Quilt-along: Raven Stars - Step 1: Cutting

This entire quilt center is going to be pieced from 2.5" strips and will result in very little waste ;0)

I usually do not cut out all of my pieces at the start of a project anymore. However, I have participated in two mysteries recently where the first step was to complete all the cutting, and I must say, it's been nice to have it done and out of the way, so that when steps are posted, I can get right to the piecing!

In all reality, this may just be the most time consuming step of this entire quilt-along. I couldn't believe how long it took me to cut it all out; over two hours certainly. So, take your time; spread it out. Or, you could simply just cut all the 2.5" strips for this step and wait until the steps get posted to cut the smaller pieces/units; the choice is yours.

Cutting Directions
Black
18 - 2.5" strips.
Set 11 strips aside. Using the remaining 7 strips and your TRI ruler, cut 168 "tri units."



Purple
20 - 2.5" strips.
Set 13 strips aside. Using the remaining 7 strips and your EZ Angle ruler, cut 168 HST (half-square-triangle) units.


White
37 - 2.5" strips.
Using 21 of the strips, subcut into 336 - 2.5" squares.
Using 7 of the strips, cut 168 - HSTs
Using the remaining 9 strips and the RECS ruler, cut 168 PAIRS of "recs units."

**TIPS for the "RECS" units**:
Keep your fabric folded in half (wrong OR right sides together; doesn't matter). Do this so that you obtain the required "mirrored image" of each unit in the finished block. Keep the pairs together. You can see a small stack of my "pairs" started at the lower left of the above picture. The picture to the left shows how these pieces will eventually be used in a later step. VERY important to have the mirroring!!!
Cut that tiny notch off the corner. You can see it pictured above. Yeah, it will be putzy, BUT will save you a headache later on when we piece the units together.

That's it!
Remember, borders have not been included yet. I will cut those out once the center is pieced.

Some of you dynamo quilters out there will be able to figure out how to sew some of these pieces together; Go for it if you want!

The next scheduled posting: 2/16/11 - Step 2: 9-patches

Remember this? What is it? {{and Quilt Design Winner}}

Hey....any of you have one of these when you were younger? I did, but mine was wood and in the shape of a mushroom. Cassie was given this a couple of years back from my mother per my request. Over the past year it was moved around here-n-there, and today, Candace had it tied to a piece of string and was dangling it from the stairway trying to drop it on my head. {{goofball, I know!}}. BUT, it got me a bit inspired. I came across the needle/hook (?) last week while tidying, so I went to grab it and the yarn I purchased Cassie last month for a school project, and sat for a few hours of this mindless ..... ummm.....crocheting? knitting? yarning? What IS this called and what are these doo-dads called?

When I took a break to make myself a drink, Cassie took over and she's still pluggin' away while we all sit and watch Happy Feet.


And the vote winner both with the Student Body AND the Online votes:

G. G. G.

Oh this is SO exciting! It was my pick as well, and this will be the first year that a MALE's design was chosen!!! :0) I am so excited for this student, because he is one of the quiet ones but makes some poor choices so is often in trouble. I can't wait to share the news with him on Monday!!!
AND, I can't wait to start figuring out the yardage. This quilt will be so fun to make.

Just for record:
Quilt Design: student body votes (online votes)
A: 3 (1)
B: 1
C: 6 (2)
D: 5 (3)
E: 2 (1)
F: 10 (6)
G: 13 (8)

Thanks for your input!!! Heck, maybe I'll offer this as a Quilt-Along???? Why not, right???? I need WANT to make it anyway, so if anyone is interested.......stay tuned!!!! Early February???

Three MIL quilts done

Yes, they are small, but I'm a bit pooped and have an achy back for whipping out three of these lil' guys one after another. I used the "Chinese Crescents" pantograph and it went quite quickly due to the larger looser design.

I'm taking a break; skimming through channels to see if anything worth watching is on. I also plan on counting up the voting slips my students submitted yesterday for their favorite quilt and will add those to all of your votes. I'll post the "winner" later on.

Quilt Design Contest - Care to Vote?

It's that time again! The 4th annual Math 8 Quilt Design. Here are the top 7 designs based on overall requirements met. I did not scan them in; I merely snapped a picture with the camera of each. Leave a comment with your favorite and I'll include these online votes with the votes of the student body :0)

Design A


Design B


Design C


Design D

Design E


Design F


Design G

No pics, but have been quilting; Math 8 Quilt Design winner

I didn't realize it's been a week since I last posted---I've been out-n-about all week reading blogs daily, but simply never got around to posting on my own.

I have finished Step 2 and 3 of Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Christmas, and have cut most of step 4.

This weekend, I hit the shelves at Walmart to find fabrics for the 3rd Annual Math 8 Best Quilt Design winner:
At this time, the name is Hannah's Rotation (yeah...boring! I'll talk with Hannah to see if she has any suggestions for a name).

pst....pst......I also purchased fabric for the runner-up as well this year, simply because I REALLY like it and won't take all that much effort to make.
I'm going to see if I can find some thin, black, bias iron-able tape that I've seen advertised in quilting magazines. Purpose: to use on the seams as shown in the picture---I THINK that's why I like this design----Jade (student) used a black sharpie to outline the pieces which makes it look like a stained-glass-window. Something new to try.... Tentative name: Jade's Heart

I'm tired tonight even though I really WISH I was motivated. The fabric for the quilts has been washed and partially pressed and cut already. I want to keep going, but the will just isn't strong enough tonight. My back is sore and "tired"---feeling lazy, and may just slide into the tub until half-time is over (Vikings vs. Saints). Maybe then I'll be recharged to tackle some more cutting and pressing.

Happy Sunday!

Weekly stash report to be announced later---I don't have my numbers readily available.

Calling all quilters!!! Wanna voice your vote?

Being a middle-school math teacher, I get the liberty of teaching my students geometry. Hmmm.....as a quilter, what better PROJECT than "design a quilt".
The requirements are simple: scale a quilt on graph paper so that the finished size is 64"x76" (includes a 2" border on all sides), and keep the design as a two-patch quilt (ie: only two different sized shapes/patches can be used).
This is the third year I have given out this project; and started a tradition of having the class vote on the "Best Design" once I've narrowed down the choices. Then, I make the quilt and display it at the school.
Last year, I invited my small group of blog-friends vote as well.

Wanna vote?
I will have the class vote on Friday, but will accept online votes until Sunday evening because I'll announce it on Monday. How exciting for the student to REALLY be the best design, not only from classmates (which normally turns into a popularity contest rather than truly the "best design"), but also from "real-life" quilters! :0)

SADLY, some of the quality really is getting lost in these pics. First, the flash is getting reflected off the colored pencil; Second, when I don't use the flash, the pics are too dark.

Design A. Lovely "shadowing effect" with hearts.

Design B. Reflective symmetry and fun color choices.

Design C. Using two pics, but still justice isn't being done. Blacks and purples take up the majority of the design, but fun BRIGHT colors creating some patterns. Maybe only math teachers notice the "special" symmetry here??? NOT reflective (like looking in a mirror). INSTEAD---it's 180 degrees rotational symmetry (which I DID NOT TEACH in class yet! Cool!!!) (ie: imagine rotating the paper one-half turn---the image repeats itself (with maybe just a few blocks different).)

THANKS FOR VOTING!!! Enjoy!
(I know I'm struggling choosing my favorite! I would be happy making any of these three).

Wanna put in your $.02?

Happy Thursday everyone.
Today was FINALLY the day I had been awaiting----my students' Design a Quilt project ended. I had told them that I would narrow the choices down to 3 so they could voice their own opinion on a "final vote." But.....whew! I couldn't narrow it to just 3. Rather, I narrowed it to EIGHT.....
So....if you wish, feel free to comment on YOUR favorite? The students spoke, and the 1st place vote won by ONE person! I'll keep you in suspense until Sunday on their vote......
BUT, I had also told them there was ONE quilt I would regardless of their "popular vote." Do YOU know which one that could be???


A (left) B (right)









C (left) D (right)








E (left) F (right)









G (left) H (right)