Our first meeting of 2017 was focusing on learning about tips, tricks, techniques, and rulers to make half square triangles and flying geese.

Half Square Triangles (HST’s)

First up was Tarra showing us how to make 2 or 8 HST at a time. She also explained how to do 4 at a time, but they finish with a bias edge and can get wonky (in a bad way!) if you’re not careful.

 

Tarra used the tutorials in her Quilters Planner. But here are some links to tutorials using the same methods and math charts to make it easier, for 2 and 4 HST’s and for 8 HST’s.

Once the blocks are made, it’s time to trim, Tarra also brought in her HST Bloc Loc ruler. Bloc Loc rulers are brilliantly designed, they are like most any other acrylic ruler, but with a groove down the middle, so you can butt the edge up against a seam ironed to one side.

Next up Nicole showed us how to make a bunch of HST’s from 2 jelly roll strips. A similar tutorial can be found here.

Sheila also mentioned using a piece of marked tape in front of your sewing machine similar to this tutorial.

Flying Geese

Lisa taught us how to make 4 flying geese units at a time. No point in me trying to explain it as there’s an excellent tutorial here.

Lisa also showed us her modified Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler. She put little silicon pads along the edge of the marked line, so she can quickly place the ruler appropriately and butt it up against the seems.

A simmiler idea to her Bloc Loc flying geese ruler!

Nest Darla showed us the Flying Geese x4 no math ruler.

one square of the solid line (for the Goose) and 4 of the dotted line. You go from this:

To this:

Heather also mentioned that she uses this method but with a regular ruler and math chart online. Here are a tutorial and math chart if you want to try it!

Book, Blog, and Bolt:

Darla found some fabulous fabrics, a low volume receipt print from Periwinkle.

and a Cotton + Steel panel from 440.

Nicole found her City Maps, Cotton + Steel panel at Prarie Chicks in Warman.

Sherry showed off her new book Quilting Happiness By Christine Lane and Diane Gilleland.

Barbara showed off her book, Quilting Modern by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen

Darla brought in a couple of example magazines from Simply Modern, a magazine Patti S. has a subscription to.

Show and Tell

Nicole showed off her square bear baby blanket

and a gigantic Kite Flight quilt, a free pattern from the Robert Kaufman fabric company.

Erin brought in her recently finished quilt top.

And a completed Jelly roll race quilt made with 1930’s reproduction fabrics.

Sherry showed off her stunning scrappy quilt, she plans on keeping it for her bedroom.

Barbara brought in a beautiful table runner, with gorgeous free motion quilting. 

Barbara also brought in some placemats she made in a class with the Outlook quilt guild, when they had Sandy Cook teach them some modern piecing techniques.

Last of the Bee Blocks

Hopefully, everyone is caught up with their Bee blocks and passed them on to their Queen Bee. Here are some that arrived at the meeting!

Darla got 3 more maple leaves.

Sonya got another periwinkle retro block.

Sherry got a bunch more drunkards path blocks as well.