YouTube Improv: Crumb Quilting Adventure - 2

I'm continuing with making crumb pieces that will eventually turn into blocks following Darlene's directions.

Crumb Quilting Adventure - Making My First 6x6 Crumb Quilt Block | Ep. 2

Notes:

1. Sew to the strip before trimming!  Sometimes your strips will be long and you can sew more to several subunits.  Just try to not have the same fabrics together all the time (unless you want that look).
2. When trimming look for the seams, they should not be right at the edge.  If they are add some fabric.
3. Cut straight or wonky.
4. Square up using the edge of a ruler.
5. Instead of working with small scraps, add fabric and then cut down.
6. If you are needing to add a corner, find a piece that is already cut in a triangle shape.
7. Make it easy and make the unfinished size of the block, the size of your ruler.

8.  Place the new piece upright next to the strip to be sure what way the strip will be cut.
9.  Press with the pieced pieces up first, then flip so the strip is on top and then press up.  That way the seam will be arranged so it is against the strip rather than all the pieces.

Here is Darlene's first block (16 pieces 6.5 in square):

https://youtu.be/y_rfv2EzBvg

Here was my first block (10 pieces 7.5 inch square):

I have a 7.5 inch square template/ruler and it is really easy to see where the seams are when planning the cut. 

This block is already had fabric added to it, and it is divided now into two pieces.

On to Episode 3!

YouTube Improv: Crumb Quilting Adventure - 1

Darlene made a series last year about making crumb blocks.  At the time I watched, but didn't try anything.  This time I'm going to try to follow along...

There are 12 episodes in the series.  I have done some sewing along with the first one.

Crumb Quilting Adventure - How to Start Piecing the Blocks | Ep. 1

1.  Gather fabrics to be used.  Small left over crumbs and some larger ones too.  If you want to have the same fabric thru out then get some yardage and be sure to include in the various blocks.

2.  Look for or create at least one straight edge on each piece of fabric to be used.  Sew two pieces of fabric together.  Press.

3.  Trim the extra bits off and create at least one straight edge.  Continue with adding another piece.  Press. And /Or

4.  Find a strip of fabric with at least one straight edge.  Put that on the sewing machine, add the pieced bits to that strip of fabric.  Press.

5.  Trim to get straight edges.  Continue.

So that's it for the first episode!  Once she gets to them, the directions are clear and easy to follow.

It does take a lot of time (at least for me) to gather scraps and get them prepped for sewing, so if you are going to do this know you will perhaps not be sewing right after watching the Youtube!

It's too hot now for me to continue pressing and sewing, but I have masses of scraps ready to sew together to make crumb blocks.  I'm trying to pull out blues, greens, purples and black and whites - but I see a strip of yellow/orange are in these first pieces.

Episode two she will give suggestions on picking an end size of the block and them squaring up.  I peeked ahead and see she picked a size that matched the width of her main ruler.

YouTube Improv: Quilt Block Tutorial

Saw this block and thought it would be fun to try.

It was, but there were some missing steps in the tutorial.

I started with six 7.5 inch fabric squares (instead of 6 inch squares) as that is what I already had.

I picked two different versions of the same colors.  In the video he just says six fabrics, but if you look there is a pattern of yellow/gold, dark/light turquoise, and medium/light green.

He doesn't say how many strips to try to get out of each six inch fabric square, but did say to try for between 1.5 and 2.5 inch at the edge.  He stresses wonky cuts.  I got four to five cuts from each square.

I sewed the cut strips together using chain piecing.  This was not mentioned in the tutorial, but it made sense to sew two of the same colors together.  And then to sew so the same colors (not shades of color) were next to each other.

Their original six 6 inch squares resulted in four 6.5 inch blocks.  Not for me.  Even after adding fabric so the sides would have fabrics in a few places My six 7.5 inch squares resulted in four 5.5 inch blocks.  I may try this again later.

For my current purposes of experimenting with YouTube directions, this is okay.

Activity: 2019 SoCal Quilter's Run

https://quiltersrun.com/

My husband and I finished visiting 14 of the the 2019 SoCal Quilter's Run in two days.  We turned in our passports after having the last stamp applied at my 'home shop' Cozy Quilts the next day.

Thirty Fat Quarters!

I've heard of these events before, but this time the grand prize (Road to CA Mini Retreat, 4 classes for 2 winners,1 hotel room for 4 nights) and the fat quarters to be distributed at each store visited, really caught my attention.  I thought it would be a nice outing, but was so glad when my husband said he would come along too. As a bonus it turned out he also could have a passport stamped and get a fat quarter - so between us we ended up with thirty lovely reminders of the weekend!

Each shop had designed a
block for the event.

It was really nice to see the different stores.  They were all arranged so differently, with different speciality items to see too.  And it was super to see the variety of communities where they were located!

Orange Quilt Bee Event block
(shown in complete quilt).

Each shop designed a special block for the event, and that pattern was given out when we had our passport stamped too.  They were all supposed to represent something from Main Street USA, but honestly since they were all done in such different styles I doubt if anyone will make them all. (One shop even said we probably wouldn't want their pattern as it had so many small pieces - so we skipped getting that one.)




My favorite block was from the Orange Quilt Bee Shop.  It is a very modern looking four petal flower.

Some of the stores had displays showing samples from different classes they would be offering.  A one time hand stitching with Big Stitch Quilting workshop (Orange Quilt Bee) and a monthly Tucker University (Susan's Quilt Paradise) are both close enough that in theory I could attend! Quilt Emporium in Woodland Hills gave out coupons for 40% off one item or one cut of fabric for August and September.

Day One - We started by staying over nite in Placentia so we were close to the Orange Quilt Bee Shop.  

Orange Quilt Bee 628 E. Katella Ave. Orange, CA 92867 - very friendly staff. This was our first stop and really started the Quilt Run off is a good way!  WEBSITE

The Sew N Sew  160 North Glendora Ave. #E Glendora, CA 91741 This store was on a cute old-fashioned street but was in a strip mall that was a little off to the side.  Once inside there were many rooms to visit with different themes.  They had a great selection of batting and 4500 square feet of shop - they have everything.   WEBSITE

Quilt 'n Things Fiber Arts  2353 Lincoln Ave. Altadena, CA 91001 The owner (Lana Norton) and staff were simply charming.  I wish I lived nearer to this pleasant and professional yet homey shop.  There were all sorts of items that I haven't seen in other places here.  WEBSITE  (We came around lunch time and they told us about a delicious and old-fashioned place, Black Cow Cafe in the Montrose shopping park.)

Cotton & Chocolate Quilt Co.  1724 E. Avenida De Los Arboles #E Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 Beautiful selection of fabrics in many different colors. WEBSITE

Quilt Emporium  4918 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 These folks really were set up for a fun experience!  There were extra games to play (We won some thread!) and lots of smiles here.  WEBSITE

Bolts in the Bathtub 723 West Lancaster Blvd Lancaster, CA 93534 - wish we had had one more day here to visit the art museum and see the town!  The store owner/contact person was so friendly and excited about quilting. She demonstrated a clever ruler that will help me with bindings and blocks. WEBSITEWe had frozen custard and walked around to see the summer Thursday street fair displays. 

Day Two - We stayed over nite in Palm Desert so we were close the shops there. 

Monica's Quilt & Bead Creations  77780 Country Club Dr. #C-D Palm Desert, CA 92211  Beads and fabric galore!  They had a demo to show how to use strips of batting for a cute quilt. WEBSITE

The Quilter's Faire 34500 Gateway Dr. #110 Palm Desert, CA 92211 A beautifully arranged store. They had fun treats for visitors to enjoy. WEBSITE

Susan's Quilt Paradise  851 E 6th St Suite A4, Beaumont, CA 92223  Compact shop, but with lot of things to see and learn from! The Deb Tucker University seems like a great event to attend and learn from. WEBSITE

Sewn Together  1700 Hamner Ave., Suite 112 Norco, CA 92860  Another fun shop, with photo booth set up to help us remember the visit.  (Their block is the bake shop, hence the theme.)  I remember thinking it was close enough for me to return.  WEBSITE

Quilter's Cottage 131 E. Fig St., Suite 6 Fallbrook, CA 92028 I had visited this store before with my adult ed quilting class.  Located in a narrow shop with several rooms arranged by theme.  Nice discounts on selected items. WEBSITE  We ate at a local cafe before getting back on the freeway.

Inspirations Quilt Shop 27350 Valley Center Rd. #B Valley Center, CA 92082  Shop is behind the building we thought it would be in.  Filled with pleasant people, projects and fabric.  A lot of community involvement. WEBSITE

The Hive  728 Civic Center Dr. Vista, CA 92084 Gets the prize for the cutest building for a store, it is an old house!  Many fabric and project selections.  WEBSITE

Quilt In a Day  1955 Diamond St. San Marcos, CA 92078 Large selection of fabric and notions.  The place to come when you need a specialty ruler - but call ahead to be sure it is in stock!  Many items are not priced with labels, and in a previous visit I ended up paying more than I thought an item would be due to odd labeling, and the rulers that had been advertised on sale and were the reason I drove up, were not in stock.  But this time they honored the price that was on the ruler I bought even though it turned out to be from a show or previous sale price.  The store has beautiful ombre, batik, solids and others (but few solids).  There is a room with fabric for $6 a yard that has a lot of fun and easy to use fabric.   We could see the room where Eleanor tapes her demonstrations of her completely wonderfully presented patterns. When I first began quilting I bought a ton of her books and learned so much.  My original adult ed teacher was friends with Eleanor's sister.  Patricia would come every year and practice her demonstration talks of new patterns, books and notions, before taking her show out on the road.  If you need inspiration, or want to have the steps explained completely, or want to get back on track on making quality projects - then get a Quilt in the Day book! WEBSITE

WAZE said we would either reach the last shop with just 4 minutes to spare, so we opted instead to go to the border to participate in the march there.

 


Day 3 - Stayed at home then went to the last store.

Cozy Creative Center 756 Jamacha Rd. El Cajon, CA 92019 This is my 'home store', the one I go to several times a month.  Daniella does a wonderful job of building community and welcoming folks to see the taping of her Strip Club patterns.  These are mostly made with 2.5 inch strips of fabric and her special Strip Tube ruler. She includes directions for making without the ruler, but having tried that I know the ruler makes it much easier to do!  She has a wonderful selection of fabrics, batting, kits, tools and books.  She always has a stash of fabric that is 40% off and I think the books are always 20% off.  It's always a good day to go to this store! Usually when I buy quilt items I first go to Cozy Creative Center.  WEBSITE

After turning our passports in, we went to the celebration at Mission San Diego - It has been there for 250 years!

So my first Quilter's Run was a complete success.  I've already been peeking to see where other ones are held so another trip can be planned around seeing different stores and parts of the world!

I hope the Southern California Quilting stores get lots of business as a result of organizing this event.  The drawing for the prizes will be in August.

I hope to return for that big quilting class, and will look to see if someone would like to drive with me to the Deb Tucker University series.  And I will be sure to drop into these 2019 SoCal Quilter's Run stores the next time I am near them!

--------------
Expenses:

$40.00            180 Doodle Designs Book and Quilting with Precuts Book
$11.00             2 half jelly rolls (made with scrap fabric)
$30.00             19.5 inch ruler
$ 9.00              8 zippers
$ 5.50              Event Tote


Hotel (and breakfast)

Lunch

Gas

Frozen Custard

Dinner

Hotel (no breakfast included)

Breakfast

Lunch