Open Gate Blog

Are you ready to start sewing??  I know I am!  So, here we go! Download the directions here:  French Connection, Week 2 . This week we are making the two blocks for the center of the quilt.  I did mine a bit different so that I could use my Fit to be Quarter 6.5 ruler .  The ruler is handy because I can oversize the pieces and square them down.  This is how I did it: For the main block, unit 1, I oversized my pieces.  For Q, I cut it 2 1/4" x 2 1/4" and for E, I cut it 2 1/4" x 3 1/4" and for I, I cut it 4" x 5". Follow the same instructions to construct the square.  When you are squaring the finished square up, they will be larger than needed so you can make them exact.  To square up the piece, line up the 1 3/4" line up on the rulers with the red square and the 3 1/2" diagonal line along the long diagonal seam.  Trim. Rotate and line up the 3 1/2" diagonal line of the ruler along the diagonal line of the piece.  Als...

Hello!  I'm finally back and plan to be blogging more.  My friend and fellow designer, Celine Perkins of Perkin Dry Goods and I reconnected at Quilt Market in May.  We decided to collaborate and came up with the French Connection sew along.  The idea of the sew along is that we each designed a quilt center and gave the centers to the other designer to design the border.  We are starting with Celine's center and my border design.  We will be doing our second sew along starting in October and we'll be creating my center with Celine's border design. We are both super excited to share our designs with you!  The first month is picking your fabrics and cutting. Click here to get the first week's instructions.  Selecting the fabrics is one of my favorite parts of quilting.  My imagination runs wild with the possibilities!  I decided to use Joyeux Noel by French General for Moda Fabrics .  I'm a huge French General junkie and have...