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.

 Yesterday did NOT go as planned. Where have you heard that before? I would be embarrassed to check the date the box of long-arm supplies arrived at my house (Nov 21, 2021), but let's say it was a few years ago and it's been sitting there in pristine shape ever since. 

So imagine my surprise yesterday when I opened the box to pull out the leaders, only to discover that I had bought ONE leader, not a set of three. Good grief!!!!! 

Here is the situation with the long arm. You can see that the bottom leader is ...

Christine and I spent most of a week at her cottage and did lots of sewing, chatting, watching movies and eating good food!  It was a bit buggy outside so we were mostly inside.  Christine has lots of bird feeders which she kept well stocked all week so there were lots of birds and other critters to see out the window. 

I did most of the hand ...

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!