We are back again! I hope you’re enjoying our series of free quilt alongs! Again, if you are new here, I invite you to join or subscribe to either our Colourwerx QuiltAlong Facebook page or our Colourwerx YouTube channel so you don’t miss out on any of the fun! I always post a weekly companion video to each quilt along blog post and other tutorials on You Tube!
JOIN THE COLOURWERX QAL FACEBOOK GROUP HERE
SUBSCRIBE TO THE COLOURWERX YOU TUBE CHANNEL
It’s Week #3 of our ModTV QuiltAlong! ! This week we’ll be ‘slashin’ and sewin’ the TV Antenna Units together, and if you are making the Lap Size Quilt, piecing the Color Bar Blocks together.
Let’s get started….
Stitch the Antenna Unit —
Turn to page 4 in the ModTV pattern and gather all of the pieces needed to make your TV Antenna unit. First, as stated at the top of page 4, be sure to cut in half diagonally the (2) larger squares to make (4) triangles, and cut in half diagonally one of the smaller squares to create (2) triangles.
BIG HINT! I like to lay all of the pieces out on my cutting board like so. As I stitch these Antenna units together I do not disturb what is on my cutting board. When I take 2 pieces and stitch them together, I return them to their exact positions on the cutting board so as not to confuse myself about which pieces go where.
First fold the antenna strips in half lengthwise to create a center crease. Return to position.
Starting with the right antenna, flip the B/G triangle on the right side over and angle it from the bottom right corner to the center top edge of the antenna unit like so (the center crease on the antenna unit will guide you). See Fig 10 on page 4 of the pattern.
Stitch down the edge of the angled B/G triangle and trim the any excess fabric away to reduce the bulk leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the B/G triangle outward.
Return the right antenna unit back in position and flip the B/G triangle on the left side over and angle it from the bottom left corner to the center top edge of the antenna unit like so. Make sure that top edges of the B/G triangles are overlapping each other by about 1″ at the top and that there is at least an 1″ overhang of the B/G triangles on the bottom edge (see Fig 11 on page 4). Again, stitch down the edge of the angled B/G triangle and trim any excess fabric away to reduce the bulk leaving at least a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press the B/G triangle outward. Your antenna unit should somewhat resemble the below photo.
Next. rotate the unit 180 degrees, lay your ruler across the top slightly angling it and slash off the top edge of the Antenna unit .
Take the smaller triangle and place the long diagonal edge right sides together along the top edge of the Antenna unit and stitch it in place (see Fig 12-13 on page 4).
The antenna unit will now need to be trimmed and squared down. Before trimming the unit, place your square ruler on the Antenna unit and double check that you are leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance near the bottom tip of the unit. Trim the unit to a 4″ square (see Fig 14 in the pattern). Be sure to return the unit back in position on your cutting board!
Repeat the above to create a second Antenna unit.
Next referring to Fig 15 and adding the B/G Top Filler strip in place, stitch the (5) pieces together to create the Antenna Unit Strip. Press the seams according to Fig 15 in the ModTV Pattern.
Next gather your TV Set with Legs (created in Week #2) , place the Antenna Unit skewing it across the the top edge of the TV set at a wonky angle – you can tilt it from right to left or left to right. Stitch the two units Right Sides Together across the top edge. And if you are making several ModTV blocks, remind yourself from block to block to alternate the direction you skew the Antenna, so you create a delightful variety of different wonky ModTV blocks.
Square your ModTV block to 12-1/2″ square. If for some reason, your ModTV block is not large enough to fit inside the 12-1/2″ square boundaries, simply stitch a thin strip of the background fabric onto the side (or sides) that need enlarging – no one will ever know that you added these strips to enlarge your block to the 12-1/2″ measurement and it will look fabulous when complete!
Stitch the Color Bar Blocks —
These fun little color blocks are only needed if you are planning on making the Lap Size Quilt or perhaps you might like to use them as end caps blocks if you are making a wallhanging or table runner.
You can make these from either cutting strips from the extra TV fabric or from scraps from your stash.
It’s simple straight forward patchwork piecing and alas – I am afraid that you will need to use you a 1/4″ seam, when piecing these together so the block comes out correctly.
Referring to the directions on page 6 of the pattern, arrange the pieces on your cutting table or near your sewing machine.
Yup – you got it! – stitch those pieces together with a 1/4″ seam following the directions on page 6. Voila!
That’s it for Week #3!! Next week – Week #4: we’ll talk about personalizing your TV screen with a photo or licensed fabric and finish off the project into a pillow, little wallhanging or the quilt!
Until then, please be sure to email us at colourwerx@yahoo.com if you have any questions. Or feel free to post questions or progress pictures on our Colourwerx QAL Facebook Group.
Until your next colour fix and next week’s QAL post ~ happy and bright quilting always! L&C xxoo
Colourwerx 