Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Little Red Baskets Go! and a Giveaway

I’m still working on creating a little assembly of red and white quilts to put on the wall, my homage to the most amazing quilt show in just about forever that I didn’t get to attend. So, with that spirit in mind, here’s my run at the AccuQuilt Spring Theme Blog Hop.

I used two dies in making this quilt: Bountiful Baskets and Rose of Sharon.

First off, an errata correction: both the website and the packaging say that this die makes up a 4" finished basket. Actually, it makes up a 4 1/2" finished basket. (The pattern that comes with the die says it makes up a 36" square finished quilt: it makes up a 39 1/2" quilt.)

Yardage: I combined a store jaunt and what I had in my stash. I think I used about a yard of the white and a yard and a quarter of the red (figuring using the red for single fold binding as well).

Finished Size: 27" by 32 1/2"

Cutting Directions

  • Red Baskets: twelve 5" by 5" squares
  • White Backgrounds: twelve 4 1/2" by 6 1/4" rectangles
  • White Alternate Blocks
    • Six 5" squares
    • Side setting triangles (quarter-square) : Three fat 7 1/2" squares, cut diagonally twice to create 12 triangles (though you only need 10)
    • Corner setting triangles (half-square): Two scant 4" squares, cut diagonally once corner to corner, to make 4 corners
  • For the borders, you’ll want to measure the center basket section once it has all been pieced to get an accurate measurement. For the record, on my quilt, the red inner border is 1/4" finished, and the outer white border will be 3" finished.

Before cutting, I mark up my die so that I know what sizes I want to rotary cut and where to place them on the die. There are twelve baskets for this project, so I cut twelve basket and backgrounds sets.

Since this block uses a lot of bias, I advise you starch the fabric before running it through the die. I starched the basket fabric a moderate amount and the background fabric even more: I found it really helped the integrity of the block once I began to sew. I also put a piece of printer fabric over the fabric before adding the mat and running it through the Go! Between the starch and the paper, my pieces all sized perfectly with no stretch at all.

Making the Basket Block

1. Make a plastic template from the pattern that comes with the die. I folded mine in half to mark the middle.

2. Mark the handle placement onto the patch with an water-soluble pen. (I fold the block in half and lightly press in order to help me accurately place the handle template).

3. Stay stitch along the bottom edge of the patch.

4. Fold the handle patch in half and press. (Missed photos on these last two steps – oops!)

5. Attaching the handle is the trickiest part of this block, but here’s what worked for me. I begin by pinning the handle in the top middle. The raw edge of the handle is towards the top.

6. I then use lots of pins to ease the handle into place along the curve. (TIP: using fine glass head pins makes this much easier – both to pin here and in the next step where I sew over the pins).

7. Sew a scant (seriously scant) quarter inch seam along the raw edge. (Given that you are going over those pins, sew slow!)

8. Remove the pins. Press the handle up and over the raw edge, and then either machine or hand applique the folded edge down.

9. Add the large basket triangle. Press towards the basket. Your unit should now measure 3 1/2" square.

10. Lay out the remaining patches.

11. It’s time to sew together the side squares and triangles. These are mirror imaged, so be sure to create these two orientations.

12. Press the seams towards the square patch.

13. Now line up one of the side square/triangle units.

14. Sew and press away from the basket.

15. Add the other unit and press it away from the basket as well.

16. Place the last remaining triangle patch.

17. Sew and once again press the seam away from the basket. There you have it: a little red basket.

18. In the best of all possible worlds, this unfinished block will measure 5" square.

Making the Alternate Blocks

1. I used fusible applique for these blocks. I stacked the fabrics four deep and ran them through the Rose of Sharon die. Once again, I marked the die so that I knew where to place my fabrics. I cut my fused fabrics 1 1/4" by 2". ( To make this easier, I fused a 10 1/2" by 13" rectangle first and then cut the smaller pieces).

2. I drew a five inch square that I then quartered and marked with a very small inner square.

3. When I placed a five inch square of fabric over the drawn square, I could see where to place my Rose of Sharon Leaf shapes.

4. Four petals for the setting squares create this shape:

5. For the setting triangles, I added two lines to my square drawing: a diagonal line drawn corner to corner and quarter-inch seam allowance lines.

6. Line up a ruler on the 5" mark and trim the corners of the triangle.

7. Place the side setting triangle patch over the square and add two applique ovals.

8. For the corner setting triangles, once again place the fabric on the drawn square. This time, add only a single applique patch.

9. For easier line up on my corner setting triangles once I start to assemble the blocks, I use my Judy Martin point trimming template.

Assembly

This is already such a long blog entry, I’m not going into basic quilt assembly here. I found the border swag on EQ7’s automatic border feature. You can download the pdf’s for these on my Miniatures in Minutes website here. (Though give me till a little later in the day to get this accomplished).

I've been doing a little playing with EQ and this pattern. I have a few more versions to show in an upcoming blog entry but this is really enough for now, don’t you think?

But There’s Still More Fun To Be Had

Of course, I am only one of the AccuQuilt Team of Bloggers enjoying this Spring Theme. Here’s the line up for the week:

Mon., April 11th
SewCalGal - www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Andrea's Nest (Melissa) - http://ardeasnest.blogspot.com

Tues., April 12th
Bejeweled Quilts (Barb) - http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/
SewCindy (Cindy) - http://sewcindy.blogspot.com

Wed., April 13th

Sunshower Quilts (Katrina) - http://www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/
Bits & Pieces (Terri) - http://terriesandelin.blogspot.com/

Thu., April 14th
Just Plain Laine (Laine) - http://JustPlainLaine.com
Rosebud Quilting (Michelle) - http://rosebudquilting.blogspot.com/

Fri., April 15th
Hollyhock Quilts (Glenna) – http://hollyhockquilts.com
A Quilting Life (Sherry) – http://aquiltinglife.com

And – Not to Forget – A Giveway!

In the spirit of loving the Accuquilt Go!, I’m doing a giveaway for the Dresden Plate mug rug that I made.

Leave a comment (be sure I have access to your email) and I’ll do a drawing this coming Sunday night.

Cheers to all!

42 comments:

  1. I really love basket quilts. Yours are just delightful. I like how you have marked your die too.

    Beautiful mug rug!!!!

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  2. The quilting on your mug rug is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Your red and white basket quilt is exquisite.

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  4. Wow I love your basket quilt - blog hop basket buddy! That's amazing that we were on the same day and we both did the basket die! And your mug rug is wonderful!!

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  5. Great tutorial! Thanks for the chance at your wonderful mug rug!

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  6. Wonderful tutorial and what a cute mug rug!

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  7. Your basket quilt is one of the nicest quilts made using a GO! that I've seen. I love the ue of only red and white and how you used the Rose of Sharon die parts for enhancement. And you mug rug is sweet.

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  8. This mug rug is a real cutie! I love the red and white.

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  9. What a cute giveaway! Thanks!

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  10. I love red and white - this is very sweet!! Thank you for the chance!

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  11. Who knew you could do so much with that Accuquilt Go. I'm so getting one!
    Thanks for a chance to win your adorable rug mug. And stop by my blog for more pictures of the red and white show that I did get to go to.
    sorry you missed it is was terrific.

    Happy Sewing

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  12. So charming, and a tute to boot! Thanks for sharing your little basket quilt.

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  13. Your red and white quilt is spectacular. Oh how I wish you could have attended that show. I would have loved to have seen it too!
    Excellent tutorial, definitely one of my all time favorites. Inspirational how you created the borders too.

    Love your mug rug giveaway! It is just delightful.

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  14. What gumption you have making that red basket quilt. I'm sure it will be stunning. I guess the Accuquilt Go is a real boon for a project like that. Love your little mug rug. Thanks for a chance to win it.

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  15. very cute mug rug. I don't own one, so this would be fun.

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  16. Very nice tutorial.I love the red baskets. They're really cute.

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  17. I don't have an Accuquilt Go, but they do seem to be all the rage at the moment!! I love your little baskets, it will be a lovely little quilt! Your mug-rug is wonderful, I have just finished making my first one which I will post on my blog soon! I can see they could be very addictive!!!!

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  18. Stunning, red & white baskets wall hanging...I too missed the show and am sad, but would be so happy to win your cute mug rug to make up for it!

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  19. This would be so great next to my sewing machine, for inspiration...

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  20. Hello Terrie,

    You certainly are make use of your cutter. Lots of inspiration on your blog.
    Happy days.
    Bev.xoxo

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  21. This is a lovely mug rug -- it would look great on our chair side table with a mug of coffee on it. Thanks for the explanation on making the basket - something I have yet to do. The red and white is stunning on your quilt. alternate email mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot) com

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  22. Love the red and white quilt and the mug rug! Great tutorial!

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  23. Thank you for the tutorial, you make it fun and easy to make, also the mug rug's a cutie

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  24. Oh, that handle scares me! Love the mug rug

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  25. Thank you for the detailed tutorial. I always wondered how to do the handle! Great job!

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  26. Love your mug rug! JustPlainLaine@gmail.com. Great tutorial. Thanks for participating in the Hop.

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  27. What a beautiful mug rug! I'm just hopping around all these blogs featuring the Accuquilt...makes me feel guilty I'm not using mine more! Beautiful baskets! Thanks for sharing!

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  28. Both are beautiful blocks...ooooo, I love red and white and that mug rug is the perfect thing for my table...lol!!!

    Pam

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  29. Thankyou for the journey of the quilt...I have a Accuquilt cutter...but not used it as yet......good to see how it works...Warm Regards, Lyn

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  30. Wow! Thanks for going to all that trouble posting the tutorial! Very pretty, and i love the mug rug, too!

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  31. I love your mug rug I'm fascinated with dresden plates.

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  32. Thanks for the tutorial. The red basket quilt is stunning. You did a wonderful job with the quilt.

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  33. What a charming basket quilt and a great tutorial! Maybe the Accuquilt cutter would be a good toy...

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  34. Wonderful quilting on that mug rug...dresdens are so classic and classy!

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  35. I am in the process of making a dresden snack mat (mug rug). Yours and mine would make a great pair. lolll.

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  36. I love your mug rug! And thanks for the awesome basket tutorial . . . I am actually going to give it a try! :)

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  37. Pretty quilt! I love your blog! It would be fun to win your mug rug. :-)

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  38. Now you ought to be able to see my email on my profile(I was "Becky" that posted 4/15 at 8:31PM). Sorry, I'm still learning blogger.

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  39. Lovely mug rug made in the spirit of the red and white quilt display being enjoyed by quilters all over the world.

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  40. I'd love a chance to enter!
    Thanks :)
    kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

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  41. Hi, Terri. I love the reds and whites in the Dresden Mug Rug since red is my favorite color. I especially like the quilting that really sets off the design. I so admire your fantastic skills with such small sizes. This would look great on my desk at work in my new job, after two years of searching.
    Keep up the great work and especially the blog!

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