Bonus Half Square Triangles Tutorial

Today's post is a quick tutorial on how I get bonus Half Square Triangles (HST) from the units I am making.

The process adds a little bit of time to your marking/stitching, but in the end you get a number of bonus HST already stitched together.

I use Frixion pens to mark my lines on the wrong side of the fabric, I use the Clover Fine White marking pen for dark fabrics.

I mark the stitching line for the unit I am making first.

Note how the 1/2" mark on the ruler skims the drawn line, it doesn't lay on top of it.

Then I move my ruler over and mark the second stitching line for the bonus HST. Note where I have my ruler lines, just next to the marked line, not directly on it. I do that because I will stitch right next to the line, not on it.

When I take the units to the sewing machine I stitch the line made for the unit I am making first. Just along the line, not on it, to get an accurately sized unit.

Next I stitch the line for the bonus HST. I also stitch along side the line, not directly on it, to keep my seam allowance correct, otherwise it will get a little small.

Cut 1/4" from the first stitched line.

At this point you can throw them in a bucket or square them right away. I tend to throw them in a bucket and then give them away.

If you are better than me though you can  press your bonus HST units to the dark side and trim to size. One of the nice things about the Tucker Trimmer, my go to ruler for trimming HST, is that it has easy to see whole numbers as well as the half numbers. This makes it easy to trim the bonus HST to any size you like. Trimming HST tutorial HERE.

Once trimmed you can play around with different settings.

Have fun and play around a bit.

Happy Stitching!
Jen

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Link Up Tutorial

I've had a few emails about linking up with Instagram accounts and have put together a quick tutorial to make the process a little smoother.

First open your Instagram on your computer, though you can't load pictures to Instagram from your computer, you can look at them and get a link.

Select the picture you want to share.

Highlight the link and copy it. (Shown in blue.)

Next, go to the link up page by clicking "Click here to enter". Paste your link in the first line.  Fill out the next two fields.

Now click on the "From File" button.

Choose to upload file.

Find the photo you want to upload.

  

Make sure it is highlighted then click "open".

It will ask you to crop your photo, make sure your picture is centered in the square and then click the Crop button.

Success!!

Hopefully. If you are still having a hard time getting it to load, please email me! patternsbyjen(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Stitching!

Jen

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Picked By Jen - Two-hand Casserole Pot Holder

This Picked By Jen is from Hey Lets Make Stuff. 

You can find the pattern and tutorial here: The Easy-Sew Two-Handed Casserole Pot Holder.

This really is a quick and easy sew and makes a great gift. In fact this Picked By Jen came about because my husband requested some like his mom's. Since his birthday was yesterday I thought it would be the perfect time to whip it up.

The instructions are easy to follow, but definitely take the time to cut slowly. I was in a hurry and my cuts weren't exactly equal. I made my seam allowance larger to accommodate. Looking at this picture I think it's time I finally bite the bullet and get a pair of pinking shears. What do you think?

Now, because I was in a hurry I pinned just one side, stitched to the other, laid the second side layers together and stitched, only to find out I hadn't paid close enough attention to the sequence. Isn't that the way it goes? When you are in a hurry you will always end up taking out the seam ripper.  You could always twist it in the middle to have the mitts work, but I wanted to make sure I gave him something nice, since he actually asked for it.

  See the opening where you pull it all through right side out? I always back stitch each side, that way if I have to put it all back, and then pull it right side out again, the stitching stays. I can guarantee that works, because I always have to go back and fix something.

Top stitched and ready to use. They turned out great, mistakes and all, and he loved the gift. I will definitely be making this one again, but I will be making it a bit wider and the mitt part a bit longer to fit "man sized" hands.

Fun Fact in Minnesota the casserole is known as a hot dish. What do you call it? 

Happy Stitching!

Jen

Introducing Muggamo!

Welcome to PBJ's Muggamo! 

Muggamo is a fun, new, monthly mug rug pattern program. Say that 3 times! You can't, so I changed it to mug rug a month, then mug a month, then Muggamo! Short, cute and catchy. Hopefully.

Feel free to grab this button and add it to your blog if you are joining in. You can also use #muggamo in your social media. I would love to see your creations!

On the first of each month I will be posting a pattern for a mug rug. This year the focus will be star patterns. My samples will be made in colors I feel represent the month, but you could choose to  make them scrappy or matching, either way you will have 12 Mug Rugs at the end of the year. 

Introducing January's Star Mug Rug.

 

Supplies needed:

Dark Grey: 2" x 23" strip

Light Grey: 2" x 23" strip

Blue: two 3" squares, one 2 1/2" square

White: two 3" squares, one 1" x 6 1/2" strip
Backing and batting: 11" x 8 1/2"
Binding: 2" x 36"

Let's get started!

Using the blue and white 3" make four Half Square Triangles.  Trim to 2 1/2".

Next, sew your strips together, length wise.

I slow my machine down a notch when sewing strips, it seems to help it pull through more evenly, and I don't get that wavy look. Press carefully to the dark side, it is very important not to push the iron and distort the seam.

Trim off one end, I use my ruler to follow the seam line to get that straight edge, not the mat.

From your strip cut three 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" rectangles. Set those aside for the side piece. Then cut four 3 1/2" squares. Mark the diagonal on the back side of two of those squares.

Match them up with the other two squares, making sure to match opposite colors.

Make four Half Square Triangles.

To square this piece to 2 1/2" you need to line up where the seams match at the 1 1/4" mark on your ruler.

Then line it up on the 2 1/2" mark as you usually would.

I like to use the Tucker Trimmer (no affiliation), and with that you would line up the seams here:

Again, making the last trim by lining up at the 2 1/2" mark.

Layout your block, and stitch top, middle and bottom rows together. I pressed the top and bottom rows out and the middle row in.

Sew the last seams together pressing them all up.

You could stop here if you like this size, or continue on and add the white strip to the right side and then the side piece. I forgot to take pictures of making the side piece, but it is laid out in the instructions. 

Layer and quilt.  For this one you need a 11" x 8 1/2" backing and batting. This is a great use for those batting pieces leftover from quilting. 

Even with small pieces I like to tape the layers down. I don't use spray baste, it just doesn't work for me, so I pin everything. A couple of pins here and we're ready to quilt. 

I used my walking foot to stitch in the ditch along the white strip, and the diagonals in rows 1 and 3. I quilted a diagonal line through each of the side rectangles. 

I started stitch in the ditch at on diagonal, stitched in the ditch across to the next and down that diagonal.

Once quilted, I put the binding on. I use a 2" wide strip, press in half, machine stitch to the front, hand stitch to the back. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to do a nice machine stitched binding. Maybe that should be one of my 2017 goals. 

Now it's ready for your favorite quilting drink and snack!

I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial and make your own star mug rug for January. I think it's so rewarding to make, and finish, something quickly. It really picks me up. Come back Feb 1st for another Muggamo pattern!

Happy Stitching!

Jen

December Picked By Jen - Elf Stockings

Picked By Jen posts are posts where I show you something I have made from a chosen tutorial that I found "somewhere on the web". It has been a while since I've done one, and what could be more perfect for December than stockings? 

Not the greatest picture, but it still makes my heart smile.

I chose the Elf Stocking (you will need to scroll down the page a bit to get the free download) from Patty Young of MODKID. 

If you are looking for a quick, cute stocking pattern, this is it. Look at those elf toes!!

Since I made six stockings, I traced the pattern onto interfacing. That way I could cut several and it would still be in good shape. Once I was done with it, I was able to just stick it into a manila envelope for storage and not worry about the tape coming off, or the paper getting creased. Maybe, years from now, I'll need to make little stockings to match. Though the more likely scenario is that we'll lose one and I'll need to make another next year.

When I use interfacing as a pattern, I position it on the fabric like any other pattern and then use weights to hold it all in place. In this case it was cans of chili beans. 

Then I use my rotary cutter. Since I found PDF clothing patterns, I have been convinced that scissors are no longer necessary for cutting out any fabric. Rotary cutter all the way...usually.

Even for that small area I pulled out my little 18 mm rotary cutter, and it worked perfectly. Just go slow and easy and I think you will find you like it.

I made one stocking all the way through, to make sure I understood the instructions, then made the last 5 all at once. 

CUTE!!  (If I do say so myself.)

The only thing I changed was that I added a lining, simply because I didn't like the feel of the fleece.  Nancy Zimmerman also added a lining, you can see her sock, and get instructions for that, here.

If you want to make a quick, cute Elf Stocking, this one really was quick, and I think completely adorable. 

Happy Stitching!

Jen