Reducing Bulky Seams for a Nine-Patch

i just made nine-patches-with-a-heavier-fabric.
but when ironing the finished block it just seemed too bulky.
so i thought i would share with you what i did.
prepare your three rows as usual. and follow along:

press seams as shown on LEFT.
top and bottom towards center.
middle away from center.

sew rows and press as shown on RIGHT.
away from center.unpick stitches in seam allowance of middle square.
approx. 2-4 stitches.do not cut threads.
just unpick them.then take your finger and pull down seam as shown.move this seam towards center.
until each corner of middle square looks like a four-patch.finger press and carefully iron.i learned how to do this making a four-patch on pg. 38 of Victory Quilts. and accidently discovered it could be done for a nine-patch. surely i am not the first to have discovered this. let me know. the heavier fabric in above photos is Kona cotton.

Just In Case

that's right. just in case you would rather make potholders. instead of jumbo coasters. continue reading for very long instructions on making your own I-Don't-Have-Time-To-Make potholders.project 1:
here's what you'll need:
1 piece flannel 10 in. x 10 in.11 in. x 11 in.
1 piece insulated batting 8 in. x 8 in.
(i used Insul-Bright by The Warm Company)
1 piece recycled denim 7 in. x 7 in.
8 in. ric-rac or ribbon folded in half.

sorry. extra step alert. just do it & move on.
mark 2 in. square in center of insulated batting.
you could mark lines in center from top to bottom and left to right.
then mark 2 in. lines 1 in. away from center.
but it's faster to place ruler at 5 in. in bottom left corner.
then mark 2 in. on top edge of ruler and 2 in. on right edge of ruler.
then turn insulated batting around and do it again.center shiny side of insulated batting to wrong side of flannel.
pin securely in place.
zig-zag along marked lines in center of insulated batting.
fold corners of flannel over insulated batting.
as you pull corner of flannel over corner of insulated batting pull a bit of the corner of the insulated batting with you.
this will (1.)create a design feature and (2.)eliminate spaces which do not have batting.
press corners.
fold sides of flannel over all sides and pin just the center of the sides.turn over and press just the center of the sides.
then using your thumb and pushing.
pull remainder of sides over tightly and add more pins.
turn over and press again.
every time you pin and press look for excess fabric.
if you have excess fabric pin again so it's flat.
this will help eliminate any puckering when you sew.oh no. sorry. extra step alert. add ric-rac or ribbon to corner.
then secure with back & forth stitching or bar tacks.
i don't hang my potholders. but it's cute. & it's a gift right.
then center wrong side of recycled denim over exposed batting and pin all layers together.
zig-zag around edges of denim to secure all layers together.
trim threads and you're done.project 2:
here's what you'll need if using cotton:
1 piece cotton 10 in. x 10 in.
1 piece insulated batting 8 in. x 8 in.
1 piece recycled denim 8 in. x 8 in.
8 in. ric-rac or ribbon folded in half.
here's what you'll need if using flannel:
1 piece flannel 8 in. x 8 in.
1 piece insulated batting 7 in. x 7 in.
1 piece recycled denim 8 in. x 8 in.
8 in. ric-rac or ribbon folded in half.

if using cotton:
fold over 1 in. on all sides of cotton.
place shiny side of insulated batting to wrong side of cotton
insert insulated batting under folded edges of cotton.
place wrong side of recycled denim to exposed batting.
mark chark lines down center top to bottom and left to right.
mark chark lines 1-1/2 in. from all edges.
if using flannel:
place shiny side of insulated batting to wrong side of flannel.
place wrong side of recycled denim to exposed batting.
mark chark lines down center top to bottom and left to right.
mark chark lines 1-1/2 in. from all edges.if using cotton or flannel:
sew along all marked lines.
if using pinking shears lock your stitch 1/4 in. from edge so they don't get cut.
sew along all edges.
if using pinking shears be careful not to cut off ribbon.trim threads and you're done.
unless you have time to throw in washer and dryer.did you see those cute butterfly pins. present from Jessica. thanks Jessica. this project works best with a strong pin. butterfly pins are Dritz. yellow flower pins are Clover. it can be annoying to match your thread to your project especially when there are different fabrics. there's no time to keep changing colors. i find that Gutermann Col. 505 works well on all colors even white. & i love this chalk filled marking pen from Clover. my silver color chalk one is my fav. the blue color chalk seems to linger. as soon as i find my silver one i am going to give my blue one to Jessica.one more thing. i don't usually make potholders. & have never used insulated batting. so next week i will test them out. see if they really protect your fingers. & i'll give them a good wash & dry to see what happens. so stay tuned for the results.

Four Weekends Before Xmas

i hear this alot. i don't have any time. i don't have any money. what am i going to do. well here's a little project that might help.project 1:
I-Don't-Have-Time-To-Make coasters.
here's what you'll need:
1 piece flannel 8 in. x 8 in.9 in. x 9 in.
1 piece fusible batting 6 in. x 6 in.
1 piece recycled denim 5 in. x 5 in.center fusible batting on top of wrong side of flannel and press.
fold corners of flannel over fusible batting and press.
fold sides of flannel over all sides and press.
if using flannel you will need to pin in place.
if using cotton the iron may crease fabric enough to not need pins.
center recycled denim over exposed batting and pin all layers together.
zig-zag around edges of denim to secure all layers together.
trim threads and you're done.project 2:
You're-Not-Listening-To-Me-I-Said-I-Don't-Have-Any-Time-To-Make coasters.
here's what you'll need:
1 piece flannel 6 in. x 6 in.
1 piece batting 4 in. x 4 in.
1 piece recycled denim 6 in. x 6 in.center batting on top of wrong side of flannel.
place wrong side of recycled denim on top of wrong side of flannel with batting.
mark lines thru center up & down and left & right.
mark lines on all sides 1 in. from edge.
zig-zag on all marked lines.
zig-zag around all outside edges.
cut all outside edges using pinking shears.
trim threads and you're done.
well unless you have time to throw in washer and dryer.
all denim frays differently. so results may vary.i told you yesterday that Melanie sent me an older patchwork magazine. these were inspired by a quick-to-make scented sachet in that magazine that measured 4 in. x 4 in. an herbal package was inserted between layers. my jumbo coasters measure 6 in. x 6 in. they're reversible. & if they were made bigger and with more batting they would make great potholders. oooh. I-Don't-Have-Time-To-Make potholders. or do i?