Creative Grids Curvy Log Cabin Ruler

Today we did another Facebook Live, again on the Creative Grids Rulers, this time around on the Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool. These blocks are so fun and there are lots of different ways to lay them out, I  was browsing on Pinterest after we did the video and now have a couple different ones that I really want to make!

Esther is using Sugarcreek by Corey Yoder and the 8" Curvy Log Cabin Ruler for her blocks. 

This ruler works the same as the Log Cabin Rulers, the only difference really is that half your strips will be narrow and half will be a wide. 

Blocks rotated so the white is in the center instead of on the outer edge of the block. 

The ruler comes in 3 sizes, 4", 6" and 8" finished. Each ruler has the cutting sizes listed right on the ruler and also comes with printed instructions. 

As with the other Log Cabin Blocks you start with a precisely cut center square and work out from there. With the Curvy Ruler it is important that you begin with the wide strips, and the ruler shows you which way to work around the center square. The first round is always the most difficult as you figure out the placement of the strips and after that it is really simple. Just sew, press and trim. 

And after 3 rounds of logs you have a super fun block that looks like a lot of work but was really quite easy to make. 

Do you have any big plans for the weekend? My new long arm was delivered to my house yesterday so I hope to be able to work on getting that setup, and the exterior of my house could use a wash, so I may have to pull out the pressure washer tomorrow and give the siding and windows a good cleaning. 

Kayla

Creative Grids Log Cabin Rulers part 2

Happy Thursday, did you have a good long weekend? Our family bought some shrubs and annuals from Coaldale Nurseries and planted them on Saturday, and than one of my dogs promptly dug up the planter the next day! So I may have to get a few more annuals when this rain stops to fill that one back in, and hopefully by than the others ones haven't floated away. We sure are thankful our Relaunch Event was last weekend and not this one, we wouldn't have been hanging quilts outside this week. 

We are again open for walk in business and we only ask that you don't come if you are sick, hand sanitize when you come in, and if there is six people in the shop you will have to wait until someone leaves before you come in.

 

Today on Facebook we did a video on some more of the Creative Grids Log Cabin Rulers. Esther started off by giving some history on the Log Cabin blocks, and how in the beginning they always had a red center which stood for the heart of the home, and than one side was light logs to represent the happy and prosperous years, and the other side was dark to represent the hard, sadder years of life. 

Than we focused on the 12" ruler, which also has the markings on it to make 6" blocks. Esther mentioned that it is a great ruler if you are on a budget and can't decide between a large or a small, however it is a larger ruler to maneuver when making the smaller 6" blocks. 

I will do a post sometime in the next few weeks with more details on which ruler to use when, and how sometimes bigger is not necessarily bigger.

The 12" works the same as the 8" that we showed a couple weeks back, just with a larger center square and wider strips. The 12" size is perfect for jelly rolls as the strips need to be cut at least 2.25" so there is very little extra waste using a 2.5" strip. 

One block can be cut from 56" of a dark 2.25" and 45" of a light strip. Obviously fabric is not this wide so you would need 1.5 strips for every dark and just over 1 for every white, and you want several prints in each block, but it helps for calculating how much you need. 

For example a lap quilt sized at 60"x84" would be a total of 48 blocks, 8 rows of 6. 

Each block takes 1.5 strips of a dark: 48x1.5 equals 72 -- 2.5" strips if it were me I would 

have a couple extra on hand just in case I mess up a cut and for a little more variety, I wouldn't want the same prints beside each other.You would also need the light fabric and you would need at least 54 strips I would probably go with about 60 or 70. 

Here is a little cutting chart from the ruler, this is the insert that comes with the Ruler itself and it is also downloadable from the Creative Grids Website, each Creative Grids Specialty Ruler comes with one of these little instruction pamphlets. 

 In her 12" block Esther is not doing it the usual color way with darks on one side and lights on the other, she is putting all the colors everywhere and I think it looks really neat.

Next week we are going to be talking about the Curvy Log Cabin Rulers. They again work in the same way but half the strips are narrow and the other half wide, and when sewn together results in a quarter circle effect, four blocks put together would make a circle in the center. 

This pattern is one that we can order for the Curvy Log Cabin Creative Grids Rulers. 

As the finished blocks are the same size, you would need the same length of strips, just cut at a different width. Here is a link to the  Creative Grids Website, if you interested it will tell you what size of strips and squares to cut for each block. 

Ruler link

You can purchase the rulers from our site here, or drop into see us. 

I hope you are enjoying our little sew along videos and that you are learning something new. 

Have a great weekend.

Kayla

Creative Grids Log Cabin Ruler

Happy Thursday!
Today we did a Facebook Live Video on The Creative Grids Log Cabin Rulers. Esther went through the process of sewing and trimming a block, and we showed you a couple projects we have made with the various sizes.
For the 8" finished block which Esther was showing you need to cut a 2.5" center square, and for the rest as long as your strips are at least 1 3/4" wide there is no other exact cutting. Esther happened to be using 2" wide strips because that is what she cut from her Fat Quarter Bundle of Just Red by Zen Chic.
After sewing the first round of logs on to the center square you trim the unit by placing the round 1 Square on the ruler on top of your center square and trimming what is outside the ruler edge, rotate your block and trim the other two sides, than sew the next round. Repeat until your block is finished.
Esther trimmed after adding 2 logs, and you can do this two, I always trim after the full round is complete.
This block is great for scraps because you can just pull all your fabrics and start sewing. Use the short pieces for the inner logs and the larger ones on the exterior rounds. There is no need to cut the pieces smaller before sewing because you are going to trim them after you sew anyways.
The Ruler comes in 4 sizes, 4", 6", 8" and 12" finished and they all work the same with, just with different measurements. Each ruler has the measurements listed right on it.

The Mini Heart Quilt pictured here is one I made a couple years back. I used the 4" ruler to make it. There is 4 blocks, two that are made using the Courthouse Steps placement with red on one side of the block and white on the other 3, and two that are the typical log cabin layout. It was a lot of fun to sew and only took an evening to make, quilt and bind. It hangs out by my computer desk in our dining room all year long.
This ruler really does make Log Cabin Quilt blocks easy to make.
We are nearly sold out of the rulers in the 8" size and the 12" ones are gone, but we did order more today and they should be here sometime in the next couple weeks. If you are hoping for one of these sizes we can definitely put take your name down and we will call you when they come in, just call us at the shop or send us an email.
We are hoping for a little more information from the Alberta Government on if our business will be included in the reopening next Thursday. If we are we have some events planned that we will share in a newsletter and here on the blog on Monday.
Have a great weekend, my forecast looks like it could be great for spending some time in my sewing room.
Kayla

Half Square Triangles: Finishing plus the Next Series

Happy Thursday.
We did the final video of our Half Square Triangles today on Facebook Live and Esther was able to show off her finished quilt. In the last week she put together all the remaining blocks, assembled the top, quilted it and bound it by hand!
In my opinion the resulting quilt is beautiful, and it is going to look great in her bedroom.
In the video today, Esther pointed out her borders, which she made with extra Half Square Triangle Units randomly sewn into length of the borders, to create a unique and very fun border.
Just as a little note, she made 20 blocks, and used 2" sashing and corner stones. Her outer border is 4.5" squares.
She bound her quilt in a bias stripe and it turned out so pretty.
Esther also introduced the next series that she will be doing. We will be working with the Log Cabin Rulers from Creative Grids for the next series.
 It will start next week Thursday, May 7, and we will once again do the videos on Facebook Live at 1pm. We love the interaction in these videos and hope that you will continue to ask questions and comment on them.
For the Log Cabin Blocks it is really hard to give fabric requirements as it really depends on the size of block and quilt that you will be making. But for an idea, for the 8" Log Cabin Block you can make one block with 1 -- 2"x40" strip of a light fabric and 1-- 2"x40" strip of a dark fabric. Obviously you will probably want more than just two fabrics per block but that should give you a rough idea. So if you want to make a quilt that measures 56"x64" that would be an 56 blocks total, so you would need 56 strips of light and 56 strips of dark plus your center squares which are cut at 2.5".
Esther has one quilt with lights and darks on the go as well as one that has no set dark and light sections but it just colorful and fun. So do whatever suits you.
You will also need the ruler in the size you prefer. It is available in a 4", 6" and 8" finished size and there is also one that does both the 6" and 12". The 6" and 8" have been the most popular size, although I love using my 4" to make minis.
You can purchase the rulers here.
Have a great weekend. I will be spending mine celebrating my baby's 2nd Birthday! Honestly I cannot believe he is going to 2 tomorrow. He is such a fun little dude, and keeps all of us in stitches with his antics. He is quite good at getting anyone to do his bidding, and though he gets into a lot of trouble his smile is too cute for anyone to be upset with him.
Kayla