Pat Sloan's I Love To Make Quilts

FREE.Block #1 of Winter Fun! Sew Along

*** Block Details ***

My Winter Fun! Block Wed Mystery Sew along is about the fun things we do in the winter. I know there will be way more than 9 of them! I’m starting off with one that has to make anyone smile, Building Snowmen!! I always hope the first snow of the year is ‘good snowman’ snow. Not too light, and not too wet..With enough of it!

When you make your block share a favorite building snowman story with me!

• FULL Project Details and Printable supply list
• 9 Blocks
• A setting that will be given about the middle of the sew along
• Fabric I'm using 
  
  • Layer Cake 
  • Purchase 2 yds of a neutral you like (NOTE the ones I'm using will be back in stock soon)
  • Purchase 2 yds for a border of the fabric you like. (NOTE the ones I'm using will be back in stock soon)
  • ALL Royal Blue fabric 
  • I highly recommend my Aurifil Thread box for piecing, it's  ON SALE 

*** Block Wed Fabric Tip ***

This videos has tips on fabrics to use

** Sew Colorful Fabric Bundle **

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*** Tips ***

• All the shapes for each block can be cut from a Layer cake or Fat Eight or larger pieces.
• Here are the strips from the Fat Eight. If you have the layer cake, you'll have a little extra strip left. 
• NOTE - if you are using a layer cake and don't have 2 of the same fabric for the dark, then cut the squares from a different fabric. Every layer cake is different. IF You use what I am, it does work. 

• I like to keep organized. 
• So I lay all the pieces out in the directions I want them to be in, then I sew.
• Sewing on my Babylock Solaris

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*** DOWNLOAD ***

Download Pat's Block #1 Winter Fun

• Project page 

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*** SHARE your BLOCK ***

It's so fun to see all your different versions, so share your block below!

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Did you know you need to clean your rotary cutter when you change the blade?

FIRST...

Did you miss my announcement of the next Block Wednesday?

CLICK HERE for Winter Fun! Details

You can either call this a public service announcement or 'Reality Quilting'.. either way.. I'm about to show you real life happening right in my studio.. are you ready?.. it might get a little.. scary....  But.. it's necessary...

Sometimes we just do NOT take the time to be sure our tools are in the best condition. You are cutting with your blade that you KNOW is dull, it is hard to push, it must have a nick because you are cutting places it missed, and you .. just.. keep .. using it... 

DISCLAIMER -- names have been changed to protect the innocent.... I believe Sofia did this.. right here in my studio.. let's see what happened... 

After numerous times of the blade not cutting all the places I ... I mean..Sofia decided to take a look.. maybe change that blade even!

Being a very careful quilter she has a container of OLD blades and NEW blades clearly marked.  

This Olfa rotary cutter is BRILLIANT as it takes all the guesswork and frustration out of changing the blade. 

1. Turn it over and slide down that yellow part so the screw holding the blade on is now free
2. let the blade with the cover drop to the table and then turn it over
3. OH MY... horror!! 
4. There is a THREAD MAT in those grooves
5. I needed.. I mean... Sofia needed to get a needle to pry all the dust out

Next you will dump off the old blade and put a new one on that cover

BUT.. be sure you clean the crud off there too!!  

ewwwwww this is a dirty job!

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Now the BRILLIANT part continues!

Just lay the handle on top of the blade and cover, the screw goes back into place

Slide the yellow holder UP to hold in the screw

You are ready to rock and roll!!! New Blade, Clean Rotary cutter!

How often do you find yourself doing the same thing as Sofia and I? 

Now do yourself a huge favor and buy one

• Purple ones HERE, Aqua HERE, more sizes HERE. They may have a slightly different blade changing
• New blades, of course! Get those HERE!
• Get my FREE Notices and you will be the first to know when I write something useful, funny or useful AND funny.. wink!
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