Step top is completed!!!!!

Thank you everyone for all of your comments yesterday (and the day before) I am so behind in getting back to anyone. I have been so hyper focused on getting this done I have been falling down on other important jobs, like saying thank you! 

I filled the entire foyer yesterday and was able to sew almost all the pieces together by midnight. 

It was a beautiful day yesterday so I had to get my 6 miles in and take a short break on the hammock...the shoes made me do it! I felt like such a slacker with so much sewing still to do!!!!

The finished top!!!!! It took two people and hanging it over the deck to get a photo :o) I am not sure how to get a pic of a big quilt and for it to look good,LOL! I really did not intend for it to be so big ( 78x87)  but I LOVE it!!!!!

Rachel at Stitched in Color added some more prizes to the awesomeness for Scrap Attack. You still have time to make a pillow, a mini or something else to link up!

Linking up to

Finish it up Friday

and

Sew and Tell Friday

And stay tuned, I picked out some lovely things for the OMG I cannot believe I have been blogging a year giveaway!!!!

A rainbow on my deck

I was able to finish all the blocks { I can hear sighs of relief that these are FINALLY done, including ME...lol}, not this weekend as I had planned but by this morning. It was too lovely outside on Saturday and Sunday and well the yard was screaming my name for some attention! It was nice to be outside and getting my hands a little dirty :o) 

My favorites of the reds

and the black/grays, I decided to lump these groups together

All lined up even though I am not convinced they will stay this way. Do you think it is better like this or random bursts of color all over?  This will be the hardest part for me I think.

Don't forget today is Week 3 of the New York Beauty QAL  being hosted by the very talented Megan at  Canoe Ridge Creations. I will be working on mine this week! Beautiful block Megan!

{photo from Canoe Ridge Creations}

Linking up to Sew Modern Monday

Ten little blocks

Ten more completed!!!!! I am so close to being done I am getting excited!!!! I am going to finish each color set instead of jumping around like I was before so I can have this wrapped up by March 26th.

Rachel at Stitched In Color announced some more of the giveaways for the Scrap Attack challenge. There is still time to get scrappy and enter for some great prizes!!!!!

I need a bigger board!

More spring has been coming to visit too, I have been spending more time outside with the kids and less time sewing. I think I need a featherweight and a little table for outside on the deck *giggle*

Katy found this perfect nest

We have been keeping an eye on this to see what comes out

and there is a POPCORN tree just a couple of houses away { and just about everywhere else here at the moment}

More of the same...

I know I am driving y'all crazy with my courthouse steps but this is the best way for me to keep gettin em made!!!! Now I found out that there is another reason to get this quilt completed...PRIZES!!!!! I saw a fantastic post yesterday from Rachel over at Stitched In Color. She started the Scrap Attack in January, she is always doing super cool and motivating things over there. I needed that gentle kick in the tooshie to tidy up my sewing scraps, although in doing so I have actually added to the piles since I was missing some colors but SSSShhhhhhhhh... I would tell if you won't ;o)

I am going to have to up my production of these babies to complete the project in time to participate and hopefully you guys will bear with me! I finished SEVEN yesterday...WOO HOO and thank goodness for pre-school!!!!

It is growing!!!!!!!

So if you are working on a scrappy project be sure to head on over for the linky party and prizes!!!!! Thanks so much Rachel :o)

Linked up to

Sew and Tell Friday

Courthouse Steps {a tutorial}

These courthouse steps are a wonderful way to start paper piecing if you have never tried. These blocks are also a great scrap buster. I hope you will give these a try. If you do not want to make a whole quilt you can always make a pin cushion!!!!!

I have been using the pattern from the book Elm Creek Quilts Sylvia's Bridal Sampler .  I was able to check the book out at my local library and it does have some other beautiful blocks too! I found an online free pattern here but does not have a conversion to a 6.5 block, the chart on the bottom of their page has conversions to other sizes that you might find useful. The pattern for an 8.5 block is here .  For this tutorial all the measurements are for the 6.5 in block in the book. All seams are 1/4 in.

This will be pic overload since I am gong to try to walk you through each and every step that I do. I apologize for the bad night photography and the amount of photos. By the time you have finished your first block I know you are going to say..." Is that all there is to this" at least I hope that is what you say ;o) 

If any step is unclear please shoot me a msg so hopefully I can explain it better.

What you will need

printout of your block trimmed up

glue stick

rotary cutter, 

scissors

small cutting board {if you have one}

small ruler

Fabric needed:

block 1:                2x2 in print

block 2 and 3:      2x2 solid

block 4 and 5:      3.5x2 print

block 6 and 7:      3.5 2 solid

blocks 8 and 9:     5x2 in print

blocks 10 and 11: 5x2 in solid

blocks 12 and 13: 7x2 in print 

Set your stitch length to about 1.5 . This will help when you tear the paper off at the end.

Take your first square 2x2 and put a wee bit of glue on the middle of the back of the fabric

Pop that sucker right in the middle of the center square

you can hold it up to the light and see that you are well over ALL the lines and that is where you want to be

I am sure there are many ways to do this but this method has been working for me because I cannot get the "where the heck do I put the next piece of fabric" thought outta my head...I need some visual cues to go by.

I prefold the lines. Then when I flip that paper over I can see where I am supposed to be next.

See the two lines? I cut the the white a bit too big ( it was a 3x3) but it will work. You can see where you need to place the white to make sure you have that 1/4 in seam. Since the print is glued down I just hold the solid in place when doing the flip in the next step. just make sure that the solid does not fold when you are sliding it under your foot ( that is what the seam ripper is for).

Flip the paper over and sew between the number 1 and number 2 line.

Take your paper out, trim your threads and fold at the seam you just sewed

Take your ruler and trim to 1/4 in

Flip that first solid step over

Take your second solid step and lay it on top of the the number 1 step. You can see the fold on the opposite side to be your guide.

Holding the number 3 piece on place...flip and sew...

trim, fold at the seam and trim to 1/4 in...

Flip them both open...FIRST round DONE!!!!! WOO HOO!

Time for more prefolding.  pre fold the 4,5 and 6 lines

To make the lining up of the fabric steps easier, I also pre-trimmed my previous steps. You can do this by folding down the line between , for example 3 and 7 in this photo, and with the previous step fabric flap out just trim to 1/4 in.

Where the 1,2 and 3 meet for you can pre-trim also using the same technique

When doing this make sure your flaps are out

 This will make lining up SO DANG EASY!

Next round of print steps and you already know that when you place this piece of fabric on it will already have 1/4 in ;o) Isn't that nice!

I forgot to take the sew in between the number shot...sorry :o(  Sew between the 1,2,3 and 4 line flip and if you want to check your 1/4 in this is a good time.

Add number 5 and we are on to another round!!!! Already looking GOOD!

More pre-folding

Fold down the edges and I flipped it so you can see how much difference pre-trimming can make

Next round of solid steps. Lay your fabric on top...

Sew on the 6 line

Repeat on the 7 and you are over half way DONE!!!!!!

Pre-fold and trim up for the next round

All trimmed up and ready for the next print steps

lay the fabric down

Sew the 8 line

Turn and flip down...

Add you next step and sew on the 9 line, sooooooo close to being to the end

Pre-fold then trim

Last round of solids!!! I do not trim on this round. The final trimming will be when the last set of solids and prints are on.

Sew and flip!

Add the other side and sew on the 11 line...

Okay, the last round of steps is here!!!! Number 12 my friends!!!!

and then lucky number 13...

All done sewing!

Give a quick dry press with the paper still on the back

Then trim around the outside line. Never ever use your good rotary cutter! I have two. This step can be done with scissors too.

All trimmed

Now carefully pull off the paper back. I try to fold first to make it easier

 The sections that are not on the outside edge you can either use your nail or a little nudge with the seam ripper helps too ;o)

Then you are done!!!!! Time to go make some more!!!!!!

I hope this is helpful. These blocks have been addicting to me!

If you find yourself making some too, I'd love to see them!!!!! Just add them into my Flickr pool. and even though it says Cathedral Windows, I really like seeing ANYTHING that you guys do, so please share!!!!!

Linked up to 

Sew Modern Monday