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Well, quilters, its time for our class. I hope everyone is ready.
Get your wine, ginger ale, chocolate frappes, choc dipped strawberries, and whatever else pleases you.
I hope you all had a chance to fussy cut your fabric.....4 exact cuts.

If not, we'll touch base on that again.

To update your page, remember to press F5 as we go along.

Are you there?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,

WAIT! I have to run upstairs to my playroom!!!!!

I'm all set....what I don't finish tonight I'll do tomorrow morning.

I am here, teach. Not late tonite, didn't forget and the dog did not chew up my blocks.

But I had to go out and buy more fabric as what I thought I would use, didn't work.

Will have a glass of wine later. Don't want to cut off any fingers.

Mary

Let me just go over fussy cutting for those may be tuning in tonite and not seen the earlier posts this week.

You need 4 fabrics whos scenes are cut exactly the same. To do this the easist way is to 'fussy cut' them.
Find a fabric with the same pattern 4 times on the piece.
Cover a section you particularly like with your 12 1/2" square-up ruler.
I chose this one because florals work very well for this method.

Why can I only find 3 of my blocks????

Maybe the dog chewed it up!

Whatever size you cut out, your block will end up about 25-30% larger.
If you cut out 9" sqs you'll have an unfinished block around 12-13 inches.
I put my ruler over the floral section I chose. I also marked the ruler in a few places with some kind of tape so I know where to line up my ruler on the next flower on my fabric.
In my case, little pink glow tapes on the left, and on the upper right at the curve of the purple flower, and further down on the right.
These first cuts do NOT have to be exact.
You'll trim them exact later.
With your tapes to guide you, cut out 4 of those patterns from the fabric.
Press the 4 pieces.

Oh Gonesewin, I hope you find that 4th one. I'll wait a few mins while you look.
My glass of wine is looking good to me.
Sip, sip.

Entirely possible but my fabric only has 3 holes in it so I am guessing I only cut three...

I'm here!!! Can't wait to see how you do this.

Here's what my finished fractured block looks like. Its not trimmed up evenly at this point. I haven't yet decided what size I want or for what project.
I'm thinking maybe added to the pocket of one of my totes.

Gones....Have you got your 4th piece?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,

I'm looking forward to seeing how this works!!

Yes, Ma'am Teacher! I am ready!

I'm going to proceed with the class. I always find that these classes are great for those that want to work on them later or on another day.
In the meantime, if you pose any questions, I'll answer them.

1. Using flathead pins (it makes it easier to cut), stick one thru the top piece at a point or corner that is clearly marked.
When its thru, lift the fabric a bit, and find the same spot on the 2nd piece below it.
Repeat sticking the pin thru this spot on all 4 pieces.

2. You will need to do this a few times in different spots with your 4 fabrics.
The object is to have each fabric aligned exactly with each other.

I won't be sewing but I'm watching from te back row. We are sitting at a soccer game in the rain. Dd is on the jr varsity & all the jv are required to be at the varsity games even tho they won't play unless its the last 20 minutes (80 minute game) and theyre ahead about 5 or 6 points. Can u say 'boring'? Thank goodness for my smart phone!!!

3 When you have done that, you're fabric will look like mine.

Here it is pinned in place. The ends aren't even at this point. That's OK. You have to align them all before you can cut them out to work with.

OK, I have done that.

me too

Sorry teacher. I'm late. DH won't write me an excuse slip. The only chocolate I have are semi-sweet baking squares...but it's good CHOCOLATE! Think I'll pour me a glass of wine while I "monitor" the class.

I hit a glitch. My photo wouldn't download.
Anyway for this step 5,
you have to cut out those 4 pieces while they are pinned together, to the size you want.
Remember the final block works up larger than the original cuts.
You also want to cut them a bit larger than needed because you can always trim away excess, but you can't replace it.
I squared-up mine to 11 1/2 inches.

i am so sorry i can not see any pictures, i am logged in and don't know what the issue is. the only way i see pictures, is if it comes to my email, and i click on the picture link. i really want to see you all make a beautiful fractured block!

Kim, try logging out and back in. Keep your fingers crossed.

Hey Kim, does this happen to other threads, or just this one?
I haven't heard anyone else having issues.

wine bottles should have a warning label something like this: Caution: Drinking alcohol before or during quilting may cause slippage of rulers, rotary cutters and 1much rippage of seams. You have been warned

Just poking my head in the schoolroom door. I had dinner guests and they just left. I will try to watch for a while and hopefully remember what I've seen to try it later.

Try logging off. Restart your computer. Then try logging in again. Good luck.

sorry I am late I had company drop in. I have Lindt truffles help your self. I will go back and catch up as fast as I can.

I'm having a little trouble with my puter so I may have to reboot soon.
I'll try to get this moving along.
6. Now you have to start cutting strips.
Take the first 2 layers, leaving them exactly together and lay on your cutting mat.
Place the other 2 pieces aside.

You'll need your labeling now. Either bits of paper and pins or painters tape or masking tape. Marking is critical to keeping things in order.

Cut both two layers into 1 1/2" strips across from left to right. If you have a smaller leftover strip, that's OK.

Start labeling.
The top layer will be A1,A2,A3,A4 etc across.
The 2nd layer will be the same, A1,A2,A3 across.
Lift the top pile in order across.
A1, A2, A3 etc across. Set that pile aside.
Lift the bottom strips in order across.
A1, A2 etc across.
You'll have 2 A piles. Set aside.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,

*yawn*

Quick explanantion. Computer having fits but I'll keep posting as fast as I can so bear with me.

ok, Got mine cut and labeled.

Step 7. Set those A piles aside and work on the B piles.
Take your other 2 pieces of fabric, aligned exactly atop each other, and trim off the first 3/4" from the left edge. Toss the 3/4" away.

Cut the rest in 1 1/2"strips across

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,

popping in to watch...been having issues with little man and an allergy problem that the docs just can't get a grip on...he woke up covered in hives yesterday morning, which were there all day...took him to the dr...they gave him cream which did nothing...after him being miserable and in fits all day and most of the night, I slathered him down with a homemade conconction of tea tree oil, and goat milks lotion...he woke up this morning with only a few little spots left...

so tonight I am watching, and will hopefully get to play and try this out soon

I am intrigued by this technique. I am watching and want to try it.

8. Label these strips B1, B2, B3 across left to right. Both the top and bottom layers.
Just as you did with the A's.
Lift them up in order B1,,B2,etc across as you did in the A's. You are repeating the same.

You'll end up with two piles of As and Bs

quiltbea,the fabric you are using is the very same fabric I do believe that wiley used to make me a sewing bag and scissor case from, everyone that sees it comments on the fabric

I'm with you so far

9. Time to sew seams.
Set aside one pile of A and one of Bs for later.

Working with an A pile and a B pile, set them side by side, A on left, B on right.

You will take the top pair, one from each pile, and sew them together. Yes, turn B1 over A1 and sew a seam along the right side.

Repeat with A2 and B2, A3 and B3 to the bottom of the pile.

Press your seams open. You can do this after each pair is sewn or wait til they are all sewn together, whichever works for you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,

Quiltbea, do I start the B labels with the 3/4 Inch strip as B-1. Or is B-1 the first 1 1/2 inch strip?

quote:

Originally posted by Kim - Strut526:
i am so sorry i can not see any pictures, i am logged in and don't know what the issue is. the only way i see pictures, is if it comes to my email, and i click on the picture link. i really want to see you all make a beautiful fractured block!

Kim try a different Browser(IE,Firefox,Chrome) after you Log out totally and Log back in

fishing....You TOSS that 3/4" strip away. You don't want it. Start labeling the 1 1/2" strips only.

10. When all the pairs are sewn together across, you will start sewing those pairs to each other.
Take the 2nd pair and lay it over the 1st pair and sew together.
It helped me to keep a pin in the upper left hand corner of the left strips so I knew which end was up. Or you can keep your labels on to help you. It makes it easier.
The object is to sew them together so they are in the same order as the fabric scene you chose.

11. Sew all the strips together across so that you end up with a rectanglular piece that looks something like this.

If you have a small strip leftover from your cutting earlier, you can add it to the end or leave it off. Depends on whether you think you might need it or not for your 'picture' which is why I usually sew mine on unless its less than 3/4 of an inch wide.
You can always trim it off later if not needed in the finished scheme of things.

12. You'll be so happy to hear this.
You repeat what you've just done with those strips you set aside earlier.

Yes, you need two exact blocks that look like the one above before you can finish.

I know this will take some time, so I'll post the steps ahead for the final phase and you can do it at your own pace.

Kentucky.....I had over 3 yards of this fabric and had set it aside to make some of my 'big pocket totes' for gifts. I think using this fractured block on one of them will make it a bit unique.

OK, got the first 2 sewed together and will now do the rest of the sewing.

I know it'll take quite a while for anyone to get both of their blocks sewn together.
You can either continue or do this another day. In any case, I'll continue on the instructions that you can catch up with when you can.

12. When you have two rectangular blocks that are identical, you can start the next phase.

Take one block and set it aside for later.
Take the 2nd block and lay it facing you.
Turn it a quarter turn counter clock-wise so its longer top to bottom than it is side to side.
Like so....

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,

Quiltbea, sorry you are having computer issues.

Kim, sign in again and hit the Refresh button. Worse time not to be able to see the pictures!

I wanted to be here, but my grandson is here for the weekend and I can't stay away from him.

Can't wait to see some finished fractured blocks.

13. As you did in the first phase, cut strips across left to right 1 1/2" wide.

Label them A1 A2, A3 across as before.

Lift them in order with A1 on top, then A2 next, etc across.

This time you will only have one pile of As.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,

14. Take your second rectangular block and turn it a quarter turn counter-clockwise as you did with A.

Again as you did in phase one, trim off a 3/4" strip from the left and toss it away.

Cut 1 1/2' strips across and label them B1, B2, B3 etc across.

You are doing the same thing so by now it should be easier for you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: quiltbea,