It’s WEEK #4 of the Marcus Sew-Along!

Hi, I’m Pati Violick.  As the Director of Marketing for Marcus Fabrics, I am very excited to be participating in our Sew Along. “Sew”, a little about me – I enjoy creating, and I especially love making little girls dresses for Quilt Market as well as making quilts. Those who know me well know these 3 things:

1. My husband calls me “Miss Ivory or Miss Beige”. Yes, it’s hard to believe since I work with color & prints on a daily basis, that everything else in my life falls into the neutral category including clothes, decor, even my dog Scout is a beautiful shade of taupe (and yes “taupe” is my favorite color!), although I certainly like all shades of grey & basic black too.

2. One of my favorite pastimes is English Paper Piecing. I have “thousands”of Pieces, (well maybe many, many 100’s) in all shapes, sizes and colors. I actually use some for special gifts like purses, small quilts or embellishments but, the majority of them are beautifully arrayed in baskets, boxes & pretty containers. Truth is, some are just to pretty to do anything with.

3. Last but not least – I come from a big family; I am the oldest of 8. I have been very fortunate in my job here at Marcus to forge new relationships, working with so many wonderful people here in our NY office & designers that have all become part of my family.

 

OK  — no surprise, my giveaway this week is all of the above: A stunning assortment of 8 fat quarters in my favorite colors with some wonderful paper pieces.  Now, on to Block #4 of the Sew-Along:

Cutting Instructions:

Light print  (1038-0188)  *Cut (6) 2⅞” squares; crosscut (4) once diagonally.
Black print  (1035-0112)  *Cut (4) 1¾” squares.
Green print   (1702-0116)  *Cut (4) 1¾” x 3⅝” rectangles.
Blue print   (1109-0150)   *Cut (2) 2⅞” squares.
Cheddar print   (1033-0128)  *Cut (2) 2½” squares.
Red print   (1034-0111)  *Cut (2) 2½” squares.

Directions:

*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (2) cheddar 2½” squares.  Match each with a 2½” red print square.
*Sew ¼” on each side of the drawn line; cut apart.
Pblock1

*Press to the red triangle.  You will have (4) Half Square Triangles measuring 2⅛” unfinished.

*Trim each Half Square Triangle to 2 1/16” by simply placing two edges of the Half Square in between the 2” and the 2⅛” mark on the ruler as shown.  pblockcomp1

*Sew the Half Square Triangles into a Pinwheel; press for opposing seams. The Pinwheel should measure 3⅝” unfinished.

*Arrange the Pinwheel, (4) black print 1¾” squares, and (4) green print 1¾” x 3⅝” rectangles as shown.

*Sew into rows; press to the green rectangles.  Sew rows together; press.
Your center unit should measure 6⅛” unfinished.pblock5*Using the 2⅞” light and blue print squares, make (4) Half Square Triangles using the same method as described previously. Half Square Triangles should measure 2½” unfinished.

*Sew (2) light print triangles to each side of a blue & light print Half Square Triangle unit; press to the light print triangles.  Make (4) units.pblockcomp2

*You’ll sew the big triangle units to the center square next.  To aid in this endeavor, finger press a fold (wrong sides together, just near the raw edge) in the center square to easily find the middle of the block.
pblockcomp3
Fold the light print triangle unit in half (right sides together) and finger press.  Match the finger pressed creases in each unit and pin.

*Sew each of the triangle units to the center square block; press to the triangle units.

Your block should measure 8½” unfinished.

pblock12Download the PDF version

Think Spring with the SUBTLE SKIES Collection

Looking for the perfect project to welcome Spring?  Consider this pretty quilt designed by Homestead Hearth, featuring Faye Burgos’ beautiful SUBTLE SKIES collection.  “Gentle Dawn” is fully patterned in the McCall’s Quilting March/April 2014 issue.  It’s beginner friendly, and a kit is available.  We love it for a guest bedroom, but once you sew it up, you’ll want to treat yourself!

Recreate “Scarlet Stars”

Scarlet Evening - McCallsQuilting

This just in!  The November/December 2013 issue of McCall’s Quilting features our SCARLET EVENING line by Judie Rothermel in a one-block quilt designed by Dolores Smith & Sarah Maxwell.  And as a “web bonus”, you can download free instructions for make the lap quilt version!  Check out the details, and order your copy now!

The same issues also includes Part 3 of this pretty design, also by Dolores & Sarah, with prints from MOLLY B’s STYLE SERIES

Were You at QuiltCon?

We were there, and we had a blast! We loved meeting old and new friends over the weekend at QuiltCon in Austin, TX — the creative energy was contagious, and the mood was “joyous”, as described by our president, Stephanie Dell’Olio (that’s her on the right, dwarfed by the towering QuiltCon entry sign – Pic 2)  Here are some pix from our booth…

  • Our QuiltCon booth (Pic 1) featured OMBRE HAND DYES (Pic 6) and STRIP-IT fabrics (Pic 4)
  • Visitors loved our circle garland, made of coordinating CENTENNIAL SOLIDS circles fused together, then joined by a single running straight stitch to create the desired length. (Pic 3)
  • And thanks to Paper Pieces for supplying English paper piecing sampler kits for our attendees – everyone enjoyed this fun technique! (Pic 5)
  • Download these free projects by Nancy Rink, using the Ombre Hand Dye pre-cut Strip-It bundles. (Pic 6)

New VIDEO: Strip-It Tips with Vicki Bellino

Check out our resident Strip-It(TM) expert, Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek, as she demonstrates some of her favorite quick, fun & practical techniques for using Faye Burgos’ Strip-It pre-printed stripe fabrics.  From easy half-square triangles to piano key borders to wedges (shown) and much more, you’ll learn how to achieve pieced looks with precision, in a fraction of the time.  Watch the video now!  We’d also love to see YOUR creative strip-It ideas, too! Send us a description and a photo or two, and we’ll send you a fabric thank-you!

A New Generation…Lexi’s Intro to Quilting

We thought you’d enjoy seeing some adorably brag-worthy pix shared by one of our favorite quilt designers Vicki Bellino, showing her granddaughter, Lexi, with some of her quilting & sewing projects. Vicki explains, ”

Lexi started playing with scraps of fabric on my design wall at a very early age – between 3 and 4.  I taught her to sew before she was 6 and she was a natural at it.  She practiced sewing precut charm squares together and learning about 1/4” seam allowances.  She made her first quilt at 7.  After making several charm square quilts, she told me she wanted to make a quilt with triangles, so I taught her how to make half-square triangles.  What followed shortly was a pinwheel baby quilt she designed all by herself, and a variation of an “O” block quilt.

She’s 11 now and has made 5 quilts, learned to do fusible appliqué and of course, English paper piecing.  She’s now able to use a rotary cutter and is very proficient at choosing fabric and laying out blocks to design a quilt on her own.  In fact, she prefers to do it all on her own without my help!

It gives me such joy to spend a weekend quilting with my granddaughter and to watch her grown into such a proficient quilter at such a young age!

How many of our other quilting friends are sharing your quilting passion with the next generation?  Tell us about it!    —   lisa s

 

Civil War Quilt Fever Continues!

Check out this great blog post from FatQuarterShop.com!  This gorgeous quilt, fourth in a series by Marcus Fabrics, was designed and created by Homesead Hearth as a BOM quilt project. It begins in January, so plan to take part!

Greta’s Featured on Print & Pattern!

We knew we were onto a great thing with Greta Songe, and the Print & Pattern blog confirms it today, the first of many rave reviews, I’m sure…check out what they say, then get inspired with Greta’s project suggestions for each group.

Introducing…Greta Songe!

Greta Songe

AUGUST 2012 –  Studio 37 by Marcus Fabrics is thrilled to introduce Greta Songe, the newest addition to our fabric design team.     Greta brings us three great collections including KITSCHY KITCHEN, LEAF PETITE, and HERE TO THERE.  Just click on each photo below.  You’ll love her blend of color, pattern & motion for the modern quilter and crafter. Look for them in independent quilt shops in January!   Meanwhile, take a peek at her great project ideas, too…

Want to learn more about Greta?

Marcus - Kitschy Kitchen Marcus - Here to There

Check out Vicki Bellino’s New Tote – It’s a Kit!

Hickory House Tote by Vicky BellinoOK, we’re biased, and we love just about everything Vicki Bellino creates over at Bloom Creek.  So we think you’ll also enjoy her tote bag kit, featured in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue of McCall’s Quilting.  It’s sewn up in HICKORY HOUSE prints by Faye Burgos in the taupe/black combo, a smart look for city, country or anywhere your busy life take you ; ) And Vicki’s even offering a convenient KIT for it, too!