A Tisket, A Tasket....a Strawberry Basket!

Happy Midweek!  The weekend is on the horizon!

I love this time of year.  I am not a cold weather person, so I tend to bungle my way through winter.  The only thing that keeps me going is the promise of spring and summer.  I love being able to go outside without a jacket.   I love being able to eat dinner on my deck.  I love taking Evangeline on walks and seeing her amazement over butterflies, bees, rocks, and whatever else we come across.

I love that this time of year gives us fresh fruit and vegetables.  (Side note here...support your local farmers' market.  A lot of farmers' markets bring produce in from out of county and out of state.  Support your local grower.  They need you and you need them.).   And strawberries are one of those sumptuous fruits.

This block celebrates mothers and daughters and strawberries.  It's an intermediate skill-level block, just plan not to rush through it and be accurate in your cutting, seam allowances, and matching points.  It's by no means as difficult as Tulips and Ivy.

First, there are a lot of exposed bias edges.  In fact, in all but two pieces -- the rectangles -- you have exposed bias edges due to the number of triangles in this block.   So starch copiously and handle carefully.  Also, on step one, it states you will make seven half-square triangles out of the fabric.  This is true, but make sure you do not use the triangles you cut out of the basket fabric for one of these.  There are enough triangle to make eight units, but only seven will be used.

Be sure to cut off the "dog ears" before you sew these together in strips.  This will reduce bulk and make the quilting process easier, whether it's done by hand or machine.  When I first started quilting, I was petrified of cutting anything off a square--I was so scared I was going to mess something up.  I got over that quite quickly the first time I quilted one of my own quilts.  Reducing bulk in anyway really helps.  I wish I could make my thighs understand that concept, but I've about decided that is a lost cause!

The next thing you do is make the bottom part of the basket via a large half-square triangle.

At this point, it's probably noticeable that I've added a few new fabrics into my quilt block.  I told everyone earlier that I was running out of fabric!  Looking at the first picture, it's apparent that I've added three new coral colors.  In the basket, you can see that the left side is a new striped fabrics.  Introducing new fabrics is a necessity (not to mention fun!) at times.  As you're replacing fabrics, like I did in the first picture of the half-square triangles, notice I stayed in the same color family.  I did the same thing with the large half-square triangle.  If you stay in the same color, hue, and value range, you can add fabrics easily and not send tremors through your quilt. For instance, if I had replaced one of the coral colors with something from the purple family, even if it was the same value and hue, it wouldn't "jive" with the rest of my quilt.

These corals and peaches are in the same color, hue, and value range that it works.  Most viewers' eyes would skip over the colors and not even notice.  I also have several other blocks I can use them in, so they will be repeated.  Therefore,  introducing more new fabrics at this time is fine.  If this was the last block made for the quilt, this wouldn't work.  I need blocks I can repeat the fabric in at least a couple of times.

So.... the moral of this is even with the best planning (and the fabric requirements of this quilt said assorted fat quarters but gave no number), sometimes you need more fabric.  So buy more than you think you need at the beginning....or don't panic and just run to the nearest fabric store before you're half-way through with your quilt.

Now you will sew the half square triangles from the first picture into two strips.  The first strip has three half-square triangles.  Before you do this, think about how you want your basket to look.  Do you want the colors repeated in sequence or at random?  The picture in the book shows a color sequence .. that is the half-square triangles on one side is a mirror image of the half-square triangles on the other side.  This is where you decide what kind of look you want.  This decision is yours and yours alone.  Do what makes you happy.

Sew the strip with three half-square triangles on the side of the basket half-square triangle:

It's really a good idea at this point, to follow the pressing directions carefully.  However in step four, press the seam allowances up not down.  It will become apparent why as you attach the four half-square triangle strip to the other side of the basket.

If the seam allowance on the last strip are pressed down, you may not be able to get the seams to "nest" as you attach it to the side of the basket.  This will throw your points off a little, so that half-square triangle at the top of the basket may be off as much as 1/4 of an inch.  Pressing the allowances in that final strip up instead of down solves that headache.

Attach the basket fabric triangles to the end of the rectangles.  Be sure they are facing opposite directions.

Then attach them to the the square.

Couple of things that need to be remembered as this block is constructed:

1.  Spray starch or Best Press is your best friend to protect those bias edges.

2.  Press, don't iron this block.  The back and forth motions of ironing can stretch those bias edges, even with copious amounts of Best Press or spray starch.

3.  There will be more scraps than usual left over from the half-square triangles.  Toss them into your quilt fabric and use them for the applique.

4.  Bulky seams are present in almost every area of this block.  Even with the dog-ears gone, the seam intersections are thick.  If you have issues here, the first thing you need to check is your sewing machine needle.  If you've sewn more than eight hours with the same needle, it's time to change.  I have fallen in love with Superior Threads titanium-coated needles.  They're a tad more expensive than regular needles, but they are super sharp, go through thick seams like butter, and last longer than regular needles.  Needles are like shoes, bunnies.   You get what you pay for.

If you're still having issues, clean and oil your machine.  I make a point to clean mine every time I change the needle.  Consult your sewing machine manual before oiling though.  Some machines require more oiling than others.  And be sure you use good quality sewing machine oil.  

5.  Finally, be sure all your blocks are measuring 10 1/2-inches at this point.

We will discuss the strawberry applique for this block next.  It's a little tricky.  Until then...

Love and Stitches,

Sherri