New Baby :: New Quilt!

Baby quilts are so much fun to make!  Based on the size and design they can be a faster finish than larger quilts.  That's always rewarding!  When you make a baby quilt, or any quilt for that matter, that is specifically for someone that amps up the fun in more ways than one!

When I found out that my 'adopted' family was going to have baby #3 I couldn't have been more excited and knew that there was a quilt to be made.  I patiently waited until the sex of the baby was announced before I committed to colors and design.

I decided this was a good time to use my 'X-Square' block and also the perfect excuse to finally use a stack of Cotton + Steel fabrics.

Once I grabbed the teal, aqua and mint Cotton + Steel fabrics I had to decide on what color I'd use for the four squares in the middle of the block.  With a bit of pink dispersed throughout the prints, I went with...pink!  White was the final choice and that meant I could start cutting and piecing!



With all the sections completed, I was able to start placing them on my design wall making sure every print was evenly dispersed and that there were four different shades of pink in the center.



The size of each block when complete is 10 1/2" unfinished.  The more blocks you add, the better it gets!  



With the due date rapidly approaching, I knew I needed to kick it into high gear.  Plus, I had the feeling that this baby was going to make an early arrival!

And, it seemed that was about to happen.  On Thursday afternoon, everyone was on high alert!  Pat was off to give birth or so we thought!  Turns out it didn't happen last night, but it's just a matter of time.  It could happen any moment...or not!

I hadn't taken pictures of the finished quilt and thought I had better get to it before the big event really does happen. 

X-SQUARED BABY
38" x 47 1/2"

Long story short, no baby yet, photos taken and quilt has been gifted!  Now we wait!



One thing I love about this block and quilt is when it's time to quilt it the possibilities are endless.  With all of the shapes and points dot to dot quilting is a breeze.  I've made three quilts from this pattern and each one has a different quilted design.  



I used Aurifil 50wt thread in a Mint Green 2830) and Baby Pink (2423), but it's a bit hard to see from this picture.  



I'm so glad I decided to use the Cotton + Steel fabric...finally!  I was getting tired of having them in my stash and never using them.  I'm kind of at the point where I just want to use my stash.



In an effort to use every last scrap, I pieced a strip of squares to go across the back.  The gray piece section of fabric was also a piece that has lingered far too long in my stash.  I could almost feel a weight lifted from my shoulders from using my stash!

The binding is Kona Splash and frames it nicely I think.



Now it's a waiting game.  When will she make her debut?  Time will tell!

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BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY

First Finish of 2018?

I'm not sure about that!  Technically, I finished it the last week of December, but didn't take photos until New Years Day.  Not that it matters much, we'll call it the first finish and leave it at that!

X-SQUARED
60 1/2" x 75 1/2"

It's hard to believe I started this in September!  Time goes so fast the older you get it isn't funny!  

After I finished piecing this top, I wrote a tutorial for the block in two sizes (16" & 10"), which is free on Craftsy.  You can find it here: X-SQUARED.  



This quilt is made using the 16" block.  It's a really fun and easy block that goes together pretty quick.  I used a lot of different prints that makes for a great scrappy quilt!  Apparently I had much more fabric than I thought.  When you can get three quilts from one stack...that must mean something!

10" X-SQUARED

HST Bonus Triangles

The block has bonus Half Square Triangles, so I sewed them up into a sweet little baby quilt.  And of course I had to test out the 10" block for a small quilt using a different layout and adding a border.



Part of the reason it took me so long to finish was the quilting.  What to do, what to do!  The other reason was it was so big and I didn't feel like wrestling with it!  

There comes a time when you can't ignore the elephant in the room.  And so I began the wrestling match.  In the end I pinned this baby down and won the hard fought match to take the title and get a finish!



The quilting is geometric lines using Aurifil Peony (#2440).  Think coral or dark peach.  In a sick sort of way I wanted to add more quilting because of my love of dense quilting, but it was just not in the cards for this one.  The back is Kona Salmon and compliments all the colors on the front.



A neat little package or a big fluffy pile!  The washing machine and drier are always the final magical touch!



What is the biggest block you have made?  I've never made anything bigger than a 16"!  Which makes me want to go bigger and bigger!

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Little Miss :: X-Squared

I've just about conquered my backlog of quilts.  I had a stack of five or six that needed quilting and I just looked the other way for far too long.  It's been difficult working on them with the remodeling, but I managed to get what I had down to one left.  

The one left to quilt is my 'Pink With An Attitude' X-Squared 16" block quilt.  That one will have to wait for a couple more weeks.  What I did quilt was the 10" baby version of the X-Squared block.  The pattern for the block is available in my Craftsy Shop:  X-Squared.

34" x 44"
10" X-Squared

This is much like the larger quilt, except I added a 3 1/2" border to increase the size.  With determination, I used the scraps from the original in an effort to rid myself of...scraps!  I nearly did it, but as you all know only too well...there is never an end to scraps!

I was excited to quilt this one, yet with most of my quilting I made it up as I went along.  It was going to be geometric as usually!

 

I used Aurifil Natural White thread for the entire quilt.  I extended the quilting from the block through the border instead of treating the center and the border separately.  It was a fun adventure and something I am sure I will do again!

The four square solid blocks got a pinwheel design, while the the smaller solid section received a geometric jewel like design.

I had one 16" block left over and decided to incorporate it into the back.  I sliced it in half and added the sides to fit.  A simple solution to orphan blocks.

When I went to pick up my machine from it's yearly (actually three years...oops!) cleaning, I came across this beautiful stripe fabric and thought it was so perfect for the border!  The colors are a match made in heaven!

The colors are a match made in heaven!

After finishing both the 16" and 10" blocks, I've come up with so many more ideas I'd love to try!  Does that ever happen to you?

From different arrangements, to different colors, solids and prints...and the border...I've got ideas!

I love taking a block and playing with it.  It doesn't have to be one I designed, although it does make it even more fun!

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X-Squared Block :: Tutorial

It finally happened!  I finished a tutorial!  This 16" (finished) 'X-Squared' block is fast fun and so easy.  Great for beginners, perfect for scraps and you'll love the results!

16" Blocks = 64" x 80" Quilt

The PDF pattern is available through my Craftsy Pattern Shop where I have also included a 10" (finished) block and a coloring page for the block.  While bigger can be better, it's always nice to have options!

16" x 16" (finished)

Let's begin, shall we?!

Choosing your fabric is arguably the biggest challenge for this block.  I had a color combination in mind when I made mine using corals, pinks and peach.  And I knew it was going to be as scrappy as I could get with the fabrics I had on hand. 

This block is made up of four (4) blocks assembled together to make one large block.  It's as easy as it gets!

CUTTING:

White:
(4) - 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Squares
(4) - 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" Squares

Four (4) Assorted Prints:
From each print, cut the following:
(1) - 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" Squares
(1) - 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" Rectangle

Four (4) Assorted Solids:
From each print, cut the following:
(1) - 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" Square

Step 1:

With right sides together, pair one (1) 5 1/4" print squares with one (1) 5 1/4" white squares.  

Draw a line from corner to corner and stitch 1/4" on either side of the marked diagonal line. 

Cut along the marked line and press seams towards the print.

Repeat for the remaining three (3) HST's.

Trim each HST to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square.  

 ***For one (1) block you will need one (1) HST.  The 2-in-1 method makes two (2) HST's in the same print or color.  If you are making a large quilt, you will need to cut an additional 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" print rectangle and one (1) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" white square.

Step 2:  
Following the diagram, pair each 4 1/2" HST with one (1) 4 1/2" solid square.  Orientation is important!  This unit along with the next unit need to match up.

Stitch the two (2) squares together using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Press seams open.

Repeat with the remaining three (3) HST's and solid squares.  You will have a total of four units. 

Step 3:

Place one (1) 4 1/2" white squares right sides together on top of one (1) 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" print rectangles.

Draw a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right corner.  Stitch along the diagonal line.

Trim 1/4" from stitch line (red line in diagram) and press seams towards the print.

Repeat for the remaining three (3) rectangle prints.  You will have a total of four (4) units. 

BONUS HST's!!

Before you trim the corners off these units, draw a line 1/2" from the diagonal corner line.  Stitch along the diagonal line and the marked 1/2" line, trim between the stitched lines.  You will have a bonus HST to use in a future project. 

Step 4:

Matching prints, pair the each section together.  Following the diagram for orientation, stitch the two sections together and press seams open. 

 Assemble the remaining three (3) blocks.

Step 5:
Layout your pieces.  Match seams, pin and stitch.  Press seams open.

Finish the block by matching seams, pin and stitch the two sections together.  Press seams open.

And viola!  You have completed one big beautiful X-Squared blocks!

For a quilt using a 4 x 5 layout of a 16" block, your quilt will be 64" x 80".  Or a 3 x 4 layout will be 48" x 64"!  See...options!

I would love to see what you make with this block!  A quilt, a pillow, a mini quilt?!  Email me a photo to jaynebug(at)gmail(dot)com, or tag me on Instagram using @twiggyandopal and #xsquaredquiltblock!

And remember...the PDF pattern is available in my Craftsy Pattern Shop!

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Can I Get A Whoop Whoop

Finished or Not