2019 Gypsy Wife Quilt Along - Section 2 Pershing Block

Before beginning each block, I strongly suggest you read through the entire directions and look at the pictures to be sure you understand each step and to ensure that you cut correctly.

As always, remember your accuracy in cutting…

keeping the measuring line of your ruler ON the fabric.

**********************************

Today we will start this Section 2 with the Pershing Block.     
I will warn you, this is, what I feel, the most difficult block so far.  But, we will work through it step by step. 

We start with the cutting found on page 6 of your booklet/pattern

Accuracy is important!   Be sure to keep the lines of your ruler ON the fabric.  

Using the same ruler will be helpful for consistency.  Measurements can be different from ruler to ruler; brand to brand

(for anyone with a good eye... yes, those yellow triangles are disproportionately big... I discovered my error when it came time to add them to the block and corrected my mistake.)

  We will start this block by making the center Square-in-a-square following the same steps used in Section 1.  

Draw diagonal lines on your small squares.  

Stitch a pair of squares to opposite corners of the center square,  sewing next to your drawn line   

Repeat with the other pair of squares. 

 

One fun thing I like to do is use my  Buddy Ruler   by Bonnie Hunter.  After stitching on each set of squares I use my Buddy Ruler to draw a second line.  I stitch  next to this second line closer to the previously sewn line.  You can then cut between the two sewn lines and you have made a cute little HST to be used in another project... or sometimes as a unit in your current project.
  

Next, we surround our center square with triangles.   

 Fold the center square and finger press to form a line.   Fold the triangle in half also.  Align the two folds to center the triangle along the center line fold of the square  pointing the tip down the the center of the square.  Carefully stitch your scant 1/4inch being careful to sew just above the "X" formed by previous stitching.

  

Now we set the seam and press open.    

Setting the seam means to just press down... no ironing or swishing back and forth, that can stretch the threads or fabric.  You can see in the pictures below that it flattens your block.  Straight down, straight up.

   

Repeat the same process with the opposite triangle.  Then again, with the other two opposing triangles to surround the center square.

  

We repeat this same process again with the next round of triangles adding opposing sides.

  

This next round we will be adding a stripset of three triangles.  

Flip the center triangle onto the left one. 

 Line up the edges but leave the dog ears overhanging 

(yellow overhangs at the top, black overhangs at the bottom)  

Stitch and gently press open.

                     

Repeat with the left side triangle, line up the edges and leaving the dog ears overhanging.

            

 

Repeat this process for all four sides of the square.

Attaching these stripsets to the sides of the square is next.  I put a pin straight through the points to match them up. Then pin on either side to hold the points together.

Stitch together being sure to stay just above that "X" formed by previous stitching

This part stumped me... I had to rip and stitch these multiple times in order to keep my points.  I Cut off the yellow point, OR I didn't get close enough on the pink point.  It is just very fussy with the two points coming together like this.

  

I finally decided that sewing it with the opposite side up seemed to work best.  Why?   I have no idea.   

  

Normally, I am an advocate of pressing the seams in one direction or the other.  But, with all that bulk where the points meet, I decided it was best to press these seams open.

Lastly, we need to add the remaining four triangles to complete this block.    I finger pressed the triangle in half and lined that fold up with the center of the red triangle at the point (offset in the picture to show you location)  Pin and stitch.

  

Stitch opposite side triangles on and press open to complete  

I trimmed this block by lining up the 1/4in line on my square at those black points to save my 1/4in seam allowance and points when incorporating the block into the quilt.

BUT

I have to tell you... my square came out 1/4 too big.... 

I don't know why.  

But, I am going to leave it as is.   I am hoping that I will be able to ease it into the quilt.  I'll show you that later.

You can leave comments and questions below.   I will reply to your comments ASAP.

Thanks for following along.   Click on "newer post" to see the next block.

2019 Gypsy Wife Section 2 - Old Maid Puzzle

Before beginning each block, I strongly suggest you read through the entire directions and look at the pictures to be sure you understand each step and to ensure that you cut correctly.

As always, remember your accuracy in cutting…

keeping the measuring line of your ruler ON the fabric.  

Using the same ruler will be helpful for consistency.  Measurements can be different from ruler to ruler; brand to brand.

**********************

Cutting directions and assembly diagrams for this Old Maid Puzzle Block can be found on  page 17 of your pattern book





Here I have cut most of my fabrics, but still auditioning for the corner piece.  I jumped right in and started making the HSTs, forgetting to take a picture of all the cut fabrics first.  

If you need a refresher on making HSTs, click here to my earlier demo post.   How to make Half Square Triangles (HSTs)


I paired the HSTs with the solid square beside it then nesting them together stitched the two corner units together.

 

Now to sew the pieced trianagles.  Flip one wing over onto the HST... matching the edges of the HST.   Yes, the triangle looks big and has a lot of overhang (dog ears)... but trust me, it works!

  

Repeat with the second wing.

    

Trim  off your dog ears.  Flip the pieced triangle onto the solid triangle and sew.  Be careful that your sew line remains above the "X" formed by previous stitching to preserve your points.

    

The four corner units are made and we are ready to assemble the block.

Sew the top two units together... then the bottom two.

Flip them on top of each other, nesting the center seam and sew to complete your block.

You can leave comments and questions below.   I will reply to your comments ASAP.

Thanks for following along.   Click on "newer post" to see the next block.

2019 Gypsy Wife Section 2 - Introduction

Section 2 has a total of 6 blocks

Make two (2)......Square-in-a-square... page 22.... 3in finished 

Square-in-square with border.... Page 22&23.... 6in finished

Courthouse Steps with 2 borders..... Page 20.... 7in finished

Pershing....pages 6/7 .....9in finished

Old Maid PUzzle.... Page 17 ....8in finished

Sizes posted here are FINISHED sizes... this means the measurement of the block once it is incorporated into the quilt.  

Add 1/2 inch to the finished size to determine the unfinished size of each block as you make it.  If your blocks don't measure correctly, the usual culprits are inaccurate cutting or the size of your 1/4inch seam allowance.  It is recommended that you sew a scant 1/4inch seam. 

To protect the copyright of the designer, no measurements will be given.  YOU MUST PURCHASE YOUR OWN COPY OF THE PATTERN.  

My tutorials for each block will go live, here, tomorrow beginning at 8am CST.

Links to individual block tutorials will also be posted on the Facebook page  2019 Gypsy Wife Quilt-Along  after they go live here.  You can locate the downloadable, printable PDF files under the Files tab.

As we go through this adventure together and questions come up on the Facebook page, Admins are using the #tips  #(name of block) for additional hints. I have incorporated these hints on my blog pages too! (sometimes by updating my page)!   There are also #Tech tips available for those working on i-devices.

I would love to see you like and follow my page, thank you!


To advance through my tutorials here you just click on "newer post". 

We begin tomorrow morning at 8am CST.

Roll on Gypsies!  Enjoy the journey!

Fr. James Quilt

This morning I laid out all 80 blocks  on my queen size bed, only to find I underestimated by 4 blocks to complete the rows.

While I plan to add an 8in border all around, I'm thinking I may need to make another 10 blocks so that it has a nice drop-down on each side.

Back to the sewing machine....

Fabric Acquisition Road Trip F.A.R.T.

Today was a great day to F.A.R.T. !   The morning started out with some drippy rain, but cleared up to just gray skies for the 2hr ride to Whittles Fabrics in KY.  I could have stayed home and treadled, but I needed more and new fabric to finish  Fr. James' quilt and begin on Fr. Chris' quilt.   I just didn't have what I needed in my stash.

On the way we came upon a car fire at a gas station.  We could see the flames and black smoke as we came up the hill.   The firefighters and trucks were already there and hit it with foam or water for about 5 min to knock it out.   We sat and watched as a big white cloud billowed up.

There was no ambulance so we assume no one was injured.  Nothing but a shell of the car remained as we drove by when they opened the road again.

A little farther down the road we came across a van parked diagonally across my lane facing me and a group of people standing around... adults and kids.    Apparently he stopped when he saw a family van go off the road and down into the ditch.  I guessed they climbed up the hill and it apparently no one was hurt; they were waiting for emergency vehicles to arrive.

We finally arrive at the quilt shop and I got straight to work!   I picked up this nice olive border print and a flannel to finish Fr. James quilt.  

Fr. Chris chose the Cactus Patch pattern by Bonnie Hunter and wanted bright colors.... I think I've got that covered with these.....





I also picked up a few more FQs to add to my Gypsy Wife quilt before we headed over to Bowling Green for lunch.

We went to Chuy's... a mexican place...  
I stuck with a simple chicken and rice with a queso sauce... on the side in case it was too hot... which thankfully, it wasn't.

Barbara had a taco/chalupa and rellenta with refried beans and rice.    She had plenty of extra for dinner to night and/or lunch tomorrow! 

The rains came ... again... on the drive home.   I missed a turn and we took a rather round-about way home, but we made it!   It was a fun day and I hope that we can do it again soon!

Other projects I'm working besides Gypsy Wife

I said I would keep you posted on other projects I am working on.... in between sewing and.prepping tutorials for the Gypsy Wife Quilt.  

We acquired a new associate pastor and pastor the end of last year.   I offered to make them  a wall hanging.... but a quilt was requested instead.

I met first with Fr. James and we decided on Bonnie Hunter's   Scrappy Mountain's Majesty pattern in olive greens and creams to match his sage room and black furnishings.

Luckily this is a color combo I like and have been saving for.  I raided my Goodwill shirt stash,  deboning about 25 shirts. 

Deboning, or deconstructing shirts, is something I learned from Bonnie several years ago.  Our fore-mothers made quilts from clothing and scraps of fabric... so this kind follows in their footsteps.   Here's a link showing you how she does it.  I don't tear as much as she does.... I use a scissor and cut instead... but basically the same process.  deboning a shirt.

I then cut up the shirt fronts and sleeves to get the size squares I needed.   I save the shirt backs to use in quilt backings.

Since then, there has been a bunch of cutting and sewing....

And more cutting and resewing.  With a few OOOPS! along the way.

  
But now, I have the estimated 80 blocks to lay out on my design floor and start putting this quilt together.

If I need more blocks, I'll be back to sewing and cutting again! :)

What are you working on?

2019 Gypsy Wife Quilt Along - Section 1 Summary and helpful links

I probably should have posted these links earlier, but now that the facebook page has been launched, I've had time to go back through and review.

I have updated my pages to add some hints that helped FB members as they worked their way through making the blocks.

Many people found this Coloring sheet  and/or these All Sections Expanded Templates   helpful in planning and choosing fabrics for their quilt.

This  Section 1-5 Table of Contents  is a great tool for deciphering the pattern diagrams and determining which size blocks to make for each of the Sections 1-5.  We will make a similar chart for Sections 6-10 when we get farther along.

Mistakes happen, and the designer and printer have provided an 
Errata Page  to help you correct your pattern book.  Just print it out and you can paste it in/over the incorrect section.

When we get to Section 3, we have an updated errata page for the Square-in-a-square-in-a-square block that has been omitted on page 24 bottom right.

We have several admins who are posting on their individual blogs (just like I am doing here) and making the tutorials available on the FB page under the "Files" tab in the form of downloadable PDF files.  Apparently, that is causing some confusion for some members.   We are working on a plan to reduce that bit of confusion. 

People learn differently, not everyone can read and understand a pattern.  We have one admin blogger who has made videos on block construction.  You must be logged into the facebook page to view them, so join up and click on this link....  Videos for block construction.

Overall, I feel the launch has been a success.   

We have had to post several reminders about not posting measurements.  We are doing our best to protect the designer's copyright.    The same rule applies to pictures with rulers/mats that can be used to determine sizes.  Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people in the world who do not want to honor the designers efforts by purchasing the pattern and would rather gather tidbits of information to make the quilt.

I am encouraged by the positive feedback from members thanking us for our hard work and help in assisting them when problems come up.  I have really enjoyed the entire process and I look forward to beginning work on Section 2 and getting ready to share with you again on March 2.

Welcome and many thanks to my new followers joining in on this adventure.  

While awaiting our next launch, I have some personal projects that I will be working on as well as customer tops to quilt.  I'll tell you about them over the next couple weeks.