Month: December 2019

Mystery Quilt-Along

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 6

suznquilts

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 6.

I mentioned the very first day

of our 12 Days of Christmas Quilt-Along,

there will be 1 Tiny Dresden plate.

Thanks for reminding me yesterday, Paula.

If you don’t already have my Tiny Dresden Plate Template

this would be a good time to purchase one

from your local quilt shop or my website click here.

They’re $8.00 + shipping.

For a short time I will have a paper download here,

but

like the rest of these instructions,

they won’t last,

so don’t tarry!

Don’t know what tarry means???

tar·ry2
/ˈterē/

verb

LITERARY
gerund or present participle: tarrying
stay longer than intended; delay leaving a place.
“she could tarry a bit and not get home until four”
  • linger
  • loiter
  • procrastinate
  • pause
  • delay
  • wait
  • lag

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks on our Sewing With Susan, FB page.

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress.

To see what else is going on:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make a second (different) tiny tree block today.

A new block, a new green fabric!

Cut:

  • 2 cream squares 2″
  • 2 cream rectangles 1 3/4″ x 2″
  • 1 green rectangle 2″ x 3 1/2″
  • 1 black rectangle 1″ x 2″

I used my “Lazy Susan” technique for the flying geese again.

I also sewed the triangle scraps together, since they’re there…

If nothing else it kept me from clipping threads between pieces.

I press the seams toward the trunk.

I think it makes the trunk stand out.

Next, sew the tree to the trunk.

I pressed this seam upward & again,

clipped the few stitches in the seam to make it lie flatter.

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

Mystery Quilt-Along

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 5

suznquilts

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 5.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make this tiny pinwheel block today.

Can’t get much easier than this tiny pinwheel block!

Cut:

  • Make 4 red/cream half-square triangles using 1 1/2″ FINISHED Thangles™ or see instructions below for traditional piecing.

 

 

~~~~OR~~~~

If traditionally piecing the half-square triangles (hst’s),

Cut 2 red & 2 cream 2 1/2″ squares.

Place a cream square on top of a red square.

Draw a diagonal line on the cream square.

Sew a scant 1/4″ on both sides of the drawn line.

Cut apart the squares on the drawn line.

Press flat, then toward the red fabric.

Trim hst’s to 2″.

~~~~Make them however you prefer.~~~~

Lay out the pieces then assemble the block.

I removed the few stitches from within the last seam allowance

which removes bulk & allows the center seam to spin

 & makes it press flatter.

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

Mystery Quilt-Along

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 4

suznquilts

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 4.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny blocks!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make this tiny log cabin block today.

LOTS of pretty prints for this block!

Cut:

  • 1 red square 1 1/2″

 

  • 1 green rectangle 1″ x 1 1 /2″
  • 1 green rectangle 1″ x 2″
  • 1 green rectangle 1″ x 2 1/2″
  • 1 green rectangle 1″ x 3″

 

  • 1 cream rectangle 1″ x 2″
  • 1 cream rectangle 1″ x 2 1/2″
  • 1 cream rectangle 1″ x 3″
  • 1 cream rectangle 1″ x 3 1/2″

Start by sewing the 1″ x 1 1/2″ green rectangle

onto the left side of the red square.

Press as sewn, then away from the square.

Next, sew the  1″ x 2″ green rectangle onto the bottom.

Press.

Sew the  1″ x 2″ & 1″ x  1  1/2″ cream rectangles

to the right side & top.

Sew the last two green rectangles also.

Sew the remaining cream rectangles

as shown to complete the block.

Be sure to press after each rectangle is added.

One third of our mystery is already complete.

I hope you’re having fun!

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

Mystery Quilt-Along

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 3

suznquilts

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 3.

Thanks for sharing those

adorable tiny friendship star blocks

on our Facebook page.

I love seeing them too!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make this tiny tree block today.

More different, beautiful prints for this block too.

Cut:

  • 2 cream squares 2″
  • 2 cream squares 1 1/2″
  • 2 cream rectangles 1″ x 1 3/4″
  • 1 green rectangle 2″ x 3 1/2″
  • 1 green rectangle 1 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
  • 1 black square 1″

I think my “green” print with the red wavy stripes

resembles a decorated tree don’t you agree?

I used my “Lazy Susan” technique for the flying geese again.

When using a directional fabric for the squares

it pays to audition placement BEFORE trimming!

Ask me how I know…..

Can you see that the print is actually face down & sideways?

Once the flying geese are complete,

sew the trunk between the 2 background rectangles.

Next sew the 3 segments together.

I pressed these 2 seams open and also removed the few stitches that are within the last seam allowances to remove some bulk.

This will help to flatten the tiny block.

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

Mystery Quilt-Along

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 2

suznquilts

Welcome to

the 12 Days of Christmas

Tiny Mystery quilt, Day 2.

Thanks to those of you who posted your

adorable tiny house blocks yesterday

& today on our Facebook page.

I love them!

If you’re not already a member,

you should join so you can share & see everyone’s progress:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

 

We’ll make this tiny friendship star block today.

I plan to use different prints for each block.

The more the merrier, in my opinion!

Cut:

  • 4 Cream squares 1 1/2″
  • 1 red square 1 1/2″
  • Make 4 cream/green half-square triangles using 1″ FINISHED Thangles™ or see instructions below for traditional piecing.

I like to use Thangles™ for making small half-square triangles.

It’s quick, easy & very accurate!

~~~~OR~~~~

If traditionally piecing the half-square triangles (hst’s),

Cut 2 green & 2 cream 2″ squares.

Place a cream square on top of a green square.

Draw a diagonal line on the cream square.

Sew a scant 1/4″ on both sides of the drawn line.

Cut apart the squares on the drawn line.

Press flat, then toward the green fabric.

Trim hst’s to 1 1/2″.

~~~~Make them however you prefer.~~~~

Lay out the pieces then assemble the block.

Have fun!

Don’t forget to post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

Mystery Quilt-Along

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery, Day 1

suznquilts

I hope you’re going to join me

these 12 Days of Christmas

to sew a cute little 12″ quilt… or pillow… or both!

Are you ready to start?

Have you pressed your fabrics with Mary Ellen’s Best Press?

It really helps control the tiny pieces.

We’ll make this tiny house block today.

Cut:

  • 1 black rectangle 2″ x 3 1/2″
  • 1 green rectangle 2″ x 2 1/2″
  • 2 cream squares 2″
  • 2 cream rectangles 1″ x 2″

Make a flying geese block with the black rectangle & 2 cream 2″ squares.

I’m using my lazy Susan technique… I don’t like to draw lines on fabric!

Just put a cream square on the black rectangle.

Align the 1/4″ line of ruler with the center diagonal of the square

then cut off the corner.

Use that cut edge to sew the scant 1/4″ seam.

 

Press seam toward cut off edge then repeat with other corner.

Sew the green 2″ x 2 1/2″ rectangle

between the 2 cream 1″ x 2″ rectangles.

Press each seam, then sew the roof to the house.

I pressed the last seam open.

Literally a 5 minute block,

unless you’re documenting it like I am, lol!

Let’s post pics over at my Sewing With Susan Facebook group!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SewingWithSusan/

See you tomorrow.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

Mystery Quilt-Along

The 12 Days of Christmas Tiny Mystery

suznquilts

For a very long time I’ve wanted to make a quilt during the 12 days of Christmas.

Do you remember that the 12 Days of Christmas are actually the 12 days AFTER Christmas (not leading up to) that mark the time between Jesus being born & the Three Wise Men finding him?

A few days ago (amidst all my Christmas prepping…) I designed a cute little quilt & now that Jesus’ birthday has been celebrated with Christmas Eve Mass, family, gifts, food & lots & lots of fun, (not to mention, cooking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping…) I’m ready to sew!!!

Care to join me???

I’m making a 12″ quilt… or pillow… or maybe even both!

There will be VERY

LITTLE

steps

& I will reveal them to you here,

1 day at a time.

The 12th day will be the assembly & completing of the quilt (or pillow).

Ready to start?

First, you’ll need to select some fabrics.

Fabrics the colors of Christmas are going to be my choice,

BUT

there’s no reason you can’t use any fabrics your heart desires.

(No. You may not come over & use my Thimbleberries stash!)

Let me reiterate,

it’s a 12″ quilt or pillow,

scraps that you love will do!

Hint & Spoiler alert:

There’s going to be 1, just 1,

Tiny Dresden plate, but don’t let that scare you.

For now, go collect some fabrics

& iron them with some Mary Ellen’s Best Press

then meet me back here later today.

Just Keep Sewing…

Susan

 

 

 

 

My Life

Christmas Traditions

suznquilts

Do you have Christmas traditions?

We have many if I think about it.

One that I have is our church’s annual bazaar

which coincides with our 59th annual smorgasbord.

I’ve been chairman of the bazaar for 28 years!

I can remember because the first time was Chloe’s first Christmas

& I was pregnant with Blake.

In recent years some of our best-selling items are sweet treats!

Many of our parishioners participate.

Each year, among other things, I make sweet treats.

This year I’ve made

homemade caramel & chocolate covered pretzel rods,

brownies in the shape of decorated Christmas trees,

Rice Krispie treats also in the form of decorated Christmas trees on a stick,

peppermint bark, (my niece Sarah’s favorite),

chocolate drizzled Christmas shaped pretzels,

& lastly banana bread in the cute mini ceramic pans.

They each make great gifts!

My favorite part is wrapping them to make them look festive.

I dare to ask, where else can you go to find such things???

The smorgasbord includes;

turkey, fried chicken, potatoes, gravy, pigs in a blanket (no! not hotdogs in a crescent roll!),

veggies, rolls, salad & many home baked desserts!

Have I tempted you yet?

If you live in the area

I hope you stop by for lunch & shopping.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Church

132 Butcher, Bethalto.

Hope to see you there!

Just Keep Sewing (& holiday eating & shopping)…

Susan