Whistle Stop Tour featuring Steam Engine fabric line

Welcome to Day 6 of Whistle Stop Tour featuring the Island Batik fabric line of Steam Engine for Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design.

This stop has Blockbuster #18 A Popped V.  This is a 6" Finished block, however, you can also go to Deb Tucker's website Blockbuster downloads to see the other 3 size variations for this block.

For this Whistle Stop Tour Block you will need your V Block, Corner Pop and Sidekick & Hi/Low Technique Sheet.

All units are trimmed to 2 1/2" cut size.  All photos show for right handed cutting and trimming.  The left handed instructions are with the tool instructions.

Click Download for instructions on  A Popped V

Gather and sort the cut strips and squares for the different units.:

The first units to make are the Popped V Blocks. Start with your strips and cut the center triangles and the side triangles using the V Block.  Lay out the pieces all right sides up and stitch together following the V Block instructions. 

 If you would like more detailed pictures, check out Marie's post on Day 2 from Ribbon Star Studio.  The V Block is introduced on that day's Whistle Stop with 54-40 or Fight, Blockbuster #08.

Layout  right sides up and stitch

Trim first two side for 2 1/2" cut size

Rotate 180 degrees and trim final 2 sides to 2 1/2" cut size.

Make 4

Now, the unit is taken up a notch! It gets 2 "popped" corners!

Gather the 8 half square triangles to add the "popped" corners.

Following directions of the Corner Pop, cut away at the 1" line on lower left corner.  MAKE sure your V Block unit is oriented in the correct direction before you cut away! The pointed tip is at the top. See picture below to make sure you are pointed in the right direction.

Next, position a replacement triangle, eyeball center and stitch with triangle on the bottom.

Press toward the triangle

Time to trim, using the Corner Pop, align the stitched seam with the 1" line on the trim down section of the tool.  Trim away the excess of the triangle.  Also notice that the dotted lines are at the 2 1/2" cut line on left and bottom sides of the unit.

Repeat the process for the other corner.  Again, make sure you are cutting away the correct corner adjacent to the one already replaced.  Cut away at the 1" line.

Repeat the stitching of the replacement triangle on the bottom.

Press toward the triangle.

Trim away the excess of added triangle, aligning the 1" seam line and 2 1/2" dotted cut lines on the Corner Pop tool.

Make 4 and set aside.

Time for the Sidekick Right Units.  Follow directions on the Sidekick & Hi/Low Technique Sheet.  Again, the units are trimmed to 2 1/2" cut size.  

To make these units, make sure ALL fabric is FACE DOWN (WRONG SIDE UP)

First is the base section using the dotted line (fold line for center triangles).

Cut 4

Use the V Block to make these cuts

Next, are the side triangles. Again, make sure wrong side up and use the solid line (cut line for side triangles)

Cut 4

Gather and place right sides up

Stitch together, making sure you have the 1/4" ear showing.  See picture below.

Press toward the side triangle.

Using the V Block,  align the seam line with the right slant of the V Block.  Trim first 2 sides.

Rotate  180 degrees and line up trimmed edges with the 2 1/2" cut line and trim the final 2 sides. 

You can now lay out your units and see that you have only one more unit to complete!

Gather the square and 4 half square triangles to make the Center "Popped Square" using the Corner Pop.

The starting square is 2 1/2" cut size.  The cut away is 3/4" on the Corner Pop.

This is going to sound really tedious, but the best way for this square to remain square and all the trims to line up best; I have found if you cut away one corner at a time.  Add the replacement triangle, press toward the triangle, trim off the excess of triangle by aligning the 3/4"" seam line and the 2 1/2" cut edge of the Corner Pop.  And Repeat the process on the opposite corner.  Repeat, one corner at a time.

I know-- lots of steps just for one unit!

All your units are now complete.  Lay out the block.

Stitch the units into rows.

Back side showing the pressing directions.

Stitch the rows together.  Back side shows the pressing directions.

WooHoo!  Your Whistle Stop block is now complete and you are ready for the next stop on the tour.

Depending on who you went to first, Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis is the other Whistle Stop for today, and Tina Dillard of Quilting Affection Design and Bonny Peters of Cat Den Mountain Quilts will be your Whistle Stops for tomorrow.

Enjoy!

In case I forgot to mention this --- 

 I AM a Certified Instructor for  Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design.

that is the C part of CaTs Quilting 

(Carolyn Ratola)

I am so proud to be a part of this quality group of people.

and, the T is Tony Ratola,

he does the longarm quilting on all my quilts and the customer quilts.

The train comes here on Saturday, the Fourteenth!

CaTs Quilting is working hard to get your next stop on the train ready.  See you on Saturday.

I made the cover!

This is the cover of the magazine with my block on the cover. Under the main photo, top row, far right block is mine.  Made the cover! First time ever in submitting a block to the magazine.  Need to do more!

It’s been awhile!

The last time I posted, I was submitting 2 blocks for the Quiltmaker’s 100 blocks magazine in 2017.  It was my first time ever submitting anything for publication in a magazine. One of my blocks was accepted and actually made the cover photo.  I was so excited! Now, I just need to figure how to post pictures again, since I’ll be doing a blog hop next month. And when I do, I’ll also post the picture of my block!

It's been awhile since we have posted anything. Lots of things have changed. My husband and I both still quilt! I am now a Certified Instructor with Studio 180 Design. I met Deb Tucker at Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, UT and fell in love with her tools and patterns. Plus, I've created some of my own patterns using her tools.

I currently teach a Block of Month class at Stitches N Such in Glendale, OH. This class is a one block lecture/demo. Then about 2 weeks later, I offer a companion class that goes with the tool or Texhnique Sheet we learned at BOM and helps solidify how to use the tools and technique sheets.

We are starting a Tucker University class also at Stitches N Such on Thursday, September 28,  and Saturday, September 30, 2017. These will be monthly 3 hour sit and sew classes. These classes focus on building your skills using the Studio 180 Design (DebTucker) tools and technique sheets.  You will be making 4" units in each class, with options as to how you want to put them together into finished blocks.

Plus, I was selected as one of the Certified Instructors to teach at the first ever Studio 180 Academy. Be sure to go to the website: www.studio180academy.com to check out all the classes being offered. It'll be in Hamilton, NY from 9/20-9/23, 2017.  Enroll now! To get the classes you want to takes. Three full days of instruction with Deb Tucker's Certified Instructors, plus a special visit from Deb Tucker.

That's it for today. More to come!

New Classes to begin

Starting in September, we have some great classes we are going to offer.  We have 2 beginning quilt classes.  There will be a fee for these 2 classes.  You will learn basics on putting together a quilt from start to finish.  These classes are 3 3 hour sessions.

We are also going to be offering FREE classes on using some specialty rulers that we have on hand to sell.  There will be a pattern also available for purchase to complete  projects using the different rulers.  The classes  will last between 1/2 hour to 3/4 hour depending on questions. 
Classes for 2 hour time frames will also be available to get you started on one of the projects.  A fee will apply.

Plus, we have a great idea for some Christmas ornaments to make painting your own fabric.  The technique to show you how will be a FREE 1 hour long session.  The supplies you need to make your own will be available for purchase.
Classes for this project will be 2 3 hour sessions and a fee will apply.

We also plan on starting two block of the month quilt projects.  One will be for charity.  The finished projects will be donated for a specific charity.

Ever wanted to make a round quilt, we have just the author who does a great job.  We will be making the New York Beauty pattern using Cheryl Phillips book.  Book will be available for purchase from us.

Want to put together an applique project.  We have another great artist, Toni Whitney, whose patterns will be available from us.  You will be able to choose which pattern you want to do and Tony will give instructions on this great technique.  He used it in his "Never forget" quilt with the big eagle at the bottom of the quilt.

These are some of classes coming this fall.  If interested in any of the above classes, please send us an email to catsquilting@yahoo.com for us to schedule your time.  As I get the projects ready to go, the pictures will start to show up.  Keep checking!  In some cases, it will be an actual quilt that we have completed or a picture of the book/pattern that will be used for the class or demonstration.