Charming Chatter: Simple Things

Hi girls! Carol and I are really excited that so many of you are joining us for the quilt along! These really are such fun quilts to make! We're all going to stay in touch using Mr. Linky - I'll add a Mr. Linky to each new post! As you post on your blog about your progress, please share the link to that page on your blog - so we can visit, and see!

Also, please feel free to use our button

and to invite your friends to join us - there is still plenty of time!

For cutting instructions on Carol's beautiful

larger version, go Here!

Cutting Instructions (Mini Version)

From Your Background Fabric, cut:

1. 4 - 6" strips, and from those strips, cut 24 - 6" squares. If you are not doing the optional embroidery, then cut 2 - 2 1/2" strips, and from those strips, cut 24 - 2 1/2" squares.

2. 1 - 1 1/2" strip, and from that strip, cut 16 - 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles.

3. 1 - 4 1/2" strip, and from that strip, cut 16 - 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles.

4. 3 - 1 1/2" strips, and from those strips, cut 68 - 1 1/2" squares.

5. 2 - 3 1/4" strips, and from that strip, cut 17 - 3 1/4" squares. Cut each square in half diagonally twice, making 4 Quarter Square Triangles per square (for a total of 68 Quarter Square Triangles)

6. 4 - 3 1/2" strips, and from those strips, cut 44 - 3 1/2" squares. Cut each square in half diagonally once, making 2 Half Square Triangles per square (for a total of 88 Half Square Triangles)

**UPDATE (I forgot to include these for your borders - oops - sorry)

7. 8 - 1 1/2" strips, for your inner and outer borders. From these strips, cut:

2 @ 1 1/2" x 28 1/2"

2 @ 1 1/2 x 30 1/2

2 @ 1 1/2" x 36 1/2"

2 @ 1 1/2" x 38 1/2"

From Your Charm Squares

1. Gather 38 charm squares. From each charm square, cut 9 - 1 1/2" squares for a total of 336 - 1 1/2" squares.

3. Gather 13 charm squares. From each charm square, cut 4 - 1 7/8" squares for a total of 52 - 1 7/8" square. Cut each square in half diagonally once to make 2 Half Square Triangles per square, for a total of 104 Half Square Triangles.

4. Gather 11 charm squares. From each charm square, cut 4 - 1 1/4" x 5" rectangles, for a total of 44 rectangles.

From Your Red (Accent) Fabric, cut:

1. 4 - 1 7/8" strips. From those strips, cut a total of 68 - 1 7/8" squares. Cut each square in half diagonally once, to make 2 Half Square Triangles for a total of 136 Half Square Triangles.

2. 4 - 2 1/4" strips for binding.

3. 1 - 1 1/2" strip (optional - for fabric covered buttons)

(this is my orignal stack of fabric -your pile won't look like this - this was before I modified the quilt to add the pieced border :)

That's it - all the bits you'll need to make your quilt top and binding!

Embroidery

For those of you who are doing the optional embroidery - I wanted to get you started right away. **We won't be piecing these blocks next week (so no rush) just wanted to give you plenty of time.

Choose 24 words that you'd like to embroider on your quilt - feel free to use any of the words I used - or none of them - just MIY (MAKE IT YOURS)!

Type your words in a word document - and choose your font, and font size! Remember - the finished block will be 2" square - so you'll want to be sure your words fit with a bit of space on the outer edges. I used the "Bradley Hand ITC" font and a font size of 36. I love this font - it's pretty - yet still simple. But remember - this is your quilt so MIY!!

Trace one word on each of your 24 - 6" squares (or use transfer eze as I did), and put your fabric in your embroidery hoop:

I used a quadruple strand of red thread (DMC 321) and a simple back stitch. For those who might need it - here are the embroidery instructions:

1. Pull a single thread approximately 3 to 4 feet long. Fold the thread in half, wet the end where the two ends of the thread meet - and thread the double strand in your needle.

Pull half way through, and gather at the ends - so you have a total of four strands. Knot.

2. At the beginning of your line, insert the needle up through the back, pull thread through.

3. Approximately 1/8" down the line, insert the needle down from the top, pull thread through.

Ahh - your first stitch.

4. Now, approximately 1/8" from where your last stitch ended, insert your needle through the back to the front, pull thread through.

5. Now, insert the needle at the bottom of the last stitch (in the same hole that you made when you finished that stitch (think this is why they call it a back stitch).

6. Repeat the steps above, trying to keep your stitches as even as possible!

These words go very quickly - only takes 2 or 3 hours to finish all 24~enjoy the hand-stitching - think is might have been my favorite part of making the quilt!