LAYOUT FOR ROWS of RHOMBI

Here is our next step now that we have added triangles to all of our Hexagons and in doing so, we have developed RHOMBI!

We are going to lay them out at an angle so that we can sew them together making rows. Notice how the white points of each triangle will match up. 

HOWEVER, we are going to stagger our rows so that first row will have 5 rhombi in it and the next row will "stagger" (offset from the first row) and so it will have only 4 rhombi. We will end up with rows of 5,4,5,4,5, (etc. if you make your quilt larger; less rows if you make it smaller). Clear as mud?

Here is the plan:

 

 

Now NEVERMIND that all of the edges or ends of our rows are cock-eyed and wonky, LOL; we are not done yet and all is well that ends well don't 'ya know? Stick with me...we will get there!

Here is the layout on a King size bed, (remember the layout as shown above).

Can you see it?

SLIGHT CORRECTION

I had to make two more Hexagons as my measurements were off a bit. 

That's what happens when you're just "wingin' it", LOL !

NOW FOR THE NEXT STEP:

We are going to use our background fabric (mine was white, remember?) and cut a strip 8 3/4 inches wide, WOF. 

From this strip we are going to cut equilateral triangles (again using our 60 degree ruler).

We will need TWO of these for each hexagon that we have made and then we will sew them

to OPPOSITE sides of each hexagon and we will now have a RHOMBUS (that IS a real word, I checked it out, LOL!!)

Press seams open and you have your rhombus.

The next step will be to assemble all the RHOMBI (yep, that's the plural form, LOL) .

28 large Hexies finished; YAY !

All 28 of the large Hexies now finished....stay tuned for the next step, comin' up shortly!

ONLY 6 MORE HEXIES TO SEW UP

I am doing the HAPPY DANCE tonight! I have 22 of the 28 Hexagons completed and only

6 more to sew up. Then I will start adding the background connecting triangles...YIPPEE, I can't wait to lay them out. 

 

 

 

Large Hexagon quilt instructions (tutorial? lol)...

Large Hexagon Quilt Instructions

So many have asked me if I have a pattern for this quilt I am making and truth is I don't.

That being said, I decided to use this (dormant!) blog to post quilting information since

that is my love and passion for about a year now. Yes, I am pretty new to quilting but learning as I go and loving every moment of it (except when I have to be intimate with Mr. Ripper!) and I know

him well but at least it's not too often that we meet for a SERIOUS interlude...small meetings are not so bad, LOL!

So here goes my (feeble) attempt at showing how to make this quilt pattern if any of you care to

take a stab at it; it is REALLY very easy, if it were not so, I would not be writing this, haha!

Ok, first, I selected white as my background color to work with (you'll see that more clearly a bit later) and started by cutting strips at WOF (width of fabric) at 1 1/2" (you will need 2 of these for each large hexagon you are making). Now I selected 3 different but coordinating fabrics (I am stash busting so I matched up the best I could to use up what fabrics I have). I cut two strips at 2 1/2" again at WOF.  I now made a decision which one I wanted to be ALWAYS on the outside rim of the Hexie (my favorite of the 3, I guess you could say) and layed that strip on the table, placed a white strip on the stack and then the 2nd 2 1/2" fabric(I'll call the other two "2nd" and "3rd" to keep it clear (I pray!) on the white. Now lay the next white strip, followed by the 3rd color 2 1/2" strip. We are going to sew them together in that specific order. In this case, the green floral is my color # 1, pink is #2 while blue floral represents #3.

First Picture: 

The strips are all WOF so the top of this picture is the fold and the bottom is the selvedge edge (which I trim off).

Now, we are going to sew the strips using scant 1/4 inch seams and it is very important here to note that the strips need to be "staggered" approximately 1" below each other when sewing (you'll see why when cutting the triangles).

Picture 2:

NOTE: I press all seams open and my reason is that when matching seams and points later, it is a lot less bulk.

Now we are going to cut EQUILATERAL triangles using our 60 degree ruler to do so. Here is the part that will be so important in matching up pieces later. Laying your 60  degree "line" of your ruler across the top of the strip (my OUTER color; my FIRST choice, mine is the green, strip #1) and now cut.

Picture 3:

Picture 4:

Now we are going to turn our ruler so that the opposite direction of the 60 degree line is being used across the TOP of our fabric and being sure to match the "point" at the bottom. Now we are going to cut. As you can see, we have our first equilateral triangle.

Picture 5 & 6:

Now watch as we again move our ruler to the other direction (again) laying the 60 degree line

on the BOTTOM edge and match the "point" at the top edge. This will  produce our second triangle and notice that we have alternated our color that will be the "outside' of our Hexagon. 

Wait! There's more! LOL

Picture 7:

Continue alternating the ruler and cutting triangles and you will have 6 (three of each color slice)...

 NOTE: I sometimes have one or two more depending on the original width of my fabric...some strips are going to be longer than others; not a problem. IF I have more hexies, I throw them in my stash for another project...a pillow cover maybe?? ( in this project, I cut 7; one for the stash!) We are using only 6.

We now have all 6 ready to join...moving right along...

Picture 8: 

Lay them out alternating the outside colors;

Picure 9:

Now to pin them as follows: two seams in each half of the Hex:

Pictures 10 & 11:

Now to press open the first seam (absolutely necessary to be able to match the second seam at the point! 

Picture 12:

Repeat for the second seam to complete the "half" of the hex.

Picture 13:

Now do the same for the three pieces of the second half of our Hexagon:

(BE sure to press everything really well....very important)

Both halves made:

Picture 14:

Now I bet you are already ahead of me, lol. We are ready to match up all the seams and sew both halves together! Here's a little picture of how I do it; you may have a better way of your own, lol.

Picture 15 & 16:

We are ready to sew the two halves now, YAY!

Picture 17:

Hexagon done!!

NOTE: I have shown the strips for the next hexagon and notice the green floral is still fabric #1, HOWEVER, I have placed the blue floral in the position of fabric #2, and the pink fabric is now in the #3 position. This is so my blocks are different. I have two hexagons made from each of the 3 color strips but I have alternated the fabrics #2 and #3 to make them look different. Here is a picture of another set of Hexies (finished) to show it.

Picture 18:

Thank you for viewing my blog and I hope this helps anyone who wants to try this quilt!
Have a wonderful, FABRIFIC day!!

Judy  AKA (royllsister)

CORRECTION: Sizes of pieces for purse....omitted, sorry !

Ok, can't say I didn't warn you about it not being an actual
 tutorial, LOL !!

The pieces (two fabric sides; two lining sides; two batting
pieces and two interfacing pieces) are cut thus:

14" wide X 12" tall (then the bottom corners are notched
out at 2" X 2" square.

If I left anything else out or its unclear; please just ask, lol.

Me no tut writer, (grinning) !

Judy's Basic Purse Pattern & Instructions

Sorry some of the pictures are a big on the fuzzy side; not sure what happened, lol.
But here is my attempt at a tutorial for those who have asked how I make my bags and
if I have a pattern.

Not sure that I would even call it a tutorial but I think you can probably follow it if
you want to give it a try.

Mainly, just have fun!!

EXTERIOR WITH INTERFACING ATTACHED

LINING WITH BATTING ATTACHED AND POCKET 

COMPLETED INSIDE WITH POCKETS AND TRIM APPLIED

COMPLETED PURSE WITH STRAPS AND TRIM

BEADWORK-1

PURSE  BY  JUDY

SUPPLIES:

PURSE REQUIRES 1/2 YD OF EACH OF 

THE FOLLOWING:

FABRIC FOR OUTER PURSE

INTERFACING FOR OUTER PURSE FABRIC

FABRIC FOR LINING AND POCKETS

BATTING FOR LINING AND POCKETS

TRIM REQUIRED (IF DESIRED)

 ABOUT 3/4 YD

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY

      

PURSE EXTERIOR:

1. PIN  INTERFACING  TO WRONG SIDE 

   OF FABRIC AND ZIG ZAG ALL EDGES

2. RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER, SEW ½ INCH 

BOTTOM SEAM AND PRESS SEAM OPEN

3. RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER,  SEW SIDE

    SEAMS  5/8”  AND PRESS OPEN

4. MATCH UP NOTCHED OUT CORNERS AT 

    BOTTOMS ( PIN AT SEAM ALLOWANCE

   TO LINE UP) AND STITCH ½ INCH SEAMS.

   TURN SHELL OF PURSE RIGHT SIDE OUT

PURSE INTERIOR:

5. PIN BATTING TO WRONG SIDE OF LINING

   AND ZIG ZAG  EDGES

6. . MAKE POCKETS BY CUTTING (ON THE 

      FOLD) TWO PIECES OF LINING FABRIC 

     MEASURING 14" WIDE X 6" TALL. PLACE 

     RIGHT  SIDES TOGETHER & FLEECE ON 

    TOP, THEN SEW SIDES BUT LEAVE 

    BOTTOM  SEAM OPEN;TURN AND PRESS;

    (Option** SEW “MADE BY ____” TAG ON 

     CENTER POCKET-  NOW IF DESIRED).

7. PLACE POCKET (UPSIDE DOWN AND WITH 

    THE "FOLD" EXTENDING BELOW THE 

    BOTTOM OF THE PURSE BOTTOM

   FABRIC) PLACE IT  1” ABOVE THE TOP OF

   “BOTTOM” CORNER ON LINING (RIGHT SIDE) 

    AND STITCH ACROSS THE BOTTOM; 

    THEN FOLD UP TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE 

     LINING AND STITCH BOTH SIDES CLOSED , 

     LEAVING TOP (FOLDED EDGE) OPEN;   

    NOW, MEASURE 3 ½” FROM EACH SIDE OF

   POCKET, STITCH TWICE (UP; THEN DOWN)   

   TO CREATE 3 POCKETS

8.  SEW LININGS (RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER)

     IN SAME ORDER AS THE FABRIC 

     (REPEAT # 2, 3 & 4)  ; PRESS OUT SEAMS;

     DO NOT TURN; SLIP LINING INSIDE PURSE 

     AND MATCH SIDE SEAMS WITH PIN IN THE 

     MIDDLE OF EACH  SIDE SEAM ;

STRAPS AND FINISHING:

9. MEASURE 3 ½” IN FROM EACH FINISHED SIDE 

    SEAM (THIS  WILL MARK YOUR HANDLE 

    PLACEMENTS), AND MARK; 

      REPEAT FOR OTHER SIDE OF PURSE; 

      CUT WEBBING IN TWO EQUAL LENGTHS

     (TO SUIT YOU)  AND ZIG ZAG RAW ENDS;

      FIT  BETWEEN MARKS AND PLACE  RAW 

      EDGE (TOWARDS TOP OF PURSE) AND 

       STITCH ACROSS  HANDLES ABOUT 1" 

       FROM TOP OF PURSE (** BE SURE 

       HANDLES WILL LAY FLAT**); 

      ( 4 TIMES ACROSS FOR STRENGTH!!)

     10: FOLD UNDER BOTTOM RAW EDGES 

          OF PURSE FABRIC AND LINING FABRIC

          (BOTH TO THE INSIDE SO THEY MEET) 

          AND TOP  STITCH AROUND TOP OF  PURSE

                                     

                                           OPTIONAL:

11.  PUT ZIPPER FOOT ON MACHINE; ADD 

       BEADS  AND/OR TRIM AT TOP  STITCH 

       LINE IF DESIRED

St. Patrick's Day quilt FINISHED, YAY!

Here is a little fun quilt I made with a St. Patrick's Day theme. I tried my hand at mitered corners for the first time and in a very non traditional way of doing them, geez, I'm not even sure I could do them the same way again, LOL !

It was a fun project.... hmmmmm....now to move on.... we have rain in the weather forecast for all this next week.... let me see now.....what can I create next? As the brain turns..... lol ... I'll be back....

New purse made.... Puppy Style!

Okay, I need a diversionary day from slipper making so I remembered seeing this cute fabric in my stash a couple of days ago and this idea came to my mind... so today I made my "Puppy Purse", LOL!! It doesn't look like my Poodle Tinkerbelle but she says I'm forgiven anyway...."whew"; thats a load off my mind!

More cozy slippers

I had so much fun making these slippers (ahemm... after redrafting the pattern) I decided to make some to fit "me", LOL.

So here they are and finally... they're DONE!

Now off to do something different....my short attention span is now burned out on slippers.... for a while, anyway.

Cozy little slippers

I need a new pair of slippers... necessity was the mother of invention, right? Right. So this time (drum roll please...) I actually bought a pattern! WELL..... I won't tell you the name or company or place where I bought it because I'm going to complain about it (lol)... it had 3 "poorlys": 1) Poorly sized, 2) Poorly written and 3) Poorly designed....that's it, I'm done. SO.... I made it a second time (with major major major adjustments (that's 3 adjustments for the 3 poorlys) and this time, got a cute little pair of slippers. I used cotton for the outside, fleece for the lining and added little yoyo-s (they tell me you should not hypenate yo-yo! to be correct ??) and back to the button stash. This time I found two little matching pink heart buttons to top them off. Oh, I forgot ....that non-skid stuff on the soles is the soft rubbery shelf liner stuff and I got mine at the dollar store in a roll.

Now remember I said "Poorly sized"? Yep, I did. Since I didn't adjust quite enough... I took them to DD Tami and said "aren't these cute" (I'm pretty convincing at my age...had a lot of practice), "here, model them for me" (see, her foot is smaller than mine) and she did....aren't they cute ON HER? She loved them (as she twisted her little feet around) so I said "Happy Valentine's Day"... and gave them to her. She politely said "Ohhh, for ME?" I had fun with it and she has new slippers.

I still need a pair of slippers.... I should have posted a picture of my old ones so you would understand how desperate I am... they had two major blowouts; one on the left front (toe) and another on the right rear (heel)....now to make me a pair large enough to fit (hopefully)!

Easter bag.... tired of WalMart trips

Ruffles, did someone say "ruffles"? Well I'm thinking if I can do a bag with horizontal ruffles (round and round, right?) why not a bag with VERTICAL ruffles (as in...up and down!).. WHY NOT? OK, Easter is coming.... oh my... hurry up. Let me see now, run to my stash, find pastel fabrics and oh gee I have this little piece of "bunny fabric"...oh how SEW-perfect is that? Now to whip up my basic bag, turn strips into ruffles, make a loop and now I run to my button stash (yes, I DO have a button stash too!) and find this cutesie little wooden pastel button in the shape of a flower and WALLA! finished bag in time for Easter too! Whew, I'm on a roll..... but I'm sure getting tired of going to WalMart just to carry my bags! LOL

I have to make a shopping list....let me see now, what all do I need? Yep, gotta' go to WalMart....I'd rather show my new purse to them that at the Doctor's office... got to get sick to go there and Lord knows, I don't have time to get sick nor do I want to! See if I don't hurry up and carry this purse (now that Valentine is past) I won't be ready to carry the Easter purse in time! LOL !!

See I saw this really cute ruffled bag (somewhere...can't recall...no telling where I was,...I do get around 'ya know) and thought "how cute, I'd like to have one of those"...followed by "I can make that"... and so here it is... the little ruffled bag in honor of St. Patrick's Day!! I'm luvin' her!