This gorgeous “shabby chic” block by Cathi of Quilt Obsession (a long-time Inklingoist) beautifully shows the “Spool” look of a Japanese X block, don’t you think?
MORE THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT SPOOL BLOCKS
There are so many things I love about the new Spool Block Shape Collection!
I only mentioned 3 last time. Let’s keep going.
4. Layer to Cut
Most quilters prefer to print all the shapes, but “Layer to Cut” is a neat technique with Inklingo. It allows you to do less printing if you are machine piecing and don’t need stitching lines or matching marks.
It works beautifully:
Print one fabric, layer with other fabrics (not printed), and rotary cut on the lines. The printed sheet of fabric is like a ruler or template, but it doesn’t slide around the way acrylic does. Some squares will have stitching lines, and some won’t.
Example: To cut 100 perfect shapes for machine piecing, you only need to print one fabric with 20 shapes. Layer the printed fabric with four other fabrics and use the top layer as a cutting guide. Rotary cut all five layers at once. No measuring. Perfect shapes!
There are many more tips like this in The Inklingo Handbook.
(If you do print everything, we know you will love having the matching marks and sewing lines!)
5. Versatile for Scraps!
You can use 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more different fabrics in each 7.5 x 7.5-inch block—soooooooo—you can use up scraps!
When we print custom page sizes, we can use whatever little bits and pieces are calling to us from that scrap bag.
- See the scrappy look Cathi got on her Quilt Obsession blog with a “shabby chic” look (one above).
- See the 6-inch blocks Bruce in Minneapolis made with Inklingo in Inklingo IO Group (previously on Yahoo)
- See the new blocks with more Kaffe Fasset fabrics made by Carol in Panama.
6. Extra Shapes mean No Waste!
You already know that I love Inklingo “Combo” layouts (earlier message). This is a new twist!
When I drew the hexagon layouts for the Spool Block I decided to add layouts, especially for striped fabric (alternate straight grain). That was great, but there were some spaces, so I created a few special layouts like the one above.
I added extra HST, QST, and squares in very useful sizes, so absolutely nothing is wasted. These shapes are not used in the Spool Block at all (that’s the twist!) but we think you will love them.
It is just one way the 21st-century innovation of Inklingo allows us to be true to our 19th-century quilting heritage when quilters had a line to sew on and were taught to make do, use it up, wear it out.
7. Other blocks and design possibilities in EQ
You can click to download and start playing now.
The file includes some 7.5 and 6-inch blocks to get you started.
That’s my 7 favorite things. I could go on and on.
There is more info on the website, but you might also like these:
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We have had some much-needed rain this weekend and the garden looks fabulous. There was a little bird huddled on the feeder, sheltering from raindrops. I was too slow with the camera. Maybe next time.
See you later? I hope so.
Linda & Monkey
New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of blocks.