this the most with lights. I use lots of lights.

Use the hashtag #OhScrapChristmasQAL so I can follow along.

Hope you join me!

-modalissa

Time to Hustle – Quiltalong

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On my “must make” list has always been a Christmas version of SURROUNDED from my book, OH, Scrap!

When I saw Hustle & Bustle by Basic Grey, I knew this fabric line was perfect for this project. There are enough big scale iconic fabrics to use for sashing and a nice range of greens and reds to be able to easily mix additional holiday lines.

The quilt takes a total of almost 10 yds which is what is in a Moda Fat Quarter bundle of 40 prints, but I wanted more variety so I added Christmas Morning by Lella Boutique and a few other bits and pieces that you will see along the QAL. Start gathering your fabrics!

I could say we are going to have to Hustle to get this done by Christmas 2021, but there is  no hurry. Just get started!!

Or if you have already started this quilt and need a QAL to help motivate you to finish, this is the time.

What about making this quilt in Red White and Blue? A combination of your
Minick and Simpson fabrics would be yummy. Just get started!

So here is the plan. You will need Oh Scrap book available at quilt stores now for the actual measurements. Each week I will share tips and what I did to make this quilt.

Each  post will go live at 6:00 pm central.

– Wednesday, October 6th-  Yardages and cutting
-Wednesday, October 13th- 4 patches
-Wednesday, October 20th- 9 patches
-Wednesday, October 27th – Center Blocks
-Wednesday Nov. 3rd – Side bars
-Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top

Remember this is a scrap quilt so any fabrics can be used.

Use the hashtag #OhScrapChristmasQAL so I can follow along.

Hope you join me!

SIDE NOTE! The global supply chain has been tough this past year and has created an overall upheaval is deliveries. This is tough especially for the  independent quilt retailers.  Be sure and support your favorite quilt or specialty retailers  during this holiday season.

 

-Modalissa

 

 

 

 

JELLY ROLL Big Heart

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I recently shared a quilt that my friend made for her granddaughters 10th birthday on my IG feed. Several of you asked for the pattern, so I am sharing my notes. It is not officially a pattern because we made it up as we went along. So here is the story behind the quilt.

My BFF, Kay has decided to make each of her grandkids a quilt for their 10th birthday. She has 9 grandkids, 1 is starting college, 2 just turned 10, and 6 under 10. You may remember when I shared Piper’s quilt a few months ago.

Savanah turned 10 last week so she got a quilt from GRANNY KAY.  Kay sewed and sewed and sewed jelly rolls together to make a big square 65″. We didn’t have an exact size of quilt to make, but just big enough to throw on the end of the bed.

Kay picked Jelly Roll strips that reminded her of Savy and the colors she liked. Next step was to join the strips together to make a long strip.

Cut one strip 65″ and then start adding. It is best to add strips alternating sides of the starting strip and alternating what direction you sew. This is not absolutely crucial but does help prevent the strips to be wavy and stretch while sewing. If you have a walking foot for your machine, this also helps. Sew 14 strips together for one half of the heart and repeat for the other half. ( I added a strip to each side of the background fabric so the heart could float a little before the pieced border- this would make strip 15)

At this point Kay and I tagged teamed the quilt. She sent me the heart strips and I added  the backgrounds and borders. You know what it is like to be under a deadline and we had to get this off to the quilter and still have time to ship it back to Kay before the birthday.

 

3 yds background, I cut the borders first so I did not have to piece them.

Shown below is 45″ x 108″. Less yardage is needed if you don’t mind piecing your borders.

 

Adding the triangles to the strips can be a bit tricky only because they are so big. The measurements for the triangles are oversized so the quilt can be squared up once it is completed. Follow your favorite technique to add the triangles.  Save the strips that are cut away when adding the triangles. These will be used for inner border.

Repeat to make the other half paying close attention to where the triangles are added. You don’t want to end up with the other half upside down, speaking from experience!!   Trim your heart! My heart  was just a tad over 60″.

Using the leftover strips from adding the triangles and subcut them into 2 1/2″ sections. Join them together and add to all 4 sides.  ( 2 borders with 30- squares and 2 borders with 32 squares)

Outer border- add top and bottom first. ( I had you cut your borders a tad longer  since you may have trimmed up your quilt a bit differently than mine)

Repeat with 2 side borders.

I cut binding also from the leftover pieced strips. This is a tad bit bulky because of all the seam allowances. I was okay with that since I thought that was a perfect ending for this quilt.

Kay puts so much meaning into everything she does and this quilt was no different. She contacted close family members and asked for a few words that described Savanah. These words and phrases were quilted throughout the quilt. ( Thank you Maggi Honeyman for working your magic.)

 

Have fun and hope this info helps when making A BIG HEART quilt.

Thanks to KAY letting me be a part of this special gift.

 

Enjoy,

-Lissa

 

 

My favorite color…

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Do you have a favorite color? I thought I did, Red, no wait, Blue, no really it is Orange. Well this is what happens to me every time I sit down to start a quilt. I love them all.

So when it came time for Moda’s Block of the Month sampler, My Favorite Color is Moda I count decide.

The program has 6 different combinations of 10 colors. The designer of this quilt is Michelle White who happens to be in the office right next door to me.  Seeing all the combinations that Michelle was creating made me fall in love with one of the “rejected” color combinations. I loved the grey, white and red. It was so Scandinavian, fresh and different. I said, ” I want to make that one.” Michelle was too kind to put the info together for me, but she also created options. I am not good with options. I can’t even decide what my favorite color is how can I choose with options? I just wanted to join in on the Quilt-along.

Michelle created another option combining  the Scandinavian version and the Cookie Tin version. Then she swapped around some of the reds and greens and I was ready to commit. I knew some one in my family would want this for Christmas.

My Favorite Color is Moda option

This is MY color way version of My Favorite Color is Moda project.

Block 1 is a fun big 36″ block.

2 and 3 are variations of courthouse steps. So very much the same but different.

Block 4 – a variation of a sawtooth star. Turning the triangles in different directions creates all kinds of options.

It is not to late to join in on the Quilt- along. Ask at your favorite shop for the fabric and pattern. For more information, visit the Moda’s Inspiration Center.

I am certainly saving the grey and red color palette. It is dreamy.

 

Enjoy!

Scrap School- Meet the Professors

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Today starts the Instagram hop for my new book, SCRAP SCHOOL. Every day for the next 2 weeks each “professor” will be sharing their quilt on their IG page along with a giveaway.

Each of these people made a quilt for the book. Each one is different and has a story to tell. While we were working on this book, many of us were staying home due to Covid- 19 and what better time to dig into your stash, finish your UFO’s and your WIP’s.

And just look at the results….. A rainbow of scraps.

I wanted to share a little more about my quilt that what I could share on IG. Every quilt tells a story and here is mine.

Today I am sharing 1 of my 3 quilts in the book, Ombre Butterscotch Baskets. I wanted to make a basket quilt and while I was pulling fabrics I kept thinking I would name the quilt Cornucopia. I wanted to make something a little less predictable than basket blocks that are all perfectly the same.

As I was piecing the triangles, I was inspired to go in a different direction. Off and on for many years I worked as the graveyard cashier at the local grocery store. I had several duties during the night including cleaning all the counters, restocking the sacks, stocking the spice section and the BRACH’s candy section.

The candy display had bins of candy that were bought by the pound. Take a Bag -Pick Your Own Mix just like the sign says. What the sign did not say is to be sure and clean up after yourself if any candy spills over into a neighboring bin. Don’t worry about that, the night cashier will do that for you. I spent a lot of time taking the butterscotch candies out of the peppermint’s bin and so forth. There was some sort of square soft candy that was brown, pink and coconut. I never had one and have no idea what kind of candy it was but I loved the combination of color compared to the other solid hard candies and knew I need to add the brown to this quilt.

I just love all the triangles lined up in rows.

Adding the dark triangles gave some weight to the quilt and this is when I decided to ombre the baskets from dark to light through the quilt.

This is one of my favorite blocks in the quilt for a couple of reasons. It represents the Brach’s candy bins at the end of the day, all the colorful candies mixed in one of the bins. The other thing I love about the block, is the teeny tiny spider that was on one of the fabrics and it made the cut, if you know what I mean.

The yummy golden fabrics are also why I decided to name it Butterscoth, after the butterscotch Brach Candies. Maggi Honeyman used an allover orange peel design on the quilt.

 

You know how I love a pieced back. I couldn’t end this post without sharing my really big basket. I can’t wait to see your version of Ombre Butterscotch Baskets, maybe Blues and Whites or Reds and Greens. Be sure and use #scrapschool on your progress so I can follow along.

Scrap School

Thank you for stopping by,

-modalissa

#madewithmartinagle , #showmethemoda #modalissa #scrapschool #scrapquilts #modafabrics #lissaalexander @lisabongean, @sarahhuechteman, @etheringtonmary, @diaryofaquilter, @aquiltinglife, @gedesignsgudrun, @yardgrl60, @crazymomquilts, @kim_diehl_quilts, @modalissa, @martingaletpp, @sewmaggi @sewshabbyquilting, @suziquilt @martingaletpp @modafabrics

Sewcialites-Block 19

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Happy Valentine’s Day/Weekend/Sewcialites Friday

Thank you for joining me on my day for SEWCIALITES.

I am making my version using Moda’s Bella Solids and I thought pink was the perfect color for the valentines week.

I have started putting my blocks together. This will be one quarter of the quilt. Once it is complete it will be a big sawtooth star.

I had mentioned in one of of my PROGRESS REPORTS posts that I knew how I wanted to quilt this one. The crew at Moda recently made a quilt for someone retiring and I wanted that project quilted the same way I was planning on doing my Sewcialites quilt. Machine quilted in vertical lines in a small range of colors and some big stitch quilting added throughout is the plan. The picture above was hand quilted by Laurie Simpson, so I will have to consult her when I am ready to dive in to my quilt.

For all the information, patterns and how to’s visit Jolly Jabber- Sewcialites. 

and be sure to follow all of the Sewcialites each week to see what they are up to.

Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings

Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic

Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique

Sherri Mc Connell of A Quilting Life

Robin Pickens

Bonnie Olaveson of Cotton Way

Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree and Co.

Vanessa Christenson of V and Co.

April Rosenthal of Prairie Grass Patterns

Me and My Sister Designs

Camille Roskelley of Thimbleblossoms

Susan Ache

Chelsi Stratton of Chelsi Stratton Designs

Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet co.

Carrie Nelson

Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs

Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts

Fat Quarter Shop is doing a giveaway each month, you can enter to win one of several giveaways by posting your progress on Instagram using #SewcialitesQAL.

We all love a good giveaway, so leave a comment here for a chance to win my new book, SCRAP SCHOOL., in stores now.

I will pick a sweetheart of a winner on Feb. 14th.

Thanks for sewing along,

-modalissa