What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

OK --- so the lawn furniture got put away. Phew -- we can all rest easy now. It wasn't so much the furniture; it was shutting off the tap to the backyard that was the critical thing here. I noticed that DH put one piece in the shed, but it was the largest piece, making it a challenge to get the rest in there. But I managed. And I drained 200 feet of garden hose, and it's all stored away. The deck is mostly swept -- I would have used the leaf blower, but it was at the back of the ...

 It seems like it has been forever since I bought any new fabric.  

This last weekend, I taught a class at Aloha Sewing and Vac in Hillsboro Or.  I think it is the first time I have been in a fabric store since the start of Covid.  

So all those pretty bolts of fabric were impossible to resist.

Here are the pretties I bought.  Most are 3 yard cuts or larger.  The sketch fabric on the bottom is probably my favorite.  I can't wait to use that as a a background for a quilt.

While I was there, I ...

One of the challenges when I was an Island Batik ambassador in 2017 was “Creative Borders.” I chose to do a fall pumpkin themed table topper of my own design. It was one of those creations that just took shape as I went – no plan, no pattern. It has turned into one of my favorites and ever since has been on my dining room table in October until Thanksgiving!

Here are the center of the quilt and one of the appliqued corners:

Much time is now being spent with fall yard work. The leaf falling is in the early stages ...

 Now that I have caught up on many of my projects, I am able to get out a stash quilt I started earlier this year.

Recently, while digging through a fabric bin of precuts, I came across a bundle of black and gold fabrics together with coordinating fabrics. I slashed the squares into triangles and began sewing them into half square triangles. No real plan – just wanted to sew. Sometimes this method works for me, sometimes it doesn’t, but luckily it did this time!

As I put them on the design wall, the plan changed several times. A central block soon became key. Finally I had the look I wanted and sewed it all together. I even quilted this one myself!

The center block ...

This is more exciting than just sewing 80 blocks and trimming them to size. I had 3 rows sewn together and couldn’t wait to start connecting the rows.

I’ll try to explain the process. I didn’t make this up; I found instructions on several blogs. This is not the only way to connect the QAYG blocks, but it’s the way I chose.

First, I sewed the binding strip to the one side of one block, right sides together.

I stitched along the fold line. Next, I flipped the next ...

About a week ago I got an email from Fabricworm that there was a sale on some of the Charley Harper fabric.  I decided I should check it out and see if there were any that I didn't have that I might want in the Arboretum quilt.  I found a few..........

I found some nice ones with background colors that will work really well.  The bottom right is bears behind birches.  I wasn't sure about that one but bears do climb trees and I thought the birches might be a nice addition.  

I collected more greens for my Arboretum blocks and maybe the green one in this photo should be used too.

That made it a playday for me.  Of course I could have cleaned the house......

The first thing I did was sew 10 more scrappy log cabin blocks.  They will finish at 7" and I now have 40 made.  I think I will need close to 80 for a throw quilt.

I said this was a great method for putting in just a few minutes here and there. It is also fantastic for being portable.

I live in Missouri but I’m originally from Michigan. I needed to go back for a visit and didn’t want to lose 7 or 8 sewing days, so I brought it along. I managed to fit everything into two smallish boxes, plus the small portable sewing machine.

I could have brought it into the motel room where I stayed overnight on the way there and on the way back. I decided I was too ...

I chose a batik backing for this crazy pieced wallhanging.  I needed a little under 1.5 yards and looked for a yellow but didn't find enough yardage on any piece.  Second choice was a black and white and this very early 1990s Hoffman batik is perfect.  It is one that isn't easy to use in a lot of patterns and there was plenty for a back with almost 2 yards still ...

It is quilted with a medium size meander, gray YLI cotton thread on top, Bottom Line light beige thread in the bobbin.  Batting is Hobbs 80/20.

Recently, a Tula Pink fan and friend who I had the privilege to meet with last year, and have corresponded with on the internet for the past couple of years, put out the word that she now had a separate building as her quilting/creating studio and wanted to do a wall of mini Tula Pink quilts. (She offered payment, but gifting was the way to go) My Tula Pink stash is quite depleted. I have made several quilts from her fabrics and sold or gifted most of the remainder. I did, however, still have a partial cameo of a ...

A tutorial for a different way to do a square in a square block popped up while browsing Pinterest one day and I thought I’d give it a try. Place two squares of equal size on top of each other, right sides together. Then sew all four edges using a 1/4″ seam. Mark from corner to opposite corner then the next corner to corner. Carefully cut the “x” being sure to not cut into the seam. Fold out each cut section, press, and voila! there’s your block! It’s not a true square in a square as ...

I managed to get 2 more blocks sewn for the Arboretum quilt but couldn't bear the thought of turning on the iron.