How to make Half Rectangle Triangles

So I have recently been introduced to these wonderful little things called Half Rectangle Triangles (HRT's). I am not sure if they are new to quilting world, but they are definitely new to me. I used them in a new pattern that I made last night. I am working on writing the pattern for it and will have it in my Etsy shop on Tuesday, but here is a sneak peek!

The HRTs are at the bottom of the kitty mouths. Here is how you make them


Materials needed:


1/8 yard or scraps of each color of fabric


Cutting:
Cut one 2 1/2" strip from each color
     -Subcut into a 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" Rectangle


1.) Lay rectangle pieces corner to cornet at a diagonal right sides together. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner and sew on this line.

Fabric pieces right sides together at a diagonal

2.) Cut fabric a 1/4" from the seam and press open.

3.) Square to a 2" x 3" rectangle, or a finished 1 1/2" x  2 1/2" rectangle when sewn into project.

Super simple right? I looked up a few how-to's online that actually had you cut out a template to make a shape. Whatever works for them but I just found it easier to do it my way. Below are some pictures of projects that also require HRT's.....Really neat stuff!

HRT quilt from modern quilting guild

Christmas Tree Quilt in progress from Dream Weaver Quilts

HRT quilt from A Stitch in Time

Baby Quilt: From Boring to Brilliant!

This adorable baby quilt was purchased from pottery barn kids, but it just needed a little something. It was just so plain with the big white open center. My eye needed something to break up the blank space.  

 I added an appliqued monogram and embroidered the baby's name "Avie" onto the lower third of the quilt. Something so simple made this quilt look so chic! It was a quick and easy project that gave a lot of wow factor without a lot of work. And this design is so simple and sweet, I definitely think I will be making a lot of these blankets to have on hand for the many baby showers that are coming up. 

All I did was type out a huge letter "A" in Microsoft Word in a font that contrasted the Anniversary embroidery script I was using. I traced it on to freezer paper, cut it out and ironed it onto the purple polkadot fabric. I appliqued the A on and then embroidered the baby's name over it. The only real problems that I face was getting the thick embroidery fabric into the hoop. But other than that it was pretty easy. I just typed in the script and Voila! I have a wonderful baby quilt.

 

2 things you MUST do after you have "finished" a quilt

After you have finished your quilt top, you may quilt it right away, toss it in a pile of UFOs, or send it off to be quilted. But, if you are quilting it yourself, there are a couple things you need to do after the quilt is "finished." It is important to label the quilt, and to wash it. I do not pre-wash my fabrics, but I do test to see if they are colorfast or not. After it is finished, I like to wash the quilt for the first time. Most end up being gifts or are commissioned jobs I do this for a couple of reasons:


     -I can use a color catcher. A color catcher is a small "sheet", about the size of a dryer sheet, that will attract any loose color to it, in the event that the fabrics bleed. You can find them in the laundry aisle. I like to wash it with color catchers before giving them away just in case the colors happen to bleed. Sometimes, I grab a scrap fabric from my stash if I make an oops and I don't always test it before I use it.


     -I love the combination of smells of Tide, Downy and Bounce. If I am giving a quilt away, I want people to smell the clean scent of the quilt
    
     -I wash the quilt to make sure it will hold up well. Sometimes a piece of fabric may not be lined up with another top piece when I sew it together, resulting in a smaller seam allowance. Sometimes I catch this and can fix it, other times I don't know about it. (I'm not perfect) These seams can "bust" when they are washed. I can fix it before giving it to my friends or family, or paying client.


Labeling is another important part of a quilt. It is so important to give information about the quilt. One day these will be heirlooms, and any information offered from a label will be precious. I suggest having the following information on a quilt label:
     -Who made it. Include who pieced it, who quilted it, and anyone else that may have had a hand in it.
     -Start and end date of the quilt. This is just fun information to know. Along with the city it was  made in
     -State whether it was machine or hand quilted, if a pattern was used, or if it was an original design, and you can also list the fabric collection used if applicable.
     -Include who the quilt was intended for, what was the occasion? A new baby, a new home? Or perhaps it is a gift of gratitude! Whatever it be, it is important to have on the label.
     -Include any other information that you may think is important. Was it your first quilt? did you teach someone how to quilt with this quilt? Basically anything that makes it even more special.


Labeling is often times overlooked but this is a quilting no-no! One of these days I am going to write my own set of quilting ten commandments and this is going to be one of the "Thou shall Nots"




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Fabric Sneak Peek!

I am working on a new line of fabric. I have just started and already i am giving out a sneak peek. I hope you like it. It is a sugar cookie (although my mom says it looks like sand) perhaps, but I definitely get the urge to bake when I look at this, and not go to the beach! Anyway, this is just one element of many to come on this one piece from the line. If only I would just unload my mental vision for the fabric! But trust me, this one is going to be great!

25th Birthday Surprise

My husband's 25th Birthday is coming up and I am making a quilt for him. Typically, most of the quilts I make either end up going away as gifts, or they are commissioned projects. Can believe that even I do not have my own bed quilt? There is a lovely quilt on my bed but it came from Kohls! The one on the back of the couch is barely large enough to cover me up and I am only 5 feet tall! So what is my poor 6'2" hubby to do when he takes a nap? Well, worry no more, because I am making him one that will be big enough to cove him up! I have came up with a cool idea to make a quilt with all of the things he loved, or has ever loved! Things like Pokemon, and Legos from when he was a little boy, to favorite foods like Chipotle and Barq's Root Beer are all going to be a part of this quilt. I am so excited to see it done. It will be paper pieced and appliqued, and then machine quilted.

 Hopefully it all turns out great! As I am working on the paper pieceing, I hope to make a video tutorial on how to do it for those of you who don't know. But here is a big tip: DON'T BE AFRAID! It is MUCH more intimidating than what it really is! Check back for more updates on how the quilt is coming along!


P.S. I got the paper-pieced patterns here

Etsy Shop, Now Open!

I have just put a new pattern for sale in my Etsy shop "BuzzellisQuilts" The pattern is for the mini Ice Cream quilt I posted a few weeks ago. I am working on more things for the store now, as well as a great paper pieced quilt for my Hubby's 25th birthday in August. But in the midst of all of that, we are also cleaning up our basement (and my sewing headquarters) because of some flooding that we recently had when our sump pump failed. But not to worry, all of my sewing machines and fabrics and quilts were saved before it got too bad! So, basically all of this to say that I am working hard at this blog and working on new projects and tutorials for all of you, but life has also been a little disorganized lately! I hope to still post regularly, so keep checking back for fresh ideas and new projects! I hope you enjoy this pattern from my Etsy Store!

Mystery BOM Block 2

Block 2

 Cutting Instructions:


Fabric A: (Turquoise for Mine)
Cut one 3 1/2" strip
          -Sub cut into four 3 1/2" Squares 
         - Sub Cut into eight 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" Squares
Fabric B: (Navy Blue for Mine)
Cut one 3 1/2" strip
          -Sub cut into four 3 1/2" Squares 
         - Sub Cut into eight 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" Squares
Fabric C: (White for mine)
Cut one 1 1/2" strip
         -Sub Cut into sixteen 1 1/2 x 1 1/2" Squares 


Assembly:


For the Mini four Patches sew eight AC and BC combinations, and press towards Fabric C. Sew every AC combination to an AB combination, with Fabric A in the top left corner, and Fabric B in the bottom right corner. You should have a total of eight of these four patches when finished.

Four 1 1/2" Squares

Sew Fabric A to C and Fabric B to C

Finished Mini Four Patch

 Begin Assembling Rows:

Row 1: 
 Sew a 3 1/2" Square Fabric A to a Mini Four Patch, with Fabric B in the upper left corner. Sew another Mini Four Patch to the strip, this time with Fabric B in the lower left corner. Complete the row by sewing a 3 1/2" Square Fabric B towards the end. Press all seams towards Fabric A.

Row 2:
Sew a Mini Four Patch with Fabric B in the upper left corner to a Fabric B 3 1/2" Square. Sew a Fabric A 3 1/2" Square next, and end the row with a Mini Four Patch with Fabric B in the lower left corner. Press Seams towards Fabric B

 Row 3:
Sew a Mini Four Patch with Fabric B in the upper right corner, to a Fabric A 3 1/2" square. Then sew a 3 /12" square Fabric B. Finish the row with a Mini Four Patch, with Fabric B in the lower right corner. Press Seams towards Fabric A

Row 4:
Sew a 3 1/2" Fabric B to a Mini Four Patch with Fabric B in the upper right corner. Then sew another Mini four Patch one, with Fabric B in the lower right corner. Complete the row with a 3 1/2" square Fabric A. Press seams towards Fabric A.

Sew Rows 1 and 2 together, 3 and 4 together, making sure seams match. Then sew the Row 1/2 unit to the Row 3/4 Unit to make the entire block.

And here is the final block!

If you are just now joining me, you can find the First mystery BOM here