The Basics -- Sawtooth Star

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square:  Sawtooth Star

Why it's a Basic: It's a variable 9-patch construction with flying geese

What I learned: another way to do flying geese

What I like about this square: Everything. The fabric. The new way to do flying geese, also, I was careful with this block and made sure all the birdies heads were pointed to the middle.  

What I don't like: not a lot

Would I do anything differently:  I'm pleased with it.  This is the last square.

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

T

The Basics -- Ohio Star

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square:  The Ohio Star

Why it's a Basic: it's a 9-patch construction with quarter square triangles

What I learned: more precise cutting.  I got better after the Dutchman's Revenge

What I like about this square: It felt like a breath of fresh air after that last block

What I don't like:  Do you see it?  Probably you saw it right away.  It took me creating this blog post to catch it.  Yep, on the right side the bow tie is placed incorrectly

Would I do anything differently: Not place the bow tie incorrectly.  Perhaps I'll fix it, or, perhaps I'll chalk it up to a learning experience and move on ...

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Dutchman's Puzzle

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square: Dutchman's Puzzle

Why it's a Basic:  It's the Flying Geese in a 4-patch construction.

What I learned: Well, if you don't embrace precise 1/4" seams and precise cutting, you'll be cutting more fabric.

What I like about this square: Start at the middle of the block -- work your way out.  Do you see it?  The pinwheel?  That's what I like.

What I don't like:  Without offense to my friends of Dutch descent, I call it Dutchman's Revenge.  It's very tedious and precise.  And it took me 4 hours but I did it.

Would I do anything differently:  A good lesson.

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Churn Dash

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square: The Churn Dash

Why it's a Basic: Look closely.  Do you see it?  It's a 9-patch.  The elements are half-square triangles and 2/3s of a rail fence.  

What I learned: This square helped me put it all together.  We've been working hard on those silly little squares and then, bam!, the more advanced "basic" squares put them together.  I didn't like the look of the churn dash, then I put this together.  

What I like about this square: The construction. The fabric.

What I don't like: nada

Would I do anything differently: zip

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Hourglass Pinwheel

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...

The square: Hourglass Pinwheel

Why it's a Basic: Two sets of hourglass squares in a 4-patch design

What I learned: That I haven't perfected the hourglass technique. 

What I like about this square: Start in the middle... work your way out, do you see the pinwheel?  That's what I like.  Also, the fabric.  They're additions to the mix and I love them

What I don't like: maybe it's just this picture, but those pinwheels don't look like they're all right.

Would I do anything differently:  Well, this is the second one I did... it's a little better than the first.

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Variable 9-Patch with Quarter-Square Triangle Center

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square:Variable 9-Patch with Quarter Square Triangle Center

Why it's a Basic:Remember that Quarter-Square Triangle a few blocks back? well, it makes two sets.  For the second one, we learned how to square our blocks to a different size, this time a 5 inch block.  Once that was done, all one had to do was construct a variable 9-patch -- a skill I'd been working on a lot!!

What I learned:  Tools are your friend! Quilter's rulers have all these lines on them... and now I understand what that diagonal one is all about!  

What I like about this square:  It takes longer to say the name of the block than it does to construct it

What I don't like: nothing

Would I do anything differently: nothing

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Windmill

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square: The Windmill

Why it's a Basic:When I think of quilting, windmills and whirligigs are what come to mind. Also, it utilizes the same technique as the Half square triangle with a 4-patch design.

What I learned: Look how those eight points come together in the middle.  Genius.  Also, this is the first block I sewed with my new machine. 

What I like about this square: One of my favorite designs

What I don't like: Nothing

Would I do anything differently:Nothing

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Double 9-Patch

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square: Double 9-Patch

Why it's a Basic: itty bitty squares make a checkerboard square to make a 9-patch 

What I learned: using strips of fabrics to make the checkerboard. It meant lots of straight, accurate cutting and 1/4" seams

What I like about this square: cheery colors that go together

What I don't like:It was tedious and I kept getting worried I would make a mistake.  I was very manic.

Would I do anything differently: Nothing, it was a good experience

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

Twisting the Center

I learned a lot from my basics quilting class, but Twisting the Center is my favorite.  It happens when four corners meet in a middle.  It happens during ironing pressing the seams together: one presses the seam to set it then checks the back.

When the seams are properly aligned, they seem to just fall open.  Then, it's apparent which way to press the remaining seams.

Counter-clockwise!

And once they're pressed, it's a perfectly flat square!

Now, when we got to the more difficult blocks, Barb warned that not every square gets twisted in the middle.  Once this skill is conquered, it's sort of addicting.

Oh, and one presses the seams one doesn't iron.  It stretches the fabric and you will get in trouble with the quilting class teacher.    A good teacher knows how to get the point across.  It worked.


The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

The Basics -- Double 4-Patch

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square: Double 4-patch

Why it's a Basic: It's the 4-patch within the 4-patch

What I learned: more reinforcing of the basics

What I like about this square: it all came together.  It was sewing stuff I knew over and over and over

What I don't like:So, in the pink and brown gingham squares... I placed them wrong... the gingham should line up in a row

Would I do anything differently:I'd have realized I made the mistake. I could have take it out and started over, but I was so tired of taking seams out I didn't.  This is a learning quilt, and I'm okay with non-perfection.

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Flying Geese

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square:  Flying Geese

Why it's a Basic: technique upon technique.  

What I learned:  This one is a blur.  I remember sewing and 

What I like about this square:  I conquered it!  A lot of people resented the flying geese..... perfect triangles aint easy

What I don't like: I was a bit confused about what fabric represented  geese and which fabric represented sky when I was cutting fabric. 

Would I do anything differently: Yes, I would reverse the colors, and make the birdies the geese and the smoke color the sky.  

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Quarter-Square Triangle

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square: Quarter Square Triangle

Why it's a Basic:You do the  Half Square Triangle technique twice!  Lots of meeting of seams.  Learning this square proved to be important with the more difficult techniques

What I learned:  meeting seams, precise sewing (without any aids)

What I like about this square: that I did it right the first time (an important task for this square as there was no turning back once you cut that fabric).

What I don't like:  --

Would I do anything differently:  No. I liked this square

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Half-Square Triangle

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square:  Half-Square Triangle

Why it's a Basic:   Two different fabrics are put right-sides together.  Using fabric chalk, I drew a diagonal line down from one corner to the opposing corner.  Then, I drew a line 1/4" to the left and right of the middle line... and sewed on those lines.  Cutting down the middle line creates the square.  This technique pops up in several other blocks.

What I learned:  Straight lines, 1/4" is important.  Precise cutting couldn't hurt -- if I cut it wrong, there goes 10 inches of 2 different fabrics.  Not good. 

What I like about this square: Not a lot. It's a building block, really.  An important skill set to learn and it showcases a fabric I liked (hint: not the goldenrod one).

What I don't like:  The color choices

Would I do anything differently: Pick a different fabric, definitely.  The quilt top ended up not having a lot of these colors ... 

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Variable 9-Patch

I just finished my Basics Quilt Class.  Here's one of the squares I learned to construct ...
The square:Variable 9-Patch: 

Why it's a Basic: It combines both 5 inch squares and 3.5 inch squares -- takes the 9-Patch construction and mixes it up, messes with your mind.
What I learned: I broadened my horizon a bit with the fabrics, using things from my stash as well as the fat quarter bundle I bought.  

What I like about this square:  Look at those corners!  I like the 9-patch and I like the different size squares it takes to combine the block

What I don't like: --

Would I do anything differently:  I might not use that middle fabric, it's the only time I did in the quilt, but I think this was good.

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- 9-Patch

The square:9 3.5" squares sewn together

Why it's a Basic: This is as basic as it gets... Like the 4-patch, other patches work off of its construction

What I learned:  It takes me a while, but I got much better as cutting fabric. Those seams are lined up! and yes, Virginia, we have 1/4" squares

What I like about this square: Visually, it's one of my favorites (probably it's the blue).  The colors. I love the birdies. The orange fabric was in my stash and I raided it.  

What I don't like:  Not a whole lot.  Probably, I would say I don't like that it took a while to conquer, but really, I like this one.

Would I do anything differently: Nada.  This was a good one.

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- Rail Fence

The square:  Rail Fence

Why it's a Basic:  it's a modified 4-patch:  sew together 3 strips of fabric to create a 5-inch square

What I learned: Whew, this one was hard.  I took those seams apart so many times, I resented this square.  The problem? the 1/4 inch seam.  

What I like about this square:  It's done. I like the idea of it, but this particular Rail Fence was hard -- it's a whirligig of sorts, isn't it?

What I don't like:  took a long time to conquer

Would I do anything differently:  It was an early square and I'm not sure the tree fabric works ... but it has birdies on it, and I love the birdies

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

The Basics -- 4-Patch

The square: The Four-Patch

Why it's a Basic: 4 5-inch squares sewn together

What I learned: my machine doesn't do a 1/4" seam very well. I learned how to adapt to fix that problem. I learned the proper way to press a square. I learned the proper way to match seams. I learned the ironing trick to help the square lay flat.

What I like about this square: I matched that middle seam up without guessing! I remember thinking, this is worth the money the first day!

What I don't like: Not much. Now I think I made poor fabric choices, but this is a learning experience

Would I do anything differently: Nope. It's the most basic of squares, but don't underestimate it's importance.

The Basics: An Easy Guide to Beginning Quiltmaking by Kathy Delaney

Taught by Barbara R. at the Prairie Quilt Shops

Just a reminder, this unfinished quilt was photographed on an ottoman and may not appear square, but it is!

I'm Officially "Confident Beginner"

Today was the last class for my Beginner's Class.  I intended to blog about it, but Spring/Summer is busy for me and it just didn't happen.

Here is a picture of my 16 squares pinned to a planning board.  It needs a border for the colors to pop and make sense.  Then, it will go to an official quilter who will finish it off.  (One skill at a time, thank you very much.)

I didn't get it completely finished today.  I have to sew the rows together and add the border.  When that is complete, I'll post a picture.