I am Enough Quilt Along – Pattern 9 – HSTs and HRTs

Photo-Jun-08-9-27-02-AM-e1528468174690

This post is a part of the I am Enough quilt along that starts September 28, 2018 and ends February 1, 2019.

If this is the first time you are learning about this quilt along then please read this post to find out the intentions behind the quilt along and more details.

To view all the posts concerning this quilt along, click here.

To view the email archives of this quilt along, click here.

 


 

 

We are making lusciousness today!  Patchwork lusciousness!  I must tell you that while learning to make the half rectangle triangles I spent the better part of two weeks cursing at myself.  It wasn’t pretty, BUT here we are on the other side!  I’ve completely washed my hands of troubles and am gazing lovingly over all the pretty shapes.  I really hope you enjoy making these.  All the issues I had are solved and that means smooth sewing for you!

 

You are Enough

We’ve talked about comparison already, but I think we’ll discuss it again, because it seems to be a constant battle for the majority of us.  I’m hearing about it ALL THE TIME.  My friends say it, my sister says it.  It’s even in my own head, this voice.  I see a woman who posts amazing pictures and has such funny stories that are perfectly written and her house is always clean and she dresses so well.  Does she ever sleep?  Why can’t I be like that?  How is she so perfect?  Why am I such a dud?  She has everything and I’m always struggling.

This is completely unhealthy and based totally on a LIE.

A week or so ago I super cleaned my house and it sparkled and I gazed around and smiled and patted myself on the back and then berated myself later because I didn’t get the quilt I wanted to finish done.  The next week, I cleaned nothing, but sewed the week away and then berated myself for having a dirty house.  Seriously, I’m a human being with only so many hours in the day.  Why am I asking so much of my body?  Down time is allowed.

Everybody is struggling.  Everybody puts their foot in their mouth, everybody makes messes, everybody sleeps, everybody binges something, everyone cheats with a cookie or two or skips the exercise or buys way too much fabric one week, or has a house that’s embarrassing some days, in every single one of us there is a voice in our head fussing about something we did or didn’t do.

Even the woman you think is perfect.

 

 


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Today’s Lesson

I did my sections today in monochromatic colors or thereabout.  Just in case you don’t know, monochromatic means to use different shades of only one color and all the shades of that color.  I kinda stuck with pinks and oranges and then splashed in a bit of burgundy for one set of blocks and then for another made all shades of blue and green.  I love monochromatic quilts.  It makes fabric choosing easy.

Practice your monochromatic skills by putting the top grouping of half rectangle triangles in one color family and the bottom set in a different one.  Remember that you can completely break the rules and do your own thing if you’d like!

 

 

Pattern 9 – Half Square Triangles and Half Rectangle Triangles

You’ve probably made a half square triangle before, probably many times.  It’s one of the very basic shapes in quilting.  This week I’m showing you how to make four-at-a-time half square triangles.  Is it faster?  Maybe.  If it’s faster, it’s not by much.  Still it’s fun to mix things up and since we have so many half square triangles to make…. 20!  These have a little bit more wiggle room than the standard 2-at-a-time I normally make as well.

Have you made a half rectangle triangle before?  This last month I’ve made gobs of them!  They are tricky little devils!  There are some tricks I use in the video that you won’t want to miss to make these easier.  Just remember to organize first since we are putting these in color families.

Onto the pattern!

Click the tab below to download the pattern and get started.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Click here to download the pattern

 

Video Tutorial

One note about the video:  When I’m discussing the organization of your rectangles for your HRTs, I keep saying separate your background rectangles and your print rectangles.  This is a slip on my part (sorry!), I should have said your A rectangles and your B rectangles.  You might want to go color on color for your rectangles and your way is the right way!

 

 

I am Enough Quilt Along Schedule

 

Helpful Links

Havel’s Tools I use in the video

Prizes

45mm Comfort Rotary Cutter Blade

Be sure to post your progress on this week’s blocks on Instagram to be eligible for the bi-weekly prize from Havel’s Sewing.  Havel’s will announce the winner on Instagram on the Thursday before the next pattern releases.

To enter to win new rotary blades:

 


 

 

How great is your quilt now?  I was getting worried that I’d made mine using too many dark fabrics, but now everything is starting to come together and look right.  I might not have to make any changes like I thought I would.  Have fun sewing this round!

Hugs,

Melanie

Let’s Connect

Blog / Email / Instagram / Newsletter

 

Posted in Melanie Traylor, Melanie Traylor | Tagged | 5 Comments

I am Enough Quilt Along – Pattern 8 – Quarter New York Beauties

Photo-Jun-08-9-27-02-AM-e1528468174690

This post is a part of the I am Enough quilt along that starts September 28, 2018 and ends February 1, 2019.

If this is the first time you are learning about this quilt along then please read this post to find out the intentions behind the quilt along and more details.

To view all the posts concerning this quilt along, click here.

To view the email archives of this quilt along, click here.

 


 

 

It’s time to take on the Quarter New York Beauties.  I was both excited and nervous making these blocks this round.  Excited because this block is to die for!  Nervous because, well, curves are tricky for me.  I’m pleased to say I made it through to the other side and am just squealing over with excitement.

 

You are Enough

One of my resolutions last year was to be a more grateful person.  Being grateful is a method to becoming a happier person and having a better attitude.  A trick I read a while back was to replace the word “have” with the word “get” in your inner thoughts.  I don’t “have” to make all these NY Beauties today, I “get” to.  This can translate to every single task or chore that you do today or any other day.  It’s such a small thing, but these small things add up.  Chances are it’s more of our inner thoughts telling us we are not enough than an another person.  Practicing gratitude is a way to keep bad thoughts at bay and to change that pesky voice in our head.  Changing the voice in your head starts with very small steps.

You may be learning how to foundation paper piece and sew curves today for the very first time.  It can be frustrating.  Remember to breathe and remind yourself, you don’t have to learn these skills, you get to.

 


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Today’s Lesson

We are learning how to foundation paper piece and sew curves this round.  As somebody who had MAJOR struggles with this when I first started, trust me when I tell you that you CAN do this.  I promise.  I hated paper piecing the first time I tried it.  I HATED it.  If you fail, do it again, and again, and again.  You will get this.  It may end up not being your thing and you might never enjoy it, but I promise you that you can get the job done.  It’s not my favorite way to sew even now, but I can’t deny all the doors and shapes that paper piecing can open up.

Try to understand what it is paper piecing actually is and how it works and that will help you understand the steps of this skill a bit better.

A Few Things to Remember when Paper Piecing

  • The printed side of the paper is the side you stitch on.
  • Your fabric is always placed on the unprinted side of your paper.
  • The numbers on the template refer to the order you should piece them.  The letters refer to each section.
  • The lines on the paper are what you sew on.
  • When sewing a section, your first fabric always starts face down.  After your first piece, you sew them on face up.

A Few Tips for Sewing Curves

  • Accept that it is not as easy as sewing a straight line and that you may struggle and that is okay.
  • Go slow.  GO SLOW.  We are not in a race.
  • Smaller style pins are the best for this.
  • The more pins you use, the less chance of the fabric on the bottom slipping and messing your 1/4″ seam up.
  • The more you do this, the better and easier it becomes.

 

 

 

Pattern 8 – Quarter New York Beauties

These are pretty slow, I’m not going to lie.  If you’ve never paper pieced before, give one a go, before cutting everything out.  Once you have everything understood, you can cut them all out at once and assembly style these blocks if you want.

We won’t be sewing them into a circle like the picture above, but I couldn’t resist a quick snap of it like that.  I’ve always wanted a full circle New York Beauty quilt.  It’s on the bucket list!

There’s five of these blocks.  They don’t all need doing in a single day.  Spread them out if you prefer.

Onto the pattern!

Click the tab below to download the pattern and get started.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Click here to download the pattern

 

Video Tutorial


 

 

 

I am Enough Quilt Along Schedule

 

Helpful Links

Havel’s Tools I use in the video

Prizes

Double Sided, Self-Healing, Cutting Mat

Be sure to post your progress on this week’s blocks on Instagram to be eligible for the bi-weekly prize from Havel’s Sewing.  Havel’s will announce the winner on Instagram on the Thursday before the next pattern releases.

To enter to win the smaller cutting mat that could sit easily by your sewing machine:

 


 

 

After our New York Beauties, there’s only one more pattern left!  How are we so close to finishing?

Hugs,

Melanie

Let’s Connect

Blog / Email / Instagram / Newsletter

 

Posted in Melanie Traylor, Melanie Traylor | Tagged | 1 Comment

I am Enough Quilt Along – Pattern 7 – Courthouse Steps

Photo-Jun-08-9-27-02-AM-e1528468174690

This post is a part of the I am Enough quilt along that starts September 28, 2018 and ends February 1, 2019.

If this is the first time you are learning about this quilt along then please read this post to find out the intentions behind the quilt along and more details.

To view all the posts concerning this quilt along, click here.

To view the email archives of this quilt along, click here.

 


 

 

Hey sweet friends!  After all that handwork from the last pattern release I thought we’d do something a bit more simpler this round.  Today, it’s time for pattern #7 and that is the Courthouse Steps.  These little lovelies are a great time to play with fabric pairings.

 

You are Enough

This time of year for the majority of us, or myself at least, we like to start thinking about goals.  I love goals!  Finishing this quilt is a goal.

Goal setting is good for us, I feel, but not when it makes us angry or frustrated with ourselves.  The themes in my life that sometimes makes me feel that I’m not enough rarely change, but sometimes they correlate with a particular goal I’ve made for myself and failed to meet by a certain time.

This whole time bit is the issue, not the goal.  Maybe just stop adding the deadline?

This past January I decided I was going to start walking a mile everyday.  From January to May I did just that.  In June I started walking two miles a day.  In October I completely quit walking.  On the daily, I’ve been bickering at myself about it.  Even today, I’m bickering in my head, a constant barrage of negativity at myself.  None of this helps, it only makes me feel worse.  The only real fix is just to get back out there and start walking again.

You may get behind while participating in this quilt along, especially with all the holidays upon us.  That’s okay.  There’s no real deadline.  There’s no prize for finishing your quilt first.  The goal is to finish, but you decide when.  We are humans.  Somedays you may feel like sewing, others not so much.  Your quilt will be waiting for you when you are ready to work on it just like my sneakers are waiting at the door when I decide to start walking again.  It’s okay.

 


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Today’s Lesson

There’s no new skills today.  This is just some basic sewing.  The Courthouse Steps block is a play on the traditional Log Cabin block, and it’s probably every bit as old.  They are very simple and yet when put together they can make a really cool dramatic look.  The hardest part of this week’s pattern is getting all the pieces cut.  These blocks have many different pieces in many different sizes.  They are perfect for scrap busting!

 

 

Pattern 7 – Courthouse Steps

Once you get past cutting the pieces for these blocks, they move quick.  I chain pieced my three smaller ones and then made the rectangular block.  Keep your iron nearby along with your starch to move a bit faster.  Put your earbuds in your ear and zone out to your favorite music/podcast.  This kind of sewing always feels therapeutic to me.

Onto the pattern!

Click the tab below to download the pattern and get started.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Click here to download the pattern

 

Video Tutorial

 

 

 

I am Enough Quilt Along Schedule

Photo Dec 13, 4 46 14 PM

Helpful Links

Havel’s Tools I use in the video

Prizes

Ultra-Pro Seam Ripper With 5 Blades

Be sure to post your progress on this week’s blocks on Instagram to be eligible for the bi-weekly prize from Havel’s Sewing.  Havel’s will announce the winner on Instagram on the Thursday before the next pattern releases.

To enter to win the Ultra-Pro Seam Ripper:

 


 

 

Have you been following along with everyone’s progress on the I am Enough quilt?  If not, please do!  The work is amazing.  I’m so grateful to get to be a part of this amazing group of participants.  I hope you are enjoying yourself!

Hugs,

Melanie

Let’s Connect

Blog / Email / Instagram / Newsletter

 

Posted in Melanie Traylor | Tagged | 1 Comment

Leshci Top Sew Along – Part 2

Leschi Top Sew Along with Sew Hungry Hippie – Part 2
by Natalie Santini

 

Part 2 of the Leschi Top Sew Along wraps up this project. We’d love to see your completed tops, so please post them on social media and tag us! Thanks for joining in and Happy Sewing 🙂

Posted in Fabric Rotary Cutters, Fabric Scissors, Free Sewing Project, Natalie Santini, Tutorials, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Leshci Top Sew Along – Part 2

I am Enough Quilt Along – Pattern #6 – Scallop Border

Photo-Jun-08-9-27-02-AM-e1528468174690

This post is a part of the I am Enough quilt along that starts September 28, 2018 and ends February 1, 2019.

If this is the first time you are learning about this quilt along then please read this post to find out the intentions behind the quilt along and more details.

To view all the posts concerning this quilt along, click here.

To view the email archives of this quilt along, click here.

 


 

 

I know that many of you might be dreading this part of the pattern.  It’s more handwork.  Don’t scream!  Feel free to use your machine if you’d rather.  I, on the other hand, have been enjoying this little forced hand applique bit.  I almost always opt for machine applique, so it’s nice when I tell myself that I “must” give the hand a go.  I do so little of it, but love it so much.

Let’s jump in!

 

You are Enough

I have to be honest.  This week I’m struggling for a topic for this part of our quilt along.  We’ve covered doubting ourselves, perfection, being self critical, focusing on strengths instead of weaknesses and comparisonitis.  I’ve heard from many of you that have told me how the theme of our quilt along has really resonated with you, about how all the time you question whether you are enough.

So this round all I’m going to say is that whatever you are feeling, you are not the only one feeling that.  We are all the same more than we could ever know.  I think the best way to fight these feelings is to say something nice to somebody else.  Stop complaining, it doesn’t ever seem to help, and it has the added disadvantage of bringing who you are complaining to down.  Say something nice, make someone’s day.

It’s sad to think that we are all walking around with low opinions of ourselves.  There are so many people I’ve connected with on Instagram who have recently said something poorly about themselves and I have to say, “Oh no, girlie!  You are awesome!”  I’m always so surprised at the people who say these things, people who in my mind are on this pedestal of wonderfulness, people who I think have it all.  They too think bad things.  We all do.  Let’s knock it off, shall we?

In your caption this week on Instagram when you post your scallop border, mention another quilter who is participating in the I am Enough quilt along who you think has seriously got it going on.  Let’s all scatter around some happiness.

 


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Today’s Lesson

We are learning how to hand applique today and how to make circular appliques a very easy way and give yourself the roundest scallop you can get.  This is fussy, slow, and can be frustrating if you’ve never done it before.  Accept that before you even start and half your battle is over.

I loved this section of the pattern.  I took my time spread out over a week or so and imagined myself some fancy lady in a lovely dress, sitting in a parlor with an old fashioned thimble and needle stitching away, piano music in the background.  Something far from my leggings and sofa and Netflix.  I guess I always think of this as fancy applique and that’s where my mind naturally goes.

You can do this.  YOU CAN.  It’s just time that gets in the way.  And if you are groaning and shaking your head already, fine.  Machine applique them instead.  There are no rules.  Go be you.  You are always allowed and encouraged to do so.

 

 

Pattern 6 – Scallop Border

I was excited to begin this one, even though it’s been the slowest yet.  I enjoyed it.  I cannot wait to have my finished quilt and when I quilt it I plan on hand quilting around the scallops.  I’m squealing over here.  I hope you are too!

Tips:

  • I used this glue.  This was a supply left off of our original supply list.  Sorry about that!  Elmer’s glue works great too.
  • Needle goes down into the background fabric behind the thread, comes up in the fold of the applique, and then repeat over and over again.
  • Play with different holding techniques and find one that works for you best.
  • If you think it will help, sew your borders on first and then stitch the scallops on.  I preferred the way I did it so that my raw edge applique on the color wheel didn’t fray.
  • If you prefer to machine applique, follow the video tutorial until you get to the hand stitching section.  Just use the same color thread as your applique and machine stitch them down along the edges.

Onto the pattern!

Click the tab below to download the pattern and get started.  I cannot wait to see what you make!

Click here to download the pattern

 

Video Tutorial

 

 

 

I am Enough Quilt Along Schedule

 

Helpful Links

Havel’s Tools I use in the video

Prizes

60mm Jumbo Rotary Cutter

Be sure to post your progress on this week’s blocks on Instagram to be eligible for the bi-weekly prize from Havel’s Sewing.  Havel’s will announce the winner on Instagram on the Thursday before the next pattern releases.

To enter to win the 60mm Rotary Cutter:

 


 

I wanted to take a moment and thank you for sewing along with me in this quilt along.  I am having a grand time meeting new friends and learning new tricks.  Thanks for showing up!

Hugs,

Melanie

Let’s Connect

Blog / Email / Instagram / Newsletter

 

Posted in Melanie Traylor | Tagged | 3 Comments