Scraptastic Sampler 2016 - Block 1 Hovering Hawks and August Link Up

I have actually started my new scraptastic sampler quilt.  I am really quite excited about it, perhaps because I have chosen to use some Karen Lewis Textiles that I have in my stash and solids! 

Karen is bringing out a new line in the autumn of her lovely designs in coloured ink on white.  I already have a few that she has screen printed by hand so am pleased to find that yardage will be available soon. 

 

Last week I cut out the alternate squares and put them up on my design wall.  I thought it would be fun to fill in the blank squares each week.

I decided to start from the middle of the quilt with the two Hovering Hawk blocks.   Here is the block when not on point...it looks quite different doesn't it?

 Hovering Hawks

The block has a four x four grid, that means it can be divided into four equal parts across each row and down each column. 

This is a 12" finished quilt block (unfinished 12 1/2") so each square /HST measures 3" finished (unfinished 3 1/2").

Cutting requirements for one block

Six 3.5" squares: two white, four teal

For HSTs - made with ten 4" squares: five teal, three purple and two turquoise squares

Pair each purple and turquoise square with one of the teal squares and make HSTs using your favourite method.  Each pair of squares will yield two HSTs.

Trim each HST to 3 1/2" square.

Arrange squares/HSTS as in block diagram above.

Stitch together in horizontal rows as below...

Press seams within the row in alternate directions - row 1 to the left, row 2 to the right etc.

To join rows, nest the seams together, pinning if necessary and stitch. When completed press.

Make second block.

In case you have chosen a different colourway here is a blank version of the whole quilt for you to download and play with your own colours.  

On the above version I have labelled the Hovering Hawks blocks as I find them quite difficult to identify without the colours even though I am quite familiar with them.

And here are my finished blocks on the design wall 

So, now is the part where you share your scrappy projects, plans and ideas. First, our fantastic sponsors:

InLinkz.com

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for providing the following prizes which will be awarded randomly among those of you who link up.

• Sew Me a Song - $20 gift certificate

• Mad About Patchwork - a $40 gift certificate

• Fluffy Sheep Quilting - a €20 (20 Euro) gift certificate

• Green Fairy Quilts - $25 gift certificate

• Karen Lewis Textiles - scrap pack

• Fat Quarter Shop - $25 gift certificate

• Sew Sisters Quilt Shop - $25 gift certificate

Please join Leanne from She Can Quilt and I by linking up a blog post or flickr or instagram photo sharing a scrappy project, in progress or finished, or your thoughts on dealing with your scrap mountain:

• You don't have to have joined us before, everyone is welcome.

• One link per person, and it will be your entry into the random draw for the prizes. It is the same link up here and at Leanne's blog - She Can Quilt - so you only need to link up on one of our blogs.

• This link is to share with our community about using your scraps, please don't use it to advertise your own products or events.

• You can link up from your blog, instagram or flickr, but you have to link up to be entered in the prize draw.

• Please visit at least a few of the links, they are very inspiring, and leave comments too as everyone loves to connect.

• Use the Scraptastic Tuesday button and invite your friends to join us too. Please share our button, or a link or the hashtag #scraptastictuesday in your linked post or photo.

• The link is open until next Monday night at 10:00 pm MST. We will announce the winners next Tuesday.

• If you have trouble linking up, let me or Leanne know and we will get you sorted.

An InLinkz Link-up

First blouse!

I have made three skirts and almost a fourth - it just needs hemming and I will need some help with that.  I decided I needed to try a different garment. 

So a blouse seemed to be the next obvious thing to try.  I have a couple of patterns to chose from, both from Colette and I went with the beginner pattern - the Jasmine:




 

It is a beginner pattern because there are no zips or buttons so it is meant to have a looser fit. I was briefly thinking I should try to pattern match but as the back and front pieces are cut on the bias this proved too much for my novice head but the busy fabric makes it seem ok, I think.

My fabric came from The Village Haberdashery - Abacus Grow in Charcoal, designed by Alison Glass.  



   

It went quite quickly together, the instructions seemed very clear and easy to follow.  I am not usually a fan of puffed sleeves and ties - I doubt I would have tried this on in a shop but I am happy enough with this make and will definitely be wearing it with some trousers - I have a pair on my list but I will need to work up to making those!

Bit of a selfie....

And here it is on the hanger 

Another finish from my quarter three list !   Was intending to make another but I think it would suit a lighter fabric - a cotton lawn or shirting.  This was a quilting cotton weight and is perhaps on the heavy side for a short sleeved blouse.  Looks ok on though so I will be wearing it.

This is my eighteenth finish from my FAL list!   I'll be linking it up at the end of this quarter. 

Here is my original list.

Skirt number three - not on my list!

I do like a casual skirt with pockets don't you?

So I thought I should try out Liesl + Co's Everyday Skirt

 

It has front pockets, and an elasticated back so no zips, buttons or other closures.  

I do prefer a lined skirt (this one isn't) and while making this I realised I couldn't do my normal add a lining at the last minute due to how this skirt is constructed.  I may with a bit of thought manage to add one next time.

I had some checked flannel and thought I could try out the pattern with that.

And here it is.

Rather pleased with that waistband cut on the cross grain.  It was an easy make, which results in a cute skirt ready for Autumn I think.  And this one wasn't even on my list!  Call it an extra if you like ....

A-line Skirt number Two!

A-line skirts are nice and easy to wear aren't they!

So why not make two?

I made this one already ....

A bit of a warm up for this fabric from Lecien, which I have had for ages but again didn't have quite enough fabric.

I had thought I would make a yoke in a contrast fabric but didn't think I could adapt the pattern that much....not yet anyway!

So I went with a contrast border again but added a trim from my stash....

And a contrast waistband...

It was made using a nice straightforward A-line pattern from this book.

  


 

This is my seventeenth finish from my FAL list!   I'll be linking it up at the end of this quarter. 

Here is my original list.

Scraptastic Sampler

I have already shown you my design for my next Scraptastic Sampler

 

And here is the same quilt design in a different colourway

So far I have just cut out the alternate plain squares, as you can see here in preparation for a bit of fun block making.

I have not started on that first block yet - hopefully next week! 



If you fancy joining in you may wish to use a different colour scheme altogether so I have prepared a blank version in case you want to play with your own colours.  

And here you can download it, print it out, to do some colouring in - it is therapeutic after all!   

A-line skirt with green border

I have lots of clothes making on my Finish-Along list this quarter. 


And I have had this pretty fabric (the one on top) for quite a while with a vague plan to make it into a skirt.   An A-line skirt!

I found a nice straightforward A-line pattern in this book.

  


I think I must be remembering days when I was slimmer and wore shorter skirts because unfortunately I didn't have quite enough fabric to make it so I had to extemporise!

Fortuately I'm used to making things up as I go along so I cut the length  shorter and added a contrast border on the bottom of the skirt.   I used fabric left over from my Hoopla quilt so I can wear a skirt and match my quilt!!!

So here I am in it

And here it is on its own!

I plan to make another A-line skirt soon but similarly I will need a contrast border or else it will need to be a mini skirt, which just doesn't bear thinking about!

This is my sixteenth finish from my FAL list!   I'll be linking it up at the end of this quarter. 

Here is my original list.

Oh knickers!

I have had a little kit from Trixie Lixie to make a pair of knickers for some time I know, familiar story: I see things I want to make them, and they end up in a drawer in my sewing room....

I wanted a quick make today to make my target of fifteen finishes in July.   The pattern said it could be done in 2 hours.  

I cut out the fabric and stitched it up.   The only problem I had was when it came to stitching the elastic.  It had to be stitched while stretching the elastic enough to keep the knickers on.   There was no help in how to judge how long a length of elastic to cut, nor how much stretch was required.

I eventually measured the elastic on me with a bit of stretch.   I cut to that length - two legs and one waist.  Then I marked the middle and quarter marks on both the elastic and on the fabric.   I pinned those points and then stitched stretching the elastic to fit.

I only had to unpick twice before I worked this out!   Duh! 

Next time I make a pair I will know better.

But here they are....

This is my fifteenth finish from my FAL list!   I'll be linking it up at the end of this quarter.  Phew I made my target for July but those were all the quick things....I'll be slowing down now!

Here is my original list.