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The Emporia => Patchwork & Quilting ... Welcome to the Darkside => Block of the Month 2018 => Topic started by: Iminei on January 01, 2018, 12:10:18 PM

Title: January's BOM - The Aurora
Post by: Iminei on January 01, 2018, 12:10:18 PM

Welcome to 2018

and a

Whole New Year

of

The Sewing Places'  Blocks of the Month.

We kick off with a versatile lil block,
which can be arranged into a number of designs;
I look forward to seeing your choices!

So off we go with

January's BOM ....

https://photos.app.goo.gl/gmN9DA4r92Wjx7uL2 (https://photos.app.goo.gl/gmN9DA4r92Wjx7uL2)

Click on the first picture in the sequence to bring it up to full size
and the destructions will appear on the right!
(If they don't, click on the i icon to make them appear)

As ever there will be a dedicated Hall of Fame for your creations
and an exclusive

The Sewing Place Prize Winners Badge

for everyone who completes all of 2018's BOM's


Have Fun!!!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Sandra on January 01, 2018, 19:23:37 PM

(https://i.imgur.com/p4nZ50nl.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/LyR7xAil.jpg)

The blue one measures a bit under 5" square and the red one 11 1/2" square.  :)

A good block...there really are quite a few different options of how to stitch them together...looking at them now I'm wishing I'd tried a slightly different layout, just to be sure.

Sandra.
xxx

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Pearl on January 01, 2018, 19:34:55 PM

They're gorgeous, Sandra. 

I've been working on mine, using colours very similar to your blue one.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: maliw on January 01, 2018, 19:47:18 PM

My goodness that was quick Sandra - I like both blocks.
Nice block, thank you Iminei, the quilt is lovely where do you find the time?

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 01, 2018, 21:07:48 PM

Sandra, they are gorgeous!!

Thank you for kicking off the 2018 TSP's BOM...

So off you go, the first into the 2018 BOM HOF ....

:angel:          :angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: supergran on January 01, 2018, 21:56:35 PM

Good grief Sandra, that was quick. I've only just read the instructions! Both lovely blocks.
That was quick Iminei, I wasn't expecting one before mid month, thinking it would take you a while to do the tute. I'd better get my skates on if I'm going to keep up with you lot.  :D

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Pearl on January 01, 2018, 22:55:26 PM

Love this block, Imi.  I had great fun playing with the arrangement.  The batik is bluer irl.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Madame Cholet on January 01, 2018, 23:56:40 PM

Here's mine:

(https://i.imgur.com/SRYfdAtl.jpg)

I also enjoyed jigsawing the squares around to find my favourite arrangement.
Imi - thank you - I have now officially wombled into the Dark Side  :S  :ninja:

Edit to add: not too sure what happened to the 1/4" edges that ought to be on the crosswise outside points... oh well!  :|

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Pearl on January 02, 2018, 08:40:47 AM

Quote from: Madame Cholet on January 01, 2018, 23:56:40 PM

I have now officially wombled into the Dark Side  :S  :ninja:

<locks door behind Madame Cholet>

Bienvenue.  Votre bloc est magnifique, madame! 

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 02, 2018, 09:31:05 AM

 not too sure what happened to the 1/4" edges that ought to be on the crosswise outside points

I wouldn't worry about that Mdme Cholet, for a first block its very impressive indeed...

So off you go into the Newly decorated BOM HOF ........
(mmmnnnn ... Dont you just looove the smell of new paint !!!!)


Pearl, Another beautiful Block, would you care to take Mdme Cholets hand and show her the way please?

:angel:    :angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Ellabella on January 02, 2018, 10:32:41 AM

I really want to do this year's and make a sampler quilt at the end.

I want to get one background fabric for all the blocks and then match in mainly from my stash (I hope).

If I go for 3m do you think I'm on the right lines, I'm aiming for approx 12" blocks.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 02, 2018, 11:01:30 AM

Im sure you could scale up this block Ella, maybe with a lil help from BrendaP, or just through trial and error using scrap fabrics. I am going to try and keep this years blocks to similar sizes/proportions!

As for background, I expect 3m will do it.
If you buy from somewhere  keep a note of the design and colourway just in case you do run out.

Empress Mills have a wide range of backgrounds which are very reasonable when bought in 3m lengths and they usually have the same in stock  https://www.empressmills.co.uk/product-category/fabrics/quilting-fabrics/klona/ (https://www.empressmills.co.uk/product-category/fabrics/quilting-fabrics/klona/)

I look forward to seeing your creations!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lowena on January 02, 2018, 11:14:48 AM

Imi dahling... what sort of size will these ( hopefully ) come out as?..................not that I'm promising anything  :ninja:

Well Low, January's block started as two 10" squares which ended up as a 12" Hourglass block before being chopped and shuffled to finally end up measuring 11"  (all unfinished sizes)

So Im going to try and have them within the 10 to 12 inch finished sizes.
As there is very little pre planning involved in this who knows what will happen but I will try!

Imi
xxx

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: maliw on January 02, 2018, 17:27:01 PM

Here we are but not sure why some of the points aren't points!!!!!!!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 02, 2018, 17:53:39 PM

not sure why some of the points aren't points

?????

Its lovely Mali (tho' the pic is a lil small)

Run along to the 2018 BOM HOF now ....

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Madame Cholet on January 02, 2018, 23:56:06 PM

Thank you all so much for your kind encouragement!  <3

The Dark Side faeries have had me in their cross hairs for some time now methinks, as I was given a cutting board and a Bernina walking foot for my birthday in October, and then a few weeks ago I found a copy of Linda Clements' "The Quilters Bible" in a charity shop for the princely sum of £1.75  8)
So I gave in and bought myself a rotary cutter too.
(I have done patchwork before, as in making fabric to make clothes out of patchwork, but nothing as precise as this...)

My block has kind of taken on a life of its own now - I got it out again this evening and it is turning into a cushion cover:

(https://i.imgur.com/BoSLikyl.jpg)

It is a strange mixture of polycotton, cotton, and viscose, but I have really enjoyed sewing it. I have some batting  wadding stashed away somewhere, so the next step is to quilt it, which will be another first for me  :[

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: fajita on January 03, 2018, 00:35:30 AM

Brilliant job, MadamC. I can hear the addiction taking hold.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 03, 2018, 05:12:11 AM

Mdme Cholet, you are obviously a natural, picking up the purple in the pattern ...

Enjoy quilting it, but keep it simple and do post pics ....

We Darksiders loooooove pics!!!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lowena on January 03, 2018, 09:10:59 AM

Welcome to Hotel California The Dark Side proper, Choley girl, it's a lovely block  <3

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: maliw on January 03, 2018, 13:49:33 PM

That is lovely MC, we knew you could do it. A big welcome to the dark side 0_0

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Madame Cholet on January 03, 2018, 19:06:56 PM

Ooer in my post above I said the b...... word.
Sorry Lowena!  :|  ;)

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lowena on January 04, 2018, 10:24:47 AM

You are well and truly forgiven Choley   <3 <3 ... ( just don't err again  :devil: ) :D

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Cheesecake on January 04, 2018, 15:38:56 PM

Here’s mine.  Think I need to go fabric shopping soon, I didn’t plan to use same fabric as Decembers (different shade plain although cannot really tell).

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Madame Cholet on January 04, 2018, 17:40:18 PM

Quote from: Iminei on January 03, 2018, 05:12:11 AM

Enjoy quilting it, but keep it simple and do post pics ....

I have an hour or two tonight I intend to devote to quilting it.
I have some wadding and a backing piece cut about an inch or so larger all round and last night I pinned the layers in place and then hand tacked them together and removed the pins.
I thought I could machine straight stitch around the edge of each individual motif - would that be good idea do you think?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 04, 2018, 18:27:44 PM

Marvellous Cheesecake and welcome to 2018 BOM HOF ...

I'm sure you'll find the way ...

 

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Suziequeue on January 04, 2018, 18:57:10 PM

I am really keen to do the BOTM in 2018.

I thought in order to motivate myself to do it every month I would use the same colour scheme for each block and then at the end, make the blocks up into a 3x4 block quilt, using leftover material to add borders to blocks if they need to be made up to size or for binding etc.

I went to our local quilting barn and fell in love with this cake pattern, so I chose other materials around that.....

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Ploshkin on January 04, 2018, 19:05:36 PM

Quote

I thought I could machine straight stitch around the edge of each individual motif - would that be good idea do you think?

Madame C.  I'm a big fan of diagonal quilting (diagonal lines or chevron) using the corners of the pieces for guiding the lines.  I've only quilted 4 things so just a very novicey novice but I've found this works really well and pucker free and looks quite effective.

Another thing that can look good and I think Is easier than stitching in the ditch is stitching 1/4" away from the seam lines.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Madame Cholet on January 04, 2018, 20:29:04 PM

Quote from: Ploshkin on January 04, 2018, 19:05:36 PM

Madame C.  I'm a big fan of diagonal quilting (diagonal lines or chevron) using the corners of the pieces for guiding the lines.  I've only quilted 4 things so just a very novicey novice but I've found this works really well and pucker free and looks quite effective.

Another thing that can look good and I think Is easier than stitching in the ditch is stitching 1/4" away from the seam lines.

Thank you  :flower:, I like the idea of not stitching in the ditch. Once I have prised Cece (my avatar cat) off my project I intend to make a start.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Suziequeue on January 05, 2018, 17:17:34 PM

On the basis of “measure/check twice, cut once”...... can I just check - I start with two squares exactly 10” square and after some cutting and pasting, I come out with a twelve and a half inch square - presumably because the hypotenuses of the original triangles become the edges of the resulting block.

Is that right?

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 05, 2018, 18:12:44 PM

Yup I think so ...

But yours might be 12 3/4" ... every-bodies 1/4" seam is different!

and if you can divide the resultant hour glass block by 3, away you go.
Your end block will be a slightly different size to mine, but as long as all your blocks are the same, you are good to go!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Suziequeue on January 05, 2018, 18:48:48 PM

Thank you.

My four squares seem to have come out different shapes and sizes -< -< -<.

I took such care to get the measuring right. Is it OK for an amateur to cut the four squares to size (6 1/2” squares) after the stitching?

I appreciate that this shouldn’t be necessary if I had done perfect seams and perfect everything else etc. But I am where I am. I am assuming that as long as I keep the diagonal on track then I can just shave a bit off two sides???

Sorry to keep asking. One of the reasons why I wanted to do the BOTM is to improve my technical skills a bit.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lowena on January 05, 2018, 19:15:19 PM

I'll let you into a dark side secret Susie..... no one is perfect and almost everyone evens / squares / recuts their blocks as it is very difficult to get them all exactly the same. Never beat yourself up about mistakes...... it all comes out in the wash assemblage  :D

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Deafoldbat on January 05, 2018, 19:24:48 PM

Accuracy comes with practice (lots of it, over years!)

Whilst we try to cut and sew accurately, it is always wise to check the size of the various units as you go - it reduces the chances of disappointment with the results and of flinging the fabric onto the floor to be jumped on.  ;)

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Suziequeue on January 05, 2018, 20:17:21 PM

Thank you. I will re-shape (I like that word!!) the square and see how far I get.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 06, 2018, 07:43:53 AM

Are we talking about the first step, making the hour glass block?

Low is completely right, no-ones blocks are ever 100% perfect and, especially with HST's, I often make them just that lil bit bigger and square them down to the right size.

Usually Destructions for an HST are to cut squares  7/8ths of an inch  bigger than the desired finished size ...
7/8th 's   :angry: My arse!! Cut  them an inch (or more) bigger and square down!

Ask as many questions as you like, we have all been there and done that .. even if its to ourselves in an empty room!!!
You should have heard me rave yesterday as I was trying to put a block together that simply wouldn't go!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lowena on January 06, 2018, 11:29:34 AM

Quote from: Iminei on January 06, 2018, 07:43:53 AM

Usually Destructions for an HST are to cut squares  7/8ths of an inch  bigger than the desired finished size ...
7/8th 's   :angry: My arse!! Cut  them an inch (or more) bigger and square down!

I second that! I always cut mine at least to the next inch.....you can cut off, but you can't add a sliver on  ;)

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Suziequeue on January 06, 2018, 20:01:42 PM

Thankyou. That’s very reassuring. Yes - I am on step one!!  and aleady run into difficulties

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: supergran on January 07, 2018, 18:52:18 PM

I've had 2 attempts at this one
The first one wasn't so good. I've circled the bit I didn't like. Then I put the thinking head on and did the second one. I was really careful to do a scant 1/4 inch seam and then I didn't square up the resulting HST's. My block turned out at 12 3/4 inches, which was perfect and the rest came together pretty well. I think the trick is to square up the HST's if necessary, but don't cut any off the hourglass block, as you can lose the points in places. I want to put sashing on mine later and make it into something so I needed to keep the points.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lowena on January 07, 2018, 19:02:07 PM

Very nice Supergran :)

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 07, 2018, 19:14:59 PM

Beautiful SG ...

Off you pop into the BOM HOF you go ......

:angel:      :angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Francesca on January 07, 2018, 21:22:21 PM

You may even tempt me Im now that I have The Splurge and that lovely 1/4" foot...

I wonder if I could make a few for a small throw for my spare bedroom...

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: supergran on January 07, 2018, 22:00:36 PM

Course you could Fran. If you can make clothes, a throw will be a piece of cake.  :flower:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Francesca on January 07, 2018, 22:03:42 PM

I have a voucher from a shop that does lovely cotton fabrics...

Only annoying thing is my ruler is so clunky as it's a big one. I guess it's still doable though!

I might have a look through the older BOMs to find a simpler one to start with...

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 08, 2018, 08:55:40 AM

Start with some from last year, the simpler ones, build up.

How about Foxy, the Brucie Bonus Block in December ?

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lowena on January 08, 2018, 10:36:06 AM

Foxy is straightforward Fran, even I can vouch for that  0_0
If you can make clothes then p&q is a doddle, love your block and look forward to seeing more. :ninja:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Lincoln hobbit on January 08, 2018, 11:43:59 AM

This is my first attempt at anything other than squares and oblongs and is a real mess. It looked easier than any of the others last year so I thought I'd try. Apparently not. So I'll have another go...

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 08, 2018, 20:24:56 PM

Do not be discouraged LH ...

These things take practice and you must now find your way to the BOM HOF ....

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: justpottering on January 09, 2018, 11:32:04 AM

Well wadyaknow I did it! A few ifs and buts but ok for a first try

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: maliw on January 09, 2018, 14:38:56 PM

New recruits with lovely blocks - what's not to like about the dark side? Yeh.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Madame Cholet on January 09, 2018, 15:02:36 PM

Here's what I did with my block, it's now a cushion cover:

(https://i.imgur.com/KZ0dc04l.jpg)

I very much enjoyed sewing it, and it did feel liberating to be sewing something purely for pleasure and not just because I had to, if you see what I mean.  0_0

In the end every ditch got stitched because I couldn't decide where else to start. Then I outlined each seam. Finally I sewed the two diagonals. Quilting is new to me, and I'd never used my walking foot before, so it was all good practice.
 
It is what it is though, a hodge podge of different fabric types from charity shop remnant finds and leftover scraps from other makes. The paisley viscose has a looser weave than the blue polycotton, and so it bulges out more than the blue. The cushion pad I made from an old pillow that had seen better days. I don't think I'll use polyester wadding again, because some strands of it have poked through the outer fabric already.
Looking forward to February's BOM!  <3

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 09, 2018, 15:59:57 PM

Wonderful .... You must be pleased as punch Madame Cholet!

Just Pottering, you have made a beautiful block ...

Off you go, you'll find your way into the BOM HOF, just follow Madame Cholet ....

:angel:       :angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: maliw on January 10, 2018, 11:13:42 AM

Don't forget MC that's how P&Q started out by using old and leftover bits of fabric. You've made a super job of the cushion cover well done.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: justpottering on January 11, 2018, 09:57:19 AM

I enjoyed this so much that I made another one a bit neater this time, might make some more arranging the squares differently to see what happens  :)

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 11, 2018, 09:57:49 AM

Pics!!!!!!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Ploshkin on January 11, 2018, 12:03:05 PM

I've done one but waiting for my computer to be fixed after the sudden death of the motherboard.  I can't post pictures with my demonic kindle.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Kenora on January 12, 2018, 00:57:33 AM

I will be joining in at some stage but have horrible vertigo atm so I can barely stand up or walk in a straight line, let alone sit at a sewing machine.  :S Looking forward to it though.  :)

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: maliw on January 12, 2018, 10:19:23 AM

That's horrible Kenora get well soon, I've had labyrinthitis several times so I feel for you.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Acorn on January 15, 2018, 14:35:02 PM

Dunnit!  The camera has killed the colours - they're much more vibrant than they look.

I learned one very important thing doing this.  The foot that I have believed to be 1/4 inch for years is actually 3/8 inch.  This meant that I had to do it on my new machine (embroidery/sewing) because it has the right foot.  I've hardly done any sewing on it because it's so complicated choosing the right setting, but it's easy for quilting weight cotton!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 15, 2018, 15:32:25 PM

That is completely scrummy Acorn, Very well done to you ...

 and off you toddle into the BOM HOF 2018 with you ....

 

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Francesca on January 16, 2018, 22:45:19 PM

Are all the BOMs going to be the same size?

I might try and follow if they are...

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 17, 2018, 08:18:29 AM

I am going to try and keep them between 10" and 12" ....

Even if you just make them into a cushion cover,its worth following along as you may try techniques that are new to you or not your usual thing!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Ploshkin on January 17, 2018, 11:38:24 AM

I have done a BOM.  What I found a bit odd is that where two points meet at a straight edge, if you need to trim down that section of the  block you lose part of the 1/4" extra bit so the tips of the points will then be sewn across when the sections are joined to make the block.  I recall that a couple of people said that they had lost the points.
So that I didn't have to trim, when I divided mine into 3 for cutting I faffed about with 16ths of an inch.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 18, 2018, 07:19:43 AM

and beautifully done Plosh ...

Run along into the BOM HOF 2018 please .....

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Kenora on January 20, 2018, 22:23:43 PM

Here's my attempt at January's BOM. Some of the points are a bit squiffy but I'll blame that on the fact that I'm still a bit squiffy with vertigo.  :S It just doesn't want to go.

Anyway, overall I'm reasonably pleased with the block - although I just looked back through all the ones that have been made so far and mine is quite scarily similar to Sandra's first one! Sorry Sandra - wasn't aware when I was choosing the batiks.  :'(

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Sandra on January 21, 2018, 08:47:15 AM

It's lovely, Kenora and there's nothing to apologise for.  :)

Sandra.
xxx

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Ploshkin on January 21, 2018, 08:48:41 AM

I can't see any squiffiness Kenora.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 21, 2018, 08:49:33 AM

Beautiful Kenora,

now hurry and join the others in TSP BOM HOF ......

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: twopence on January 27, 2018, 20:09:01 PM

As I finished it a couple of days ago I'd better upload the picture of mine.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Kenora on January 27, 2018, 22:43:13 PM

Love that jazzy fabric, Twopence - very striking.  :)

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on January 29, 2018, 10:40:10 AM

Wonderful Twopence, wonderful ...

(Tho' I cant help thinking what that fantastic fabric might look like on a dark ground!)

Run along now and join the others in

TSP's BOM HOF ....

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: StitchinTime on April 12, 2018, 20:39:31 PM

I’ve left the first block until last for my catch up and I think it is my favourite so far. I can see myself ttrying the different layout options and using this block again.

There was a slight hiccup at the start when I realised got my resizing calculations wrong and I’d cut the squares for the HSTs the wrong size. Fortunately they were half an inch too big so some generous trimming took care of that.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Acorn on April 12, 2018, 20:48:02 PM

That's lovely - this block really does have an incredible number of variations.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Bogwoppit on May 04, 2018, 11:10:57 AM

Here we go.... In honour of Star Wars day - a tie fighter!

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: StitchinTime on May 04, 2018, 11:52:34 AM

Looks lovely, @Bogwoppit - I'm enjoying seeing how many variations there are for this block.

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: crafter on July 19, 2018, 13:22:35 PM

Catching up now.

Quite pleased how this has turned out.  A bit pale considering other examples but I am now using up scraps, rather than my lovely stock of FQ's which aren't for using, just looking and feeling.

  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on July 19, 2018, 16:42:49 PM

You're on fire Crafter, off you go, you know the way now,

Off into the BOM HOF with you

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on July 19, 2018, 16:48:24 PM

Mea Culpa @Bogwoppit , I didnt notice you=r tie fighter (bow tie fighter0

Have you been waiting outside the BOM HOF for long???

I'm sorry, go on in now ... Crafter will be there to make you a cup of tea....

:angel:

Title: Re: January's BOM
Post by: Iminei on July 19, 2018, 16:53:53 PM

WOT! Not another one I've missed, multo apologiso @StitchinTime

Go and join the others in the BOM HOF, hope you havent got cold waiting outside ...

 

:angel:

Dont you girls tell me anything, how long have I been going senile ??