September 2015 BOM - 2 Fer block!

Hi everyone,

For those who don't know me, I've been a bit quiet around here lately, but JM needed a BOM for this month, and I was happy to step back up to the plate, so to speak!

I'm calling this month's BOM the 2 Fer block, because depending on the layout you use, you can achieve a combination of 3 different looks....but I only physically sewed two of them!!!  These blocks end up 9 & 1/2" unfinished (ie before you put them into the quilt).  Whilst there's 3 possible layouts, for the SEPTEMBER 2015 BOM, please use the one on the right in the pic below.

The following pic is the layout for the third option, but this wasn't sewn!

To achieve this look, I just turned each of the outer squares around to face the opposite way....which could also be done for this months BOM.

Now, before I carry on with the tutorial, JM has asked that this month we make red and white, OR  blue and white OR red, white and blue, which should be able to help out with a lot of different football team combo's that have been coming in thick and fast of late *grins*

I'm showing you how to cut for a 3 colour block, but if you don't want the third colour in the centre, then just cut 1 extra white (in the case of the tutorial examples) square.

YOU WILL NEED TO CUT:

 Sorry if my pic above shows the 5th white square, I forgot to take it out before I snapped away and when I realised, I'd already sewn the blocks up haha

1 x 3 & 1/2" Centre square - can match the outer square colour or can be a contrasting colour.

 Four 2" x 3 & 1/2" rectangles in Colour 1 and also in Colour 2

 Four (or five) 3 & 1/2" white squares in Colour 1

 Four 3" squares in Colour 2

Now, set aside the rest of the cut pieces, and just take the four 3" Colour 2 squares, we're going to be marking on the back of these now.

 Using whichever form of marking pen you prefer, align the edge of your ruler from

 This shows you the line just made, and on the top right, you can see what we'll be doing to each of these 4 squares.

 Now, place the 1/2" mark on the ruler, over the line you just drew, so that you can make another line 1/2" away.

 Once you're happy with the ruler being in the right position, with the 1/2" mark over the previous line, draw the 2nd line on the back of the square.

 This is what you should now have...the lines you've just drawn, are your SEWING lines, so you will actually be sewing on both of these lines, not a 1/4" away from them.

 Now place the right sides together of a Colour 1 square and a Colour 2 square as shown in the pic....if using a tone on tone fabric like the white in my example, please take extra time to ensure your toned fabric is right side up, to avoid having to unpick (Been there done that several times in the past, but I think I've finally learnt to triple/double check now!)

 I chain piece my blocks whenever possible....sewing on the drawn lines is a perfect time to do this.....I chose to sew on the middle diagonal line first, then I could remove my pins (sorry forgot to take a pic of that), then I turn the chained pieces around and sew back down the opposite direction on the other line.

 Separate the units, so that you can trim them.  I prefer to use my ruler and cutter, but they can be done with scissors if you can cut straight!  Cut either half way between the two sewn lines if using scissors, or using a ruler and cutter, align the 1/4" mark with one of the sewn lines and cut along that line.

 This will result in the above two units.....the one on the left is what I call a bonus 1/2 square triangle, and can be used in borders, trims, other blocks etc, so don't waste that fabric, and set those aside for a rainy day!  Press the seams to the darker side.

 Take your two piles of rectangles and sew a Colour 1 to a Colour 2, right sides together, until all 4 are sewn.

Make sure to sew a 1/4" seam, and press the seams to the darker fabric.

 Layout your units now into whichever you prefer, but this months actual block is the above pic, which is kind of a floating churn dash.  Above is Layout #1

 Alternate layout #2

Alternate layout #3

 Once laid out as shown, you will flip the units in the right column over the middle column

 This is best shown in the above pic....carefully carry the pieces to your machine, and either pin them, or as I do, align them on the fly at the machine.  MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE ORIENTATION OF THE PIECES CORRECT (remember, pinning helps with that!) sew a 1/4" seam allowance down the RIGHT hand side of each unit.

 I don't press the seams I just sewed yet...instead, I take them back to the rest of the block and line them back up so you can make sure everything has been sewn correctly...as shown in above and below pics.

 Now, take the left hand column, and flip those units over the other units as shown above.  Now you're going to sew down those seams, again using a 1/4" seam allowance.

 Now your block should be starting to resemble the completed block...only two more seams to sew and you'll be done and can pat yourself on the back.

 First though, we're going to be pressing all the seams we've just sewn.  I've pointed my finger in the direction that you're going to want to press the seams, but basically so long as you alternate the direction in each row, you'll be able to nestle the intersecting seams when you sew the three rows together.

 So the middle row will go the opposite direction to the first row.

 Bottom row is done the same direction as the top row.

 Shows the different layout and how it's pressed in exactly the same manner.

 I flipped the rows over in these two pics (above and below this text) to better show you how the seams should look once pressed.

 Now, flip the top row down over the middle row, take it to your machine and nestling the two intersecting seams, align the start and finish ends of the seam, and pin (again - I didn't take a pic of my blocks pinned - I need to do more tutorials so I remember to take pics of that), now sew 1/4" seam allowance down the full length of the pinned seam.

 Your block is almost complete, one more seam and final pressing and woo hoo, it's getting a bit exciting now isn't it? lol

 Flip the bottom row up so you can attach it to the other unit.

 I choose to press my final two seams away from the centre square, but feel free to press them open if you prefer that.

 Shows the seams all pressed on the other layout.

Once again, shows both the layouts that I sewed, side by side (which I think would make an interesting looking quilt don't you?  Normally you would trim your blocks now, which just FYI, these blocks make a 9 & 1/2" block as shown, which will end up being 9" in a quilt.  In the case of the BOM, don't trim the blocks, as this will allow them to be trimmed to which ever size is needed for the quilts...I won't confuse you by putting them in here though.

Make as many as you like or even just two.  Just don't forget to make them in combo's of red & white, blue & white or red, white & blue (Ooooh that rhymes!)

 

Send your finished BOM's to

CAROLINE GUNN

PO BOX 3079

ST MARYS SOUTH  NSW  2760

Happy Stitching

Until next time, stay safe and happy

Hugs

Naomi

PDF version of this tutorial can be found, by clicking HERE

2 Commando Regiment .... in appreciation....

This is an extra post but I wanted to share it with you all sooner rather than later so I did not think you would mind.  This morning I was invited to morning tea at 2 Commando Regiment.  Katrina and Garry (our Wounded Warrior) were presenting the Regiment with a recumbent bike that Garry rode in the Invictus and I was invited to come along.  

I was delighted to receive the invitation and was greeted very warmly when introduced to the fellows that were there.  It was very obvious before we spoke much that they appreciate what we do for all service personnel and especially for them.  

The Commanding Officer joined us and we all sat and chatted for a while.  He was very interested in Aussie Heroes and has memories of our first year when he was the Commanding Officer of the Special Operation Task Group in Tarin Kot.  I reminded him that he wrote us a letter of thanks during that time which he remembered.  

He then surprised me by presenting me with the following plaque which reads

"Aussie Hero Quilts

presented to Jan-Maree

in appreciation for your on-going service to 2CDO Regt"

He also said that Aussie Heroes is part of the wider 2CDO Regimental family and spoke at length about how much what we do is appreciated.   He said it is the little things that count and like their medals the meaning of the quilts will endure as times passes and stories are told of each member's service.

Katrina had used all the photos I have of the quilts and laundry bags we made for the commandos over the years and had put them in to a photo book to give to the CO.  You will be pleased to know that the book now resides in a display cabinet in the regiment.  The fellows had a good look at the book, passing it around and going through the pictures.  It was a real trip down memory lane for me to look through the book. So many of you have a quilt or a laundry bag in there.

Big thanks to Katrina for the photos above and for arranging the book. She did a great job and her photos are always much better than my amateur efforts.

To me this is another example of how much what we do means to the troops.   I know you are always hearing it from me and I know we don't hear back from a lot of our recipients but gestures like this are not to be taken lightly.  This speaks volumes about the way we are valued.

It may be my name on the plaque but Aussie Heroes would be nothing without ALL of you - those of you that make quilts, or part thereof, laundry bags, blocks of the month, embroideries, those who help with admin and packing boxes and the like.   No contribution is too small and all are valued.

Till next time...............keep spreading the word and happy stitching. 

Jan-Maree xx

Grati-Tuesday 1 September

One of the guests who attended the Opening Night of the Rosewood Quilt Show on Friday night was a soldier called Bruce from the local area.  He and I chatted and I discovered that he has a passion for history and I prevailed upon him to do some writing for us.  This is his first piece and I think it is appropriate to share it in our weekly Grati-tude post.

A History of Giving.

During the early days of WWI the home folk of Australia saw a need to look after their fathers, sons and daughters that had gone off to fight for the Empire. Out of this was born the Australian Comforts Fund, ACF for short.  During the great War of 1914-1918 the ACF sent over 1.3 million pairs of hand knitted socks, nearly 2 million Christmas boxes containing writing wallets, chewing gum, handkerchiefs, tobacco, and sausages as well as thousands of shirts, vests, pajamas, kangaroo-skin fleece-lined jackets, and woolen knitted scarves and balaclavas. The ACF was a source of solace and encouragement for the troops abroad. It was also a means for the women at home to contribute to the war effort and identify with their young men in the trenches. The vast amount of organisational work involved in running the ACF developed new managerial skills among the women themselves. They raised thousands of pounds, through door-knock appeals, fetes and button days to cover the costs of materials and shipping. The ACF was dissolved at the end of the war, but had proved such a success as a vital link between home and the battlefield that it was revived in 1940 to supply ‘comforts’ for a new generation of Australian soldiers.

I was asked to attend the start of the Rosewood Quilting show on Friday night last. The guest speaker there was Jan-Maree who was talking about the Aussie Hero Quilts that were being sent to our forces serving overseas currently. As I sat there and listened it struck a cord with me that after all the deployments I have done, no one had ever gone to the trouble to send me anything that had come from the heart apart from the box full of jelly snakes, caramel latte coffee and general letters you get. The quilt “idea”, the simplicity of it and yet the brilliance, it speaks volumes to me, that someone could sit there for the better part of five to six weeks toiling over a quilt or a laundry bag. Then for the recipient to get that quilt or laundry bag at the other end, from a total stranger who drew the name at random most times from a list of names. Not to mention the organisational load and logistics needed in getting the quilt/laundry bag there in the first place from volunteers here on the home front.

The surprise that recipient would get, the pride that they must feel in the fact that our home folk do care about them, the quilt or laundry bag becomes a tangible link with what they have done or gone through as a memory jogger. From here I have drawn the analogy of the “history of giving” our home folk have.  For at least a century they have seen fit to make whatever they could for our service personnel, whether it is a quilt or a knitted pair of socks, it is keeping that tradition alive, it’s from the heart and that’s what counts....... Especially if you’re near the butt hole of the world and feeling like you’ve been forgotten by all and sundry. 

Bruce.  

....

Hopefully it wont be too long before Bruce writes some more for us.  
Thanks Bruce!

And now to some thank you messages....

.....

Hi Alison,

I have received the terrific quilt and goodies (I love Tim Tams!). I love the quilt and it looks great on my bed (see photo). Thank you so much - it is an honour for me to be the recipient of your first Aussie Hero quilt. I will write to you properly in the next couple of days but I thought that you might like to know that I received your package and the quilt is already in use and much appreciated (and one Tim Tam has already gone missing!). 

.....

Good morning Wendy, I am one of the 2 aircraft controllers onboard HMAS Melbourne. 

I would like to thankyou for my laundry bag. It looks awesome! The guys that are still awaiting theirs are pretty keen to see what the other quilters are going to whip up for them.

The treats you included in the package were well received not only by myself but some of my mess mates as we have now almost run out of Aussie snacks haha. We still have tons of vegemite and peanut butter though haha.

Thankyou again for taking the time to make me this laundry bag. It is very much appreciated that you have put the time in for me while I'm away from home.

Hope all is well for yourself.

Cheers 

.....

Hi Debbie

I am writing to thank you for quilt that you recently made and sent to me here in Afghanistan. It is always nice to receive any mail from home and receiving the quilt made it extra special. I have been in Afghanistan now for just under five months and I have about two months to go until I get to go home. In my role over here I am attached to an American unit so in my free time I find myself explaining about kangaroos and trying to convince the Americans that there are places in Australia where it is safe from snakes, spiders, crocodiles and sharks. Apart from the Americans I also work with Bulgarian and Romanian soldiers as they contribute to mission here as part of the NATO alliance. My main role is contributing to protecting the base and keeping everyone deployed here a safe as possible.

Thanks again for the quilt and all your efforts to support us from home. It is very much appreciated.

Regards

.......

Dear Julie Ann,

Thank you for the laundry bag you so kindly sewed for me on behalf of AHQ.

It is a great memento from this deployment and something I will appreciate always.

Thanks and regards,

...... 

Dear Julie Ann,

I am just wanting to thank you for the wonderful laundry bag you made me. It really is terrific       and receiving a laundry bag or quilt is a great morale booster.

We only have a little over a month to go now, it really seems like it only just started but of course it hasn't and so many things have changed and milestones met and missed since we left our families.  I hope that all is going well for your family and that you are finding some time for yourself in your busy life.

Kindest regards,

.....

Afternoon Leanne  W

I just want to thank you very much for taking the time to make the quilt you have sent me it is awesome I use it everynight as it is too hot up here for a normal quilt so it has come at a good time hahaha  

Anyway thanks again I think the work that you guys are doing is amazing.

.....

Dear Jane,

Thank you very much for the care package, in particular the quilt, it was greatly appreciated – I will try not to get it dirty.   It is the appreciation of the general public that makes it worthwhile getting up in the morning and doing this job – thank you.   It is a hot old place over here; we are going through a period of 46° – 50°C temperatures (it’s a good thing that the AC works well).   The food is plentiful and the accommodation is better than some and worse than others.   Well, must get back to work, again thank you for your thanks and for the package.

Cheers

.....

Hi Pennie

I am writing to thank you for laundry bag that you recently made and sent to me here in Afghanistan. It is always nice to receive any mail from home and receiving the laundry bag made it extra special. The rising sun emblem looks fantastic and I have already started using the bag. Thanks again for the laundry bag and all your efforts to support us from home. It is very much appreciated

.....

Hi Pennie,

Thank You so so much for my wonderful laundry bag and the kind words in your letter.

The laundry bag is amazing you have done such a great job. If I had have seen that in the shops, thats the one I would have chosen. It has made a few others jealous too.

Oh, and thank you also for all the extra little goodies. They will definitely come in handy.

You must be a very kind person, working as a nurse helping others, and also being part of Aussie hero quilts.

Again, thank you so much for your generosity. It really is greatly appreciated

.....

Hi Jan-Maree

The quilt and laundry bag arrived and they look fantastic! I'm impressed at how quickly it arrived. I'm also glad I let you pick the design, I sent the wife a pic and she loves it as well. Also having my initials on the laundry bag is great, my issued ones seem to go missing a lot! haha.

Thank you again for this fantastic service you provide, we are all very grateful.

Kind regards

.....

Hi Sophie,

My daughter has the same name, she was named after my grandmother. I received your parcel yesterday, thank you so I quickly grabbed a laundry bag for myself and the others were quickly dispersed. 

Myself, I am first generation born Australian and my folks left Germany after the war as they had enough of the war torn region and wanted to start a fresh to bring up their kids in relative safety. My serving in the Army was my way of saying thank you the the Australian people. Of our rather large family, only two of us are serving. I have a cousin in the Navy( he is more than half my age) and I'm getting closer to retirement..

It is hot here during the day however have aircon everywhere. Thank you once again from the bottom of my heart for your time and effort in making these lovely bags, they will be gladly used.

God bless you and all the ladies taking the time to making these and sending them.

 

Kind Regards

.....

Hi Cheri,

I recently received your wonderful package.  Thank you so much for the amazing quilt- it really is quite impressive.  My mother is a very keen quilter so I've seen enough of them to know a good one.  I chose yellow and black as they are the colours of our squadron: 816 Sqn - The Fighting Tigers.  I wanted a quilt that would commemorate the deployment and you did an outstanding job considering it's outside your comfort zone. 

Thank you for the well wishes, we are over the half way point of the deployment now.  Hopefully we can get some more seizures before we start making the journey home.  

Hopefully you are dealing with the Tasmanian winter better than I am with the 45 deg heat!

Take care

.....

Till next time.....................keep spreading the word and happy stitching!

Jan-Maree xx