What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Spring Intensives are coming up in May. What are Intensives? At the school where I teach, the week before Christmas and the last week of school in the Spring, students don’t attend regular classes. (Honestly, what really gets done in classes at that time?)

Rather, each student selects from a menu of classes and attends that one course for the entire week. I am offering SEWING (AKA Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension) once again.

The students really seem to enjoy making a series of small projects, building skills along the way. We spend time on sewing machine basics, seam allowance, pressing ...

I had seen something similar (without a pattern I could identify) on Pinterest . It turned out to be a good idea that didn’t work.

I am very pleased with the solid flying geese blocks. But, the background…If it had all been the flowers, or the other bright print. But, mixing the two with some leftover scraps…Not successful.

That said, I am going to try again with a single print. The idea deserves a second chance.

ps–I have been calling it the Ugly Geese Quilt, which isn’t fair, because the geese aren’t ugly at all.

They are so much fun, you can’t make just one.

So, I made 27. I pulled an assortment of cool color 2-1/2″ squares and warm color 2-1/2″ squares from my precut scraps bin. The black and white borders came from the black print scraps bin. (Yes, I have a lot of bins).

Ta-dah, before I knew it there were blocks ready to mail off to  Many Hands and Many Hearts. You still have time to join in. They are accepting blocks until the end of February.

I learned about Many Hands and Many Hearts from Quilting JetGirl. She recently featured their current project: Black and White Framed Charity Blocks.

Yep, I’m on board. And cutting scraps. And gathering squares. I hope to have a good number (maybe between 20-30) to send in by the deadline (end of February).

If you have scraps, why don’t you join us? It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how…

In a scrap bag were small pieces of some super cute farm fabric–chickens, sunflowers and text. They aren’t the kind of prints where cutting them smaller would be a good solution. But they could be combined with something else.

I added the gold geometric print in the 4-1/2″ squares and built 4-patchesout of 2-1/2″ squares using coordinating fabrics.

I even had some matching sunflower fabric for the back.

It is even cuter in person, but this at least gives you an idea. Cheap and cheerful, but it will go in the donation pile for next year ...

Imagine my delight and surprise when I opened an email last week:

Greetings,

I took your quilting intensive about three or four years ago and, at the time, didn’t finish my project. A few months ago, I found it tucked away in my closet—and I’m happy to say I’ve finally completed it.

I’m not sure if this is something you’d be interested in, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the finished quilt.

That year a project option was to build a Potato Chip Block for a donation quilt, and additional ones (as many ...

When the call went out for donations to support my youth sewing class, Susan sent, not only fabric, but a quilt top that needed to be finished.

And now it is. Finishes at 45″ x 60″ Great use of stripy scraps. You can even see where some of the coins were pieced. Whimsy!

The back is a little wild, and I used scrappy binding from my stash.

It will bless the life of someone soon. Thanks to all of you for the generosity you offer the world. I am fortunate to be part of such a community.

In a hand-me-down bag there were these little bits. A 1-1/2″ strip with 6 1-1/2″ squares attached. Twenty of them. Such cute little bits. They wanted to be a quilt.

Adding 6″ stars in matching colors and some sashing fit the bill. I like the way it makes the stars shimmer with movement.

The polka dot binding was an unexpected decision, and the backing is a little odd, too. But they do work, and it all came from stash, so that’s a win.

Second Chance projects can make one dig deep to find a solution. I do ...

Spring Intensives are coming up in May. What are Intensives? At the school where I teach, the week before Christmas and the last week of school in the Spring, students don’t attend regular classes. (Honestly, what really gets done in classes at that time?) Rather, each student selects from a menu of classes and attends that one course for the entire week. After the success of last year, I am offering SEWING once again. How does an English Teacher get to teach sewing. Well, it is officially “Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension.” Doesn’t that sound like sewing to you?!

If ...

This is becoming a go-to pattern for baby quilts. (It just occurred to me that it could be done with two charm packs. I may have to try that soon.)

I found the yellow floral print during my cleaning just before the new year. There was only a little, but it seemed a shame to throw it away. 

I love the bright and happy results.

The plan is to donate it to the local children’s hospital. Ta-dah!

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 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 ...

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!

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 ...

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 ...

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!

As many of you know, I keep promising scraps and hand-me-downs in a Possibilities Pile.

It was time to dig some out and pair them up with a promising idea. THIS TUTORIAL was perfect.

In three days I took the pile of scraps and created a nice baby quilt for donation. The back took a little extra creativity, but it works. To be quilted soon…

As usual, this started with a pile of donated scraps, this batch from Diane. I used many of them on a PREVIOUS QUILT, but there were still a good number left over.

Then inspiration struck in the form of a FREE PATTERN. I had to reduce the size, but it quickly added up to a pretty baby quilt.

It will be donated to the local children’s hospital. Someone is sure to love it.

The cut-off HSTs are in the pending pile and will be used in a future project. Every scrap seems to find its place.

Made out of fabric donated a few years ago, I believe by Stephanie. THIS PICTURE sparked the idea that finally pushed the fabric pieces to quilt status.

There was enough matching fabric included for back and binding.

It will likely be donated to the Children’s Hospital.

I used 2-1/2″ squares so this one finishes at 38″ square.

By “Camping” I mean Summer Camp. All those fun, outdoors activities that are part of growing up.

Again, this started with a small amount (about 3/4 yard) of the focus fabric, and was a quick finish as the blocks only have 7 pieces. The woodsy backing reinforces the theme.

MINI TUTORIAL: Start with a center 5″ square. Add 6 rectangles 5″ x 2-3/4″. That’s it! You’ll have a 9″ finished block. I used 20 blocks in this quilt, finishing at 26″ x 45″. It was fun, and a bit of a challenge, to get the scrap ...