I finally got the batik star quilt up on the double design wall. The batting is Quilter's Dream cotton that I had a package of and it was thicker than I usually use so the quilt is heavy. I finally resorted to using a chair to support the weight of it while I got the first 5 pins in the top edge and then it was pretty easy the rest of the way across. It measures 73" x 99" now. I forgot to take a photo with the backing showing so I'll add that photo later.I took ... read more
I finally got the batik star quilt up on the double design wall. The batting is Quilter's Dream cotton that I had a package of and it was thicker than I usually use so the quilt is heavy. I finally resorted to using a chair to support the weight of it while I got the first 5 pins in the top edge and then it was pretty easy the rest of the way across. It measures 73" x 99" now. I forgot to take a photo with the backing showing so I'll add that photo later.I took ... read more
The seam was pressed and red bear print flannel backing was loaded on the longarm. I also pressed the blue flannel for the other I Spy quilt and it is ready to have the seam sewn. Maybe I can get the batting and top loaded and the machine threaded today. Hopefully I will also be inspired to turn on the machine and do the quilting.
I had 3 sessions of hand sewing on the binding of the batik star quilt and now 3 sides are finished. One long side to go.
Two readers alerted me to the name of the ...
read moreThe batting is now cut for both I Spy Quilts. I decided on Warm and Natural because it is flatter and I don't want much puff in the quilting on these quilts.
I also located backing fabric for I Spy 2. The boys it is for are under 2 years of age so they should like this backing for a long time.
I started the binding on the batik star quilt a few inches before a corner and with just a little stitching time yesterday I managed to get a few inches past the next corner so one short ... read more
Flannel log baby quilt is 38" square after finishing. Hobbs 80/20 batting.
Backing and binding are Moda brushed fabric which is like flannel but more like the weight of regular quilting fabric.
Flannel 4" tumblers baby quilt is 39.5" square after finishing. I cut the tumblers with my die cutter while cleaning up from making another flannel quilt last year. It made for a fast quilt with pieces ready to use. Hobbs 80/20 batting.
The backing and binding are the same as on the log quilt pictured above.
I got another quilt back from the longarm quilter ... read more
Two finishes again for May. That makes 10 so far this year. On the left is Kaffe fabric Rail Fence baby quilt, 38" x 52". On the right Pink Twisted Ribbons, fabrics from many years of collected stash, 35" x 48".
Two new quilt tops, numbers 16 and 17 for the year so I'm still having too much fun making new quilt tops and dragging my feet quilting and finishing them. On the left Pastel Diamonds is 49" x 72.5". On the right Prints and Solids: Stars, 63" x 72".
For my own record, this top was finished ...
read moreMy original intention for this quilt was a 7 x 9 layout, 63" x 81". I would need to make 11 more blocks to finish that layout. But then I thought maybe 7 x 8 would be OK.
I moved the 3 bottom row blocks up into the mix to simulate the 7 x 8 layout, 63" x 72", and I would only need to make 4 more blocks for that. This is not a final layout of the blocks, just getting them all up on the wall to see what value range the final blocks need to be. A ... read more
I got sidetracked in the basement yesterday and never turned on the iron. I spent a few hours going through boxes of "stuff".
In the afternoon I cut the print part for 8 more star blocks and got them sewn last night. The little mouse in the green suit kept showing up in the upper right block.
I dismantled my large Mother's Day bouquet yesterday and one lone rose still looked good enough to save for a couple more days. The little red pitcher is 3.5" tall and the rose is 5" across. All of the Daisies were ...
read moreI pressed the pastel blocks on Saturday so yesterday I tried 2 layouts. I can see that the half drop is not working so I'll work on the straight row layout.
I sewed seven more star blocks to add to the 8 I sewed on Saturday night. I have a couple more cut but will work on cutting all of the rest that I need and sew all 19 blocks and get this top sewn together. 30 blocks were already sewn and in the box with the solid color triangles.
The scent from my lilacs has been coming in ... read more
The main part of this quilt top is sewn but not pressed so it is a little wonky on the design wall. I got this far at 10:30 last night. It is about 43.5" x 54" now. I think it might be nice with a border added so I'm not saying it is finished at this point.
I went over my lists of quilt tops and wrote down backing sizes next to some of them. Maybe that will encourage me to get some backings pieced. I have a few pieces of 60" wide fabric too that I ...
read moreI cut 4 new LeMoyne Star blocks but only got 3 sewn. The yellow fabric in the bottom right is a really old Kaffe fabric. When I get the 4th one sewn I will have 15 blocks. I will start looking for another block to alternate with them.
I may have to make a few more blocks. 30 blocks would be a 5 x 6 layout and I think I would prefer a 5 x 7 layout. Now I can work on putting away some of the red and yellow fabrics. I'm thinking the alternate blocks might be different ...
read moreI have decided the name of this quilt top is Charley in the Forest. I am pleased with how it turned out and don't think I will act on my original thought of adding a border of more Charley Harper fabric. It is 67" x 89". A big thanks goes to Anne at Springleaf Studios for making her Arboretum quilt and sharing fabric measurements and her thoughts when making her quilt.
I just had to add blocks of different sizes like I have done on several quilts in the past. When I decided the Charley Harper fabrics might work ...
read moreDownload these Red White and Blue free quilt patterns now and make projects that will be loved for years to come!
Anthem Quilt 2
I am loving the fabrics in the Anthem collection by Blank Quilting! Think of all the projects you can make with them, from quilts to clothes and accessories for the home. I tried to capture all their glory in two designs which you can download now and get ready as the fabrics will be shipping to stores in a couple of weeks. Yeah!
Quilt 2 above showcases the fabrics in easy heart blocks with a mix ...
read moreI forgot to add this photo to the post yesterday. This rose print is an older Kaffe fabric and I have about 7 yards of it. I thought it would make a nice back for this star quilt (made with Bear Paw die cut pieces). Here is the post where I started this quilt.
There are shelves under the center of my cutting table and I hadn't looked at the things on the back side of it for a long time. Way back in the shelf were these 3 boxes of "stuff I don't need". It is from ... read more
I sewed the center part of this quilt top in 2011 when I had just purchased my Accuquilt Studio die cutter and the Bear Paw die. I cut lots of scraps of Kaffe collective fabrics and yardage of Kona snow fabric. This photo shows it with a 2.5" Kona snow border sewn on several years after the center was sewn. I wanted to add another border but there was the slightest wobble in the 2 side borders and I knew I had to take them off, remeasure, trim and sew them back on. It took me many years to ... read more
I only did a little playing with blocks yesterday. I decided to try color groups starting with orange at the top and green at the bottom. I have some of the blocks turned the wrong way in the bottom 2 rows.
I like the blocks in the top half but now I'm not sure I like the ones with the gray background. I may make a few more specific blocks.
I turned the bottom blocks to their correct orientation.
When I started this quilt I was making a block I love and using all of the triangles that were ...
read moreI love the Lemoyne Star cutting die but I never remember which color has to be face up and which face down to continue making stars like the ones on the left. I finally wrote it on the die.
Here is a close up of one of the stars on the left and then the 3 on the right that are reversed in coloration. Those 3 will go to the Kaffe orphan block box and I can finally continue on with all of the blocks being alike.
I have more blooms on the orange cactus. Several buds are almost ready ... read more
No change in the numbers.
I finished the BOM feathered star blocks. Unfortunately, I count fabric out when the quilt is finished.
There were two of them, both 18 inches.

Sewing them was much easier than it looks. I opted to press almost all the seams open to manage the bulk. I’ve recently started pressing open, and I’m sorry I didn’t start doing it years ago. It’s a game changer.

Fabric In: 22.125 yards
Fabric Out: 8.125 yards
Net Fabric In: 14 yards
How did you do this week?
!--> read more<<update: Giveaway closed, the winner drawn was Linda Douglas. Congratulations, Linda!>> I couldn’t resist choosing stars as our first week
read moreThis is the last of the 6 stars I cut out a few weeks ago. Now I need to cut another batch of 6.
I kept looking at this Matrix pattern by SpringLeaf Studio and I finally bought it from her Etsy shop. I want to make it with a selection from my box of Kaffe fabric strips. Instead of plain white I want to use one of the gray prints shown. I need to search through my stash for a little darker gray that creates sort of a shadow if I go with layout 1. I like the second ... read more
I sewed some squares onto the center sections of the outside rows on 3 sides of this project and they are just pinned to the wall. I filled in the top 2 corners with squares and the bottom left with triangles which are 1/4 of the center motif. I decided I liked the triangles so I chose pieces for the other 3 corners and will get those border rows sewn today for a quilt top finish for the month.
I had to sew a few more Economy blocks too so I can get an idea how it will look ... read more





























