Tutorial: Design to Reality – Escaped

Last week, I posted the tutorial for Trapped which was featured on Sew Mama Sew.

This was the first of a series, I am calling “Houdini”. The other block is Escaped. Here is the tutorial for the second block.

Fabric Requirements

Fabric A: (Kona Red, A)

1 4” x 6.5” rectangle (extra inches included)

Fabric B: (Kona White, B)

1 5” x 1.5” rectangle

Fabric C: (Kona Black, C)

1 6.5” x 17.5” rectangle (extra inches included)
1 5” x 9.5” rectangle
1 5” x 7.5” rectangle
1 7” x 17.5” rectangle

Batting: 17.5” square
Muslin: 17.5” square

Additional Materials:

Frame: 18” square frame

Escaped Block Assembly (Finished Size 17”)

Always use a ¼” seam allowance while piecing.

Take Fabric A (red, A1), measure from the bottom right corner place your ruler at this mark, at the top have your ruler move in ¼” (as shown in picture above) and cut.
Place your ruler along the outer edge of A1, and measure 3” and cut the same parallel outer angle.
Use the 6.5” x 17.5” strip of fabric C, and cut a piece 6.5” x 9.5“. This will be for piece A3. Overlap A1 outer edge (minimal overlap) and the right edge of A3, lining up the bottom and top edges. Both pieces should be right sides facing up. Using A1 edge as the template, line your ruler up along the fabric edge and cut the below black fabric. This is now the inner angle/edge
Sew A3 to A1. Press the seam.
With the remaining fabric (6.5” x 8.5”), this will be A2. Overlap A1 outer edge (minimal overlap) and the left edge of A2, lining up the bottom and top edges. Both pieces should be right sides facing up. Using A1 edge as the template, line your ruler up along the fabric edge and cut the below black fabric. This is now the inner angle/edge.
Sew A2 to A1–>A3 piece. Press the seam. Now the bottom 1/3 of the block is complete. Trim if need be, the bottom ½ should measure 6.5” x 17.5”.
Sew the 7” x 17.5” rectangle to the bottom 1/3. Press the seam. A1–>A2–>A3–>C1
Next step sew B2–>B1–> B3
Sew this last piece to the other 2/3 of the block, to complete the block.
Create a quilt sandwich using your completed top, your batting and the muslin for the backing fabric. Baste using your preferred method.
Choose how you would like to quilt your block. I used straight line quilting techniques, and having those lines get denser as they closed in to the red and white boxes. Trim your block to 17” square.
Once quilting is complete, it is ready to be framed. I used a 18” square frame, with a mount board of ~2” wide.

Sunday Stash (01-2015)

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Before Christmas, I was looking for thread that I could use to quilt my Rangers Station quilt. I am happy to report, I found it in Tula Pink’s Moonshine Aurifil boxes. Look, perfect matches. This quilt will also be my Marsala submission for the upcoming Pantone submission….I know, I am ahead of schedule on this one!!

I am not going to lie….knowing that I was going to go into Sew your Stash 2015, I did do some purchasing to end 2014 and take advantage of some of the sales.

The first one was to pick up these wonderful Oakshott cotton bundles.

Another one, that has arrived are these Half yards I picked out at Fat Quarter Shop.

Only two more purchases I am waiting on, which were paid for in 2014 and planned….Doe (full yards) and some but not all of the new Cotton and Steel prints. I should have the Doe next week to show, and I am so excited. For 2015, is there any fabric lines you can’t wait for?

Linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash (see button on the right).

Design Inspiration – Where do you find it (Part 1)?

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OK, so maybe it should be where do I find it ;-)…

I have always drawn from an early age (at least since 5 years old), continued to do art through high school, then focused on chalk pastel drawings while studying for my BSc and MSc as a hobby. I have, however, never really studied art or artists.

Recently, I have been inspired in my design work by Abstract and Modern Art artists. I actually started researching artists and I have a few favorites that has definitely been influencing my current designs.

When I am learning about the artist and their styles, I try a couple of quilt designs that are similar, by looking at a few common pieces with a similar theme, look at each once and then try it on my own. Now, the simplicity and the geometric nature of the abstract and modern art period, shows through my own designs – some work, some don’t….but its all about trial and error and working out what is “me”.

Here are some of my favorite artists, and the books I have purchased or the links to sources.