Monday, March 20, 2017

More One Patch Designs for Charity Quilts


Queen's Cross

I never board an airplane without my trusty composition books, and sharp pencils. While dear husband snoozes away, I dream up quilt patterns. Lately it's been all one patch designs, and this the most recent. 

*Yoohoo! And to alert you all how to find these designs, check out the new areas of Pink Doxies' header. I've been adding quilts and clickable links to each, and some new sections such as Charity Quilt Layouts and Links on the lower right end. 


When I went in to volunteer in the quilt room at MCC Connections Thrift Shop last week, another volunteer said we should hit the 4" squares. The wine/maroon colors were overflowing. So we worked together to lay up this beauty. It's always a thrill to see a design go from paper to fabric, and a one patch goes quickly. It was just about 3.5 hours to get it up, balanced, and taken down in order! The next set of volunteers will sew it together, and then it will be put into a frame and tied by others. The volunteer chain is amazing!


Most of you know I often have my nose buried in a quilt book. This is a good one. *It's available HERE. A series of antique and vintage quilts are presented with ideas how to interpret them as a reproduction or modernization. The quilt below was found within, but I followed the bunny trail backward to the owner for more inspiration.





This vintage nine patch viewed on Pinterest belongs to Barbara Brackman, and was the inspiration for the next quilt design I wanted to work with. I rifled through fabric bins to find some grey that might simulate the background, and did find some Moda Grunge. The problem was I would not have enough fabric, and nothing else was close. I was headed back Monday morning to cover the room so knew I could dig through my own stash at home over the weekend. I took the chance and started it.




Just the bare beginning, but I love the fabrics I've found in the bins. Did I mention all the fabrics in the quilt room come from donated fabric that comes through the thrift drop off? Many are older, and that's just ideal for a project like this one. FYI: The block sizes are adapted from what is shown in the book. I found most of my inspirational fabrics were in the 5" size so used those.


Working on a new design takes a fair bit of simple math, and even then I've been know to screw it up. So I make a rough sketch, and I write out the numbers adding and subtracting rows. This particular quilt is so interesting to me because there doesn't appear to be a border above or below the top and bottom nine patches. They just end suddenly. I wonder if the maker was short on her fabric, too. Hmmm. 




I didn't have the time at the shop to make the four patches at each corner so they were made at home. I tried to use the same variety of colors and patterns that might have been available then keeping it close to the actual quilt.


And I did find a mottled grey that is close, but not exact. Did that bother me? Heck, no! It will only add to the Make-Do-Attitude this quilt originally had.

Time to get ready, and pack my lunch. There aren't a lot of local options for gluten free eaters in that area.


I had to share this picture I snapped Friday leaving the shop. We had had a good number of flurries that afternoon, and I was expecting a few delays. It turned out to be heavy horse drawn traffic instead of weather. Wide brimmed hats pulled down and collars turned up as it started to rain. I was glad I was snug in my car actually. 

There is a good sized Amish and Mennonite community in that area, and this is not unusual to see. You just need to mind the slow moving vehicles, and take care passing if you visit. We can all share the road safely.

Enjoy your Monday, and may the sun shine in your neck of the woods!

Come on, Doxie girls.
We have a little time to sew yet.




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10 comments:

Unknown said...

Hope your 'covering' time at the quilt room is productive today! It is fun to do these charity comforters. I often envision a mother or family eagerly unfolding one, and smiling with thanks for the warmth or protection it brings.

Julie said...

Awww...Irene, thank you. Great vision to have while working.

Linda Swanekamp said...

Thanks for all the ideas. Besides the regular comfort quilts, I have some Gold Star kids ones to make and have a slew of 5" squares I cut from donated scraps. Looks like a wonderful place you go. My husband has celiac, so I know how difficult it is to eat out. So, we don't do it much. If we travel, we can always get a safe lunch at MacDonalds with the Southwest Salad, grilled chicken. It does not look like you are near one, though! He always carries stuff in his briefcase for the innumerable lunch meetings he gets stuck attending. Even if they provide gluten free- cross contamination is a huge issue.

Susan said...

Looking good Julie!

Jen said...

I just love that wine/maroon layout! The colors are just lovely. It will be a very pretty quilt.

KaHolly said...

That's Queens Cross is magnificent!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

I like this layout. Kudos on continuing with the volunteer work.

Stitchin At Home said...

I really like the maroon quilt layout! Sounds like you are having fun and that is important when volunteering.

Gretchen Weaver said...

Were the blocks in Queens Cross 4" square to begin with or is that the finished size. I will definitely be making this pattern. I've got 2 boxes of mom's fabrics in "earth tones" to be used. I like that pattern, looks easy and uncomplicated. Thanks for the pattern.

Kate said...

It always amazes me how effective the simple patterns are. Love both the new layouts you've posted. Happy stitching this week.