Chenille Block Tutorial (entry 63)

Hi Ladies, thought I would share a quilting tutorial of one of my favourite techniques: Chenille. For those of you who have never tried this or who don’t know of it…enjoy.

1) Use contrasting fabrics to get a good effect. Mine are blue, beige, blue reversed, orange marble, beige b, stiff interfacing, dupioni silk with fuse right side face down as this is my lining. You don’t need the interfacing if you are using the chenille blocks in a quilt. I based this tutorial on my new Scissor Keeper pattern and kit (to come)

Line the edges of your fabrics up in a nice pile, mark “X” with choco-liner

Sew the cross lines then begin to sew the chenille lines using your foot as your width guide

finish each quadrant the same way

Once you are done sewing, cut in between each sewn line, in all sections in all quadrants. You will need the sharpest scissors you own as you will be cutting through the top 4 layers. Again, if you are doing these chenille blocks for a quilt you not use interfacing and you will cut through all top layers.

Rinse really well in cool water (if using silks) or warm water if using cottons, you want this to be completely soaked make sure you get every layer. Dry, you may want to add this to a load of clothes so there is some substance in the dryer to help the chenille process.

Here’s what it looks like once washed and dried – don’t you just love it!! It’s so warm and cozy 🙂

Have I got you inspired?

Here’s projects I’ve completed using this technique, some of you might have seen: 

for my niece who loves cats.

monthly embroidery project that I added the chenille too.

My newest pattern, Chenille Scissor Keeper with matching needle keeper

This set is for my Mum, which she loved!

for my SIL, and she loved this also…

Any questions, just email.

Around the Net (entry 48)

Hi everyone, 

Quilter Going Bananas has a few tutorials on her blog and once I started digging a bit further there’s one on Half Square Triangles and Quarter Square Triangles. If you haven’t taken a class on perfecting these I suggest you do as there are so many blocks that incorporate these in the patterns we choose and it can be very frustrating when they don’t come out precise.

{from Quilter Going Bananas}

{from my pizza box challenge}

Several years ago, I took a class on Half Square Triangles and Quarter Square Triangles – well two classes actually part one and two. Joanne Middleton from Patchwork School House is an Alberta teacher and lecturer. She has a barrage of courses available to take and she travels all over Alberta, it just depends on how busy her schedule is to book with her.

This class I took was so great it taught me something like a dozen methods to do half square triangles and most of them proved to be easy and accurate – some I just tried the technique and then I chose the one I liked the best!

She sells DVD’s and has been featured on QNN – check out her site when you have a chance, she is an amazing teacher and person.

Joanne also has quite a few very cute patterns.

Until next time, join our block of the month club: Journey of a Quilter


Have a great creatively inspired day…

Around the Net: Christmas Idea (entry 43)

Hi Everyone, I took the day off on Monday from all things digital, well except my sewing machine lol. 

I found this awesome blog, Park City Girl check out her Christmas Stocking Tutorial which is so timely. Thanks Amy as I love these little cuties.

If you already have stockings, why note make some to hang on your front step or porch for decoration 🙂

Spend some time flipping through her blog as it’s adorable and she has lots of really great ideas.

Have a great day, Valerie