A couple weeks ago, I pulled this flat cardboard box off the shelf. In it, the pieces of a 2-1/2" strip project I put away years ago. I wasn't happy with how things were coming together back then and didn't have the time nor patience to slow down and correct my sloppy technique.
This project is on its way to finish-ville.
Last week, I shared some fun math which helped me convert a strippy block finish to odd-angled setting triangles. This week, I'm sharing a couple of relatively new tools that are assisting with the diamond block construction.
Two similar products, in particular, caught my attention at the local quilt shop recently. I don't carry these products in my webstore, but you can find them right here. The two products I am using for this project are 1) the Seam Align Gentle Hold Fabric Glue (the small bottle just to the right of the big bottle, below) and 2) the Easy Press Fabric Treatment (the big bottle below), and the Easy Press Pen. I realize the pen makes that three products, not two, but the pen kinda goes with the treatment stuff. The eye-dropper squirty-thing was in my cabinet and comes in handy to put the treatment stuff into the pen.
Essentially, it's an alternative to using pins to secure the seam for sewing. The added bonus of the glue is that it basically secures the entire seam with a few dots of goop (placed about 1/2" apart shown below left) within the seam allowance. The liquid needs to be activated with heat (below right). If repositioning is needed, just pull the pieces apart and start over.
There is no sticky-gluey feel to the fabric. We used the Seam Align glue on the Hawaii cruise, too. While I haven't tried it, I *know* this would be a great addition to the FLOCK block construction.
Once the seam is sewn, the Easy Press Fabric treatment is like a conditioner placed right on the same with the pen. Place a tiny bit of conditioner on the seam with the pen and then press like normal. Again apply heat and the seam ends up quite flat.
The applicator pen is like a felt-tipped marker - or like a Tide pen with portable detergent inside - the liquid is released from the pen when you push down. Again, neither the glue nor the treatment left any kind of residue or stiffness like other materials might do.
It was especially nice while keeping my bias edges from going haywire. At the same time the fabric remained soft and pliable. I don't feel like I will have to wash the quilt to get added product out of the quilt when it's done.
I have all of the required half-blocks done except for some trimming and only about a dozen full blocks.
I'm going to keep making blocks until I either have about 50 blocks or until I run out of fabric strips.
I can feel another finishing bug coming on. . . Those quilt tops - there are at least four of them stacked up on that wall - might very well need a better storage solution so they find their way into a finishing queue!
Happy Stitching!
Head Hummingbird
Hummingbird-Highway.com
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