There were around 200 4-patch blocks, most alternating background/print, and some, what I would call, mixed patches. All came together in a box.

They had issues–mostly inconsistent seam allowance. And some people might have considered them dated.

But there was something interesting about them. So, first things first–Square Up. I chose 3-1/2″.

Alone they weren’t enough to make a sizable quilt, so I explored a number of different options for the alternating squares–too light, too dark, too dull, too print-y. None were quite right. Then, I remembered, when struggling with colors, there are a ...

Someone commented on the blog yesterday about the reason I went on the Camino. That was learning to slow down and live here and now. I can't do that 100%, but that's partially why it's taking me so long to get back into the swing of things. 

I do NOT want to be crazy busy - I want to be active but not go insane. Elle -- thank you for that reminder. It will take me some time to be comfortable with that concept, and I'm already looking forward to reducing more things in the new year. 

On ...

While rummaging through my “possible projects,” I found these Pendleton Wool shirt scraps. They were the last of a pile I held on to for years until Sparkle Jane claimed (most of) it to make a quilt for her now-husband.

Through the years I have made a number of quilts that ended up at my parent’s house, but never a quilt specifically for my father.

I guess it was time, because that was all I could think about. The denim is from his old jeans that my mother saved for years. Much ended up in quilts for each of ...

The Half Square Triangles were cutoffs from a quilt I built several years ago.

I wasn’t sure what to do with them, until the perfect backing showed up in a thrift store haul. Yep, I’ll pay $2.99 for that!

I wanted to connect the mostly navy front with the back–putting a few squares of the backing in the front helped.

Also, intentionally visible, bright pink quilting. It isn’t my usual look, but it really ties the quilt together.

The quilt finished at 34″ x 38″. It is planned as a donation quilt. It will find ...

 I shared this idea with you previously in July. Click here to read that post. I finally got it finished!

Here is what it looks like all stitched but not sewn into a pillow cover yet.

For those of you who are curious, here is what the back looks like before I sewed it up into a pillow cover.

I cut a piece of batting the finished size I needed the pillow to be. Next time I would cut the batting about an inch larger than the finished size. I added the fabric directly on top of the batting and ...

I love anything goes scrappy quilts for donation projects. You never know exactly how they will turn out.

A great pattern for this sort of quilt is the Potato Chip block. All you need is a big pile of scraps cut into 2-1/2″x4-1/2″ rectangles.

You can even use scrappy binding scraps to finish.

My husband has said that my quilts are energy efficient. I assumed he was referring to my use of scraps. Nope! He says they are energy efficient because no one needs a night light since they practically glow in the dark. I’m taking ...

Not sure where the Christmas jelly roll came from, but it made for a relatively quick quilt when cut into squares and matched with alternating background squares.

I typically choose bolder colors and more fabric variety–this particular jelly roll had only about 15 different fabrics in it.

That said, I like the unexpected black accents. Maybe a more sophisticated look?

And I love me a finish!

Scrappy Yellow Placemat

It started as a block. A LARGE block–25″. It was beautiful, and someone worked very hard on it. And abandoned it. And it was lonely.

What to do…

Well, I also “happened” to have (if you believe in coincidence) these leftovers someone shared with me. The colors worked. The strips weren’t very big and about 3/4″ across, finished. I cut them into 2″ wide sections and pieced those together.

Also, found this lovely yellow in my stash with just the right print on it. I love being lucky, don’t you?!

Around and around until there were ...

If you have followed me for a while, you know that Husband is a life-long (born in Athens, Georgia) fan of the University of Georgia, particularly the football team.

Because of this I have made a number of Georgia themed quilts over the years. You can see some of them HERE, HERE, and HERE.

The latest is a Quick Quilt for the baby of a near neighbor with Georgia ties.

It was such fun to surprise them with an unexpected gift.

PS–I haven’t forgotten the tutorial. Coming soon!

 It is so much easier on the knees and the back to pin baste quilts on a table rather than the floor.  I took advantage of the tables at the Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre this past week to get two quilts ready for quilting.  The first one is a pattern by Christine at Tesselate Quilts.  I pieced the top over a year ago and it has been hanging out in the pile of completed tops for too long!   

My Kaffe Fassett Overlapping Tiles quilt was also pin basted this week. I have a quilting plan for both of these quilts--using ...

Sometimes we just go mad with quilting.

There is the inspiration, which leads to an idea, which leads to all current projects being pushed to the side and…

Ta-dah! A quilt.

The beauty of it (in this case) is that, not including the sashing and borders, all pieces for the blocks start as a single size square. And it doesn’t matter what size that square is (as long as they are all the same size).

So, you might want to dash about your sewing room and gather up those stashed squares that you have been wanting to make something ...

Ich sage nie 'Nein', wenn ich einen Auftrag für einen Babyquilt bekomme! Und schon gar nicht, wenn mir lediglich die Farbe vorgegeben wird... Schwer zu erraten, um welches Geschlecht es sich handlen wird, oder?

Meine Tochter und ihr Freund haben den Wunsch nach einen Babyquilt für eine Bekannte gehabt. Neben der Farbe war noch die Größe ein Punkt. Er soll nicht größer als 1 x1 m sein - machbar! Ach, und er sollte nicht allzu kindlich aussehen. Um das Ganze noch etwas konkreter zu gestalten, habe ich ihnen einige Quilts gezeigt, die auch in so klein durchaus hübsch aussehen können. Wobei ...

last report July 19,2023

I try to work on these 5 quilts until they are done. Their turn in the UFO closet is over, and, they need to be finished one way or another. 

There has been some rotation of projects as I have finally finished a few. I look forward to new Ufos that have come out to play with me.

1. wensleydale a jen kingwell pattern - twosies have turned into foursies. I have not taken this quilt out to social sewing. I feel it requires more focus. But, it takes longer.

2. Block of the month UFO ...

Carole, of From My Carolina Home, has shared a local guild project: Cradle Quilts. You can LEARN MORE about it here.

As soon as I saw her post, I thought about some particular stacks of possibilities in the sewing room. Ah, yes, finally I have the right idea.

I may have gone a little berserk, but I was having a really good time. Really, you can put together an 18″ quilt in nearly no time at all. It is a great way to use up various leftover bits.

NOTE: I do not have process pictures for all, but am happy ...

I had a stack of leftover riley blake fabrics that coordinated rather well. I decided to cut another trip around the world donation quilt. I wanted to cut a bigger size than my last one. This time, I cut 4 inch strips. I want to see the difference. I was cleaning up a spot, and had this leftover pile waiting for an idea. I am not sure when I will start on it. But, the pile is gone.

I hope my reds are different enough

This quilt was inspired by a yard or so of fabric found at the thrift store.

Unusual for a baby quilt, perhaps, but it seemed perfect. I am certain someone will love it.

I’ll get a full tutorial later, but know that the blocks are made from 4-1/2″ squares. The points of the stars are 3″ squares using the stitch, trim and flip method. If none of that makes sense, feel free to ask questions or, as I said, a tutorial is coming.

I am certain this quilt, which will be donated, will find just the right home ...