What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Sparkle Jane asked if I could make her something for her table as they have just moved and she has two little ones and limited sewing time. Sure, I said. (I know she didn’t mean RIGHT NOW, but I was ready!)

I did a quick search for a basic idea, and, using THIS TUTORIAL as a starting point, grabbed some cut scrappy squares and got to work.

I modified it from the pattern: 2-1/2″ squares, altered stem, different assembly process. Finished size 14″x 38″.

For quilting I did random angled straight lines. I love the binding, and ...

Have you heard about the Sampler Quiltalong hosted by Days Filled With Joy? It is a beginner friendly 12-block series she is sharing on both her blog (Days Filled With Joy) and her Youtube channel.

I enjoy her writing style, and, while I have been quilting for quite a while, I find myself feeling encouraged and informed.

I am using leftovers from a previous quilt, with some new scraps added in as needed.

The quiltalong is designed with 12″ blocks, but I enjoy working small. So, I have decided to make four of each block, scaled down to 6″. The ...

Another pile of scraps turns into another baby quilt

The four large print pieces came together. Great fabric, but not enough to make a quilt with.

I dug through the scrap boxes and found reasonable matching cream, pink, red-ish and brown pieces that turned into 9-patch blocks. (The colors look better in real life than they look here.)

The finish is shown here with my saddle and chaps that my father made. I lived on a horse for years. No horse in my life now, but the memories remain. I was a baby cowgirl, once up on a time.

This, like several quilts I am sharing right now, is the result of a piecing frenzy that went on here through the early spring. Nothing horrible was happening, exactly, but I was feeling “off,” and sometimes I quilt to cope. Some of the quilts are a little “off,” too.

Looking at it now, I wish I had used the border fabric in the corners of the 16-patch blocks. I think I would have had enough fabric to do enough blocks then…Ah, well. It is what it is. And it is finished.

These blocks are pieced with 2-1/2″ scraps ...

Susan is still leaving a mark on the quilting world. This small baby quilt started as 7 blocks from her. Seven blocks is not an easy number to turn into a quilt, unless you set it on point. That was the big insight for me.

I had two add a few more blocks and setting triangles and an outer border.

Matching the binding and the sashing on some of the blocks helps to tie it together.

I do hope it will find the right owner. Someone who will love the quilt, and who will love this country, as much as ...

A dear friend gave me a copy of Kim Diehl’s Simple Blessings book. The “Bricks and Stones” pattern is the basis for this variation.

Lots of scraps. It is fun to pull from the various bins– solids, grunge, and low volume fabrics.

And, before you know it, Ta-Dah! A quilt.

It is 63″ square. Not large, but a nice lap or nap quilt for the recent graduate.

This goes to the soon-to-be-born first baby of a young couple in our circle. I can see it being built in many color options and sizes. Enjoy!

Full Hearts Quilt

36″ x 36″

MATERIALS

Fabric in at least two different colors for the heart and strip blocks. I used scraps. You will need a total of 54 strips 2-1/2″x-1/2″. I did 18 of each color (pink, yellow, blue). You will need 36 pieces 3-1/2″ x 6-1/2 (12 of each color).

1/2 yard background fabric. Cut 72 1-1/4″x1-1/4″ squares. Cut 36 3-1 ...

Consider joining me, and many others, in making blocks for Many Hands Many Hearts.

These are a truncated version of the potato chip block. Fun use of scraps. Go together quickly.

Mine will be in the mail very soon–24 blocks.

It has been one month since I shared my newest leader-ender project: The Double Four Patch.

I have completed 84 blocks. As Gretchen said, “They add up.”

Because I wasn’t thinking of writing a step-by-step process tutorial as I started playing with leftover bits of fabric, I don’t have everything needed to be a true TUTORIAL. But I do have this, and maybe it will inspire you to build something similar yourself.

Stars Surrounded

19-1/2″ x 19-1/2″

MATERIALS

64 high contrast HST 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2 (you can use cutoffs from a previous quilt, or create to order from 2″ squares)

41 background squares 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″

16 colored strips 1-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ (I cut mine in pairs ...

A sort of pinwheel star block made with 1-1/2″ cut off HST.

Mini!

Why is it called the Topper Quilt? Because it started out as a TUTORIAL from Free Motion by the River. Great use of Mini Charms (one per block, or a bunch of scrap-cut squares.) AND, if you get carried away, suddenly you have a quilt top. With pillows.

NOTE: This is the front yard of my home. And you are seeing my locally-famous front yard garden. Keeps me honest about weeding…

I love how each block came together and how I was able to use fabric I had on hand. If you have mini charm packs without a purpose, each ...

When I am sorting scraps, or cleaning up after projects, I cut likely pieces into standard sizes: 1-1/2″, 2″, 2-1/2″ squares. They are so handy, sitting there in their little tubs just waiting for a project to come along.

And here it is! Double four-patch.

A large (queen? king?) size quilt made out of 4-1/2″ blocks. Yes, it is a lot, but I have a lot of squares. And I am not in a hurry. And, I already have 11 blocks. Only something like 550+ to go.

 Divide & Dash Quilt Along - Week 6 The Final Row Assembly and Quilt Finish!Welcome back to Week 6 of the Divide & Dash Quilt Along! This week we are assembling the final row of the quilt and bringing all of our carefully pieced sections together into one beautiful finished quilt top. From the playful Flying Geese units to the bold Churn Dash blocks, this quilt has truly come to life

This is truly an Economy Baby Quilt–the block is an 8″ economy block, and it was built entirely of hand-me-downs and scraps.

The feature fabric is adorable (not sure of line). And the quilting echoes the theme.

Finished size is 40″x40″.

It goes in the donation pile.

A coworker is having a baby soon. When asked about a quilt she said that she liked teal-aqua and the room would have a farm animal theme, “You know, like elephants!” I am not sure how many elephants the average farm (outside of Asia) has, but this quilt does have them.

The block is a modified version of Scrappy Log Cabin Heart block. It is a great pattern and highly recommended.

Because of the elephants, I selected a quilting design with that theme. AND, because I am super lucky, found fabric in my stash that has both the right colors ...

Pull.

Cut.

Piece.

I love the start of a new project!