love...Mamie Borders

You're almost done...you've done the hardest part now...time for the borders.

My 9 patch center measured 48 1/2" wide by 54 1/2" long...measure yours and make whatever adjustments you need to.

Cut 6 strips of white (that's what I used) 3 1/2" wide X the width of fabric...sew your strips together and cut 2 strips 54 1/2" long...sew to the sides of your top.  Continue to sew strips together and cut 2 more strips 54 1/2" and add them to the top and bottom of your top. My top now measures 54 1/2" X 60 1/2"

Now you're ready to add your small 9 patch border...Make sure when you add your side borders that your border strip starts with a positive 9 patch on the left side and a negative 9 patch on the right side.  This is important, I know because I goofed and had to take one off and flip it, because each border strip has a positive end and a negative end...so when you add your top and bottom strips you put the negative end on the left side of the top and positive on the right side....and the opposite on the bottom border.  I know that sounds confusing as you're reading this but it will make perfect sense when you do it...you always want those 9 patches to nest nicely.  With my 9 patch border on  my top now measured 60 1/2" X  66 1/2".

Last border...Cut 7 strips of white  4 1/2" wide X the width of fabric...sew your strips together and cut 2 strips 66 1/2" long...sew to the sides of your top.  Continue to sew strips together and cut 2 more strips 68 1/2" and add them to the top and bottom of your top. My top now measures
68 1/2" X 74 1/2"

You're all done... Hope you enjoyed it!  Can't wait to see some love...Mamie's in your fabrics.

love...Mamie Let's Put it Together

Let the fun begin...we're going to put our quilts together...gather your 72- 6 1/2" blocks...these are the inside.  We're going to call this block the positive...(the one with the dark fabric in the 5 position)

 and this block

the negative (the one with the dark fabric in the 4 position)...you're going to lay out your blocks in rows of 8 blocks and we will need 9 rows.  Begin your first row with a positive block and alternate positive, negative...by doing this your blocks will nest very nicely together. Press...I always press the odd rows to the left and the even rows to the right...do whatever works for you. Your second row will begin with a negative block and so on...every block in your quilt will alternate...positive...negative.
Sew your rows together and press...I pressed all my rows down.

You can also sew your pieced border together...gather your 80- 3 1/2" blocks...you'll need to sew 20 of your  together alternating positive and negative...you'll end up with 4 strips of 20 blocks.

That's it...ready for the borders to go on...I'll post those directions on Thursday...you'll have everything you need before the weekend.  We're leaving for Birmingham on Friday for Peyton's baptism so I want you to have all your directions.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me.  Have lots of fun!

When It's Hot...

Andy spends hours in the pool...

the boys spend hours sleeping...

...and I spend hours in my sewing room, with the air conditioning turned down low and the ceiling fan spinning...I did have to make sure that it didn't blow my pieces everywhere...my cookie sheets helped with that too.

Hope everyone has an awesome week!  Try to stay cool!

Cut today...Ready to SEW!

It was hot today...not as hot as a lot of places but hot...so I stayed inside and cut.  I got all the blocks cut for a new project that I've been stewing on since mom passed away...I think I have it figured out and I'm really excited...but what I really want to share with you today are these cookie sheets

I found to hold my pieces...each tray is holding 4 blocks...I'm ready to start running those pieces through the machine tomorrow.  I was in the Dollar Tree yesterday because I had seen these h2o water blasters on Nedra's blog yesterday and knew I needed to get 2 of those to take with me to Birmingham on Friday.  The kids are spending lots of time playing in the sprinklers so these will add to their fun.  While I was walking around I saw these cookie sheets and decided they would be just what I needed...$1 each...I got 12 and I'm loving them.  May just have to go back and get some more...

love...Mamie 9 Patches

Blogger wasn't being very friendly with me today....maybe we're just too water logged here...who knows...so I have 2 posts with directions...I hope you have fun doing your blocks...if you have any questions just send me an e-mail and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.  I'll be back later in the week with the putting together and border directions.  No stress...work at your own pace...this is really a tutorial in parts so use it however you want...just ENJOY!

love...Mamie 9 patches Part 1

 

Start with two 4 1/2" squares.

Put right sides together and stitch 1/4" seams down parallel sides of your squares.

Cut your square into 3 strips 1 1/2" wide...make sure your cuts are parallel with your stitching.  You'll end up with 2 stitched sections and 2 loose strips.

Press the seams toward the dark.

Add your 3rd strip...you'll end up with 2 blocks a light, dark, light and a dark, light, dark one.

You have 2 rail fence blocks but we have a little more to do.  Because we've pressed to the darker our seams will nest together nicely.  Pin and sew a 1/4" seam on the opposite sides of your block.

Give it a little press and we're going to cut again.

love...Mamie 9 patches Part 2

Blogger wouldn't let me do anymore pictures so I'm doing this in 2 parts.

Just like before, cut your block in 3 equal parts...1 1/2"...again you'll end up with 2 sewn sections and 2 loose sections

Press your seams toward the strip with the 2 dark squares.

You're ready to add your last strip.

Sew the last strip on to your block with a 1/4" strip.

Again,press toward the strip with the 2 darks.  So you'll have one block with seams pressed toward the center strip and one with the seams pressed away for the center strip.

YIPPEE!  2 little 9 patches that measure 3 1/2" (3" finished)

Follow the same directions for your 7 1/2" squares except you will cut them in 3 equal parts of 2 1/2" instead of 1 1/2". Your 9 patch will end up 6 1/2" (6" finished).  If you've chosen to use different size blocks than I have you just need to make sure that you make your cuts equal...the size of your square divided by 3 and you're set to go.

Have tons of fun sewing away...I can't wait to see what you're doing...ENJOY!