I know. Can you believe it? I actually finished something! This little mini quilt is about 22 inches square, with little churn dash blocks that finish at 3". The pattern came from the Simple Friendships II book, but I made my project smaller and changed up the border. I cropped the photo, so the border looks kind of wonky because I chopped some of it off in the picture. It did turn out pretty square though. I had those borders off and had to try again a second time though because they were a mess on my first try. That can happen when you change up a pattern size! With some adjustments, it came out ok.
I started up the Buttermilk Basin wool applique pattern I showed you the other day.
Cute, right? Well, the instructions are not so great. Buttermilk Basin patterns are absolutely adorable and I have purchased many of them (and will continue to do so). That being said, I am disappointed the instructions are not better proofed and are not a bit more thorough. Pressing suggestions? Figure it out. And I believe there is a mistake in the cutting directions.
For the upper left-hand unit you are told to cut out 3 1/2" strips. Clearly that is too long. It should be much smaller than that to line up with the four patch. Plus the diagram indicates sewing a diagonal seam on two of the corners of that upper left unit, and that can't be right. (Enlarge the photo to see the diagram better). Or have I lost my mind due to lack of sewing and am just not interpreting things correctly? Diagonal sewing is called for to form the star, but not on the four corner units. Look at the block photo, do you see any diagonal seams on the four corner units? It is easy to blame the pattern, and maybe I am being hasty here, but I think the instructions are lacking. I'll figure it out, but goodness, I feel frustrated!
Did I ever get some great wool applique comments on my post the other day! I wasn't able to reply to Vikki, but I did take several of her terrific suggestions. I ordered the Lisa Bongean wool applique book, a wool pressing mat and an applique pressing sheet. The book arrived already and I have been studying it. In the book, there is a recommendation for a certain needle threader which I have ordered. I cannot wait to try it and share my results with you. Now I am just waiting for some wool. And of course, I have to finish that darn block above.
24 responses to “Scrappy Churn Dash Mini Quilt”
I HATE when the instructions are no good. What are we paying fir? Glad you didn’t run out of fabric due to inaccuracies. I am just getting into wool appliqué. It’s hard as I need to order everything online. Love that little pattern. Happy holidays!
I HATE when the instructions are no good. What are we paying fir? Glad you didn’t run out of fabric due to inaccuracies. I am just getting into wool appliqué. It’s hard as I need to order everything online. Love that little pattern. Happy holidays!
I HATE when the instructions are no good. What are we paying fir? Glad you didn’t run out of fabric due to inaccuracies. I am just getting into wool appliqué. It’s hard as I need to order everything online. Love that little pattern. Happy holidays!
It for sure your lack of sewing!!! lol. It’s so frustrating when a pattern is wrong. It just wastes time and fabric, heh?!? Have a great weekend, Nicole.
It for sure your lack of sewing!!! lol. It’s so frustrating when a pattern is wrong. It just wastes time and fabric, heh?!? Have a great weekend, Nicole.
It for sure your lack of sewing!!! lol. It’s so frustrating when a pattern is wrong. It just wastes time and fabric, heh?!? Have a great weekend, Nicole.
Ok, I don’t know why there is a diagonal seam in the corner square, but the diagonal seams in the top center make sense since they create the star points.
I had a table runner kit that the directions were so badly written that I ended up just looking at the pictures to figure out how to make it.
Hang in there. . . .
Ok, I don’t know why there is a diagonal seam in the corner square, but the diagonal seams in the top center make sense since they create the star points.
I had a table runner kit that the directions were so badly written that I ended up just looking at the pictures to figure out how to make it.
Hang in there. . . .
Ok, I don’t know why there is a diagonal seam in the corner square, but the diagonal seams in the top center make sense since they create the star points.
I had a table runner kit that the directions were so badly written that I ended up just looking at the pictures to figure out how to make it.
Hang in there. . . .
I don’t see why there would be a diagonal seam in the top left corner square either. Obviously someone goofed! It will make a very nice block when finished!
I don’t see why there would be a diagonal seam in the top left corner square either. Obviously someone goofed! It will make a very nice block when finished!
I don’t see why there would be a diagonal seam in the top left corner square either. Obviously someone goofed! It will make a very nice block when finished!
It’s a printing error, because the right side center star point column doesn’t have the diagonal lines on it and the left center column has the wrong diagonal line. It seems they shifted the diagonal lines 1 column to the left.
It’s a printing error, because the right side center star point column doesn’t have the diagonal lines on it and the left center column has the wrong diagonal line. It seems they shifted the diagonal lines 1 column to the left.
It’s a printing error, because the right side center star point column doesn’t have the diagonal lines on it and the left center column has the wrong diagonal line. It seems they shifted the diagonal lines 1 column to the left.
Pattern writers need to take a lesson from Carrie Nelson’s ‘Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.’! They’re always clear & easy to understand with plenty of notes & extra ‘hints’. I see ‘Sister’s Choice Quilts’ is sitting at #1 on the blog list…but your readers already know that’s what you are!
Pattern writers need to take a lesson from Carrie Nelson’s ‘Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.’! They’re always clear & easy to understand with plenty of notes & extra ‘hints’. I see ‘Sister’s Choice Quilts’ is sitting at #1 on the blog list…but your readers already know that’s what you are!
Pattern writers need to take a lesson from Carrie Nelson’s ‘Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.’! They’re always clear & easy to understand with plenty of notes & extra ‘hints’. I see ‘Sister’s Choice Quilts’ is sitting at #1 on the blog list…but your readers already know that’s what you are!
I think they should have someone make the pattern after the instructions are written to see how it turns out. I do love Buttermilk Basin’s store but struggle with their kits too. It seems like there isn’t enough material to do what the instructions say. I can’t wait to see it finished as I can learn from you what I shouldn’t do!! I just finished the snowmen trio bowl pillows kit and really like them.
I think they should have someone make the pattern after the instructions are written to see how it turns out. I do love Buttermilk Basin’s store but struggle with their kits too. It seems like there isn’t enough material to do what the instructions say. I can’t wait to see it finished as I can learn from you what I shouldn’t do!! I just finished the snowmen trio bowl pillows kit and really like them.
I think they should have someone make the pattern after the instructions are written to see how it turns out. I do love Buttermilk Basin’s store but struggle with their kits too. It seems like there isn’t enough material to do what the instructions say. I can’t wait to see it finished as I can learn from you what I shouldn’t do!! I just finished the snowmen trio bowl pillows kit and really like them.
I love Buttermilk design but have had the same experience you are having. argh! I read all the comments about wool applique the other day. I didn’t comment bc I am new to this. I’m working on an adorable Halloween pattern by Buttermilk and a large snowman by Buttermilk.
I’m interested in hearing what your experience is using the fusible. I’ve tried Vielene and Steam a Seam 2 light. They are both light but the fusible does not want to stay fused when applied to wool on wool. 🙁 I’ve had to do a lot of touch-up with Roxanne’s Glue. I’m using my Steady Betty to press.
I love Buttermilk design but have had the same experience you are having. argh! I read all the comments about wool applique the other day. I didn’t comment bc I am new to this. I’m working on an adorable Halloween pattern by Buttermilk and a large snowman by Buttermilk.
I’m interested in hearing what your experience is using the fusible. I’ve tried Vielene and Steam a Seam 2 light. They are both light but the fusible does not want to stay fused when applied to wool on wool. 🙁 I’ve had to do a lot of touch-up with Roxanne’s Glue. I’m using my Steady Betty to press.
I love Buttermilk design but have had the same experience you are having. argh! I read all the comments about wool applique the other day. I didn’t comment bc I am new to this. I’m working on an adorable Halloween pattern by Buttermilk and a large snowman by Buttermilk.
I’m interested in hearing what your experience is using the fusible. I’ve tried Vielene and Steam a Seam 2 light. They are both light but the fusible does not want to stay fused when applied to wool on wool. 🙁 I’ve had to do a lot of touch-up with Roxanne’s Glue. I’m using my Steady Betty to press.