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woven quilt block tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Sunday, January 16, 2022

Woven quilt block


Quilting must be fun, easy and quick, right! Here comes another easy and quick quilt block. It is easy, simple but still it catches your eye. Look how delicate it looks. 

I prepared a tutorial also with step by step instructions and measurements to finish in different size.

 It is such an easy quilt block to make but it is not  simple or boring. Woven quilt block is made up of only squares and rectangles. The key is the placement of the pieces in order to get the woven effect.

Step by step tutorial

  • You need five different fabric for woven quilt block; one for background and four for the pattern. 
  • After fabric choices, comes the cutting part. The cutting instructions are for 6" finished quilt block. Below  the page you can also find cutting instructions for 8" and 12" finished quilt blocks.

  • Background fabric: cut 4 squares 2", cut 1 square 2" from each of four fabrics, cut 1 rectangle 2×3 1/2" from each of four fabrics. The pieces in the image above is for one quilt block.
  • Place the fabric pieces as in the image below, so that you can figure out the pattern. 
  • Seperate them in four groups and start sewing them together. All seam allowances are 1/4".

  • First sew the square together and then sew the rectangle to the squares.

  • Now you get four pieces of the pattern. First sew the first row together, then second row. The final step is to sew the two pieces together. Do not forget to press with iron every time you sew a piece.



It's finished!It is quick and simple but variations are limited of your imagination. Below are quilt blocks for 8" and 12".

8" finished quilt block

12" finished quilt block





By Hatun Comak - January 16, 2022
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upcycling denim ideas

By Hatun Comak → Friday, October 22, 2021

Jeans must be the most comfortable and durable clothes in the world. There is something indispensable with jeans  and when our jeans are too worn to wear them, we look for ways to upcycle them. 

From DIY home accessories to refashioned goods, there are enough ideas to upcycle these lovely jeans. Below I collected a bunch of upcycling denim ideas. Some of these works belong to me and some of them are from others that I added here with the aim of giving them a try in future. In a way, these collections are to-do lists for me.

DIY denim pouch

You just need a pair of old jeans and a zipper to make this denim pouch. For a detailed tutorial, check HERE . Adding a little sashiko work makes it perfect and unique.

DIY denim rug


From floor to ceiling in your home, there are upcycling ideas. This denim rug is perfect for your bathroom. You can get the details HERE.


Recycled jean planter

We use every scrap of jeans while recycling them. Using denim pieces, you can make this lovely planter. On one side I used strips of denim in different colors and on the other side I used just one big piece. So by turning the planter, you can have two different models.

Denim coasters


You can make a set of upcyled denim coasters with the pockets of the jeans. These are great as gifts. You can get the free tutorial HERE

DIY jeans bag

Jeans are the most frequently upcycled to make jeans bag and this one is my favourite. The tutorial for this denim bag is HERE


Sashiko denim bag


Here is another denim bag that I made using old jeans. It is a great way to use little pieces to make this sashiko bag. If you are into embroidery, I highly recommend you to try sashiko. It is a kind of Japanese style embroidery which looks great. You can see the details HERE.
By Hatun Comak - October 22, 2021
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sawtooth star quilt block tutorial

By Hatun Comak → Monday, March 29, 2021


The Sawtooth Star is a traditional eight point star and one of the most classical and popular one amongst the quilters. It possibly have some other names also. It is a versatile quilt pattern; with color and fabric variations you can create amazing quilts.


There are various methods of making sawtooth star. One of the methods is using half square triangles and the other one is using flying geese for the points. Since it is more practical besides reducing extra bulk and unnecessary seams between the points, flying geese is mostly preferred.

You can make flying geese with no-waste method to create four flying geese at one time which are perfect for Sawtooth Star Blocks.
For a more detailed tutorial you can check my MAKING NO WASTE FLYING GEESE UNITS TUTORIAL.
With this method of making flying geese, there will be no waste in fabric while making four flying geese at a time.


Sawtooth Star Quilt Block Cutting Instructions

Using the chart below, you can choose the needed measurement to make your quilt block. Here the instructions are given for 6"×6" finished size.
Check the measurements on the chart. 

Cut all the pieces needed to make the sawtooth star quilt pattern. 

Sawtooth Star Quilt Block Tutorial

  • Let's start with making flying geese blocks.  For flying geese units you will need one large square (goose) and four small squares (sky). One large and four small squares will make four finished  flying geese units.
  • Draw a diagonal line on the back of the four squares.
  • Place two of the small squares on the large square right sides together; as in the image below.
  • Sew two points squares to background square in opposite corners on both sides of the diagonal line. Then cut this unit in half through the drawn line. 

  • Press seams allowances through the little triangles.
  • Place another remaining of the four squares on the corner of each unit and sew them with 1/4" seam allowance on both sides of the line.
  • Cut again through the lines and press seams toward the small triangles.
  • Now you have four flying geese units. You need to square up your units because they can be a little bigger than the desired size. This may look extra work but it is necessary to assemble the blocks easily.
  • Once flying geese units are finished, lay them with the center and corner squares.
  • First sew the units into rows. Press seams and then press the three rows together.



And you have finished! This sawtooth star quilt block is not only so versatile but also easy to scale. You can make it smaller or bigger according to your needs. Knowing how to make sawtooth star quilt pattern will definitely be helpful.
Hope you enjoy and make use of my tutorial.



By Hatun Comak - March 29, 2021
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DIY denim coasters

By Hatun Comak → Monday, March 22, 2021

If you are a fan of jeans like me, you must have a pile of old, worn jeans waiting to be upcycled. I never throw worn jeans, not a little piece of it, since there are numerous ways to upcycle old jeans into something new. 

This time, using the pockets, I made denim coasters. They are not only easy to make but also practical to use. What's more, they are great to be gifts.

The back pockets are turned into denim coasters and the result is amazing. They are so easy to make using your worn jeans.


How to make denim coasters

Each pocket makes one denim coaster. The stitching design on the pocket of the jeans make a unique design on the coaster.

You will need:

Denim pockets

Quilt batting

A circle template of cardboard

  • Cut out the back pockets including the two layers, so it will be easier to work with.


  • Make two circle templates using paper or cardboard. One of them should be 3.5" and the other 4".

  • Place the larger circle on the pocket. Draw around the circle and cut it out from the both layers of denim.

  • Place the smaller template on batting  and cut it out. Make the quilt sandwich; place the batting piece between denim pieces and pin it.


  • Sew around the circle with 1/4" seam allowance.


  • With seam ripper, slit around the circle to make the frayed edges.


And it is ready! The coasters are practical to use, so that you can protect your table. They can also be the part of the decoration in your living room. Or a bunch of these denim coasters make perfect gifts.

Whatever they are for, enjoy the work you have made!





By Hatun Comak - March 22, 2021
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free rose paper piecing patterns

By Hatun Comak → Tuesday, March 16, 2021

It is finally spring and we need some fresh starts. It is always good to be working with flowers. I especially love roses. 

If you are new to paper piecing, have a look at this tutorial first. It teaches you the basics of paper piecing.

foundation paper piecing tutorial

Some of these patterns below is quite easy and some of them needs some specializing in paper piecing method. Once you master the paper piecing method, you can make any pattern.

Here I collected some paper pieced rose patterns which are all free, thanks to their designers. You can choose your favourite below and start making it. This collection is also my to-do list and as soon as I finish making them, I will replace their photos here.

Bring spring into your home!


The Rose by Lori Kennedy Quilts



Rose by Yvonnes


Rose by Hiswordinpictures


Wild Rose by Yvonnes


Scrap Flower by Onwilliamsstreet




By Hatun Comak - March 16, 2021
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circle of flying geese pattern

By Hatun Comak → Saturday, February 6, 2021

 


The circle of flying geese pattern has been on my to-do list for a long time. This week finally the time came for this lovely pattern. As you might have seen around, there are many variations of flying geese. This is a paper pieced block pattern. I really like paper piecing. It is a kind of addiction. When you see these lovely patterns, you can't help giving them a try.

The pattern is shared by Piece by Number. You can find the free pattern HERE.

If you are new to paper piecing, have a look at this tutorial first. It teaches you the basics of paper piecing.

Foundation paper piecing tutorial

Once you master the method, you can make any paper piecing pattern. The  circle of flying geese pattern is easy to make. The trickiest part is that it involves some turning. It is easy to get confused and make a mistake. So just pay attention to the directions of the triangles while assembling the pieces.

I used rainbow colors for the triangles and black for the background. You need to make pieces to complete the pattern. The finished size is 12"×12". It is big enough to make a cushion. I haven't decided what to make of this circle of flying geese pattern yet. It is so nice to be a wall hanging also. I love it with dark background. 

Flying geeese is a such a versatile pattern that it can be used either to make a complete quilt or to complete another quilt pattern. As I have mentioned before, there are other ways also to make flying geese. If you are interested in other variations of flying geese, this may be helpful:

No waste flying geese tutorial




By Hatun Comak - February 06, 2021
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