- I'd like to thank Skillshare
for sponsoring this video. Have you started a sampler
quilt and now feel overwhelmed? All those blocks, the different shapes, and the different techniques. How do you keep going? Or maybe you haven't even started yet. Here are eight tips for
a better sampler quilt to make blocks that you'll
love and help you get to the finish line. So stick with me, and I'll
show you how to do it. (bouncy music) Hi there, I'm Karen Brown
of Just Get It Done Quilts. I give you tips, tricks, and
strategies to help you make the quilt that you want to make. And if you like what you see, please hit that subscribe button. In my interview with Barbara Brackman, she explained that sampler
quilts became popular once newspapers had the technology
to print block patterns. They were often published
in a series to fuel sales. And cultures from across
the country then had access to blocks that had
previously been regionalized. Sampler blocks also work well
in today's quilt along format like Moda Block Heads, and of course, GnomeAngel's
100 Days, 100 Blocks. I love sampler blocks as
they were all different. They're a great way to play with colour. And most of all, they're
a great way to improve your sewing skills. (bouncy music) So often we look at our quarter-inch seam and say close enough. And in many quilts, it is. But in sampler blocks, those errors in the quarter-inch
seam compound themselves as you build the block. A good quarter-inch seam is a combination of accurate cutting, straight sewing, and a really good ironing technique. And this is the opportunity
to really make it work. Be sure you make a
couple of tester pieces. (bouncy music) Measuring after you've pressed
and adjusting your guide until that seam is accurate. (bouncy music) Check out my videos on accurate
cutting, straight sewing, and a really good ironing technique. And you'll be amazed at the
difference in your results. (bouncy music) The pattern designer has
their reason for numbering the blocks the way they do, but that doesn't mean that
you need to follow it. If you are a beginner, start with the easy blocks, that is the four patches and
the ones that are made up of squares and rectangles. And I will go through the
pattern and identify them first. That makes it easier for you to perfect your quarter-inch seam before
you work with a bias seam. Then move on to the blocks
with the Half Square Triangles and then onto the Flying Geese so that your skills build
upon the previous blocks. I have a video on both of those skills, making the perfect Half Square
Triangle and Flying Geese. And I will link them in the notes below. And what do you do if you're
following a quilt along? Just note, the block is
different, problem solved. (bouncy music) This is your sampler quilt, so you don't need to make them exactly as the pattern
says if you don't want to. I often find in every sampler, there's at least one block where I go, "What were they thinking?" It's either too fiddly or I
find it completely different from the others. So don't hesitate to make another version of a previous block, or alter the construction
to make it easier, or design one of your own
if it's more to your taste, it's your quilt. In my Long Time Gone quilt, I completely blew the
sizing on two blocks. I could have remade it in the right size, but I decided instead
to just rework the quilt and put in a block of my own. And you know, when I show that quilt, everyone notices that block first. Another option is just to
insert a simple square. This is a great option
if you've lost your Sewjo and you just want to get it done. Or use up some large
scale prints that you have in your stash. But it can also be intentional, adding some interesting negative
space to your final layout as in this version of the
Kinship Fusion sampler quilt. (bouncy music) When your block is finished, give it a good press and square it up. And you might find
despite your best efforts, your block is large, or
small, or jaggedy-edged. Don't worry, it happens to everyone, and it's part of the learning curve. Just take a moment to figure out why, then try to apply a
correction to the next block. But you still need to square this one up. If your block is large, just trim it up. Yes, you may lose a point or two, but when the quilt is
finished, all will be forgiven. If the block is small, you'll
need to make a template of the finished size, then mark the corners on
the back of your block. And I like to mark the sides as well. That way, when you sash, you can align those marks
with the quarter-inch seam and your blocks will turn out square. (bouncy music) You are going to be making
a wide assortment of blocks. Some will be four patches,
some will be nine patches, some will be based on a multiple of five, some might be on point,
some might be paper piece, some might be applique. So this is a great opportunity to use up some of your scraps. Common colours or fabrics
in each of the blocks, we'll tie it all together
regardless of the block pattern. For my Farmer's Wife quilt, I started with a fat quarter bundle called Home for the Harvest. And then I used at least
one of those fabrics in every single block. I used a huge assortment of
fabrics and a variety of colours and patterns in the quilt. But every block had at least one fabric from that original bundle. (bouncy music) We all have our own comfort
level when it comes to contrast. Some of this like a lot,
some of us not so much. And some of us just sit
somewhere in the middle. So when you're making your sampler blocks, be aware of that range, and try to avoid blocks
that lie outside that. Because when you get to your final layout, they'll be hard to blend in. Mind you, you can always take that outlier and put it front and
centre and make it the star of the show. Or you can remove it from the
mix and use it on the back in your after-quilt. Before we get to the last two tips, let me tell you about
today's sponsor, Skillshare. Skillshare is an online learning
community for creatives, where millions come together
to take the next step on their creative journey. One of my to-do items in the next quarter is to revamp my website. So I'm turning to Skillshare
to learn about web design, how to use wix.com better, and
how to take the best photos, and write the best copy. Skillshare offers creative
and curious people, thousands of inspiring classes
on this, and photography, animation, music, and more. I had been a member of Skillshare
for over three years now. And what I really like about Skillshare is that the classes include a
combination of video lessons and a class project. And most are designed to be completed in 60 minutes a day or less. So they fit into the short
blocks of time in your day. Skillshare is also incredibly affordable, especially when compared to
in-person classes and workshops. The first 1000 people
who click on the link in my description will
receive a one month free trial to Skillshare Premium. (bouncy music) Our eyes are hot-wired
to see yellow first. And in the absence of the yellow, we see the yellow in the
oranges and lime greens. So when you do your final layout, pay attention to where
your yellows are placed. Do you want them balanced
all around the quilt? Or do you want them clustered in one area, or perhaps all in one row? Or maybe you just want
to use them to highlight one special block. (bouncy music) Our sampler quilts can
end up pretty darn large. And sometimes, it's not
easy to tell the long side from the shorter side. And I'm not going to name names, but some family members don't
recognise this difference before they make the
bed and may not bother to make it right. So fussy cutting a block
or several to indicate the orientation of your quilt
may save you remaking the bed. GnomeAngel is absolutely
brilliant at this technique. She has a book called the
Fussy Cutters handbook. And she has now started a YouTube channel, where I'm sure this technique
will be front and centre. I do have the further point, you should know how to
sash your blocks well. But I will cover that
technique in a future video so stay tuned. And I'll leave a link in
the notes below when I do. If you have any more tips
on successful sampler blocks or any questions, please leave
them in the comments below. If you want to catch my
interview with Barbara Brackman, I'll leave a link down in
the notes to that as well. This week on Karen's Quilt Circle, I had Tom Bathgate, the
ColourBlind Quilter. And we are talking about
the challenges of quilting when you can't see all the colours. You don't want to miss it, so be sure to hit that subscribe button. And if you missed last week's video, my epic 4th of July Quilt, I'll leave a link in the
notes below to that too. If you liked this video,
please give it a thumbs up. Don't forget to subscribe
and hit that bell beside the subscribe button so
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on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest at Just Get It Done Quilts. And of course, my website
at justgetitdonequilts.com. So take care, and I'll see you next time. (bouncy music)
