2014 Vintage Block Challenge

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2014 Vintage Block Challenge Update!

Many of you joined the Vintage Block Challenge back in April.  I am extending the end date of our challenge so that everyone can finish up their projects. If any brave souls want to join in September, they can!  The new date for completion is the business meeting on October 14th.  For this challenge, we provide(d) you with a vintage quilt block which you will transform into your own piece of work.  Of course there are rules!  Please see the attachment for details.  I will be at the September Business meeting to answer any questions and provide challenge blocks for any fast-working inspired quilters! 

Tammy Mannarino

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2014 Vintage Block Challenge Rules

 The Challenge starts today, April 8, 2014 and ends at the first business meeting in October.

·        Quilters may start late (as long as blocks remain).

·        If you decide not to complete the challenge,  your block must be returned as soon as possible, so that others may participate.

·        Each participant will receive one vintage block.

·        This block must be used in its entirety on the front of the quilt, but the block does NOT have to remain intact.

·        It would be helpful if participants would take a photo of their block before beginning on the project (for before and after comparison).

·        The finished quilt may be any size as long as it is within the limits for our Quilt Show

·        Participants are highly encouraged to display their completed quilts in the 2015 QU Show.

·        Participants should provide their name and e-mail address in order to receive reminders and/or rule clarifications.

·        Please address any questions to Tammy Mannarino

MVQU 2013 Challenge

   Use ‘Em Up Challenge                          PRINT

This challenge will be a “Strip of the Month” challenge.  Each month at the business meeting a requirement for that month will be announced.  There will be five months’ worth of strips, ending at the June Luncheon.  The finished product will be shown at the first business meeting in September.  The kicker is you can’t go buy fabric for this project!  You can, of course, beg or borrow from a friend.

Here’s how it works:

     Step 1 - You decide the size quilt you want to make – crib, lap, Quilt of Valor, twin, double, queen, king or any size in between.  That decides how wide your strips should be.  You also decide how long you want it to be.  You divide that by five months’ worth of strips and that’s the other dimension of the quilt.  However, the strips don’t need to be the same depth; you can make some thin and some fat or any combination.

     Step 2 – Each month there will be a requirement of what you can use in the strip – for example, perhaps you must use at least one rectangle in your strip.  You make your strip the width and depth you’ve decided upon.  For example, say you’ve chosen to make a lap size quilt that’s 45” x 60”.  Your strips will be about 45” across.  If you want all the strips the same depth, then you’d divide 60 by 5 and make all the strips 12”

     Step 3 – At the end of the challenge you buy fabric for a border and back.

If you have questions - contact Pat Alfredson or Mary Mazzuchi

First Element announced at the February 2013 Business Meeting is a square.  Your strip must have a square or squares as part of the strip.  An example can be seen in the March 2013 Newsletter.

Final Clue MVQU Mystery Quilt 2012-2013

Mystery Quilt 2013 Parts 4 & 5

Mystery Quilt Step 4 & 5

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Mystery Quilt Part 2

 *PRINT*  Instructions

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MVQU Mystery Quilt 2012 – Part 1

Fabric

The fabric requirements are generous, to allow for uneven cuts, shrinkage and mistakes and because most quilters would rather have a bit too much fabric than not enough!  Use 44"-wide fabric (at least 42 usable inches after preshrinking).

You'll need

·         1 1/4 yards DARK fabric. This fabric is for the primary design element in the quilt. Choose a solid in a color that you love, or a beautiful, dark, non-directional print.

·         3/4 yard MEDIUM (or dark-medium) fabric. This fabric is for the secondary design element in the quilt. Choose a solid or a small to medium-scale tone-on-tone print. A directional - even a low key plaid or stripe--would work fine here.

·         2 yards LIGHT fabric, for background and borders. This fabric will be joined to itself occasionally; if you use a print, try something in a soft, swirly allover pattern that will help disguise the seams.  Consider a subtle multicolored print that picks up the other colors in the quilt.

Both the DARK and MEDIUM fabrics must contrast well with the LIGHT background fabric. Make sure you'll be able to see a "line" where the DARK and LIGHT and the MEDIUM and LIGHT fabrics join.

Fabric requirements include fabric for borders for and for 3/8" (finished) double-fold binding.

The shaded boxes below are keyed to the drawings that will appear in the sewing steps. Cut a snip from each of your fabrics and tape or glue the snip near the appropriate shaded box. You'll find this reference guide helpful as you proceed through the step-by-step instructions for the quilt.

                          

Light

Medium

Dark

                                                                                 

The quilt finishes 45.5 x 59.5

IMPORTANT TEST YOUR 1/4" SEAM ALLOWANCE BEFORE YOU START CONSTRUCTING YOUR QUILT!

1. From scraps, cut three strips, EXACTLY 2" wide and about 6" long. Join the strips along the long edge making a strip set. Press seams to one side.

2. Measure the center strip. It should measure EXACTLY 1-1/2" wide.  If it does not, adjust your needle position or seam guide and try again.

Cutting-A Patchwork Puzzle

Read through all of the instructions before you begin. All cutting dimensions include 1/4" seams.

Half-square triangles are cut from squares by cutting diagonally once from corner to corner

Quarter-square triangles are cut from squares by cutting diagonally twice from corner to corner

From the DARK fabric:

·         Cut 2 selvage-to-selvage strips, 4" wide:  From these strips, cut a total of 17 squares, 4" x 4".

·         Cut 5 selvage-to-selvage strips, 2-5/8" wide. From these strips, cut a total of 68 squares, 2-5/8" x 2-5/8".  Cut the squares once diagonally to make 136 half-square triangles.

·         Reserve the remaining fabric for binding.

From the MEDIUM fabric:

·         Cut 1 selvage-to-selvage strip, 5-3/4" wide.  From this strip, cut 4 squares, 5-3/4" x 5-3/4".

·         Cut 2 selvage-to-selvage strips, 4" wide.

·         Cut 4 selvage-to-selvage strips, 2-1/4" wide.

From the LIGHT fabric:

·         Cut 2 selvage-to-selvage strips, 4" wide.

·         Cut 4 selvage-to-selvage strips, 2-1/4" wide.

   From the LENGTH of the remaining LIGHT fabric:

·         Cut 4 strips, 5-3/4" wide x about 55" long, for borders.

   From the WIDTH of the remaining piece of LIGHT fabric, which will be about 19" X 55":

·         Cut 6 strips, 4-3/4" wide x about 19" long.  From these strips, cut a total of 17 squares, 4-3/4"x 4-3/4".  Cut the squares TWICE diagonally to make 68 quarter-square triangles.

·         Cut 10 strips, 2-1/4" wide x about 19" long.  From these strips, cut a total of 68 squares, 2-1/4" x 2-1/4".

Disappearing 4- Patch

The Disappearing 4-Patch or 4 to 9-Patch starts with a 4-patch block with good contrast in colors or shades and tones. The one below was made with 5-inch squares and it will finish to an 8.5-inch block from raw edge to raw edge if accurate scant 1/4-inch seams are used.

Next, make 4 cuts without moving the block or the cut pieces. Use a small mat so you can turn the block without disturbing it. Using the center seams as the reference point, measure out 1 inch and make a cut (1 ½ inches looks good too); then make a cut on the other side of the seam. Rotate and repeat, measuring 1 inch from the center seam for each cut.

Next, rotate only the center outside sections 180 degrees as shown in the photo below.

Sew the sections together as shown in the next two photos to complete the block.

There you have your new 9-patch block. You can vary the look by the width of the cut. This block makes a great charity quilt because it is fast to sew and looks complicated..

UFO Swap on December 13, 2011

What a fun time this was.

We had nine members scour through their UFO projects and find just the right one to bring to the December luncheon. One member even brought 2 UFOs. Some were more done than others. Some were discarded because they found that paper piecing was not for them; others had made the same pattern too many times before and just could not face that same pattern again.

We can hardly wait to see what imaginative ways the UFO's are completed later in 2012.

Here are some pictures that show the exchange.

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OHIO STAR Pattern with White Star

When completed,

this block should measure 12 1/2" X 12 1/2"



Cutting Chart for One Ohio Star Quilt Block with WHITE STAR

White Fabric (Reads as a Solid)

Cut one 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" square for block center
Cut two 5-1/4" x 5-1/4" squares to make quarter-square triangle units

Blue Fabric (Reads as a Solid)

Cut four 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" squares for block corners
Cut two 5-1/4" x 5-1/4" squares to make quarter-square triangle units



To MAKE BASIC QUARTER-SQUARE TRIANGLE UNITS from HALF SQUARE UNITS© Janet Wickell

Choose a finished size for your quarter-square triangle units. Add 1-1/4" to the finished dimension and cut two contrasting squares with sides of that size.

Place white and blue fabrics (5 1/4" squares) right sides together, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the fabric and sew together with two seams placed 1/4" from each side of the drawn line, cut apart on the diagonal line and press to create two half-square triangle units.

Turn one half-square triangle unit to its reverse side and draw a diagonal line from one corner to another, placing it perpendicular to the seam. Position the two triangle-square units right sides together, with contrasting triangles facing each other. Align patch edges carefully. Sew together with two seams placed 1/4" from each side of the drawn line, the same method used to create the parent units. Cut the squares apart on the line, press units open and trim away triangular nubs at the ends of the seam allowances.

You now have two basic quarter-square triangle units.

To Assemble the Ohio Star Quilt Block
Make 4 basic quarter-square triangle units as noted above.
When you're finished, each completed quarter-square triangle unit should
measure 4-1/2" x 4-1/2".

Arrange the plain squares and the quarter-square triangle units into three rows, taking care to orient the triangle tips as shown above.

Sew the components of each row together. Press seam allowances towards the plain squares unless you feel the color shows through too much.

Sew the three rows together to complete the block, butting seams and matching patch edges. Press.

Your completed Ohio Star quilt block should measure 12-1/2" x 12-1/2". If your block is smaller than it should be, or skewed, press again and recheck.




Instructions can also be found at http://www.quilterscache.com/O/OhioStarBlock.html .

Note that these instructions do not use the quarter square triangle unit.

Walk on Wild Side Summer Challenge 2011

Walk on the Wild Side --Our Summer Challenge
What a treat it was to see all the different interpretations of Walk on the Wild Side. For those of you who missed the meeting, I hope you enjoy seeing the projects here in the pictures as much as we enjoyed the unveiling of the projects at the meeting.

First, Mary Downey made a market bag using the challenge fabric as the pockets.

Lynn Eccleston made "Leo Sneaks Around" The quilt was adapted from a pattern entitled "Jungle Walk" published by Harebrained Happening's Company.

Sierra Smith named her quilt "Walk on the Wild Side with Kate Spade". She was inspired by her daughter's obsession with designer Kate Spade. Cute shoes.

Ruth Morgan made a runner for her patio table.

Barbara Zygiel made a "Tiger Pincushion."

The challenge fabric just fit the bill for Kathy Zahaczewsky's "Wildflowers" quilt.

Kay Brill's Wild Side was made from a pattern for the birds by Debbie Mumm.

Ro Coller's "Wild Safari" Ro had the small stuffed jungle animals for a long time. So when the "Walk on the Wild Side" challenge came along, inspiration finally hit.

Libby Dudley name her quilt "The Old Nut Tree" which she embellished with metal nuts found while walking in various cities around the United States and abroad.

Angie Miller is shown here with her "Wild Side Trivet." The challenge fabric is in the center of a pieced STAR block. Her trivet which includes aromatic oils will set the mood for a special evening meal! Note that Angie entire ensemble --including shoes-- was coordinated for the challenge.

Kathy Edwards named her quilt "Tiger Eyes" . Kathy applied what she learned in a recent class by hand painting the background. She used stencils to paint the bamboo leaves. She made foam stamps from "Cracker Jack" prize lizards and snakes and stamped them across the background. She also drew some tiger eyes and transferred them to an eraser that she carved into a rubber stamp used to make the tiger eyes. All these methods, and more, were learned in "Playing With Paint Class" with Lyric Kinard at Quiltuniversity.com.

Mary Mazzuchi named her quilt --"The Wild Ones" which was made from scraps that she had.

Jim Melton made cowboy quilt

Bull's Eye 2013 Raffle Quilt Instructions

6 ½” BLOCKS FOR THE 2013 QU RAFFLE QUILT

MAKES 2 ----6 ½ inch blocks unfinished

Materials: PREWASHED BATIK

1 light batik and 1 dark batik of complementary colors.

Cutting:
From Dark Batik cut: 3—2 ½” squares
2 – 2 ½ “ X 6 ½ “ strips

From Light Batik cut: 3 – 2 ½ “ squares
2 - 2 ½ “ X 6 ½ “ strips

Piecing:
Each block will have a contrasting center (e.g. the light block will have a dark center & the dark block will have a light center)

1. Take the light square and piece it between 2 dark squares. This should result in a 2 ½” X 6 ½ “ strip that looks like this:


Dark Light Dark

2. Piece a dark strip on both sides of the pieced strip you created in step one. It should measure 6 1/2 " square and look like this:








3. Repeat the above steps for the light block switching the lights and darks.

Light Dark Light

and the finished block should measure 6 1/2" square and look like this:



PAT ALFREDSON IS COLLECTING THE BLOCKS

Monthly Fabric Exchange

Monthly Fabric Exchange

Want to increase your fabric stash? We are having a nickel fabric exchange starting in September. The way it works is this.

At the 2nd Tuesday (business meeting) each month (except December) we will have a sign-up sheet. You must sign up to participate in each exchange. Each month will be a different exchange and will have a different theme, i.e., batiks, black & white, etc. so you must sign up each month for the number of sets you wish to exchange. If you can’t be at the meeting to sign up either e-mail or call Pat Alfredson or Mary Mazzuchi before the day of the meeting; you will need to be signed up in advance to be included in the count.

A set is “X” number of 5 inch blocks in the current month theme. “X” is the number of blocks needed to cover the total number of sets signed up for. For example, if 15 people signed up for the exchange, you need to bring 15 blocks to participate. If you want to make more than one set, sign up for each set of different fabric, i.e., if you want to submit 3 sets sign up 3 times.

The total number of blocks needed for each set for the current exchange will be announced at the end of the business meeting after everyone who wants to participate has signed up. You can turn your 5” blocks into either Pat Alfredson or Mary Mazzuchi at or prior to the 4th Tuesday (program meeting) in the same month. Each set of blocks should be in a plastic bag with your name on the outside.

The blocks will be collected no later than the 4th Tuesday meeting and Pat and Mary will divide them up placing your new set containing one of each of the blocks turned in, in your plastic bag(s) and return them to you either at a bee or at the next business meeting.

The sign up dates for 2011 are:

September 13 – Solids or fabrics that read like a solid in Autumn colors

October 11 - Solids or fabrics that read like a solid in red or green or gold

November 8 – Batiks

Themes and dates for 2012 will be announced later. Please be sure to wash and iron your fabric and cut into accurate 5” squares.

Pat Alfredson 703 416 2718 pat.alfredson@verizon.net

Mary Mazzuchi 703 960 0569 Mazzuchimw@aol.com

Mt Vernon Summer Challenge - 2011

Want something to do over the summer? We have just the thing; join us in the Mt Vernon Summer Challenge – Walk on the Wild Side. Take the 8 inch piece of material provided and use it in your summer project. The material will be provided starting on May 24, 2011 and will be available at meetings, bees and at the June luncheon.

The rules are simple:

• Use as much or as little of the material provided as you desire in your project. Just be sure the material can be recognized (without a magnifying glass).
• The size of your project must not exceed 100 inches in circumference. You are free to use your imagination on the shape and purpose for your project.
• If there are squares remaining by mid –July and you need extra we will distribute remaining squares on a first come first serve basis.

Let your wild side out and have fun!

The completed projects are due at the business meeting in October. Any questions please contact Pat Alfredson or Mary Mazzuchi

2010-2011 Challenge Quilts

The great reveal of the challenge quilts lived up to all expectations. MVQU members showed their ingenuity as well as their quilting talents. The only disappointment was that so few members participated.


Suzanne Shaw's challenge quilt is entitled “Time to move your body.” It is a photo display of varies activities she loves to do with family and friends. She has a photos of her 12 person Ragnar relay team, she and her son skiing and herself running in a marathon, sailing with her husband, and with her sister volunteering at a 5k event which they also participated in. Suzanne used many novelty prints and the 2 clock hands became ski poles.


Kathy Z created her "Christmas Time" which included redwork blocks featuring Christmas songs that included measures of time.


This quilt created by Diane Tippins consists of 12 strips of fabric in the center which represent 12 stages of her life.

Dottie Eisenhour's quilt "Anytime is a Good Time for Kaffe" was created with Kaffe fabrics.

Sierra Smith brought her creation "Time Flies" which she made it to hold her husband's airplane pins.
Libby introduced us to the "Techno Goth Time Traveler." The quilt shows Techno Goth butterfly blasting back from 2010 to meet his great grandmama in 1950.


Angie Miller called her entry "Divine Sunshine" for her daughter Deanna, who just knew the guidelines were meant for her. 12 Hour Glass blocks surround appliqued Roman Numerals for her birthdate Dec 12, 2012 when she will turn 24. The sun and moon represent her name and time of birth with clock hands set at 11:09pm. They designed the quilt top together and Angie wrote the poem (below)
Barbara Dove created the "Biological Clock". The rabbit, clock with children's faces, and hands approaching midnight symbolize a biological clock.

Beth Smith exhibited her "Time is Running Out." The quilt was designed, made, and quilted by Beth.