What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

 I have some great scrappy news to share today.

Remember this scrappy red heart quilt I shared back in March?

Well, you can find the pattern for it in the newest American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.

It is called Pieces of my Heart.

USED WITH PERMISSION FROM AMERICAN PATCHWORK & QUILTING®. ©2023 MEREDITH OPERATIONS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

They did an adorable layout for the quilt and at the end of the pattern, provided information on donating quilts.

 This week I decided to take a break from quilting Happy Block quilts and loaded my RSC quilt onto my longarm.  It has been patiently waiting in my studio for a couple of months now.

There are actually three different blocks in this quilt - all are 12".  First there are a rainbow of heart blocks I made.  As I was making heart blocks, I also mad a monochromatic 36 patch block.  The last blocks in this quilt are the chain blocks.  I was sent those as an orphan block from Elana.  I think they worked perfectly in this quilt.  They ...

 Before I start constructing quilt tops for the next Compassion Quilt block drive, I wanted to try and sew some of my own blocks together.  I have quite a few piles of them around my sewing room.

About June of last year, I started making some Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  I have a bunch of 2.5" scrappy squares that I wanted to use.  I made a 12" heart block and a 12" color block.  I made one or two of each every month.  When I started making them, I wasn't sure exactly how I was going to use ...

 Even with all the other quilts I am working on, I still try and keep up with my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  It is a good way for me to keep a small focus on my scraps.  We don't want them building up any more than they already are!

 I know, orange was the RSC color for May but I really did finish all of these before the end of the month.  I just didn't get a chance to write about them.

I also sewed up 17 more switchplate blocks.  It takes a long time to cut these out because I am trying not to make any duplicates.

I really need to get this one up on a design wall so I can see how many more I need.

The good news is I have plenty ...

 I can't believe all the scrappy sewing I did this week.

 I really put the pedal to the metal this week and almost got caught up on all my RSC blocks.

I cut and sewed two green hearts.  This brings my total blocks up to five.

While I was sorting and gutting green scraps, I also cut enough squares to make two of these blocks.

I think I have a total of five of these blocks completed too.

 I actually feel like I made some progress on the scrap front this week.

 Today I am sharing a quilt that I worked on start to finish - no help from anyone!

This quilt all started with an overflowing low volume scrap bin.  It was full of rather loud low volume prints.  So I decided to come up with a quilt plan that would use a lot of them up.

So I made a bunch of 9 patches out of 3.5" squares.

Then I made a big 18" heart block from some red scraps and floated it in all those nine patches.

I found a red and white backing fabric that I picked up ...

 This week just really flew by!  

Most of the things I worked on, you will have to wait a few days to see. 

I didn't sew all the blocks ...

 Where did this week go?

I had great plans for the week but I found myself just trying to get prepared for the next Compassion Quilt block drive. I spent some time organizing my sewing room, pulling out possible backings from my stash and cleaning up surfaces.  I did finish one of the last tops from the December block drive so that is ready to get quilted.  

Right now, I believe I have 6 or 7 Compassion quilt tops just waiting to get quilted.  

I had better get busy!

 I felt like I spent a ton of time at my sewing machine - but I sure don't have a lot to share today.

I did finish sewing various blocks into three quilt tops and sewed up their backings.  

But you have to wait, I will share those after I get them quilted.

 LOTS of sewing occurred this week.  I pieced together a number of the Covered In Love quilt tops and even a few Compassion Quilts.  I will be sharing those as soon as they are quilted.

But I also dug through my pink scraps and made a few Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.

 Lots of cutting occurred this week.  I made a few kits for compassion quilts, I dug through scraps and cut up squares and I put together backings from various odd pieces.

But looking at what I actually have to share, it appears that I have not been doing much.

 I was able to actually dig through my scrap bins this week!

I pulled some more blue scraps and made more of my switchplate blocks.

These are made with a total of five 1.5" x 3.5" strips. Super easy to make and I think they will be really fun to play with.

I now have 42 blue blocks to play with.  I just need to make a few hundred more in other colors.

I also cut a bunch of 3.5" squares from my low volume scraps.  I have a new project in mind and I am ready ...

 It felt so nice to find some time this week to cut up some scraps.

I worked on my first Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks for 2023.

The color for January is blue.

 Happy New Year Everyone!

My little Helper Arthur and I wanted to wish all of you the very best in 2023.

I always love New Years - by the time the end of December rolls around, I am done with the previous year and I look forward to a fresh start!

Step One: What do we have here?

With a group project and multi-sized blocks, the first thing that needs to be done is to figure out what we have here–both size and colors. How it is going to balance out?

The good news is that you all did an amazing job. A total of 175 blocks are here and ready to be used.

More 4″ blocks will be needed, so I am going to add a few of those. In some sizes I have an abundance of certain colors and some blocks will be added to the back to ...

My Foxy Valentine paper pieced block is featured in the January/February issue of QUILTMAKER magazine.

This Foxy block pattern is only available in the Quiltmaker magazine at this time.

I’ve included a pillow pattern in the magazine, too. I have my Foxy Valentine pillow on my sofa this month.

Here are some other cute Valentine patterns.

These 2 block patterns are in my newest book PAPER PIECING ALL YEAR ROUND. I’m using them in my hanging towels. This project is included in the book, as ...