My MQU Block

As promised, here's my entry, Running Around, from Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine's block design challenge, and my tutorial for it.

Running Around

copyright July 2013 Jan Ochterbeck

12" finished block (12-1/2" unfinished) 

 

Jelly-roll and Charm friendly.

Recommended: low-volume print for center, bold print for arrows, and light neutral ground.

 

Cutting: 

-        From low-volume print or Charm cut one 4-1/2” square. 

-        From bold print cut one 2-1/2” WOF strip (or use Jelly Roll strip) then cut into four 8-1/2” rectangles. 

-        From neutral ground, cut one 2-1/2” WOF strip then cut into four 8-1/2” rectangles. From the remainder, cut eight 1-1/2” squares.

Assembly: Use scant ¼” seams.

1.      Mark the small background squares on the diagonal on the back side.

2.      Position a square on the print, right sides together; sew on the marked line.

 

3.      Press point open, then trim away excess from seam allowance. Pressing before trimming assures less distortion.  Repeat for all four arrows.

 

4.      Attach another small square, press, and trim in the same manner to form arrow point.  Repeat for all four arrows.

5.      Join background strips to upper edges of arrows.

6.      Partially join one arrow unit to center square, stopping about an inch away from the edge.

7.      Working counter-clockwise, sew remaining arrow units to center unit. Then complete the partial seam for finished block.

Here are some suggested layouts:

40" by 40"

Yardage, per EQ7:

Pale background, 1 yard

Text print, 1/4 yard

Featured Print, 5/8 yard

 

 

72" by 84"

Yardage, per EQ7:

Pale ground, 5 yards

Text print, 3/8 yard

Featured prints, 1/4 yard each (5 prints shown)

 

I hope you enjoy it! If you have any questions, please ask in the comments.  If you make my block or use it in a project, I'd love to see it!

 

 

Linking up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced - check out all the inspiring projects over there!

 

 

 

DWM 10/28/2013: My MQU Block

Remember when I was so excited that my block design had been chosen as one of twelve finalists in Modern Quilts Unlimited's  Fresh Designer 2013 Block Challenge?

I can show you my block now! The winning block & quilt were featured in the Fall 2013 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine. The two runners up will be featured in the winter and spring issues.  My block is not a winner, but I'm honored to have been selected as a finalist, and I'm enjoying my subscription to the magazine.  Thank you, MQU!

And now  - Ta-da! I can show you my block, called Running Around:

Running Around

(c) 2013 Jan Ochterbeck

As soon as I get a chance, I'll post the tutorial for it. 

Nothing on my design wall today; the designing going on around here right now is for bathroom remodeling. Someone is coming out to measure later this morning, and another company is coming Wednesday, so they can give us quotes. So I'm busy cleaning and can't spend much time on the computer this morning. Wish me luck with this whole bathroom project!

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times; check out what everyone has on their design walls.

Stash Report Sunday 10/27/13

I went to Paducah this week and I shopped for fabric. I bought a lot.  

But in my defense I had a list and I pretty much stuck to it except for a couple of remnants from the sale table. I even found enough yardage of one of my list items on the sale table. So, two backings, a border, an accent, some pale ground, half-yards of three green prints, and several other pieces on my list came home with me.  I haven't totaled up the yards; the dollars were bad enough. But it's all good and I have plans for what I got.

I scored THE PERFECT backing for my Dresden project:

The Dresden project & backing

 

It couldn't be better if the project were inspired by this fabric!  The Dresden project isn't coming along very well because it involves hand applique and my left hand is really bothering me these days. I can only manage stitching one length of thread every couple of days, and one length of thread is about four of those points. But that chevron backing fabric is so perfect - I love it!

So - the stash report: Lots of yardage in this week! I'll total up the amounts in and out for October and post the numbers next week.  It will definitely be way more in than used this month!

Check out how others are managing their stashes over at Patchwork Times.

Friday Finish 10/25/13: Bee blocks

Crazy week here this week but I did get Jayne's bee blocks finished.  She will add embroidery to them for the bird's legs, feet, and eye.  She handed out the grey dot fabric for the bird, and offered fabric swatches to inspire the color palette.

 



I chose her orange option because I have a lot of orange in my stash. The pattern calls for orange to be used for the beak and crest. I used a very yellow-orange to contrast as much as possible with the orange background, but I think there's still not enough contrast. A little outline stitch embroidery in yellow will solve that problem.  

 

These blocks are about 3/4" larger than she needs all around because she asked for extra seam allowance.

 

On Wednesday I went with some girlfriends to Paducah to shop at Hancock's of Paducah and visit the quilt museum.  I did some serious damage at Hancock's, but in my defense I had a list of what I was looking for and I pretty much stuck to it, except for some nice pale background fabrics from the sale table. We had a great day! Come back Sunday for Stash Report; I have some major fessing up to do!

 

Linking up today with Finish it up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Check out all the wonderful inspiration!

Design Wall Monday 10/21/1: Placemats & runner

Making progress...

Ready for binding.

 

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times; check out everyone else's design wall over there.

 

Stash Report 10/20/2013

My name is Jan and I'm a Fabriholic.

I bought fabric this week. Sometimes you just have to take advantage of opportunities that present themselves.  I spent Friday with a friend who sells fabric, and bought these from her:

I don't have specific, immediate plans for these, but the white and the black will be great for bindings. The black & tan blender looks pretty versatile, and can work with both modern and traditional fabrics.

So, 3 yards in.

I finished the top and the backing for one of the quilts for my book proposal, and the top for another, so I'll have yardage to count out this month. The table runner and two placements are ready for binding, so I'll be able to count those out too. I'll tally up the totals at the end of the month.

This week I'm going to Paducah with some girlfriends for a girl's day out road trip. We're going to visit the museum and Hancock's. I have a shopping list for Hancock's, so for sure I'll be adding fabric to my stash this week.

Check out how others are managing their fabric addictions over at Patchwork Times.

WIP Wednesday 10/16/13: Grrr - a Metameric Match

Maybe I'm a lot pickier about color than a lot of people, having worked as a colorist for many years.  My job was critiquing color samples and approving the match.

There is a color phenomenon caller metamerism.  This is when two objects match color under one lightsource but don't match under another.  It's especially common with khaki and olive shades.  You may have purchased khaki pants in the fluorescent-lit store and noticed when you got them home they looked more pinkish in your indoor incandescent light.  A layman's term for this is flare - your khaki pants flared red.

I found solids to go with this cute Riley Blake print called SCOOT at a nearby national chain store.  I'm using them to make a D9P.   Here are the blocks started so far, ready for cutting.

In the store, under fluorescent lights, the green was a good hue match to the dark green in the print. 

Yesterday was a gloomy day here and I had the lights on in my sewing room, which I usually don't need to do in the daytime.  I found that the green turned olive; it flared brown. Grrr...  

 

Oh well, too late now; it'll have to do anyway. Like I said, maybe I'm too picky.  It'll probably turn out fine. 

 

Linking up with WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced; check out all the creativity over there!