Mini Tutorial - DIY Templates for Hummingbird / Periwinkle Block

This tutorial is based on the Hummingbird Block Foundation Paper Piecing by Redpepper Quilts. 

I posted the coaster I made using the hummingbird pattern in my Instagram  and I love how cute it is. Now, I love foundation paper piecing but I don't like wasting the paper or the fabric. If I'm going to make them into bag or pouch, I usually use lightweight fusible interfacing as foundation paper, which is very practical. I wrote HERE about it .

This is totally inspired by the Japanese quilt books. I've learnt that many of them tracing the paper pattern on to the fabric or they cut the fabric according to the pattern shape and draw the seam allowance. That way, no paper and fabric waste but it's a bit slow process for an impatience people like yours truly ^_^.  And no, I don't want to collect more acrylic template ruler because 1) it's expensive 2) Amazon will take forever to deliver and by the time it arrives, my mood will be gone LOL. 

So, here's my jugaad (hack): I use lamination sheet!! 

I cut the pattern  pieces (without the seam allowance) and laminated it. Ehm, I ironed it using silk setting. Then mark 1/4 inch around the perimeter and cut on the mark. 

Now your DIY templates are ready and you can trace the fabrics using erasable pen or carefully cut using rotary cutter (I do this :D ) 

Stack your fabrics and you're ready for chain piecing. 

 

I need to arrange my pieces according to the pattern (I'm more of visual learner) to make sense to my brain.

Put together the center piece (C2) and  the right  piece (C1) right side together like the picture above and sew with 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat the process with the left piece (C3). Don't forget to press the seam towards the background piece. 

chain piecing done! Yay! 

Once done, straighten the triangle blocks and arrange them like shown in the above picture. Sew 2 triangles together using 1/4" seam allowance to make Half Square Triangle (HST). If you're a beginner, this 1/4" seam allowance is our lifeline LOL. It seems daunting but with practice it will come. Don't worry!! 

Now, sew the HST together with 1/4" seam allowance and your block is done! 

I am using cotton cambric for the background fabric here and it stretched a little with every ironing process, so I need to keep trimming to straighten it. According to the original pattern, the block should finish at 5 inch square, but mine is finished at 4.75 inch. But I'm happy, cos I waste less paper and fabric ^^. Now I am going to make few more. Maybe scrappy blocks? 

I hope you enjoy this mini tutorial and if you do, please share on your social media account so that many people can benefit from it. 

Happy Weekends!

Elvira

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TGIFF - Madame Tailor

(Mini Tutorial) How I do my Foundation Piecing Quilted Pouch

Hello again,

I hope you all had a great weekend. Well, I did. Last Saturday the boys went to school picnic and would be back by evening. That means I have a whole day and afternoon free. Woohoo!

I was working on one custom order of mini sling bag, but my mind kept wandering to the bag under my computer table. The Pandora bag (not box) that hold my  Quilted Bag Kit from my bestie, Winda. She gave it to me 2 years ago when we met in Jakarta. The kit was a bag kit and she already started making 2 or 3 blocks. So I put away what I was working on and pulled out the bag, sorting out the pieces, interfacings, batting, etc. That was on Friday evening. The next day, after the boys were out of the house and a quick housework,  I started piecing the blocks and here's my pouch. 

At first, I thought of making a tote bag after I saw this Instagram Post. Then decided to do less ambitious one first.

Here's what I learned during the weekends. 

Many blogs wrote about using Freezer Paper for foundation piecing, which is not available here in North East India (or even India for that matter). The kit (it's Japanese Craft Kit) used a fusible stabilizer which is a thicker version of what we called "pasting" in here.  That is a thin lightweight nonwoven fusible interfacing. So I tried using our own desi interfacing and it worked like a charm. Yay! I remake the pattern on my computer based on the original size and print it on the interfacing. I cut the interfacing slightly smaller than the A4 size paper, fuse it lightly on the paper and run it through the printer, et voila! No more tracing pattern one by one !! (it's the same method I used for this DIY Printed Label)

 I didn't really follow the pattern instructions. What I did as cutting a strip of fabrics that will be used and do it like quilt as you go method. 

First, lay the 1st piece of fabrics on the glue side of the interfacing, right sigh up. 

Then place Fabric No. 2 on top of fabric No.1 right side together matching the seam. Make sure that when you flip the fabric (no.2), it will cover the triangle no. 2 plus around 1/4" seam allowance. 

Flip it to the reverse side, pin and sew on the line 

Like this

Now open fabric no. 2 away from the seam and finger press. 

Trim fabric No. 2 so that it has 1/4" seam allowance. 

Continue in the same manner until you cover the template. Don't be discouraged when it looks ugly ^v^.

Because after you trim the excess fabrics you will get this pretty little blocks.

Reverse Side After trimming

Aren't they cute?

Front View

I almost proud of my self (well, I do actually) to be able to complete this. Paper Piecing is something that I always feel it's difficult and a lot of work. Especially if I have to trace the pattern one by one. 

After an hour here what I got!

Blocks size : 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" after trimming

After lunch and a quick nap, I started working on the pouch. I decided to do hand quilting. Hand quilting is one thing that I always want to do. I realized with the right batting, hand quilting is so easy to do. And if you have your fave Korean drama on, it's the better. It's like killing 2 birds with one stone. LOL. 

Hand Quilting with Gutterman Cotton Thread

I didn't tear off the interfacing since I am making a pouch and I love a slightly structured pouch, so the interfacing will work out great. I just needed to add the batting. 

Front Side 

I used Sevenberry fabric for the back of the pouch. Isn't that lovely? I picked up the fabric during my visit to Indonesia last year. 

Sometimes, we have to face our fears and just do it. Sometimes things look difficult and complicated until you actually do it.

So, what are you making this week? 

Until then,

Happy Sewing, 

Linky Party:

Handmade Monday

Bagmaker Tuesday

Finish it up Friday

Celebrating Independence Day

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

This is the way quilters celebrating Independence Day. And in my case, I have 2 Independence Day to celebrate, India and Indonesia. 

We at Desi Quilters are having August Challenge with the rules: (1)  Make a mini not bigger than 12"x12", using pieces not bigger than 1.5" finished (2) Colours to be used - saffron, white and green ONLY..Yes, the Indian Flag colours.

I was in the middle of busy Ramadan, but I just can't stay away from my sewing machine especially when I have this lovely block to try which I think will be perfect for the challenge. Yes, it's Great Granny from Bee in My Bonnet

So here's my entry for the August Challenge:

6.5" squares Coaster 

and the second one, today 17th August  is Indonesia's Independence Day. To celebrate it, today I first attempted making this coaster using foundation piecing. Which is TOUGH!! But I made it, though it's not as neat as I'd like it to be. The finish size is 4.5" squares. I should have tried something bigger than that -,-. 

So, here's the Red and White (Indonesian Flag colors) coaster:

Until then...Happy Quilting ^_^