YES, I agree, the Clover craft iron is the way to go, plus am using a small wool mat to iron on, less fuss.

roxannecooper wrote:
February is when the Mariners compass will be released.

Hey guys. Apologies in advance if this the wrong place to put this question ...

How do we find out how big the mariner's compass circle is in the center? Am I jumping the gun? Should I wait for February? I have an idea ...

Can’t wait to see it Annis

This is a brilliant idea Jillypea!

I'm just doing the small houses in the center and decided to decrease the size to about 75% and keep the same 32 around instead of the 24 I thought of doing. That will give me 14" in the center for the mariner's compass and road. I'm hoping to find a tree fabric I can use in place of some of the houses and since I'm not doing the overhead trees I shortened the height of the background. I'm not sure when I will get to sew the blocks but I do know the 10" squares I'm using will make about 2 houses each since I only need oversized pieces for the outside edges.

While resizing the blocks I noticed the width of the 2 houses are slightly different. So my guess is in order to keep the circle accurate, house 1 and house 2 will have to be sewn together. I wanted mine to be identical widths so I drafted them on graph paper and on the computer to get the exact angle. I adjusted all of the measurements for easy cutting and plan to just sew the pieces together into rectangles to start with. I will make a template for the roof so I can get that angle correct. Then make a full size template on Mr-Label clear full sheet labels for the final square-up, leaving the top and bottom oversized. After sewing all of the wedges together, I will use a circle marker to change the top and bottom into circles. I tried the freezer paper method years ago but didn't have success with the fabric sticking, possibly because I used dryer sheets when drying the fabric.

Watched all the videos and following the forum. I just finished my first house. My tip is to use my small clover craft iron for pressing. I will also take fabrics from stash. Cut up fabrics for all the houses, now to the sewing part.

The next few blocks went together so much better and faster! So can I say a little addictive?

HelenW is a treasure. Not afraid to think outside the box and change things.

I will explain the original pattern. She will continue to amaze those who want to march to the beat of a different drum.

There is room for all in quilting.

Thanks, Helen!

HelenW wrote:
That’s exactly what I did, I joined the 2 pieces, then treated it as one unit, but don’t use scotch tape, I melted it when I ironed on top will try glue next time.

This seems like an efficient way of doing this and also will be good when it comes to quilting because there will be a lot less seams.

Jillypea, Your houses are just too, too cute. Love the using a single color for roofs and sky, to tone the explosion of color down a bit.
Looks like you taped the house and the background with roof together and treated it as one unit, or did you just seam the two together.I love the look. And putting your own windows
and doors will give it a unique look. I was think embellishing with threads, but like the idea of fusing different shapes too. Since I am going with 60 %
my windows are really, really small. Might just keep them small rectangles. To me, the combo of freezer paper piecing the two main units, and adding
applique to the buildings is a winner idea. Thanks for sharing your photo. Great inspiration for everyone. HelenW

Hi Helen W.
I also have a habit of hanging patterns, but I do want this to be a stash busting quilt
I love colour but need to control things too, so I’ve made my 8 small No1 houses but I’ve made them in one piece of fabric so that I can bond my own windows and doors. Maybe put blinds in the windows? All my roofs will be dark grey fabrics, perhaps with the odd chimney pot,

but these I have pieced using the freezer paper method.
I used my open toe foot to stitch next to the freezer paper but will try my stitch in the ditch foot for the houses No 2.

Wow, HelenW! You are a rock star! Thank you for posting the various examples. Need to do more noodling.

From the first time I saw this pattern, my thought was what a great wall hanging. Like many others I was thinking make it smaller. 60% seemed about right to me.
I have been doing samples. I thought sample 1 just do paper piecing at 60%. I bought flannel, so it is thick to do with those little windows and sections between the windows.
Then I thought, I am not opposed to raw edge applique, so Made sample 2. Then I read about quilters thinking of doing wool applique, so sample 3 applique on wedge that
could be pieced. Need to slow down, so I think will spend the weekend working on last years BOM. This new years resolution was to get than done!!! Having fun, and love
the EXPLOSION of activity on The Quilt Show. Hope Wendy is looking in every now and then to see how wildly popular her pattern is. HelenW