Are you on Pinterest?

I resisted the idea of Pinterest for a long time.  I thought it would be just another time sink for me.  Another way to spend lots of time looking at wonderful images and not making wonderful things.  If you aren't familiar with Pinterest, it is a space for you to keep virtual bulletin boards full of images you love.  You can also view images of things other people have pinned to their bulletin boards.

I joined a few weeks ago and, so far, I really like it!  The best part is the ability to grab a picture from anywhere on the internet and pin it to one of your boards.  I've got Favorites on Etsy, Favorites on Flickr and I can Like things on Facebook, but I can put them all together on Pinterest.

Cinque Terre, Italy

I decided to limit my boards to my quilt and fabric addiction, plus a few quotes and some architecture and home dec ideas.  I am avoiding the travel and clothes categories in my pinning.  I could pin gorgeous travel destinations all day!  Same with beautiful clothes and jewelry.  But, maybe not.  Here's the thing I didn't anticipate:  because there are SO many amazing images, I can only spend a relatively small amount of time looking at everyone's pins before I get stimulation/inspiration overload.  In general, I am only spending about 20  to 30 minutes a day looking at other people's pins.

To join Pinterest, you must be invited.  You can go to the site and request an invitation or one of your friends can invite you (not exactly sure how that works yet).  It took three or four days after I requested an invitation  before I got the OK to go ahead and join.

If you'd like to follow me on Pinterest, click here or in my right sidebar.  Follow me on Flickr here and Facebook here.  (My Esch House Quilts email signature is getting ridiculously long :)).

So, what do you think about Pinterest?

Working small and irons

Here is where all the trimmings from the last post came from.  These little guys are 2" squares which, of course, means they finish at 1 1/2".  That is quite small for me.  Especially as there are sixteen of them in one block.  Lots of seams.

I'm having a bit of trouble getting them to press flat.  My iron starting leaking water like a tap a few weeks ago, so I have been using it dry and using a spray bottle to add a little "steam".  It isn't working quite as well as the steam did.  I added a bit of starch yesterday and that seemed to help a little more.

I may have to get used to the idea that buying a new iron every six months or so is just part of being such a constant quilter.  The directions for this one said to empty the water out of it every time you finish using it.  As someone who uses an iron every day, sometimes for multiple sessions a day, that is just not going to happen.  It reminds me of when I was looking online for a new ironing board cover.  They rated the covers from light use to heavy use based on how many times a month you iron.  Their idea of heavy use was 8 times a month.  Ha ha!

Someone on an email list I belong to suggested a gravity fed iron.  I hadn't heard of those.  Apparently they have a separate water tank so water is never stored in the iron.  Something to consider for next time...

Trimmings

Trimming blocks is not my favorite part of quilting, but the results are worth it!

Time to get serious...

about the two other swaps I'm participating in.  Their ship dates are March 10 and 12.  My partner in The Pillow Talk Swap 7 has been fairly quiet, but she likes deep colors and her mosaic features some intricate piecing.  I'm thinking about using some of these fabrics  in this design:

I don't usually work with pieces this small, so I'm looking forward to the challenge of putting this together.  I hope my uneven accuracy is up to it!  If you have memorized all my patterns or are super observant :), you might notice that this design is the same as my Urban Trail quilt.  Urban Trail finishes at 86" x 90" and this pillow will be 20" square.  I've been interested in making a smaller version of this quilt for a long time, although I didn't really plan to do it this small!  I hope she likes it!



The second swap is the For The Love of Solids 2.  Lots of people in that swap are making sewing machine covers for their partners and I'm thinking of doing that too.  Here are the fabrics I'm thinking of for this one.









The sketch I "drew" out features plus blocks, but I haven't made a final decision if that is the way I'm going.  This design would look cool with stars too and Jacquie's post yesterday had me thinking about hexagons.  (But I think trying something new on a gift for someone else is probably not a good idea).  I added the two aqua fabrics to the stack after I drew the sketch, so they aren't shown, but I think they'll make a nice addition to the mix.  What do you think?  Plus blocks?  Stars?  Hexagons?

(My apologies in advance if the pictures are in weird places in this post - Blogger is being even more stubborn than usual and not letting me put them where I want!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I got the best valentine this year!  I joined the Generation Q magazine Valentine's Swap.  My partner, Christen of love-elaine, sent me this adorable mug rug.  I love the rich contrast of the grey and the lovely reds.  And doesn't that sucker look tasty?  Check out Christen's shop - lots of cute stuff there!

This is the Valentine I sent Christen.  I went with a Valentine's Day card idea.  The heart balloons are the front and the print is on the back.

Did you make anything special for Valentine's Day?

And Now: The "Kiss" Pillow!

Just in time for Valentine's Day or whenever someone you know could use a lift.

As in the "Hug" pillow, I used four reds and four creams for my pillow.  Maybe it is the unseasonably warm winter we've had so far, but I felt like a lighter, springier look than with the "Hug".

The "Kiss" block finishes at 12" and the pillow at 16".  This is such a great scrap busting block, I'd love to see a whole quilt of them with lights and darks in place of the reds and creams.  Or what about a quilt combining the hugs and kisses!

If you make a pillow or a quilt, please add it to my Flickr group.  Have fun!
I'm linking up with Amanda Jean's Finish it Up Friday.

Finished size:  16" pillow

Block size:  12"

Fabric requirements:

Cream:
8 2 1/2" squares,
8 3" squares,
2 strips 2 1/2" x 12 1/2",
2 strips 2 1/2" x 16 1/2".

Red:
8 3" squares,
12 2 1/2" squares

Batting, lining, and backing:  16 1/2" square

16" zipper

Construction Steps:

This is an easy pillow to put together.  Just 16 half square triangle blocks, 20 squares and four "border" strips.  Let's get started!

Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the 3" cream squares.

Place each square right sides together with a red 3" square.

Sew 1/4" away from the drawn line on each side of the line.  Chain piecing these makes this go very quickly.

Press.  Cut along the line.  I use scissors at this point since you are cutting the seam allowance and it does not need to be an exact 1/4".

Press the block open.  I usually press toward the darker fabric.

Lining your ruler up along the seam, trim the blocks to 2 1/2" square.

Layout the blocks according to the picture and sew the blocks into rows, alternating the pressing direction of your seams.

Sew the rows together.  The "X" block should measure 12 1/2".

Sew the cream 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips to the top and bottom of the block.

Sew the cream 2 1/2" x 16 1/2" strips to the sides of the block to complete the pillow top.

Layer the pillow top with the batting and lining and quilt as desired.  My pillow is quilted with a red "X" through the middle of the "X".  I quilted double triangles in the spaces around the "X" and one line of quilting in a square around the border.

Using a 1/2" seam, insert the zipper in the bottom of the pillow using your favorite method.  Lining up the raw edges of the backing and pillow front, sew the remaining three sides using a 1/2" seam.

Turn the pillow cover right side out, insert the pillow form and enjoy giving someone a "kiss"!

WIP Wednesday - Kiss Pillow

I'm working on my "Kiss" pillow tutorial to go with yesterday's "Hug" pillow tutorial.  Yesterday's pillow included very dark, rich reds and bright whites - tone on tone fabrics that read just about solid.  I considered using the same or similar fabrics for the kiss pillow so they would be a set, but I was really feeling like trying out a slightly less intense look.

My stack of Sweetwater's Reunion fat quarters is sitting right next to my cutting mat patiently waiting for me to get to them.  Reunion has some great reds, so I cut a strip off four of the red fat quarters.  Then I decided to dip into my stash of text fabrics for the creams.  I've been hoarding these fabrics for years and I have a tendency not to use them because I love them so much.  I know that sounds silly, but I bet you understand :)

The Kiss pillow tutorial will be up on Friday.  I'm linking up to Lee's WIP Wednesday.  Are you tackling any of your WIPs today?

Presenting: the "HUG" pillow!

Just in time for Valentine's Day or whenever someone you know could use a hug.

This is a great scrap project.  I used four different reds and four different whites in mine, but you could use even more if you like.

The hug block finishes at 12" and the pillow at 16".  Thinking beyond Valentine's Day and red and white, wouldn't this block make a darling baby quilt in softer colors or a fun, bright quilt for an older child or teen?

If you make a pillow or a quilt, please add it to my Flickr group.  Have fun!

(Note:  My apologies for an error in the cutting information in my last post.  I listed 8 white 2 1/2" squares when it should have been 4 white 2 5/8" squares.)

Finished size:  16" pillow

Block size:  12"

Fabric requirements:

Red:
8 3 1/2" squares,
8 2"x3" pieces,
2 strips 2 1/2" x 12 1/2",
2 strips 2 1/2" x 16 1/2".

White:
8 3 1/2" squares,
4 2 5/8" squares, (the pillow in the picture has these squares cut at 2 1/2", so if you cut yours at 2 5/8", your A units will match up with the B and C units better than mine did)
8 3"x4" pieces.

Batting, lining, and backing:  16 1/2" square

16" zipper

Construction Steps:

There are four different units that make up this "hug" block.  A is the half square triangle in the corner unit.  B is the wedge on the left unit.  C is the wedge on the right unit and D is the double wedge unit.  The complete block requires four of each unit.

Unit A:  Draw a line from corner to corner on the wrong side of a 2 5/8" white square.  Line the square up with one of the corners of a red 3 1/2" square.  Sew on the drawn line.

Leaving a quarter inch seam allowance, trim the excess.  Press the white triangle open to make a 3 1/2"  unit.

Unit B:  On the wrong side of a white 3 1/2" square make a dot 1 1/4" to the right of the upper left corner and one 2 1/4" below the upper left corner.  Draw a line connecting the dots. 

Matching upper left corners, place a red 2" x 3" piece right sides together and sew along the drawn line. 

Trim the excess between the corner and the seam and press the red piece open.  Trim away the excess red to make a 3 1/2" unit.

Unit C:  This unit is made the same as Unit B except make the marks measuring from the upper right corner.  Match upper right corners and sew on the drawn line.  Complete as Unit B.

Unit D:  On the wrong side of a red 3 1/2" square, make a mark 1/8" to the right of the upper left corner and 1/8" above the lower right corner.  Make two more marks 1 3/4" to the right and above the lower left corner.  Connect the marks with the ones on the opposite side of the square. 

Place a white 3" x 4" piece, right sides together with the red square and matching the lower left corner and left edge.  This will leave some of the white poking above the top of the red square.  Sew on the drawn line. 

Trim away the excess.  Press open and trim unit to 3 1/2" square.

To add the second wedge, turn the unit back over and extend the line drawn on the red square onto the white section. 

 

Place a white 3" x 4" piece right sides together with the new unit, aligning the lower right corners and the right sides.  Sew on the drawn line. 

Trim away the excess.  Press the wedge open to make a 3 1/2" unit.

Layout the units according to the diagram:

ABCA

CDDB

BDDC

ACBA

Sew together in rows, pressing seams in alternating directions.

Sew rows together.  The block should measure 12 1/2".

Sew the red 2 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips to the top and bottom of the block.

Sew the red 2 1/2" x 16 1/2" strips to the sides of the block to complete the pillow top.

Layer the pillow top with the batting and lining and quilt as desired.  My pillow is quilted in rough circle shapes about 1" apart using red thread in the red parts and white thread in the white areas.

Using a 1/2" seam, insert the zipper in the bottom of the pillow using your favorite method.  Lining up the raw edges of the backing and pillow front, sew the remaining three sides using a 1/2" seam.

Turn the pillow cover right side out, insert the pillow form and give someone a hug!

(Edited to add:  linking to Connie's linky party here)

"Hug" Pillow

Wanna make a "hug" pillow for Valentine's Day?  Tutorial available on Tuesday.  No paper piecing required.

There will be red strips around the "hug" to make it float.



If you want to start gathering scraps and cutting, you'll need:
RED:
8 3 1/2" squares,
8 2"x3" pieces,
2 strips 2 1/2" x 12 1/2",
2 strips 2 1/2" x 16 1/2".

WHITE:
8 3 1/2" squares,
8 2 1/2" squares,
8 3"x4" pieces.

Plus batting, lining, and backing for a 16" pillow.

A "kiss" pillow tutorial to go with your "hug" available by the end of the week too.