Step by step guide on How to Quilt a Block

Today I will show one way to make a quilt block. There are countless patterns and designs for quilting. Most of them are variations from a traditional basic patterns. When you handle a few simple quilting techniques you are able to study the more advanced quilt works and develop your skills. Quite many quilt works have to be sewn by hand as for example hexagons are quite impossible to sew by machine. This easy to sew quilt block is done by machine. Even though you would not have any quilting experience this is simple to learn. Just remember to be precise and iron the seams properly. And enjoy the making because quilting takes time! 

After you have chosen the colors for your work count how many squares do you need from each fabric. Cut 10 * 10 cm squares using scissors and a square pattern or a quilter´s rule and a mat. 

Step 1. Place two squares right sides against each other.

Step 2. Draw a straight line from corner to corner using basic ruler. 

Step 3. Sew a straight line to both sides of the mid line drawn. Usually seams are 0.75 cm because a press foot is used as a measure. So sew following the mid line with the one side of the press foot.

Step 4. Cut two triangles apart following the mid line.

Step 5. Open the triangle and iron the seams.

Step 6. Cut off the extras from the corners. Now you got one two colored square.  

Step 7. With two colored squares you can form many different designs, this is just a one. Place the squares as you have designed and join together row by row.

Step 8. Remember to iron the seams. Quilt work is 50% sewing and 50% ironing. Taking a short cut by forgetting the ironing part you are most likely to ruin your hard work. 

Step 9. Now join the rows together. Before sewing match the squares precisely otherwise the design will broke.

Step 10. Iron the seams. 

Congratulations you are ready! Now you can make some more blocks to sew a decorative pillow, handbag, blanket...

I am making a blanket. I got all my blocks ready yesterday. Today I will join the blocks together piece by piece and row by row. I went to library to get some inspiration for how to stitch the layers together. More of that later. Maybe I could also give some book recommendations on the field of quilting if you are interested.

Have you been quilting lately? Or do you have a dream to learn this craft technique and create projects by yourself?

Sannu

Spicy Recipes for the Summer Heat

Hello! It is time again to share some simple and quick cooking recipes. This time summer heat has inspired me to cook spicy and colorful food. I have made these recipes lacto-vegetarian but you can leave the cheese out if you like.

1. Vegetarian tortilla

Vegetarian sauce:

2 big spring onions

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp chili

400g chopped tomatoes (= one can)

2 tbsp tomato puree

1 tbsp chipotle sauce

2 garlic cloves

1 tsp oregano

400g green lentils (=one can)

black pepper

salt

vegetarian oil

Mince onions and sweat in vegetarian oil with cumin, smoked paprika and chili. Add chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, chipotle, minced garlic and oregano. When the sauce is boiling add green lentils. Let the sauce stew in mild temperature and add salt and pepper if needed.

Serve with:

tortilla

and fresh vegetables like

salad

paprika

cucumber

tomatoes

2. Potato salad

Potato salad

4 boiled potatoes

1 garlic clove

1 spring onion

1 dl green peas

1 1/2 dl sour cream

4 radishes

1 tsp mustard

salt, sugar, black pepper

Chop potatoes. Slice onion and radishes. Mince garlic. Mix all ingredients together, spice with just a pinch of salt, sugar and pepper.

3. Vegetarian stuffed paprika

Stuffed paprika

4 red paprika

2 dl boiled bulgur wheat

1 courgette

2 garlic cloves

1 spring onion

1 tbsp tomato puree

2 tbsp green pesto

2 red onions

11 cherry tomatoes

black olives

1 tbsp lemon juice

salt and black pepper

3 dl smoked cheese

Mince and sweat red onions. Sweat chopped cherry tomatoes. Peel and chop the courgette and spring onion. Mince the garlic. Split olives. Mix all ingredients together. Split paprika and remove the seeds. Put in the stuffing and crust with smoked cheese. Put in the preheated oven 200 Celsius degrees for 30 min. To prevent cheese drying put a baking sheet on the paprika after 15 mins and continue baking for the rest 15 mins.

4. Creamy vegetarian soup with wasabi

Vegetarian soup

500g carrots

2 big potatoes

1 onion

1/2 cauliflower

1 vegetarian bouillon

1/2 dl cream cheese

1 tsp wasabi paste

chili, black pepper and salt

Peel vegetables and chop to a kettle. Add a vegetarian bouillon and cover the vegetables with water. Boil until the vegetables are soft. Use a hand blender to mash the vegetables and add cream cheese, wasabi and spices. Serve with fresh herbs and bread.

Sannu

Quilting: Drawing a Pattern

Just showing you what I have been up to for the last two days. Usually when I have been quilting I have just chosen some nice fabrics, cut them to squares or stripes and begun to plan how to place them before sewing. Now I wanted to plan something different and challenge myself with a pattern that needs following to succeed. First I chose the fabrics I am going to use and the basic pattern. Then I begun to play with the blocks and colors to make a bigger pattern using the smaller ones. In the plan I have drawn blocks separately to make the cutting and sewing process easier. This way I can cut and sew one block at the time. This is technically quite simple to make and the end result will be rewarding. Today I made 3 blocks and they look very good with their bright colors. I will show you more photos from this project when I get some more blocks done.

I wish you all inspiring summer weekend!

Sannu

Sleeping Spaces Vol.2: Boho DIY Ideas

Bohemian home decoration elements can be pricey if you buy them straight from a specialized boutique. This does not mean that you should forget your dreams of a well collected and stylish home. Flea markets, second hand shops, bargain stores and sometimes even garbage bins can give excellent material for a keen DIYer. Most of the pieces don´t demand a lot, just some finishing touches to turn their personality. Following ideas are low budget DIYs that I made for my sleeping corner to make it a good place to wake up to a new day and read a book before sleeping. 

1. A wooden bead curtain with color

 This wooden bead curtain was a 3€ flea market find. As it was not `good as new ´ I washed it and took the beads apart.

I painted the beads with all kinds of left over paints. The beads do not consume huge amount of paint if the paints your are using have a good pigment. 

These beads have been painted just once and the color is this intensive. After painting I put the beads together with cotton yarn.

2. Decorate a plain basket with left over yarn

This DIY is for a very economical DIYer :D  If you are one of those persons who save everything and  you got yarn left overs that do not make even the smallest of pom poms or granny squares, use them to make tiny knots to decorate a basket. I used 5€ basket that I found from a sale and colorful woolen yarn. Easy 30 min DIY!

3. Pom poms for a wall hanging

I wanted to add some more bohemian feeling for the colorful wall hanging with pom poms. I made six big pom poms using cardboard circles and smaller ones with fork. I also used felted balls. I sew pom poms to the same color order as the stripes of the wall hanging, this way it doesn´t look too messy with all the colors and decorations. You could also use buttons, beads, tassels etc. to decorate a plain wall hanging. The one I decorated was from flea market (10€). You could also use a thin colorful carpet.

Before and after

This week will be a quilting week as my bed needs a new blanket. It is not so long ago that I made a quilted blanket, but it looked so good on the old wooden bed in the living room that now I need to make an another one. As I have put the TV to rest ( I was watching too much telly and movies from DVD) I have got plenty of time at the evenings :) 

With these pink night clouds I wish you a good start for the week!

Sannu