What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

I recently saw a curtain rod quilt hanger on someone’s blog (probably yours…feel free to remind me and I will add the link).

It was exactly what I wanted. (NOTE: The quilt shown is a new Second Chances Quilt that will be published soon. )

Good husband was glad to help (or said he was) and now I have a lovely addition on the wall above Machine #2 (belonged to my maternal great grandmother). YAY ME!

Here are the links to what I purchased. Not an affiliate, but in case you want a lead: ROD and CLIPS.

I enjoy thrift stores for many reasons, but, while I always check the fabric section, I rarely find anything that suits me.

But today…

WOW! I am so pleased: 14-1/2 yards for $1.60/yard.

Can’t beat that. I see a quilt kit, backs for a twin donation quilt and three baby quilts, and red dots (because a person can always use red dots). YAY!

What if you have a pile of color-coordinated bits and pieces, but they aren’t the same? Can you combine blocks, crumbs and braids? Well, you can try.

I used the existing crumb blocks as a starting point. They measure 6-1/2″. Cutting, turning and trimming the braids yielded enough parts to create seven more blocks. For a baby quilt, 9 blocks is enough. NOTE: You could create this same pattern using any 6-1/2″ blocks you might have laying around.

NOTE: These blocks have a lot of bias edges. Consider starch to stabilize.

Add a border around each block ...

Possibly it was always this way, but it seems that the rise of pre-cuts has led to certain sizes being used more often in piecing quilts.

Because of that, sometimes you can take leftovers from different projects and find that they can play surprisingly well, like little kids who just met on a playground.

Just start trying to match things up and see what happens.

Well, there you go!

It doesn’t take long to finish when the pieces have a common denominator, in this case 2-1/2″ squares.

You could make the same design from scratch with those mini-charms ...

What to do with three blocks?

Maybe a table runner? Wall hanging?

The good news is that you don’t have to create something from scratch. I did a quick search for “table runner 9 inch blocks.”

This near perfect solution came up: A free pattern from All People Quilt. That is the website associated with American Patchwork and Quilting, a magazine (in addition to the Online Quilt Magazine, of course) that is worth subscribing to. Yes, the block style isn’t the same, but everything else checks out.

And gives those blocks a second chance, and you a quick ...

Can you guess what these turned in to?

Come back in February and find out!

Susan shared a few of her bits and bobs with me.

The blocks were already 6″, so I did all I could with the assorted half-square triangles and leftover scraps, adding a few other 6″ blocks that caught my eye.

Those strips of 2″ squares became the border.

And, ta-dah!, a cute Christmas table topper or wall hanging. It finished at 30″ square.

Don’t give up on those bits and bobs (or odds and ends, or leftovers). Sometimes they are most of a pretty good idea and just need a little nudge to turn into a quick finish. That ...

Can four blocks, even fairly large ones (18″) make a quilt?

Well, they will need some help. In this case I used a simple 6″ block that could be repeated and serve as a sort of background and filler, while adding texture and interest. It uses 1 2-1/2″ square for the center and 2- 2-1/2″ squares and 2 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ strips to round it out. They go together really quickly.

Then a small stop border and a wider (3″ finished) outside border.

And, before you know it, you’ve got a quilt.

The minkee backing ...

I received a plastic bag mostly full of 2″ squares.

It felt more like a bag of scraps than a Second Chance possibility until I noticed that quite a number of the squares had been sewn together.

Some pairs, some 4-patches, some strips…Really quite a variety. And that is where the challenge came: Use EVERY seam that had already been stitched and create a quilt. Hmmm…

There were assorted pieces–quite a few 4-patches and then miscellaneous.

Solid rows of squares first.

Then add 4-patches (I had to make several more)

Then solid squares.

And a border.

A small ...

Remember the blocks I mentioned last week?

They are becoming what might be my FAVORITE Second Chances Quilt so far.

Finished project coming soon.

The blocks arrived, warped, wrinkled and neglected. They had languished for years and been through at least two previous owners. (Maybe this should be a “Third Chances” quilt?)

But, the fabric was interesting and the hand piecing was precious. The shine of the sateen begged, “It isn’t too late for me to be beautiful.”

First step was the square up the blocks. This was a worrisome because of the hand piecing, but it was mostly just points and distorted corners. They would still hold together. The chosen size: 11-1/2″.

Once squared up there were still problems. ALL of ...

I am so excited about my current Second Chances quilt.

Not ready for the complete reveal, but here’s a sneak peek…

I was excited to have a package of blocks and some extra fabric come my way. The tulip blocks were intriguing. However, there weren’t very many of them and the seam allowance wasn’t quite standard, making them an odd size. But, much too nice to throw away.

First I tried a variety of possible layouts, just seeing what might happen.

It needed a few more blocks.

And sashing.

What next? Sometimes with something like this you just need to experiment. The centers of the tulips were created with 2-1/2″ squares, so I started playing around with ideas ...

I was given this interesting pile of blocks. The colors were appealing, but they needed…a few things.

First trimming to a uniform size.

Then a layout. There weren’t enough, so it was time to find coordinating fabric. Part of what makes Second Chances quilts work in the end is the unexpected.

I made simple half square triangle blocks to match.

Then added borders.

And sashing.

And quilting and binding…Ta-dah!

This is my first minkee back, and I think I like it. Not for every quilt, but it works for this one.

Final size: 41″ square. This is ...

Some of those great scraps from Stephanie have found an idea.

And a purple patchwork project is in progress.

Diane sent me a Second Chances Quilt challenge. She had started this quilt and even cut much of the fabric.

Hmmmm…what to do? I didn’t want to build the tesselated star, but the fabric was already in triangles and rectangles.

Sudden inspiration struck…the triangles could be saved. I could cut a 2″ square and a 1-1/2″ square from each one. Yes, there was some waste, but not as much waste as doing nothing with it at all.

I decided to make snowball blocks in two sizes–6″ and 3″.

Each 6″ blocks uses 4 2-1/2 ...

Debra was so kind to share some of her leftover half square triangle blocks.

All they needed was some sorting and squaring up.

The backing was from stash, also donated, maybe by Stephanie?

Isn’t it lovely how fabric can find a purpose over time and distance?! I am really pleased with the results.

Sometimes you have a good idea that doesn’t quite work out. But, it did require effort and fabric and time…you hate to throw it away.

I was fortunate enough to inherit some such items. It appears the original maker was working towards a wonky coin quilt of some kind. Foundation pieced. But a little odd…

First I squared them up and trimmed to a standard size: 5-1/2″ x 46″.

It felt like a border would both make them more stable and give definition. Added 1-1/2″ strip all the way around. Now they are 7-1/2″ x ...

A friend recently made a quilt with her mother out of fabric that the mother had brought back from the Far East several years ago.

The quilt with stay with the mother, but there were a few small scraps. I suggested she give them to me.

Using the picture of the top as a guide, I made a matching mini.

Yes, a few solids were added, but hopefully the spirit of the quilt has been maintained. The mini will probably hang on the wall of her sewing room and remind her of a wonderful weekend with family.

A hand-me-down bag had a lot of fairly large half-square triangles in it. They weren’t all the same size, but the colors looked nice together. Some were already stitched across the diagonal, some weren’t.

First, I stitched the diagonals as needed, then pressed the blocks open and trimmed them to 4″, the largest size that would fit the blocks.

TIP: When working with Half Square Triangle blocks (HSTs), it is completely worth your time to trim and square up the blocks. There are many good tutorials out there and a variety of methods. Try a few and decide ...