Jeff Beacham Handmade

This was my first attempt at sewing together a charm pack (a curated set of forty-two 5" squares).  This charm pack was of batik fabrics and after I completed this project, I realized two things...I love pre-cuts and I love batik fabric.  The thing was I had no clue what it wanted to be.  Of course, it was a quilt top, so my first thought was a quilt, but it was only 27" x 31.5" and that just didn't feel right.  So I fold it up and set it aside.   That was September 21, 2020... I have many UFOs (Unfinished Objects) in my collection.  Some were great ideas that fizzled out, others I just didn't have the skills to finish (yet) and others got lost in my ADHD.  I like to go back and rummage through my UFOs, and see if I get any sparks of creativity. Occasionally I would pull one out and finish it or cut it up and create something new.  But this little gem puzzled me each time I pull it out. Then in mid-October 2020, as I was looking for fabric to...

This is an alternate way to make a 4-patch block, using a weaving technique instead of the traditional piecing technique.  It produces a block with two layers with no visible seams like a traditional block.  This technique allows both sides to be used in the final design.  It is a raw edge technique that will produce tons of visual texture after washing.   There is also no loss of size since there aren't any visible seams.  In traditional piecing, you lose 1/2" with every seam you sew.  So a 5" square cut into four 2 1/2" squares and sewed back together would produce a 4" square.  This technique keeps its original size and remains a 5" square. Finished woven 4-patch block This technique works with any size fabric square.  It's great for 5" and 10" pre-cut squares, but squares from scraps or yardard work also.  The woven 4-patch blocks can be used just as single-layer fabric and can be traditionally pieced into any design.  One charm...