QBOTMC News - Birds Next Block, Puckers and Carrot Slice

Published: Tue, 09/18/18


We hope it's been a good week again this week. Somehow I blinked, and missed several
weeks, and now I have kids on holiday again from school from the end of next week!  You
know I love the holidays, but wow, this term was fast.  From here we all start the big
countdown to Christmas (only 14 weeks away as someone cheerfully posted on Facebook
the other day), and things are really going to get busy!

My DH has planned a reef and rainforest 'boy's trip' away with his mates for the end of the
holidays (conveniently!), and we'll have to plan some things of our own around that. 
Apparently I still 'owe' him time for the two weeks in Houston last year... After all, mine
was a work trip, and how can I help it if we happened to thoroughly enjoy ourselves???

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This week's block is a really pretty pieced block, and one I've used in several different projects.

Please click the link to download the Bird's Nest Block.

http://www.onlinequiltmagazine.com/members/content/f/id/685/

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This week's lesson from Penny is about preventing puckers as you quilt.

"Creating Puckers as you Quilt

What makes a quilt unique is that a quilt top, batting and backing material are layered and stitched
(quilted) together using some kind of design.  Whether the quilting design is done by machine or by
hand, there is a possibility that the stitching will create puckers (or little pleats) in the quilt top, quilt
back, or both.  These may be very small and unnoticeable, they may detract from your quilt, or they
may just bother you.  

There are a couple of things that you can do to prevent this from happening.

1. When you prepare the quilt for basting, laying it out on a flat surface is extremely helpful.  If there
are corners or ends hanging over the edge of the table or bed you are using, there will be uneven
tension on the fabric, which may show up in your quilting stitches, since you will be unable to baste
your quilt with even tension on all sides.  For large quilts, you may need to find an empty floor in your
house, the neighbor's house, church, community center, wherever.

The purpose of having the quilt flat is to baste it together so the layers remain in the same place (relative
to each other) as you quilt.  The quilt can be either pinned (using large safety pins) or sewn (using large
basting stitches).  In either case, begin at the center of the quilt and work toward the sides.  

Pins should be placed approximately 4” apart, and basting stitches should also be approximately 4” apart.  

If you are stitching, the stitches should be made across the quilt, up and down, and forming an X from
corner to corner.   By beginning in the center and working toward the outside, you will be easing any
unevenness out to an open space (the ends of the fabric and batting).

2. As you quilt, it helps to create a slight tension in the area you are quilting.  If you are hand quilting,
this can be done by gently stretching the fabric in a hoop or frame.  

As you are machine quilting, you can create that tension by gently pulling the fabric as you feed it
through the needle.

3. Machine quilting can also be more successful by using a 'walking foot.'  This special presser foot is made
just for machine quilting, and helps to even the tension as the fabric is guided through the machine needle."

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And for a slightly healthier snack alternative this week -

Carrot Slice

Ingredients

    3/4 cup (165g) raw sugar
    175ml/5.1/2oz sunflower oil
    3 eggs, lightly beaten
    1 large carrot,grated
    100g/4oz raisins
    Grated zest of 1 large orange
    175g/2 cups self-raising flour
    1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
    1/3 cup (55g) icing sugar (to frost, optional)



Method

Step 1
    Preheat oven to 180°C/356F. Grease and line the base and sides of a 28cm x 18cm (11 x 7in) slice pan.
    
Step 2
    Use a wooden spoon to mix the sugar, oil and egg in a large bowl, then stir in the carrot, raisins and zest.
Sift in flour, soda and spices. Stir to just combine, then pour into the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes until a
skewer inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool slightly, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
    
Step 3
    If making icing, sift icing sugar into a bowl and stir with 1-2 teaspoons warm water to form a smooth,
soft icing. Drizzle over slice with a teaspoon, then leave to set for 10 minutes. Alternatively, dust with
2 tablespoons sifted icing sugar. Cut into 12 bars.

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Until Next Week - Happy Quilting!

Regards,

Jody & Annette