Fabric 

Option 1 - 1 1/4 yards if making it from just a single fabric (You may need more if you want to fussy cut or directional.)

 Option 2 - 6 fat quarters (if you want an accent for your binding 5"-6" piece full width of fabric)

Notions

1 1/2 yard interfacing (SF 101 shape flex)

1 - 22" polyester / nylon zipper for exterior

4 - 9" polyester / nylon zipper for interior

Thread ( you will be doing top stitching, so you might want matching thread)

Sewing machine needles Microtex 80/12 & 90/14's

Optional - 10" x 17" batting for use to quilt the outside of the bag 

                  (I suggest something very thin, like Warm & Natural.)

Cutting - Please label each piece as you cut (i.e.  A - 10 x 16 1/2). You will have a few pieces can be easily mistaken for another piece. 

A - Outside of Bag 10" x 16 1/2"  - cut 1

       (If you are using a directional fabric you will want to cut 2 pieces roughly 

       10 1/2" x 10 1/2". Seam these pieces so that the direction of the design are                                                                                                         going in opposite directions. If you choose to quilt this piece cut it larger, quilt and then trim to size.)

B - front inner lining 10" x 10 1/2" - cut 1

C - interior 10" x 7 1/2" - cut 1

D - interior 10" x 9 3/4" - cut 1

E - interior 10" x 10 1/2" - cut 1

F -  back interior 10" x 10 1/2" - cut 1

G - inside pocket lining 10" x 3 1/2" - cut 2

H - inside pocket lining 10" x 4 1/2" - cut 6

I - sides of bag (you need the pattern piece to cut these)  cut 4 (2 reg. & 2 rev.)

     The pattern says you need 4 pieces of fabric 5" x 14".  

     (I cut mine from the leftover pieces of my fat quarter for piece "C". 

J - side binding - they used 2 1/4" binding and I used 2 1/2" by 18" long  - cut 2

K - handle binding – 2 ½ or  2 1/4" binding and I used 2 1/2" by 24" long  - cut 2

L - zipper tab 1 3/4" x 3" - cut 2

Interfacing 

A - 9 3/4" x 16 1/4" only if you chose not to quilt the exterior of the bag 

B, E, & F - 9 3/4" x 9 3/4" - cut 3

C - 9 3/4" x 7 1/4" cut 1

D - 9 3/4" x 9 1/2"  cut 1

I - cut 2 (then trim off 1/4")

Stack and Slash

 These instructions are taken from several other blogs.  I have given credit at the end of this post.

 

Tools

·         18”ruler

·         12 ½ “ square ruler

·         Rotary cutter with new blade

Fabrics

·         9 fat quarters  or 15” squares of fabric in bright contrasting colors (more or less depending on the number of blocks you need.  You will end up with one block for each square of fabric you use.  These instructions are for a baby quilt but you can do any size from a table runner to a king size quilt just by adding more squares of fabric.  Of course you won’t be able to cut more than about nine at once.  If you use more, just divide into stacks and cut each stack in the same manner.)

 

 

Block Cutting and Construction
Cut nine squares 15" x 15" (these can be cut from fat quarters). Stack all nine squares and pin a number to each from 1 to 9. (I used painter’s tape and wrote the number on each one.

 

Make first cut about a third of the way up and down stack of squares (see Image 1). Take one top piece (either side) and move to bottom of the pile. Sew each block together. Arrange stack of blocks in order from 1 to 9.

 

Make second cut at an angle, cutting larger piece in half from top to bottom (see "Image 2"). Move two pieces from same side to bottom of stack. Sew (chain piece) each block together. Press seams open or to one side. Put blocks in order from 1 to 9. (Press and stack as you go.  Begin with last sewn and end with first sewn on top.  Keep number in same corner as you stack.  Pressing the stack will help keep the layers together.  Repeat this with each layer.)

 

Make third cut a third of the way across block from right to left (see Image 3). Move three pieces from top to bottom of stack. Sew together each block. Put in order 1 to 9.

 

Make fourth cut at an angle cutting larger piece in half from left to right (see Image 4). Move four pieces from top of either side to bottom of stack. Sew each block together. Square up (trim) each block to 12 1/2" x 12 1/2".

 

You now have nine blocks.  Finish your quilt by sewing all together are add sashing and borders as desired.

 

 Don’t try to match points – the charm of this quilt is that they don’t match, and by the 4th cut, they are sometimes WAY off. You can stop after 3 cuts. The quilt won’t be as busy and will have bigger patches. Cuts which go the same direction as the selvedge don’t reduce the size of your block as much as cuts which go perpendicular to the selvedge. Cuts which are at sharp angles to the perpendicular (or to put it another way, cuts which are closer to bias cuts) will reduce the size of your final block more than cuts which are close to right angles.

 

*It is important to keep your fabrics in the right order to make the pattern work, but if for some reason your squares didn't turn out exactly as they should, if something went together wrong, don't worry about it! This block is supposed to look very random and mixed-up. If you made a mistake when you were moving the layers, or sewing them together, or if they got out of order, it will all look fine in the end.

Resources:

http://sotakhandmade.blogspot.com/2012/04/improv-block-using-stack-and-slash.html

http://chasingcottons.blogspot.com/2011/06/stack-and-slash-tutorial-with-kate_12.html

http://www.quiltlor.com/StackNSlash/StackNSlash.html

http://craftymammas.wordpress.com/2007/03/18/crazy-star-patchwork-quilt-tutorial/

http://www.simplicity.com/t-free-quilt-patterns-Anything-Goes-Quilt.aspx

 

 

 

Shoo Fly

You need 2 different fabrics in contrasting colors or designs

From background or plain fabric cut:

·        two  5” squares

·        four 4 ½ “ squares      

From print fabric cut:

·        Two 5” squares

·        One 4 ½” squares

Make half square triangles using the 5” squares (many  instructions call for       4  7/8 “ squares but 5” gives you more room to trim to size and is easier to measure)

·        Match a plain square and a print together.  Use a ruler to draw a diagonal line on the lighter fabric from one corner to opposite corner.

·        Sew ¼” on both sides of the drawn line.

·        Cut on line- you will now have 2 units

·        Press to set seam on both units and then open up and press open

·        Use a 4 ½” or larger square ruler to trim your units to “perfect” half square triangles

·        Repeat with your other two 5” squares

·        You should now have four 4 ½ “ triangle units.

Block

·        Lay your units and squares in a nine patch pattern with the half square triangles in the corners- print  fabric closer to center.

·        Place plain squares in between these units and place your print square in the center.

·        Sew each row together and press all seams toward the plain fabric.  By pressing in this manner you will be able to nestle the matching seams together, pin exactly on the seam line and have matching seams (hopefully)

·        Sew the three rows together and complete your block.

·        Press seams toward units with the least number of seams- in this case toward the middle row

·        Before joining blocks together for your quilt you should check that the blocks are 12 ½ “ square and trim as needed.

Scrappy Christmas Decorations

Decorating with yo-yos

Make yo-yos using your favorite method.  I like the yo-yo makers by Clover but you can easily do them without this tool.  The following are good resources for each method.

http://sewing.about.com/od/embellishment/ss/basicyoyo.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCfwAK25jXE

Wreaths

Yo-yos can be used to decorate a wreath by attaching them to a purchased wreath form or by cutting a circle from cardboard or foam core board.  Cover the form with strips of fabric either by wrapping the form or making a long strip and sewing it across the back as in my example.  Then you can sew the yo-yos to the fabric in any arrangement you desire.  Add ribbon or make a bow from strips of fabric.

Tree ornaments

Make simple tree ornaments from yo-yos by sewing two back to back with a ribbon in between to use as a hanger.  More yo-yos in graduated sizes and different colors can be sewn together for larger, more elaborate tree decorations.  Add button in centers if desired.

Yo-yos can also be sewn together in a formation to make a wreath, heart, tree, etc.

Really scrappy decorations

Scrappy wreath

Make a circle with wire or use a purchased wire wreath.  Cut lots of ¾” or 1” strips of fabric about 5” long.  Double tie the strips around the wire wreath until completely covered.  Add a larger strip as a ribbon if desired.

Tree ornaments or decorative balls for a bowl

You need

·        a Styrofoam ball of desired size- the ornament will be much larger than the ball

·        lots of 2-2 ½ inch squares of fabric – I like to cut these squares with pinking shears to help prevent raveling- precision is not necessary.

·        a small screwdriver or other slightly sharp instrument- not sharp enough to pierce fabric

·        optional- school glue

Use your fingers to loosely gather each square around the tip of the screwdriver.  Dip the point in the glue if desired.  (The fabric will stay without the glue but the glue gives extra security if the balls will be handled a lot)  Poke the screwdriver with fabric into the ball about ½ inch.  Remove the screwdriver.  Continue until the ball is completely covered.  Add an opened paper clip dipped in glue as a hanger.  This project is easy enough for school age children but they will need help cutting the squares.

Fractured fir wall hanging- ticker tape quilting

You will need

·        background fabric, batting, and backing in desired size

·        scraps in green or whatever color you want your tree to be.  They should be a variety of sizes and prints.

·        Glue stick

·        Sewing machine and thread

·        Pinking shears

Use your rulers to draw a tree shape with chalk or removable pen.   Use the pinking shears to begin cutting your tree scraps in rectangle or triangle shapes and gluing them within the tree shape.  They should fit together like a puzzle but leave a small space (about 1/8”) between the pieces so that the background shows.  You may rearrange the shapes as desired.  I also added a star to the top and a trunk to the bottom.  When satisfied with your arrangement, sandwich the tree with the batting and backing.  Pin, baste or spray baste these together.  Sew around each shape about 1/8” from the edge.  Then outline quilt or stipple the background.  Add binding and hang.  You may also add small yo-yos or buttons as decorations on your tree.

Strip pieced ornaments

Cut squares of backing and batting in desired size.  Stack.  Sew on strips of fabric (1 to 2 inches) one at a time in quilt as you go fashion.  When batting is covered, cut the desired ornament shape with your pinking shears. Sew ¼ “ along the edge of the ornament.  Add a bow and hanger at top from ribbon or more strips of fabric.  You may also add a binding if desired.

Quilting on line

The internet can be a valuable resource for quilting patterns and techniques.  It is also great for communicating with other quilters both locally and around the world.  Even if you don’t have a computer you probably know someone who does. 

Some of my favorite spots on the web

Free patterns:

Quilters Cache   http://www.quilterscache.com/QuiltBlocksGalore.html

Lots of blocks in alphabetical order or search by size or by order added to the site

Planet Patchwork   http://www.planetpatchwork.com/

Several blocks of the month and helpful techniques

Quiltville   http://quiltville.com/

Look in right column for free scrap quilt patterns and tips and techniques

Blogs I like:

Laurens Happy Quilters   http://lhquilters.blogspot.com

This is the blog for the Laurens Happy Quilters which was begun last fall.  It is still a work in progress but includes info about the group, pictures of quilts tips and recipes shared by the members.  This blog also has a number of links.  Any member of the organization can post on the blog and may sign up to receive all posts by email.

Love, Laugh, Create   http://www.lovelaughcreatelive.blogspot.com/

This is my blog which I use to store all my favorite links.  On the left you will find a list of quilting blogs, free patterns, and a list of tutorials.

Quilting forums:

Quilt With Us  http://quiltwithus.connectingthreads.com/

Hosted by Connecting Threads.  Has smaller groups you can join.

The Quilter’s Message Board  http://www.quiltingboard.com/

A place for asking and answering questions, for showing off your work, lots of tutorials by members, and a section for buy, selling or swapping.