The Itsy Bitsy Spider {Wicked Blog Hop} and {Block Tutorial}

It's
October 31st....   Halloween!!!!!    

   My turn to be WICKED for the Wicked Blog Hop!   A big thank you to Mdm Samm at !Sew We Quilt! and Wendy at Why Knot? for dreaming up, organizing, and hosting this great blog hop!

If you are new here?  Welcome!!!
An Itsy Bitsy Spider Block for you!

She measures 12.5 inches...but can be made ANY size or style you would like.  I decided to showcase her on this 16 inch pillow, so I had to add a few things!

First off, I chose this block because I have been meaning to do a spin off of my Moda Bake Shop  quilt tutorial.

TUTORIAL HERE

The boys are in high Wicked decorating mode! Spiders galore!

Ever since I surprised them last year with My Haunted Mansion decorations

And they decided to scare the neighborhood as best they could

Halloween has become a new family affair.

I made Throw pillows last year,

  but a few chairs have mentioned that they feel much neglected this year. (yes, my furniture and house talk to me). I can't stand to disappoint them, so new throw pillows!!

I took the block (tutorial below) and added large sashing on only two sides so it was juxtaposed in the corner.

A bit of spider web quilting.

I simply stitched in the ditch, and then echoed the hexagon pattern a few times around to the edge. I then used the pieced seams as my guide out to the perimeter. I then added some more in between. I recommend starting in the center each time so it stays smooth in the center. 

And to be a wee bit wicked, a fly with button eyes, button body, and felt wings. Poor thing is trapped in the web.

A cheeky spider made up of buttons and hand embroidery making an appearance to see if he might have caught his next meal.

He is hanging from a double threaded back stitch.

I had to pull out this fabric from my stash for the backing.

And binding.  It reminded me of bug eyes!

 It was the first time I have ever used a binding on the edge of a pillow.
  I really like how it creates a combination of piping and flange. I definitely will keep this idea in my back pocket for future pillows.

Oh?
Why am I in love with this fabric?

It made its first appearance as the binding for my Trick or Treat Charm quilt I made this month for an auction.

Oh. And guess who won it? My sister! I have a sneaky feeling she was very Wicked herself to get it!

Overall, I think this block is fun and has a limitedness of potential!

Want to make one yourself?

_________________________

The Itsy Bitsy Spider Web Block {Tutorial}

Cut several strips in various sizes, I recommend smaller ones for the "webs". I marked on the photo the sizes I used to so this particular 12.5 inch block. I cut the strips from WOF and pulled leftover strips from my long arm machine ventures.

Just remember that you need to make sure the width of the long strip rectangle measures half the size of the finished block you want. In this instance, I made mine 7 inches high because I wanted to trim mine down to a 12.5 inch block. I like to have that leeway!

Sew them together!

Next check your ruler out! Many of your rulers will already have a 60 degree angle on it. Go look!

You simply line the 60 degree line up with the top of your strip and cut the angles.

I have a very detailed demonstration of this cut at the Moda Bake Shop tutorial. You will see that the angle is the same for any size strip. It makes a perfect equilateral triangle by turning your ruler both directions.

Because I made the choice to go larger with my triangle for wiggle room, I did have to make a second shorter striped rectangle to make one more triangle!

 But if you plan to make an exact 12.5 inch block or smaller you should only need a pieced strip the length of your WOF (width of fabric)!

Time to layout the triangles.
 You will have some that match in the center and some that match on the outside. For the purpose of this pillow, I used the one that had the purple toward the center. I plan saving the other triangles for some other ideas I have!

Now split your hexagon in half.

Piece each triangle together by making sure you match up those strings with pins.

 Or just be Wicked and just go for it!
 

After you have pieced both sides. You will have two halves

Simply piece them together and you will have a hexagon.

Next cut a rectangle the height of your other stripped rectangles and double the width of that same measurement. In this case I wanted to play it safe and cut mine 7.5 inches by 14 inches.

I then started cutting 60 degree angles again. This time saving the half triangle ends and cutting the center if the equilateral triangle.

Piece the four triangles to the corners of the hexagon.

At this point you simply trim to make your 12.5 inch block.

 
 I was VERY Wicked and didn't take a picture of the block all alone at this point because I was anxious to get it ready for the pillow!

  Now that you have checked out my Wicked post....Go make sure you check out the rest of the blog hop participants  today!!  It has to be pretty wicked scary today considering it is HALLOWEEN!!!!   

Wicked Wednesday,

October 31st

Beaquilter
Fun Thread Designs 

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch

Made By A Brunnette

Buttons And Butterflies

The Recipe Bunny

Quilted Delights

Sunshine Reflections

Louzeekreativ

Mice In The Mix

Rosemary - That Other Blog
The Fuzzy Hat Quilter
Sew We Quilt


And if you missed the other days...just click on the Wicked Image at the top of this post or in my sidebar.  There are AMAZING projects going on out there!

 

WIP Wednesday: A spooky sort of week...

I was so distracted helping the boys prepare for the Halloween festivities, that a lot of sewing went on hold.  I did get Button's costume embellishments, a bow tie and duck feet, just in time Monday afternoon see HERE.  It is amazing how fast I can sew on a deadline sometimes!

Monday actually was a very busy sewing day.  Halloween!

Halloween Throw Pillows

I finished FOUR of them Monday morning.  I am working on one more today.  

I found all the fabric on the remnant rack at Hobby Lobby.  The bigger pillow fabric are Home Dec fabrics.  

I started out with the idea of the cat and the bat, but didn't like that they didn't pop.

I appliqued the moon with some scrap white/beige fabric I had in my stash to make the black "pop".  

I used batting as my "stabilizer" so it would be a bit puffy.  I then cut out two cat and bat shapes.  One in the black burlap and one in the solid black cotton I had.

I needed to have the  cotton because the burlap has a very loose weave and also frays like crazy!  I love the look of burlap, but it sometimes drives me batty (ugh..do you ever get tired of my puns?)!

I then did outline quilting for the bat and some swirly curly free motion on the cat pillow. 

Simple envelope backings.  Makes it easy to do change outs for the holidays.

I realized after I was finished that the moon idea was meant to be. 
I looked down from the upstairs and realized the matched something else.

My HAUNTED MANSION MANTLE!

Today's pillow is going to be a bare tree in the burlap with either a small moon or much larger moon in the background...we shall see!

Mr. Boss doesn't understand the need for me to get them done on the holiday or after. I tried to explain to him that I would rather pack them away to be stored with the other decorations than have the fabric and WIPS sitting around in my studio.  Don't you agree?  

Hawaiian quilt

Only five total hand stitches made last week.  Every time I pull it out to work on the last few evenings, I end up laying my head down on a pillow and passing out.  Sleep wins over sewing. A very rare occurrence around here!

Puffy Quilt #3

Baby boy and momma are waiting patiently for our replacement fabric to arrive on my doorstep.

  I am still a little sad that I couldn't find the other fabric.  

10x10 inches!  Who knew it would haunt me so!!  Serves me right for designing a quilt without making sure I have enough fabric. 

The new fabric has brown dots on the white/cream background, but goes with the "dot" theme!

Covered Button Project

DONE!  I will share the final project on Friday! 

It comes with a tutorial...even though the more skilled sewers don't need it!

Highchair Cushion

Zero.  Nada.  Nothing.  No progress....so sad!

Cuppa Joe Block Swap

Did I mention that I joined a swap this past summer?

No?

Well, maybe because I forgot?

Guess who has 24 blocks to knock out today.....

ME! ME! ME! 

Sorry swap buddies....I am doing nothing but the blocks.....I swear....

Except only after I finish Mr. Boss's laundry.  

He gets kind of cranky without clean socks.

Like always, go to Lee's Linky party

The aftermath...

I hate to post already this week, but have you had one of those days/nights you will never forget?

We did last night.

As I mentioned yesterday...the boys had big plans to scare the neighborhood.

BUT FIRST....THE CUTENESS....CAN YOU HANDLE IT?

I bought the costume at Carter's from the clearance rack.  Since Button was born, Bunny has been fascinated with all of the "ducky" clothes, blankets, towels, and toys for babies.  So we thought that this costume honored the Ducky Nation.

Oh?  You didn't know there is a Ducky Nation?  Here is the pledge:

" I pledge allegiance to the Ducky flag, of the United Duckies of Ducky Nation.  And to the Ducky Republic for which duckies swim, one Ducky Nation, under the Great Ducky, indivisible, with ducky liberty, and ducky justice for all."

Here is the hitch.  The employee at the store made a statement that the costume was a bit girly...due to the tights.

So I went to work on a exaggerated bow tie and some duck feet. 

Button really loved them.

He kept the costume on for four hours...no fussing.

I have to say...it was truly a memorable night.  Even though they dressed up scary.

When I came home, there was a new "friend" that Mr. Boss bought.

And more spiderwebs in the yard.

The fog machine, strobe lighting and music were the show stoppers.

They scared the young and the old!!  

A lot of screaming and giggling.  

These are girls that were running and spinning....I had my camera set so the shutter was open for a long time to see more light!

Sometimes, there was hysterical laughing.  They would walk up and our spooky friends would be hiding or just in the vicinity standing utterly still like statues.

After the candy was grabbed out of the cauldron with swirling fog, they would turn around and the boys would move.....screaming, running, and then laughing would commence. 

Our house was declared the spookiest in the neighborhood.  

The boys were so excited.

Mr. Boss kept saying "See what you started with that spooky mantle?"

But Button says....

Don't worry...they are just my silly brothers......

They wore their official school uniforms, coats and ties to All Saint's Day Mass today!!!!!