Marcus Fabrics Friends and Companions Sew-Along - Week 7

Welcome to week #7 - block #7 on our Sew-Along!  We hope you are enjoying yourselves.  We have enjoyed reading your comments and want to tell you how much we all appreciate your kind words - big self-esteem boosters!!

I am so pleased to introduce myself to you.  Many of you know me through this blog, but for the "newbies", I am Mary Ellen Robison, the other half of the Red Crinoline Quilts team. (You met Paula back in week 2).  Now the moment I have been waiting for - the chance to tell you a little bit about me!!  I am the proud wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother of: Peter (husband), Megan, Brett and Caitlin (children), Meredith (dil) and Sydney and Julianne (granddaughters). Peter and I are both retired from our original careers (research and elementary school librarian) and now live in St.Petersburg, FL.  We actually built our house next door to the home where Peter grew up.  For the 1st time in our married lives we live near family and we love it!!

I began quilting way back in 1975, but have sewn since I was in junior high - my clothes, my childrens' clothes, curtains, etc.  An employment move brought Peter, Caitlin and I  to Houston in 1998 and we just so happened to move into the same neighborhood as Paula.  I began taking Paula's classes at the local quilt shop.  A friendship, a love of reproduction fabrics, and complimentary skills and the rest is history.  We began as Bonnie Blue Quilts in 2005 as an online quilt store specializing in reproduction fabrics, kits and patterns.  In 2011 we changed our name to Red Crinoline Quilts and changed the business focus - no more fabric by the yard on the website and no more traveling and vending at quilt shows.

Paula and I are co-owners of Red Crinoline Quilts and it is a match made in heaven.  We each have numerous daily jobs, but the business highlights our skills - Paula designs the quilts and the fabric and I make the quilts!  Even though we are states apart (Texas and Florida), technology and occasional retreats, help us bridge the gap!  I think one of the best parts of this friendship/partnership is that we make each other laugh and we both truly enjoy doing what we are doing.  It may get hectic, but in the long run we love it and wouldn't want to be doing anything else.  We've traveled (quilt shows, cruises) and met some of our best friends through this adventure. Plus, I've gotten to see my name in print in some of the top quilting magazines; something I never expected to happen in my wildest dreams!!

Let's get you started on block #7.  Here are the directions for my block: 

Marcus Fabrics Friends and Companions Sew-Along - Block #7-

 Mary Ellen's Block

Cutting Instructions:

  Light print -

      Cut (2) 3" squares

      Cut (8) 2 1/2" squares

  Black print - 

      Cut (2) 3" squares

  Green print - 

      Cut (4) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles

  Cheddar print -

      Cut (4) 1 1/2" squares

  Blue print -

      Cut (1) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangle

      Cut (2) 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles

Directions:

      1. Sew (2) cheddar 1 1/2" squares to (1) blue print 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles.

          Press to the blue.  Repeat with remaining (2) cheddar squares and (1) 1 1/2" x 2 1/2"

          blue rectangle.

      2. Piece the center unit using the diagram.  Press to the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" blue rectangle.

      3. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (8) light 2 1/2" squares.

      4. Constructing the flying geese units: Place 1 light square on a green 2 1/2" x 4 1/2"

          rectangles.  Sew on the pencil line.  Repeat with all of the 4 green rectangles.

      5. Press the light square to the green rectangle.  (You many trim the excess away if you like.)

      6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 and add a cream 2 1/2" square to the other corner of the green

          rectangles. The flying geese unit measures 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" unfinished.

    

      7. Draw a pencil line on the wrong side of the (2) light 3" squares.

          Pair each with a 3"black square.

      8. Sew 1/4" on each side of the pencil line.

          Cut along the pencil line.

      9. Press to the dark and trim to 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

    10. Arrange the block units as shown.  Sew together into row.

          Press to the flying geese units.

    11. Sew rows together. Press seams away from center row.

          Your block should measure 8 1/2" unfinished.

 Click here for a downloadable/printable version of block #7.

Seven blocks done!! Are you keeping up with us or saving this for another day.  If you are like me, you probably have a few projects in line waiting for their turn at the sewing machine.  Right now I working on some quilts for Fall Market, but also trying to finish my blocks for a Churn Dash exchange.  As the time draws near for these blocks to be completed and exchanged I began to question myself about exchanges - why do I join them, why do I put myself under this stress and pressure, what was I thinking?  But then I finish them and I'm ready to sign up for the next one!!  Remember we are giving away prizes to 3 people that comment on this post, so let's hear your thoughts on exchanges:  do you like them, do you participate, do they make you nervous, do you prefer exchanges with rules or those with an anything goes attitude.  Any horror stories you are comfortable sharing?  Winners will be announced on Monday, September 15th.  Looking forward to reading your comments.

Until next time, happy quilting,

Mary Ellen