shimmering triangles - Empty Spools Seminars

Transcription

Session V
April 26- May 1, 2017
Wednesday – Monday
SHIMMERING TRIANGLES
Jenny Bowker
Welcome to one of my favourite classes.
In this long class we will make one – or more quilts based on the idea of making fabrics appear to
shimmer, like lights on raindrops seen through glass, or pebbles under water.
I saw a hooked rug once made from strips of
old clothes in a women’s workshop in Cairo.
I was fascinated by the way it shimmered and began to think about ways of getting similar effects
in quilts. When water ripples it reflects several different views, each ripple showing something
different. Sky, then trees, and we see it as a shimmer as it jitters between images. I realized to
create shimmer you needed to change a point that moved from one colour to another so that it
became broken up and jittering between the colours.
The first thing we will do in this class is make a triangle set out of two fabrics – as a lot of the class
is based on this principle.
MAKE YOUR TRIANGLES
This uses two squares in different fabrics which are cut face to face, stitched, then cut to
give us eight half square triangle units.
THE FORMULA
This decides on the size of the squares you will cut.
Decide which block you wish to make and how big you wish to make it.
1. What is the finished size of the half square triangle unit you want?
2. Multiply this number by two.
3. Add 1 ¾ inches if using Imperial measurements.
For example - if I am using a unit which is 2 1/2 inches finished.
2 ½” x 2 = 5
Then 5” + 1 ¾” = 6 ¾”
My squares need to be cut six and three quarter inches.
Continued on next page
1Copyright: ©Jenny Bowker, [email protected], Shimmering Triangles, 2002
SELECTING YOUR BLOCK
You can use your units in any block which needs half square triangles.
Select a block to make from the group shown on the next page.
It is a good idea to cut any other pieces needed when you cut the initial squares. The pieces
you need are listed with the sheet of possible block designs.
Accuracy in cutting and stitching will make your task easier.
IF YOU HAVE A QUARTER INCH FOOT: On each set of two squares mark two lines
from diagonal to diagonal. I use soap slivers on dark fabrics, and pencil on light ones. Mark one
side only, and choose the side which is easiest to mark. You will stitch using these lines to guide
your quarter inch foot. These lines are shown as the diagonal dotted lines.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A QUARTER INCH FOOT: Place your patchwork ruler so that
the quarter inch seam allowance falls on the centre diagonal. Mark the line that falls at the edge.
Repeat for the other side, and for both diagonals. These markings will be lines you stitch on and
are shown as solid lines on the drawing below.
STITCHING THE BLOCK
a) Stitch on the solid lines removing pins first
b) Press checking that it stays square
c) Place the sewn unit on a cutting board. Make clean and exact cuts along the marked cutting
lines on the figure above. Do the horizontal and vertical cuts first as these determine the size of
the block. I prefer to do this by marking my cutting board with a cross to help me to place
blocks accurately. This is easiest on a small cutting board which can be turned as you make the
cuts.
d) I trim tails as demonstrated before I press the half-square triangle units
e) Complete the block as suggested on the design sheet.
The block I used for Shimmer, Lost in Singapore and Winter Garden
Shimmering Quilts
For the size in Shimmer
From each large print or floral –
One big square 8 1/2 inches square.
An additional 4 squares cut 5 3/4 inches
Toning Colours
If you want to do what I did with 2 different fabrics in each big 'plain' square you will
need:
2 x 4 1/2 inches square of each AND
2 x 5 3/4 inches squares of each
If you want large areas of a single fabric like Parterre you will need:
For each colour 1 piece 8 1/2 inches square AND
4 pieces 5 3/4 inches square
Lost in Singapore
Shimmer
Parterre
Border blocks are cut as 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch rectangles and each needs 2 5 ¾ squares.
Corner blocks need 1 4 ½ inch square and one 5 ¾ inch square.
The picture above is of the sort of 'plan' that I lay out before I choose which triangles
I need to make. This one is mostly Kaffe Fasset florals but it will give you an idea of how I
chose colours to go with them and how I work out a plan.
THE PROCESS
1. Lay out your big blocks.
2. If using alternating fabrics lay them out in between
3. Pick up ONE 5 ¾ inch square of a big print and ONE 5 ¾ inch square of the fabric
4.
5.
6.
7.
which touches it at the corner (any corner).
Make a set of triangles according to the instructions above.
Cut apart as demonstrated in class – I mark my cutting board to assist me.
Stitch your triangles into four patches – you do not have to lay the whole thing out
to do this. Just set out four half square triangle units at a time and make sure all
point in the same direction.
Place on design wall between the correct pieces to create the shimmer.
8. Add all your triangle sets
9. Stitch each 4 four patch sets together
10. Sew all units together as rows.
11. Stitch the rows together.
Borders
12. As a border for this quilt I simply cut my Big Print leftovers into enough 2” strips
to sew around the outside edge of the quilt. I like the look but it is very simple. I
used placings of the strips to give a shot of contrast. If you wish to enlarge the quilt
with more borders please go ahead.
13. Measure through the vertical centre of the quilt. Cut two border pieces to fit and
ease the sides into these.
14. Stitch.
15. All quilts stretch a little around outside edges and this will prevent the quilt from
rippling in a quilt show.
16. Repeat by measuring through the horizontal centre of the quilt including the two
new narrow borders. Cut two border pieces to fit this measurement and ease the
sides into these and stitch.
Quilting
Patterns that say “Quilt as desired” at this point can be very annoying – so I won’t. I
suggest quilting around the edges of the big print patterns to outline major shapes.
I use a LOT of quilting in my quilts but this is a choice, as more quilting means a firmer
quilt and you might want a lovely soft bed quilt.
A trick I often use is to finish unfinished flowers. When you cut through a big print you
will have half shapes, and odd petals clipped off. I finish them in the quilting stage. In the
large Alternating Fabric areas I also add more flowers – and I tend to copy whatever is
nearby while I am sewing.
You can do this even without free drawing by tracing some shapes from your Big Print
blocks onto Tearaway stabiliser. Put them over the area to be quilted and stitch around the
shape through all the layers, then tear away the paper. It is a lovely way to make a feature
of a larger, plainer area.
Finish with a facing or binding in your usual way.
If driving, please bring a table-top light and a multi-plug extension cord with surge
protection.
Bring something to cover your work at night.
Bring something to cover your design board to pin to.
Sewing machine in good working order
A mat and rotary cutter
General sewing supplies
A Note to Teachers
I give permission for you to teach this as a class on several conditions.
1.
I must be mentioned and credited in each class.
Each student or helper in the class must have a copy of this pattern that they
downloaded and paid for individually from Craftsy. A search for ‘Jenny Bowker
Shimmering Triangles Craftsy’ will find it.
2.
Each teacher must have first made a quilt using my methods, tips and tricks and
show these as they teach as this enrichment of the process is part of the class.
3.
Each teacher must let me know that they have arranged to teach the class before
they teach it.
4.
You can contact me at www.jennybowker.com or on [email protected]
OTHER BLOCKS THAT SHIMMER
Continued on back
LAYOUTS IN THE LOG CABIN STYLE
With thanks to Margaret Rolfe for these diagrams
Broken Star - an optional quick quilt that does not shimmer
This is an optional feel-good exercise as I can make this top in a morning
and it is a great size for a gift. Some will choose to take the pattern home
instead of making it in class.
Fabric requirements
Look at the design. You will need two feature colours for the star itself - I prefer to stay
with a lighter and darker of the same colour or similar colours, but you might choose a
different light and dark. I refer to these two as LIGHTER and DARKER in the class.
You will need two background colours. One is the inner background, one is the outer
background.
You need:
Darker 1 metre if you do not want a wide outer border in this fabric – 2 metres if you do.
Lighter 1 metre (allows a narrow border strip).
Inner background 0.5 metre.
Outer background 1 metre - which allows a float.
Please contact me if you have questions on [email protected]
Cutting
For this quilt you need to cut six sets of squares – this will be in total twelve squares of
fabric 11 ¾ inches.
Cut four squares of light, four squares of dark, two squares of inner background and two
squares of outer background.
ARRANGE them in the following sets:
Darker + lighter
Darker + lighter
Outer b/g + darker
Outer b/g + lighter
Inner b/g + darker
Inner b/g + lighter
CUT THE SMALLER SQUARES
Four squares 51/2 inches (cut size) of inner background.
Twelve squares 5 ½ inches (cut size) of outer background.
Putting the Quilt Together
1. Lay out the pieces in the order shown on the layout diagram.
2. Get a friend to check it for you – or take a photo as it is easier to see if something
is wrong.
3. Stitch the rows together.
Attach borders as follows:
Border 1 – this is an invisible float - cut 1 ½ inch strips from outer background.
Border 2 – cut 1.1/2 inch strips from and accent fabric.
Border 3 – cut 5 ½ inch strips from darker fabric, or a new fabric for outer border.
Layout
Arrange your blocks as shown and get someone else to look at them to see if they are
correct before you stitch - just to be sure.
I added three borders – the first in the same colour as the outer background.
Contact me if you have questions on [email protected]

shimmering triangles - Empty Spools Seminars

Transcription

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