Tuesday, March 21, 2017

BMQG Quilt Submissions Sought!

Our 5th Annual Quilt Show opens in just over two weeks on 8 April. This is not a juried show, but you must be a member of the Boston Modern Quilt Guild to submit a quilt for the show (you can join here). We are actively planning the show layout now and urge you to submit your quilt AS SOON AS POSSIBLE - even if it is not quite finished!
    • A great tutorial for adding a hanging sleeve to your quilt written by Jacquie Gehring can be found at this link. All quilts, including the minis for our guild challenge, require a 4" sleeve. The mini sleeves can be pinned on if you do not have the time to sew them. Larger quilts must have the sleeve sewn on. 
    • If your quilt does not already have a permanent label, please attach one to a back lower corner. The label can be a temporary label but must be firmly attached. Include at least your name and phone number on the label.
    • Be sure that your quilt is ready for show by making sure threads are trimmed, lint removed, etc.
  • Quilts can be dropped off to one of four locations (Natick, Northboro, Lowell or Waltham). Contact Karen for specifics on these locations. WE MUST HAVE YOUR QUILTS IN HAND ON OR BEFORE 2 APRIL!!
  • The guild staffs the show on weekends. Because we will also be holding a raffle this year, we require at least two persons per shift. One volunteer will sell tickets in the lobby and the other will remain with the quilts in the show. You can sign up for your shift here
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FABULOUS SUBMISSIONS AND ANOTHER FANTASTIC SHOW!

Saturday, March 18, 2017

Block Lottery - Improv HSTs

For our May meeting, we're making some improv Half Square Triangles (HST's) into a block with nine sewn together. We'll use a variety of white/cream squares for the background and earth tones for the HST's.


Start by cutting nine 3.5" squares in a variety of whites/creams.

Cut a variety of strips about 3"x5" for your HST's. Lay them at an angle of your block. All of the HST's will be placed on the bottom right portion of the block, so plan accordingly. You want the piece of fabric covering what will be the cream/white part of the block. Where the HST will eventually lay is what will be a visible cream/white triangle.


Sew your pieces with a 1/4" seam allowance, iron open and trim your block.

Trim your block to 3.5" square, using the cream/white background as a reference. You can remove the cream/white from behind the earth tone fabric to reduce bulk now.

 Sew the blocks together into a 3x3 grid with the HST in the bottom right corner. Your block will finish at 9.5" square.

Quick Overview:
May - Wonky Half Square Triangles
Colors: White and cream background with earth tones for the HST
Size Requirements: 9.5" block
Notes: Make your HST's 3.5" before sewing them together and assemble them into a 3x3" grid with all of the white/cream in the upper left corner of the sewn block and the earth tone colors on the bottom right. To make your HST's, cut 3.5" squares of your white/cream background fabric and use scraps of your colors to sew your HST's, using the white/cream fabric as your trimming guide