Week 2 - Whirligig Quilt Sew Along
Jan 6, 2022 - 8:00pm
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Whirligig Quilt Sew-Along
Week 2
Welcome to Week 2 of the Whirligig sew-along. How much fun has it been meeting all the Whirligiggers and seeing all the awesome fabric choices!
If you have just joined the SAL, welcome! Be sure to grab the pattern, read up on all the details and choose your fabrics soon so you can catch up and join in the fun!
SHARE ON INSTAGRAM
Don’t forget to post a pic of your cut fabrics to IG and be sure to the use the #whirligigsal and #ejjwhirligigquilt hashtags to make it easier for others to find your photos.
Don't worry if you’re ahead, this is supposed to be fun. If you feel like sewing, go for it. This sew along is all about enjoyment so there are no rules, stick to the schedule or move ahead, do what's right for you.
There have been some fabulous fabric combos popping up on Instagram! and in the Facebook group. Some of my favourites are shown below. I can't wait to see these made up into Whirligig quilts.
Don’t forget to post a pic of your cut fabrics to IG and be sure to the use the #whirligigsal and #ejjwhirligigquilt hashtags to make it easier for others to find your photos.
Don't worry if you’re ahead, this is supposed to be fun. If you feel like sewing, go for it. This sew along is all about enjoyment so there are no rules, stick to the schedule or move ahead, do what's right for you.
There have been some fabulous fabric combos popping up on Instagram! and in the Facebook group. Some of my favourites are shown below. I can't wait to see these made up into Whirligig quilts.
HALF SQUARE TRIANGLES (HSTs)
Week 2 is all about Half Square Triangles or HSTs. If you have your own way of making HSTs, go for it, just make sure you trim your blocks to 3.5".
If you participated in my first sew along you will notice I have used the same step by step photos. I hope you don't mind, but running around after a toddler and organising a sew along can fill my days pretty quickly. This was a little shortcut that gave me heaps more time!!
Week 2 is all about Half Square Triangles or HSTs. If you have your own way of making HSTs, go for it, just make sure you trim your blocks to 3.5".
If you participated in my first sew along you will notice I have used the same step by step photos. I hope you don't mind, but running around after a toddler and organising a sew along can fill my days pretty quickly. This was a little shortcut that gave me heaps more time!!
The half square triangles are used to make up the gigs in the quilt. You’ll need to pair up these fabrics first (if using a scrappy background like I did) to make sure you have enough variety in the blocks.
PREPARATION
Once you’ve paired up your squares, the next thing you need to do is mark the back of half of your squares. I marked the back of my background fabric.
One of the best ways to get a straight line on the back of your fabric is to use a sandpaper board underneath. The sandpaper stops the fabric moving, which makes it so much easier to draw the line. How cool is that! I have a fancy sandpaper board but you can just use a sheet of sandpaper from your local hardware store.
I like to use a mechanical pencil with a chaco lead to mark my fabrics. The chaco lead marks the fabric easily and is erasable later on.
Take one of the fabric squares and mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the fabric. Repeat for all your pairs!
Once you’ve paired up your squares, the next thing you need to do is mark the back of half of your squares. I marked the back of my background fabric.
One of the best ways to get a straight line on the back of your fabric is to use a sandpaper board underneath. The sandpaper stops the fabric moving, which makes it so much easier to draw the line. How cool is that! I have a fancy sandpaper board but you can just use a sheet of sandpaper from your local hardware store.
I like to use a mechanical pencil with a chaco lead to mark my fabrics. The chaco lead marks the fabric easily and is erasable later on.
Take one of the fabric squares and mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the fabric. Repeat for all your pairs!
SEWING TIME
Take one pair of squares with the marked square on top.
Sew either side of the marked line with a ¼” seam.
Repeat for all the pairs.
Take one pair of squares with the marked square on top.
Sew either side of the marked line with a ¼” seam.
Repeat for all the pairs.
CUTTING TIME
Now take your rotary cutter, ruler and mat.
Cut down the centre of all the blocks on the drawn line from before.
Press the blocks. I like to press to the dark fabric, AKA the dark side!
TRIMMING TIME
The blocks you have just made will be a little big, they also might be a little wonky. I suppose it will depend on how much quarantine wine you’ve been drinking! Don't worry, that's where the trimming comes in.
Using a square ruler (or a bloc loc ruler if you have one), line up the 45 degree line on your ruler with the seam through the middle of the block. Trim the block down to 3.5" square.
Check out the pics below for a visual on how to trim your HSTs.
The blocks you have just made will be a little big, they also might be a little wonky. I suppose it will depend on how much quarantine wine you’ve been drinking! Don't worry, that's where the trimming comes in.
Using a square ruler (or a bloc loc ruler if you have one), line up the 45 degree line on your ruler with the seam through the middle of the block. Trim the block down to 3.5" square.
Check out the pics below for a visual on how to trim your HSTs.
That's it for Week 1.
Next week we will be making half of the blocks.
I hope you guys are having fun!
How much fun is it checking out all the photos and fabric inspo on the #whirligigsal hashtag!
And remember, this sew along is not fast paced, however please zoom ahead if you want to! This sew along is all about you, so please sew at your own pace.
I am enjoying watching all your fabulous quilts come together and can't wait to see some photos of finished blocks popping up in my IG feed.
Emma x
Next week we will be making half of the blocks.
I hope you guys are having fun!
How much fun is it checking out all the photos and fabric inspo on the #whirligigsal hashtag!
And remember, this sew along is not fast paced, however please zoom ahead if you want to! This sew along is all about you, so please sew at your own pace.
I am enjoying watching all your fabulous quilts come together and can't wait to see some photos of finished blocks popping up in my IG feed.
Emma x
