Updated June 7, 2012

If you have suggestions you would like to share on this page, please let me know at rjt817@att.net or in person at a meeting.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH
Katie brought instructions and examples for our first block of the month this year.  Called "Wonky Roman Stripe" block, we will copy the instructions for the block here on the Quilting Bee Page.  Also here is a photo of a blocks made by members and brought to the June meeting.

Wonky Roman Stripe Block
Designed by Kristen Lejnieks
From The Modern Quilting Bee Block Party book

What you need to make one block:

Construction:  Finished size will be a 12” x 12” block

1. Cut a 14 ½” x 14 ½” block from your background fabric.

2. Cut the 14 ½” square diagonally from corner to corner to create two right triangles. Set one triangle aside: you will only need one triangle per block

3. Cut a template from freezer paper the same size as the unfinished block 12 ½” x 12 ½”.  Crease it along a diagonal, from corner to corner and set it aside.

4.Sew the longest strip to the long edge of the triangle. As you add strips, check the growing block against the paper template to ensure that the strips are long enough.

5. Add strips until you have enough to completely cover the template.  Center the diagonal crease over the block’s center, that is, where the background fabric and the first strip meet. Iron the shiny side of the freezer paper to the front of the block.

6. Use a ruler and rotary cutter to trim the excess fabric along the template edges, and then peel off the freezer paper.

 

Make Your Own Spray Starch

In a small cup put 3 tablespoons of cold water, add 1 teaspoon of Argo corn starch, the cooking kind.  Stir very well until dissolved completely.  Then add enough cold water to equal one cup.  Add this mixture to one cup of very hot water and stir again.  You should have 2 cups of liquid.  This works best in a glass measuring cup with a pouring lip so you can pour it into a plastic spray bottle. 

You can add a drop of oil or flavoring as well.  I use one drop of pure lavender oil but a drop of lemon, orange, or vanilla extract would work just as well.  It is necessary to shake the spray bottle well before and as you are using but it does a nice job.  You could increase the amount of corn starch up to 2 tablespoons for stiffer results, but the 1 teaspoon works pretty well for me.  Discard unused portion after about two weeks and make a new batch. 

*This also helps the environment by not using aerosol bottles which seem to quickly get empty of starch and never get empty of pressurized air.

WEB LINKS

Our quilt guild is all over the Internet.  Here are two links to videos of Quilts in the Park shows:

You Tube Video from the 2011 Quilts in the Park Show
http://www.lifeplusstyle.com/2011quiltshow09112011.html

You Tube Video from the 2010 Quilts in the Park Show
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgCRVVDR3D8

OTHER LINKS

You can find lots of interesting stuff at this web site.  It doesn't appear to be kept current, but many links there are active:   http://www.quilt.com/