Guest Blog Post by Danielle @the.reds.quiltco all about her Heatwave Quilt

Guest Blog post by Danielle of @the.reds.quiltco

When Jemima reached out to me about testing her Heatwave Quilt pattern, I knew that I wanted to use a variety of prints and solids in the same colour family. Blue is my absolute favourite colour of fabric to work with so it was an obvious choice! I knew I would have a good variety of blues to choose from in my stash and they also played well on the wave design of the pattern. 

I gathered about 10-12 potential fabrics and then narrowed them down from there to the seven that I used for my quilt top. A last minute additional pop of navy polkadot for the binding made for eight blue fabrics in total. I wanted to add variety to the texture of the fabric as well, so my final pull was made up of quilting cottons, chambray and even a muslin print that tied the light and dark blues in the quilt together. 

Making the Heatwave Quilt pattern was the first time I had ever used a triangle template to cut out my fabrics. I really had no idea how using a template would compare to the regular cutting process but I was so pleasantly surprised! With each fabric starting out as strips then getting cut down into the exact same size triangle, I couldn’t believe how quickly the cutting went. Plus, it was a welcome change for me from cutting rectangles and squares!

Quilt top construction is pieced rows that eventually join together to make the full design. My design wall wasn’t big enough to hold the full layout for the quilt so I just kept my fabrics organized in stacks on my cutting table and pulled from them one row at a time. I sewed and pressed each completed row fully before moving onto the next one and was able to stay really organized throughout row construction. I also made sure to take the extra time to pin each set of rows before sewing them together. I don’t always have the patience for pins but to ensure that the rows all met up perfectly and the wave design finished in crisp, solid sections, it was well worth the time spent.

Once the top was finished, I chose to do 3/4 inch straight-line quilting on the diagonal to mimic the angles of the wave design. I wanted the quilting to add a lot of texture and eventual crinkle, while not distracting from the bold lines of the design itself. I chose a white thread that stood out in some sections and blended in for others, depending on the fabric colour it landed on. I backed it in a warm cozy flannel because I live in Canada and the winters can be long here! Happy to report that my Heatwave Quilt is currently the most fought over one in our living room - so I’d say it was a very successful project!

Such a BIG thank you to Danielle for sharing all about her Heatwave Quilt.  You can check out Danielle on Instagram here at @the.reds.quiltco 

Equilateral Triangles - My Best Tips and Tricks

I have a real love for designing Equilateral Triangle Quilt patterns – some of my popular designs such as my End Game Quilt and Love Triangle Quilt use these EQ Triangles as the basis for the design.  

I understand that these can often feel intimidating or just maybe a little bit tricky - cut I am here to share with you some of my best Tips and Tricks so that you can tackle Equilateral Triangle's with ease - and see that they really aren't that tricky.

End Game Quilt

You have seen all the Equilateral Triangles all over the Internet and Pinterest and wondered how do makers achieve all those perfect points? You have tried to put some Equilateral Triangles together but none of your points meet and it doesn’t come together how you imagined!

 

I have taught many Workshops on Tacking Equilateral Triangles, so I am here today to share with you some of my best tips for sewing with Equilateral Triangles to get perfect points every time.

 

My top tips for Perfect points.

1. Pressing 

Use a Starch Spray (I love Best Press) to help starch all your fabrics before you press them all.  This will help flatten your fabrics and make your fabric “feel” nice and firm to cut.  You will also notice how this helps the bias in the EQ Triangles stay as firm as possible for when it comes to sewing your Equilateral triangles. 

2. Cutting 

It’s best to make sure that you start on the right track. Before you begin to cut you will want to ensure your Templates are accurate.

Begin cutting our your project with a nice sharp blade in your Rotary cutter and take your time.  Accuracy in cutting will help at the next step of sewing.  Rushed cutting can snowball and turn into pieces that don’t align as you sew so your patience will be rewarded.

3. Not all Rulers are created Equal

Ruler – There are many rulers on the market and again this is important to test any ruler size you have against any paper Template provided. Always double check alongside the given paper template in the pattern (check the size scale – 1in square).  

Also, if your ruler is “Top Trimmed” - meaning it has flat points – cut these off when cutting out your pieces.  These will help you line up your seam allowance.

Love Triangle Quilt

4. Sewing  

When it comes to sewing your EQ triangles together - match your points at the seam intersection (not along the raw edge of the fabrics). Place a pin where the seam meets at 1/4in to hold these points together. I like to put my pin through on a diagonal to hold down seam allowances from either side.

Sew the seam through where the points intersect. You may need to sew slightly scanter or wider at this point, so your stitch runs exactly through this point. 

With these helpful tips you will find it easy to tackle Equilateral Triangles.

If you have found these tips for sewing Equilateral Triangles helpful, then you will want to sign up for my Newsletter which is always full of helpful quilting tips and tricks.  

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When you sign up, you will receive a 20% Discount code that you can use Storewide in my store.  In my Newsletter there is lots of information about all my upcoming patterns, special offers, where I will be teaching as well as great tips and tricks to help improve your quilting.

Happy Quilting

Jemima x

Summer Sampler 2019 - Twist and Turn Block

Welcome to the Summer Sampler 2019 - Piecing Bootcamp.  I am so excited to have  designed this weeks block - "Twist and Turn" focusing on Equilateral Triangles.  Equilateral Triangles can be a block that is considered tricky and difficult to sew.  I'm here today to share a few of my best tips for tackling and triumphing over Equilateral Triangles so that you are confidant to take on more in your future.

Tip 1 - Cutting your Fabrics. When it comes to cutting out your fabrics you need to ensure that you have printed out the template at the correct size.  Your Template Triangles should measure 3in.  

Tip 2 - When cutting out,  it is important to take your time and cut accurately.  With Equilateral Triangles the more precise and care given at each stage will ensure that everything comes together nicely.

Tip 3 - Pinning Matters - when it comes to matching up and sewing your rows together.  Here is one way to help line up those points.

Step 1 - Once your rows are sewn together (as per the pattern instructions), to line up the points as perfectly as possible - match the rows right sides together. Then slightly open up along the raw edges of where your sewn seam line will run and match the Points here at 1/4in. Don't just assume you have everything magically perfect to sew along the 1/4in raw edge seam line.  Take the time to match each triangle tip.

Step 2 - Place a pin on an angle at the 1/4in mark where you will sew your seam.

Step 3 - Pin all the triangle points, matching carefully and then pinning along the row.  Sew the seam ENSURING to take out your pins just before you get to them. This is where if you have nice Fine pins the aligned fabrics are not disturbed by shifting bulky pins.  

(NEVER sew over Pins!) 

Step 4 - Stand back and admire your perfect alignment of your Triangle points.

With these simple tips you will have less fear for the Equilateral Triangle block and I hope it inspires you to get sewing with other Equilateral Triangle Quilt Patterns.

I am very excited to see all the Twist and Turn blocks you create as part of the Summer Sampler 2019.  Make sure to check out the IG hashtag #summersampler2019 to follow along.  

Happy Quilting

Jemima

x 

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