2015 License Plate Quilt finished

My 2015 License Plate Quilt is done. I collected one license plate from each of the 50 US states and 8 plates from Canadian provinces that were participating in the Row By Row this summer. Plus I added 2 special plates to make a total of 60.

It measures 67" x 95".  

To learn HOW to make it see my previous post titled Beginning of 2015 License Plate Quilt.
Briefly here is a recap:
Make 60 Fussy Square blocks.
The Fussy Square 4" block template can be found HERE.
Cut selvages off lots of fabric 1 1/2" wide.
Lay selvages on side edges of Fussy Square blocks (overlap it 1/4") and topstitch along edge of selvage.
Trim even with the Fussy Square block.
Sew selvages along top and bottom too.
Trim this unit to 6 1/2" square.---Make 60.
For the license plates sew selvages on the top and bottom first then sides.
Trim this block to 6 1/2" x 10". --Make 60.
Sew 2 of each block into a larger 4 patch like this:

Sew the vertical seams first. Then join the 2 sections.

Make 28 of this unit.

Make 4 like this for the bottom row of the quilt.

Each "block" has 2 license plates and 2 Fussy Square blocks.

I put the blocks together in a random order BUT I did put the Halloween blocks with the license plate from MD--where I live--because I love Halloween.

And the plate from Las Vegas had to be near the Busy Strippin plate.

I had already used the AZ Desert Stripper plate in another block but that would have been fun to put with the Las Vegas plate too.

I was trying to decide if I wanted to use the medium batik or the light beach fabric as a border but instead chose the Kaffe Fasset fabric.

Sew the blocks together into 4 long rows first.

Each row has 7 block units plus one half block unit.

Sew these rows together and add a border.

I cut the border 3" wide.

The border fabric is Kaffe Fasset and I love how it echoes the Fussy Square blocks.

This ROW x ROW H2O plate was only sold at the Quilt Odyssey show in late July.

(Of course I was at my son's wedding and couldn't go but thanks to friends I got it.)

Everything is machine sewn, including the binding.

I sew the binding to the back of the quilt then flip it around to the front and use a decorative stitch to sew it down.

Next summer there will be another Row By Row Experience happening and the shops will have license plates again. I purchased these plates online, on the phone, through friends, family, and Facebook group swaps. 

Happy collecting and happy quilting!

See Finish It Friday.

Fussy Square Foundation piecing

Foundation piecing is very accurate and not too difficult. Download this link to a 4 1/2" Fussy Square paper block foundation. Make sure to DOWNLOAD then PRINT. If you print from the screen it will not come out 4 1/2",  it will be 4 3/8".
Cut out a center motif that fits in a 2" square. Cut the motif 2 1/2" square. This is pinned in the center of the paper foundation on the PLAIN side of the paper but facing up.

Looking THROUGH the paper you can see the motif is centered with the seam allowance around the square.

Pin the fabric in place. (I don't use pins but I have made loads of these.)

This motif is pinned and ready to sew.

The next round of 4 triangles are cut 2 1/2" x 1 1/2".

Line up the 2 1/2" edges, hold the pieces together and gently turn over so you can sew on the line.

Reduce your stitch length from normal (2.4) to tighter stitches (1.5).

Sew ON the LINE between piece 1 and piece 2.

See I'm holding the pieces together on the bottom side as I sew on the top of the paper.

This shows the tiny stitches on the line. 

Don't sew too far beyond the line or it will be difficult to trim later.

Flip this piece open, away from the center piece.

First piece of this round is done.

Now do the opposite side.

Lay the 2 1/2" length sides together.

Carefully turn over and sew on the line.

Now #3 is sewn to #1.

Open this piece too.

Repeat the process for the top and bottom pieces.

Top done.

Bottom done. Press.

The outside round of triangles are cut 3 1/2" in half once diagonally. 

So cut 2 squares 3 1/2" and then cut once diagonally to yield 4 triangles.

See the white triangle of fabric under the paper? 

You should be able to see the top and bottom of the triangle.

If you lift the edges like this you can see that the seam line will be fine.

IF you are a beginner try cutting 4" squares in half diagonally. Then you will for sure have enough seam allowance and once flipped it will be fine.

The white triangle is sewn. Now TRIM the excess from round 1.

Repeat the corners until all are done.

This block has one odd corner because it's for a specific project but you can see how the first round of rectangles now look like triangles! Yay! The outside corners are oversized at this point.

Lay a 4 1/2" square ruler on top of the block and centered. Trim the excess away.

This is my Fussy Five summer block.

Fussy Five fall block.

Fussy Five winter block.

If you are joining the  Fussy Square Block Swap on Flickr make sure you leave the paper backing on the blocks you make and sign the center paper square.

See Fussy Square Block Project previous post for  more info.

Thanks for joining our Flickr group. It is so much fun!

Mock Cathedral Windows

I found a Mock Cathedral Window Pincushion Tutorial at Diary of a Quilt Maven blog and thought I'd give it a try.

(Instead of a pincushion I finished mine as an ornament.)

Folded and 1/8" perimeter seam. 

Sew together and spin seam junction.

The change I made was to put Heat N Bond on my 4 side squares.

Trimmed to fit then fused in place.

Fused and ready to sew.

White fabric folded over and sewn.

I added batting and backing plus the ribbon.

Next time I do the mock cathedral windows I may try to copy this pillow.

The pillow is by Monica at Diary of a Quilt Maven.

The pillow is awesome and on my to do list. 

But maybe I'll do just a panel like this and use it as a tote...

Linking to Finish it Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.