Sew N’Slash Quilting
I’ve told you before that I’m a lazy quilter, right? If there’s a simpler way to do something, I’m gonna be the first one doing it. Strip quilting was my forte, before it was popular. I can run fabric through a sewing machine faster n’ anybody’s business! I think, what I like most, is that when you chain-piece your blocks, they are more likely to all come out the same – seam allowances, pressing, etc. It’s a fabric assembly line at its best.
But sometimes, there’s the template challenges. I hate templates. I don’t like working with them for quilting, and I don’t like sewing the pieces together, in hopes that I end that Y seam exactly where it needs to end, so I can meet the other fabric with it. It wastes time, in my opinion! Time that could be spent on quilting many other things!
So, I started a technique that I call the Sew N’Slash Quilting Technique.
And it’s SEW simple! You sew fabric together, then you cut them so that they resemble what you would get if you were using templates! The hardest part? Stopping yourself from having so much fun!
Take a look at this block, affectionately called a Shoo-Fly Block in the Cotton Spice way:
I designed this block for a Cotton Spice BOM challenge, but for some reason, the challenge never really took off and my block and instructions were never posted.
Shame on Cotton Spice – they should know better than to forget my block! Because really? The only thing I forget is my kids’ names and what I did, oh, say 5 minutes ago 🙂
Now, look at what a quilt could look like, if you made 16 of these blocks:
Isn’t that a stunning quilt? The layers and depth of colors makes for such grand eye-candy!
Want to make one? Go ahead, try it! I think my instructions are quite specific on how you, too, can enjoy some Sew N’Slash quilting!
Tammom ! I think your quilt looks fantastic, and also like great fun to make ! Thank you so much for the Sew N’ Slash technique… I’m trying it today ! Julia
Hi: Like your sew and slash method for this block. Instructions are pretty simple, the quilt is fun. Do have a question though.
At what angle (degree) are the c/d units cut? Did I miss that in your tut?
Thanx lots for the new method.
Pauline: Thanks for your kind words. The goal of my Sew-N-Slash quilting is that the cuts (slashes) are yours and yours alone to make. Consistency is the key. If you look at the image of the C/D blocks in the tutorial, I did line up corner of the square with the seam line of the two fabrics. Then, I punted! I didn’t measure the angle, and it honestly doesn’t matter (except you don’t want a perfect half-square triangle). Cut the first one wherever you see fit – and then be consistant with the cutting of the others. I use a cutting ruler that is wide enough that I can measure the size of the block that I’m cutting, and then use the edge of the seam line to cut the next one, thus following the same angles. In the photo on this blog, of the quilt block itself, that is the actual block that I pieced – the second image is computer-generated, of course, but the first is truly my pieced block that I photographed after I put it together. It helps to show you that my slashes were very consistant, as this block is near-perfect in shape…and to get that, I was consistant with each square within the block.
Hope that helps!
Tammy
May I have permission for our quilt guild to use some of your blocks for out Block of the Month?
Cold Sassy Quilt Guild
Commerce, Georgia
If I were to do the 16 blocks how much material of each color would I need?