Monday, August 22, 2016

"Spinners" Mystery Quilt--Clue 8

It's time to finish up Spinners!   The borders are on tap today.

You may have already figured out the borders, based on the cutting, but here are the specific instructions:

Inner Border: 

My inner border is the red I used in the rest of the quilt; you'll use whatever fabric you chose for the narrow inner border.

1.   Sew 2 of the 1-1/2” Inner Border strips to form a long  (approx. 80”) strip; repeat with another pair of strips.

2.  Cut one of the remaining strips in half and sew one of the halves to a remaining full strip to form a strip approx. 60” long; repeat with remaining half and full strip.

3.  Measure the length of the quilt (measure in the center),  cut the 80” strips to that length and sew one to each long side of the quilt.  Press seams toward the border.

4. Measure the width of the quilt (again, measuring in the center), cut the 60” strips that length and sew one to the top and one to the bottom of the quilt.  Press toward the border strips



Outer Border
(Mine is blue..)

1. Sew 2 of the 3-1/2”  Outer  Border strips to form a long (approx. 80”) strip; repeat with another pair of strips.

2.  Cut one of the remaining strips in half and sew one of the halves to a remaining full strip to form a strip approx. 60” long; repeat with remaining half and full strip.

3.  Measure the length of the quilt (measure in the center),  cut the 80” strips to that length and sew one to each long side of the quilt.  Press seams toward the border.

4. Measure the width of the quilt (again, measuring in the center), cut the 60” strips that length and sew one to the top and one to the bottom of the quilt.


     And that's it.  Congrats on finishing Spinners!

     Since my quilt will be going to Quilts of Valor, I'll probably quilt with some sort of star pattern.  I haven't decided on the binding yet, but am currently thinking it will be blue.  However, I think a stripe would be fun, and appropriate for this quilt.

I've heard from some quilters who are making Spinners--some are doing red, white and blue; one is doing lime green and purple; another is doing softer peach and green.  I'd love to see photos, and share them; you can post them on my Warped Spinster Facebook page, 

     Thanks for helping to solve the mystery!


Previous clues/posts:



Monday, August 15, 2016

"Spinners" Mystery Quilt, Clue 7

Putting the pieces together!

Arrange completed units from Clues 3-6 as shown, and sew together.  Make 24.


Press the top seam up, and the other two seams down.






Arrange the blocks into 6 rows of 4 blocks each, rotating each as shown.


You can probably see now why it's called Spinners.  :-)  Next week will finish up the quilt top.


Previous clues/posts:



  










Monday, August 8, 2016

"Spinners" Mystery Quilt, Clue 6


We're getting closer every week, and we're almost finished with the units for the block.

6.1  Using a sharp pencil or an erasable marker, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of the Blue 3-1/2” squares.   Don’t be slap-dash about the line; the accuracy on the next step will depend on this line being truly corner to corner.




6.2  With RST, place a Blue  3-1/2” square from the previous step on one end of a White 3-1/2” x 9-1/2” strip, making sure the drawn line is oriented as shown.   Sew on the drawn line. (As in the previous clue, you may wish to sew just a thread or two toward the outside corner of the square, to allow for the thickness of the thread and the fold-back that you’re going to do.)


As in previous clues, fold back the Blue triangle and trim seam to approximately 1/4", then fold triangle back to complete this end of the strip.

 6.3   Repeat with 23 more White 3-1/2” x 9-1/2” and 23 more Blue 4” squares, for a total of 24 strip units.


6.4   Draw a diagonal line, from corner to corner, on the wrong side of 12 of the White 4” squares.  (Note that you’re using 4” squares now.)


6.5   With RST, place this White square on a Blue 4-1/2” square.   Sew a scant 1/4" on both sides of this drawn line.





6.6   Cut on the drawn line, giving you two units.   Fold back the Blue triangle and press.  Square up to 3-1/2”, making sure the seam line runs from corner to corner.   Repeat with the other unit to give you 2 HSTs (Half Square Triangle units).




6.7   Repeat with the other 11 marked White 4” squares and 11 Blue 4” squares.  You will have a total of 24 Blue/White HSTs.

6.8  Sew a Blue/White HST from the previous step to the end of a strip unit from Step 6.2, making sure the Blue triangle is oriented as shown.  Press toward the White.

 


6.9  Repeat with the remaining HSTs and the strip units for Step 6.3.

Total units:  24, each measuring 3-1/2” x 12-1/2”.


Previous clues/posts:

Monday, August 1, 2016

"Spinners" Mystery Quilt, Clue 5


We're moving along! This week:  another strip for the block.

5.1  Using a sharp pencil or an erasable marker, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of 48 of the White 3-1/2” squares. (Unless, of course, you marked all of them at the beginning.)  As usual, don’t be slap-dash about the line; accuracy will make the next step turn out better.


 


5.2  With RST, place a White 3-1/2” square from the previous step on one end of a Red  3-1/2” x 12-1/2” strip, making sure the drawn line is oriented as shown.   Sew on the drawn line. (I usually sew just a thread or two toward the outside corner of the square, to allow for the thickness of the thread and the fold-back that you’re going to do.  This is the equivalent of a scant 1/4”.)




5.3  Fold back the white triangle and press, using the base of the Red strip to match the edges exactly, and to maintain the 3-1/2” x 12-1/2” measurement.




5.4  Fold back the White triangle so you can trim the two excess layers to about 1/4".


After trimming, fold the white triangle back to position to complete this end of the strip.



5.4  Repeat with the remaining 23 Red strips and  23 more marked White squares.

5.5  Now place a marked White square on the opposite end of the Red strip, making sure the drawn diagonal line is oriented as shown. 


                    


 



Sew on the line, fold back the triangle and press as you did with the triangle on the other side of the strip.


5.6  Repeat with the other 23 units from Step 5.3 and the remaining marked White squares.




Total units:   24, measuring 3-1/2” x 12-1/2”