Bow Tie Quilt Block Tutorial...A "Charm" ing Block

The bow tie quilt block dates back to 1898. I found one quilt in the book "Vintage Quilts...Identification and Pricing" by Maggi McCormick Gordon that was dated 1900.

This block is very easy and can be made in period fabric or jazzed up with your favorite modern fabric.

I used 5 inch squares, so all your charm packs you have tuck away for a project will work great for this.

For each 9 1/2 inch block (9 inches finished size when sewn with other blocks) you will need...

• 3 - five inch colored squares
• 2 - five inch neutral squares or background fabric. I used white.

Take one of the 5 inch colored squares and

cut it in half, then half again. You will end up with 4 squares at 2 1/2 inches square.

You will only need 2 of the smaller squares for each block.

Place one smaller red square in the corner of the 5 inch white square as shown below in the picture...right sides together.

There are 2 ways to sew this section...and there is a bonus block with each method.

Pencil method...

take a ruler and draw a pencil line from corner to corner diagonally.

If you don't want the bonus block, you're done. Just need to sew on the pencil line.

For the bonus block, take a quilt ruler and place the 1/4 inch line on the pencil line...see it under my finger

now draw another pencil line. This will eventually be your cutting line.

The first line, from corner to corner is sewn...black thread so you can see.

The second stitch line for the bonus block is sewn 1/4 inch away from the second pencil line. I use a 1/4 inch presser foot.

I am pointing to the second pencil (cutting) line here. You need to sew 1/4 inch away from that.

My 1/4 inch presser foot is lined up with the line.

Two stitch lines sewn. The pencil line is your cutting line

"No Pencil" method...

You will sew from corner to corner, but use your machine lines as guide. Start at one corner and have the lower corner point follow the "zero" line on your machine.

If you don't have lines on your machine, you can "eye" this to the lower corner, because the square is small.

Done...

For the extra bonus block you need to sew 1/2 inch away from the first stitch line. I use my machine top as a guide. Mine has the 1/2 inch line to the left of zero, but no guide line all the way up to the needle.

So I use a rubber band as a removable guide.

Line it up at the 1/2 inch mark on the throat plate.

Now sew the second line. Guiding your first stitch with rubber band

Done...without a pencil line.

Pencil line method...

No pencil line method...

Cut on pencil line...

Guesstimate cutting up the middle on the "no pencil line".

See your 2 little bonus half square triangles?

Press all seams.

then open up and press to the red or colored fabric.

If you want to be super accurate, you can square up all the squares.

The little bonus half square triangle blocks are 1 1/2" when trimmed.

These would make an adorable doll quilt, pinwheel blocks, sashing squares, borders etc...

You can click HERE for another post I did on extra half square triangle blocks for more layouts

Now take one solid colored square and place on top of one white square...right sides together.

and one of the white squares on top of the red square...as shown below.

Pin to secure, then sew a 1/4 inch seam on the right side of the squares.

Press seams...

Then fold back and press to the dark fabric.

Line up rows in configuration below.

Fold top row over onto bottom row, right sides together.

Match seams.

Pin to secure.

Sew 1/4 inch seam.

Press seam...open up and iron flat.

Isn't she cute?

There are so many layouts for this block...not to mention if you reversed the color pattern. Meaning a small white square on a larger colored square.

If you go to your "search" area on your computer and type in bow tie blocks, bow tie block layout or bow tie quilts...there is so much inspiration.

Have fun with this block,
~Karen~

Thoughts on Thursday...

We all love crafting, sewing, quilting, scrap booking, knitting, embroidery, painting etc and we may dabble in a little bit of everything...however...

if you had to pick just one...what would your favorite be?

Ok, let me make it harder with a crazy story. You are going to be on a deserted island for one year and can only take one hobby (and all the things for that one hobby) with you...What would it be?

Oh, yeah...there will be electricity on this island. Let's not get too crazy with this story! (and my island will have potato chips too)

ONE hobby...ONE snack

Sorry, can't use your computer as your hobby. Lol !!

Mine are...quilting and Pringles chips

Let's hear from everyone to see what the most popular hobby is!!

Happy Thursday,
~Karen~

Tool Time Tuesday...File Your Fabric

Happy Tuesday! You all know Tool Time ideas and supplies come from all sorts of places...hardware stores, automotive stores, paint stores, the recycle bin etc. Well, today it's from the office supply...actually the file cabinet in my sewing room, but you can find it in the office supply.

You know they say..."necessity is the mother of all inventions." My necessity is...I needed a new place to store my fabric, because it was getting too much sunlight. However, you know I don't like to spend money!!

Here's what I came up with in desperation to keep my fabric neat, ironed and out of the sun.

Isn't it so pretty?

This is where I keep my fabric now...right out there in the bright light. Click here for a link to the rest of my sewing room ideas

I loved this method too...easy access, fabric is pretty, I can see what I need or have. The only bad part is...if I want that bottom piece, things get a little wonky.

Not to mention that whole wall of windows on the right side of the room streaming in the fabric fading light!

Here's what I came up with.

I have this file cabinet next to my sewing table. On top is set up for a cup of tea when crafting.

Inside it stores all my greeting cards by holiday.

Not for long...this is just the start of my new fabric filing system!!!

The fabric hangs on a Pendaflex Hanging Folder...

• easy to see
• keeps it ironed and wrinkle free
• file by color, designer etc
• out of the sunlight!!

Buy the pendaflex folders by the box.

and get your fabric ready!!

Since it's a folder, there are 2 sides...

Open up the folder...

and cut it in half

This is a half yard cut of fabric folded in half, selvage edge on the bottom...

fold in half again...

Place on file folder...

and fold the fabric over. The selvage edge will be draping down next to the sides of the folder

Hang in your file cabinet

For longer yardage of fabric, do the same thing by folding it in half and then half again (fold goes to the selvage edge). Your yardage (1,2,3 yards) lays out left to right.

Now just wrap the fabric over the file folder.

If there is a lot of yardage, you may not want to cut the folder in half...having the 2 parts will add strength for the weight of the fabric.

All wrapped up and ready to hang.

Ahhh...so pretty and neat...and safe from the sun. Maybe I should move my tea station though

Now I just need to get my butt in gear and sew something...I think my hobby really is organizing my supplies and not doing anything with them!!! LOL

I also need to be on the hunt for yard sale or thrift store file cabinets!

EDIT...there have been a few comments about the acid in the paper of the folder or the color bleeding. I'm not sure about the color, but the Pendaflex file website has a big ACID FREE sign on the page about the Pendaflex files. Click here to visit their site.

If you are worried about the color of the file, they do sell manila or no color folders or you could just place a piece of tissue or acid free paper between the fabric and folder.

Have a great day and have fun playing with your fabric.
~Karen~

Shoepeg Salsa Recipe...

Happy Monday everyone...I hope you had a great weekend. There was lots of football at our house. If there is any kind of gathering at our home...no matter the size...we always have this bean and corn salsa.

This recipe makes a big bowl, but this was all we had left the next day to snack on. Forgot to take a picture of the whole recipe.

Shoepeg Salsa

2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (17 ounce) can shoepeg corn, drained. Shoepeg corn is a small white corn.
1-2 avocados, chopped
1 red onion chopped very small
2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
4 Tablespoons lime juice ( I used the bottled kind...tastes better to me)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Make ahead so juices begin to flow from veggies...although it does taste great from the start! Serve with tortilla chips.

This is so yummy and healthy too. Only has one tablespoon of olive oil in the whole dish!!

Enjoy,
~Karen~

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Week 48

Happy Sunday everyone!! It's mid January...cold in some parts of the world, warmer in others, but no matter what the weather is outside, it still feels like a time of renewal. You feel rejuvenated to do so many things. I want to start new project and finish up old ones...story of my life.

If you've started new projects or finished up old ones...share them here at Sew Darn Crafty. It helps that feeling of accomplishment if you let others share in your excitement and I can't wait to see what you've been up to!!

If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button


If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...

• "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
• "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
• Let's not forget the word "crafty"...which is every thing we create
• ...the dot, dot, dot means you can share just about anything!! 

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking

• you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
• you can share what you've been up to (linking)

If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

• link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
• link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
• anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
• visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
• grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
• the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
• linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
• just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,

~Karen~