We're here with Debby Kratovil of Debby Kratovil Quilts for Technique Tuesday! Today Debby is playing with Greta Lynn's Knitty Sheep line for Kanvas while showing how to make Hourglass blocks and offering suggestions on how to best use fussy cut sheep "stripes."
It's natural for sheep to want to knit or crochet, right? |
Knitty Sheep, Knitty Sheep: can you knit with wool?
No, ma'am. No, ma'am. I never learned in school!
What! That sounds so crazy. Did you skip classes just to play?
No, ma'am, I took a class to learn how to crochet!
Whew! Now that's what I'm talking about! I can't knit and can only crochet. It's refreshing to find wool bearing sheep who know what to do with their hair!
Debby, why did you want to work with this collection?
Debby: I loved working with the Knitty Kitty collection a few months ago and made a few items for my crochet supplies (see post here). And now the fabrics are also in flannels. I can think of some cozy things to make for my little grandsons using those.
And some flannels to stay cozy and warm . . .
Knitty Sheep flannels |
Debby: Well, it usually only takes a day or two for the fabrics to convince me of what they want. Yes, they actually do start whispering once I rescue them from the mailing box. Then they get louder and louder until they convince me. But this time I think they were exhausted from their trip and it took over a week for them to talk to me.
And can we see what you did?
Debby: Why not? Isn't that what we're all here for?
I wanted so badly to capture the sheep in a horizontal strippy type quilt. I measured and figured that I would be able to cut 4" strips without lopping off any important sheep body parts! I allowed 1/4" from the tips of their little sheep heads. I was given 38" (basically a yard) to work with and the strip looks like this:
4" strip, allowing for 1/4" from the tops of their heads |
Then I dug through my files and found a tried and true pattern for an Hourglass block using my quick piecing and cutting using a 45˚ ruler (NOT a kaleidoscope ruler).
I used Judy Martin's 45 Shapemaker:
Judy Martin's 45 Shapemaker |
Omnigrid side setting triangle |
Two strips cut 2-3/4" x wof. Off-set them by 2-1/2" as shown |
I wanted to make 12 - 16 blocks, so I cut:
** 2 strips EACH of 4 colors: 2-3/4" x wof (will yield four blocks)
** 8 strips 2-3/4" x wof of the novelty print from Knitty Kitty/Sheep as shown above
From the Knitty Sheep panel fabric, cut:
** Four strips 4" x 36/38". Take care to measure 1/4" from the tips of the sheep heads. This way you won't "intrude" on the heads in the next panel. Two strips are used for the quilt center and two are used for the side borders.
** Cut two wider borders from the two ends at the selvedges. Note that there is more of the gray background fabric on each of the ends. This makes them a natural for the top and bottom borders.
Use the ruler to cut perfect triangles, always aligning the ruler tip at the top of the strip set |
Squeezing one more cut from the strip set |
8 triangle cuts from each strip set, enough for 2 blocks |
Pretty nifty, huh? |
Two block halves. Always press in the same direction |
Hourglass block with center seam pressed open |
Now, can we see the other colors you used?
Four happy blocks in bright colors |
Rows of 4 blocks stitched together. Then joined to a horizontal sheep row. |
Don't you love these two sheep from Poland? And that awesome wool with crochet hook? |
Here are all the blocks and borders |
Quilt Size: 43" x 44"
Love these colors. And aren't they such happy looking sheep? |
Thanks Debby!
Hah! I was looking at this block the other day and wondering what is the easy way to cut it... thanks for the turorial. I love that sheep fabric - too sweet!!
ReplyDeleteOMG those are just too cute. I just love those sheep and now we have a way to use them
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ReplyDeleteYep, these will knock your little chrocheted socks right off! Waaayy cute. Love the little sheep props.
ReplyDeleteI looooooove that fabric! Thanks for the tutorial - you made it so easy.
ReplyDeleteDebby E
samtaylorcjsmimi at yahoo dot com
Oh my gosh! Those sheep are just too cute. Great tutorial also. Thank you Debby
ReplyDeleteAwesome sheep!!! & LOOOOVE the Fabrics & the Blocks..& lil' Quilt!!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous, Debby. Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done. I will have to try your method out. I have a lot of new fabrics coming that would be beautiful with your tutorial. Thank you for showing an easy way to create this one.
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