Patchiqué Blocks 45 and 70

The weather here in England has been glorious and I’ve been out and about cycling around the country.  But there has still been time to continue with my Patchiqué project.

Just like the last days of summer, my Patchique trail is also coming to an end and I find myself on the home-straight as I complete another two blocks.  Want to see the proposed layout for the whole quilt?  Of course you do.

Patchique Quilt Layout
(the blank squares are the last eight still to be completed)

 

This week I added patchwork block 45 ‘Komochi kume igeta’ (translated as ‘grouped well-curb whirlpool’). 

Block 45 from Japanese Taupe Quilts

The notes I've added to my book read “very easy – very nice”.  This block was a delight to make as it went together really easily. 

Patchique Block 45 - Patchsmith Style 

The block includes a part seam in the middle but this was simple to do as the book has clear instructions.  (One of the high points on this trail has been the piecing diagrams in the book – follow them exactly and all will be well.)

However, the appliqué block 70 ‘Shikishi’ (translated to ‘calligraphy cards’) didn't work out quite so well. 

Block 70 from Japanese Taupe Quilts

All appeared to be going well until I photographed my finished block and I noticed one of my little squares was out-of-alignment (bottom right-hand corner).  Do I redo it?  Do I heck as like (translated as ‘not a chance’).   

Patchique Block 70 - Patchsmith Style 

When placing your squares make sure that one whole side of the smaller square is covered completely by the larger square to its left (look at the placement diagram and you will understand what I mean).  The notes added to the book for this block, even before I noticed my mistake, read “boring - add stitching to central star”. 

Only eight more blocks to go which should take me to the end of October. Next fortnight will be the turn of Blocks 13 and 93. 

Sew until then ......

Origami Fabric Butterflies from Across the Pond

Summer is drawing to a close and with it comes the end of the sights and sounds of summer.  But never fear - there is a way to keep hold of the beauty of summer all year round with this month's Across the Pond sew-along project – fabric origami butterflies. 

 

Creating these beautiful insects is very simple - all it requires is a couple of pieces of fabric, some folding and pressing and a few stitches to help the butterfly keep its shape.

 

I used the paper origami tutorial by Ralph Matthews.   

Large and Small Butterfly

Start with two fabric rectangles per butterfly.  For the large butterfly I cut two 6½” x 5” rectangles and for the smaller butterfly the rectangles measured 4½” x 3½”. 

With right sides together stitch the two rectangles together using a ¼” seam but leave a small gap in the middle of one of the long seams for turning.  Clip the corners and turn the rectangle right-side-out.  (A chopstick is very good for pushing the corners out.) You can either slip-stitch the opening closed or do as I have done and topstitch all the way around the rectangle, close to the edge.  Press.

From hereon it is simple – follow the origami instructions and press as you go along.  Once your butterfly is complete, stitch the wings together along the centre as indicated by the arrow:

A couple of stitches in the underside of the wings will help
the butterfly hold its shape



I added two short lengths of knotted ribbon to mimic antennae, stitching them in place with a couple of stitches. 

These colourful fabric embellishments are so much fun and they can be used in so many ways.  Pop over to Susie’s Sunroom to see how she used her butterflies and then pop over to Amy made That to see her stylish turquoise butterfly and some colourful butterfly projects. 

What did I do with mine?    The little one is a book-mark fitting neatly onto the corner of my current notebook ..... 

Butterfly Bookmark

... whilst the larger butterfly seems more at home amongst the flowers, as a plant stick.  This was easily achieved by inserting the blunt end of a cane skewer into the fold of the butterfly and stitching it in place.    (I am thinking this would make a lovely gift - especially if accompanied by a Butterfly Patch mug rug.)

Butterfly Plant Stick

You could even pop one into the corner pocket of my Butterfly Pocket Mug Rug:

Butterfly Pocket Mug Rug Pattern

Until next time ...... 

10 Quilty Little Secrets from the Patchsmith

Check out all those Quilty Secrets

1.         I keep all scraps that are 1” square or bigger – yep, really!

2.         I often use ‘sew’ for ‘so’ at the end of my blog (for all you dislikers-of-sew-and-so - you have been warned).

3.         I get bored really quickly which is why I make small mug rug patterns.

4.         I press 4oz batting with a clean cloth and a hot iron to make it as thin as 2oz batting!

5.        I find it difficult to part with a quilt once made – they are like my babies.   And what type of a person gives their baby away?

6.         I press my seams to the side, up, down, open and anyway they’ll go – on the basis that they wont be seen!

7.         I don’t like perfection.  I like to see a mismatched seam or two, wonky binding and uneven stitching.  I call is ‘rustic’ and ‘homemade’.  I don’t want a mass-produced look to my creations.

8.         I get bored sewing squares onto corners to make triangle corners.  One or two, now and again is okay but for a whole bed-sized quilt – I think not!

9.         I don’t even know the name of most of the sewing thread I use – Aurifil, Moon, Coats, whatever.  And not all of it is cotton – some of it is polyester.

10.       I have been known to cut up a WIP for fabric scraps rather than finish it!   

 
Sew there you have it (I did warn you – see no. 2 above).