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Welcome to the second week of the
Minnesota Quilt Designer's Blog Hop!
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Five years ago I would have been celebrating the end of another school year & looking ahead to watching both my sons participate in collegiate athletics. My dilemma? How was I going to get to all the games during the school year? With encouragment and support of my husband, family and friends I decided to turn over a new leaf & try my hand at quilt design. New Leaf Stitches had sprouted!!
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Growing up with a Home Economist for a mom meant always having fun, hands-on projects. She encouraged my sewing & crafting early on, which I am so thankful for. She had a good laugh when I called home from college to announce I was changing my major from Pharmacy to Home Ec.
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I will have you know.... there are more than a few "recycled Home Ec. teachers" in the quilting industry!
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Thank you for stopping by to see what New Leaf Stitches is about.
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I know, I know... you stopped by to check out the tutorial, but I just have to share my
favorite flowers with you.
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We had a looongggg winter which made for a short
spring & a ho-hum summer so far. The flowers are
late, so my Peonies are now just blooming.
Aren't they pretty?
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Geese! and lots of them!
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The town that I live in has a huge flock of Canadian Geese. They stay around all year & really are a nuisance. You have to watch where you are walking in some places
(if you know what I mean?).
Our old lab would chase them off our yard and back into the lake. Our new dog... she looks at us like, "Are you kidding? You want me to do what?"
Visitors to our town gladly point up as the geese are flying low.
The locals... we cover our heads
(if you know what I mean?).
Clearly perfect angles
Just as there are many geese here, there are many ways to sew Flying Geese blocks. I'm certainly not claiming to have developed these techniques.
I just want to show you how easy they are with the
In other words: NO MORE DRAWING LINES!!!
I encourage you to watch the videos on how easy it is to apply the Clearly Perfect Angles (Or what we affectionately call the "cling" around here).
clearly perfect angles
The first technique is widely used. The second is not as common, but very useful when there truly is a flock to sew!
Clearly perfect angles
This photo is of the Clearly Perfect Angle on the machine and pointing out the different lines that will be used for each technique.
angler clearly perect angles
For the first technique we need a rectangle and two squares. Remember that the squares need to be the same size as the height of the rectangle.
new leaf stitches
With a fabric square on one side of the rectangle as shown, place one point at the needle. Align the opposite point of the square with the center line on the
Clearly Perfect Angle.
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Begin stitching by following the point up the center line. Wahoo! you have just sewn straight across without drawing a line!
Now trim the 1/4" seam and press toward the triangle piece.
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new leaf stitches
We are simply going to repeat the alignment on the other side.
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clarly perfect angles
After stitching across the second square, trim your seam allowance and press to
complete the simple Flying Geese block.
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New leaf stitches
Like many of you, I prefer to start with larger pieces and square my block for more accuracy.
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The second technique will use 5 squares to yield 4 Flying Geese blocks. This is a fun, no-waste method for sewing a whole flock of Flying Geese.
new leaf stitches
What you will need:
1 square that is 1 1/4" larger than the FINISHED WIDTH of the block.
4 squares that are 7/8" larger than the FINISHED HEIGHT of the block.
Clearl yperfect angles
Align 2 of the smaller squares on opposite sides of the large square as shown below. I've shaded the area that will be overlapped by the squares.
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new leaf quilts
Again, we don't need to take the time to draw lines. We can just begin sewing by aligning our fabric with the color coded areas of the Clearly Perfect Angles. You will notice that when the edge of the fabric is aligned with the diagonal gray band, the bottom point of the square will now be on the edge of the vertical gray band. You will begin stitching by following the gray line (which will be 1/4" from the center).
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I want to give you a tidbit for alignment with this close-up shot. It is clear that you are stitching 1/4" from the center points, but also notice that you will be
1/4" from the points of the fabric overlap.
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After sewing across the first time, you simply have to turn the fabric squares around, realign with the gray bands and sew a second seam 1/4" from the center.
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Using a rotary cutter, cut apart between the two stitched lines.
Press toward smaller triangles.
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Place the remaining small squares on top of previous pieces as shown.
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Using the same band alignment stitch again on each side of center.
Tidbit: Notice the inverted V's. They too, can be used to follow a line while
using the "cling" if you prefer.
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After both seams have been stitched, cut apart between the stitching lines & press.
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You now have 4 Flying Geese blocks!
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I hope you enjoyed learning how to use the Clearly Perfect Angles for making Flying Geese. I'm sure you can see how helpful it is for all 45 degree angles.
As a thank you, I will be giving away a gift package that includes a Clearly Perfect Angle & 3 patterns to a lucky someone who leaves a comment over the next 5 days.
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I am always looking for humorous Home Ec room anecdotes. If you have one to share, I will have a prize package for the best story too.
Now is the time to Shop
For every Clearly Perfect Angles purchased thru Friday, receive a free pattern.
Just write "Blog Hop" in comments box when ordering.
They make great Secret Pal gifts. Do you have more than 1 machine?
Take time to answer the poll question on my home page.
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Having a devilishly good time with the BlogHop. Aloha, JO
Wow.. this looks so easy and do I have to tell you ...I hate drawing
Grand Site and I enjoyed what you had to share. Thank you for the
Too Easy... Great Tutorial... can see I will be needing one of these to call