Quilting the Strawberry Queen's Quilt

Quilting the Strawberry Queen's Quilt: Christmas Present

Thanksgiving dinner was still in planning stages when I popped the Strawberry Queen's quilt on the longarm, and went to work. 

Whimsical Quilt Top Using a Panel and Scraps

Whimsical Child's Quilt Top from a Panel and Scraps

It's December with Christmas right around the corner, and the world seems to be spinning very fast. Yet we all find time to escape by sitting at our sewing machines letting our brains unwind the stress of the season. That's an ideal world, and might not be the whole truth, but I'm shooting for it.

I am working through my lists with the intent every day to find a little time to stitch something. It may not be a grand project--most are not. It's more along the line of finishing up every last thing I can see in my way. All that stuff stopping me from moving on with new things. WIP, UFO, yada yada, but it's easier to move through things than put it away never to be seen again. I have time invested, and I value my time as should we all. I'm getting things done in those few minutes of downtime when I can catch it.

Queen of the Strawberry Patch Quilt

Queen of the Strawberry Patch Quilt

I am lucky to be able to care for my granddaughter several days a week. She's (mostly) a joy! But many things in my life have shifted to accommodate my new schedule.

My garden has been somewhat neglected this year, but I kept reminding myself about priorities. We are still eating canned tomatoes from the past year when I put up 100+ quarts, and 80 quarts of beans. Because my shelves were still full, I allowed some beds to rest, some occasional weeds, and gave it minimal life support for months. But every day we would walk the gardens, check the greenhouse, water plants, touch, smell, and be barefoot in the grass. Even if it rained, we were out there. One day we just let ourselves be rained on until thoroughly wet. We watch birds, worms, the bugs and bees, and dogs running through the orchard. Today we were out quite early talking about the moonlight. I'm smiling as I remember and write this. 

Wool Birthday Crown Finish

Wool Birthday Crown Finish

How in the world did October get away, and we're a week out from Thanksgiving? Even so, I need to make this brief. The birthday crown was finished on time, and the girl wore it! Mission accomplished. It was on and off as I assumed it would be, but has turned into a wonderful dress-up accessory. She has some experience with touching wool, seeing the flowers and embroidery up close, and just maybe remembering a bit of that sweet day she turned 1.

The backing is a simple Tilda print I had in my stash, and the band is actually a piece of foldable elastic like one uses to create hair ties. The elastic allows the crown to self-adjust, and no messy, loose ribbons to tie.

One thing I did not plan for was a removable number to replace each year. Next year's crown will have the ability to grow with her. Very fun project!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Wool Birthday Crown WIP

I thought when my own kids were babies I had made them everything possible. Gosh, one time I obsessively built them a canvas playhouse on a frame of pvc pipe that had an operational door, painted English garden on the outside, and would fit adults standing up. It was brilliant that I could put it up and take it down for storage when needed. The pipe got pilfered over the years, and I think the only thing remaining on the toy shelf is the door. Oh, life before an iPhone lives only in our minds. 

Orphan Quilt Block to Pillow: Spindrift

Orphan Quilt Block to Nursery Pillow

Some days, try as we might, technology fights us. So the pictures are what they are today with my apologies. Oh, well it's a Wednesday as I write this. Maybe that's it. This is a leftover block unused in a wonderful quilt Spindrift by Michelle McKillop published under Jen Kingwell. Take a closer look at the quilts progress from 2020 when Covid was just beginning.

Spindrift: It Begins

Spindrift: 2

Spindrift: 3

Spindrift: 4

Spindrift: 5

Spindrift: 6

Spindrift:7

Spindrift:8

Spindrift: 9

Spindrift: 10 The Quilting Begins

Spindrift: 11 Custom Quilting

Spindrift: 12 One More Day

Spindrift: 13 From Quilts to Socks

One Long Comeback shows the binding at last

Here is another version of Spindrift I made called It Floats.

This was a darling block, but didn't have the same vibe as the other Dresdens in either quilt. It became an orphan block until I heard I was having a grandchild. A bit of hand quilting after adding Grunge borders, and it turned into a colorful floor pillow for the nursery. For a while it was a back cushion to prop her up in her laundry basket--how DID our generation miss the usefulness of laundry baskets to child rearing? Then it morph into the mountain to climb and have some tummy time on top of. It's been a very useful piece of baby equipment happily.

The backing a stripey remnant I pieced, and off she went. Another project in the books.

Have you found any creative projects for using your own orphan blocks? Share them in the comments please. I'm not the only one looking for fresh ideas. Thanks!

Come on, Doxie girls.

Let's go sew.

Another Trip Around the World

Another Trip Around the World

Here is a pattern that is fun and rewarding every time I make it. I love it so! This quilt kit was offered years ago by Craftsy, and the fabrics were coordinated by Myra Barnes at Busy Hands Quilts. The kit went on deep sale, and I snapped it up! It took me several years to pull out to piece, but it was an easy make because it was a one patch. More on one patch quilts HERE. Also, I have said it before, but my Accuquilt cutter made it a dream to go from fabric to pieces cut in a few hours with minimal waste.

Easy Modern Batik Quilt

Easy Modern Batik Quilt

This is one way to break up your stash. My batiks were overflowing with fat quarters, and I personally wanted a pink quilt. I started it a year ago (or more), and finished it last month in mid-August. No real pattern involved, just modeled after similar quilts I'd seen, and drawn up myself.

What I love most about it besides being pink? I think it's beautiful the way the batiks appear wavy with their color variations. Also, the batting is Mountain Mist Cream Rose, and very thin. It's a perfect weight summer quilt for my side of the bed.

One Patch Charity Quilts: July

Charity Quilts: July

There was a time when much of my quilting time was devoted to charity quilts. I've taken a more modified approach now, and I work as I both see need, and notice my scrap piles growing. Sometimes I get a bag of donated fabrics, and they may not fit my style. If I'm not going to use it, someone else may as well. The most rewarding quilts to make, though, are for children as these were.

Scraps and a Panel Make a Quilt: WIP

Scraps and a Panel Make a Quilt

Work in Process

Once upon a sewing day I sewed scrap after scrap together in long lines thinking one day I would need them. That day came. I found the container while straightening the studio, and figured they were almost I Spy quality for a youngster. I started with a simple block I'd made before, threw down a few fabrics as borders, and then realized it would be a very small quilt. It stared back at me for several weeks. It was just boring. It needed more of something, and so I kept cleaning and clearing.

Vintage Blocks Flimsy

Vintage Blocks Flimsy

Though I don't spend long, uninterrupted time in my studio these days, I do peck away at a lot of my quilting goals. Here is a flimsy finish I started the week before, and by adding the whole spectrum of tiny squares I completed the border. I'm waiting for inspiration before I add the embroidery.

Vintage Blocks Wall Hanging

Vintage Blocks Meet Vintage Fabric Pack

In the first years of quilting, I spent considerable time acquiring new fabric. Then I began collecting old fabric, blocks, quilts, ephemera, and so on. The day of reckoning came when I said, "What am I going to do with all this stuff?" (or my kids if I leave it undone.) And that pretty well sums up where I am at currently, and hoping to direct my quilting energy and time to correcting. 

I am a sucker for the tag sales where there are stacks of blocks stuck in a baggie for $2 with lots of pieces waiting to be sewn. It just screams, "Make me, Julie!" Mind you the fabric is from the 1940's, and 85 years later still not sewn together. It's usually a case of someone trying out a block, and it didn't come together as well as they'd planned. Many start out as hand sewn, and honestly those are the best as you can easily unpick them. It's not always necessary, though, and often I like the look of hand pieced, slightly imperfect blocks. That was the case here even after fixing a few seams that had pulled.

Halloween Spiders Half Hexie Quilt Finish

Halloween Spiders Half Hexie Quilt Finish

The spiders are creeping down the quilt, some half hidden, some in full sight. These are the friendly kind of spiders though, and have done a lot in reality to get me through some of my own fear of them. Having to look through pictures of all kinds of arachnids was unpleasant, but by dissecting the body parts to give even a rough representation here helped me compartmentalize it. 

This first photo shows what the quilt looks like hanging in my hallway finished. Dark block walls and spotlight lighting are dim, and art quilts pop. The quilting shows well, and the colors are deeper. Hanging a quilt out of direct light keeps it from fading, and if you are using delicate fabrics or embellishment it becomes even more important.

Halloween Half Hexie Spider Embellishment

Halloween Half Hexie Spider Embellishment

First of all, I am not a spider lover. I do tolerate them much better as a gardener seeing their benefit, and would never destroy one or a web, but embrace them? No. This is me trying hard to look up web images of spiders without raising my pulse and blood pressure to create these little beasties. It has helped to be honest, but they will always cause me to jump when I see a big one.

Halloween Half Hexie Table Topper Quilt

Halloween Half Hexie Table Topper

The Coshocton Canal Quilters held their quilt show this past weekend. It was a very nice show as it always is, and if you're ever in this part of of Ohio, it's worth the trip. It typically falls on the same weekend as the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale which is held in Mount Hope, and you get your fill of quilts and quilty items. A friend came to town, and we squeezed both into one day. It was a lot for one day. 

One of the things I really look forward to is the Quilter's Corner in both places. Around here it means pre-loved items typically donated to raise money for the organization. They did not disappoint at either event, and I will show you some of my lovely finds in the coming days. For today let me share one of my favorite buys, and personal challenges I take every year. Buy something, and use it immediately. Don't sort and store it. Use it. So this little project was a baggie of scraps I got for $2. 

Quick Baby Quilt with a Panel--Christmas Idea

Getting Back in the Groove with a Panel

Very briefly, I have been on a hiatus again. Life got crazy busy this year between the garden, greenhouse, family, and first grandchild. Yes, we got the blessing of our lives a few short weeks ago, and it's as good as everyone said it would be. I'm elated, and sewed my little heart out before she arrived! That's all for another day, but today let me show you what I did with a simple panel left languishing in my stash for the nursery at our house. This type of project makes a darling Christmas gift for someone on your list whether young or old as it's a quick and economical make overall. 

Scrappy Heart Crush: How to Use a Paper Template/Pattern

Scrappy Heart Crush: How to Use a Paper Template/Pattern

In the past blog post, Free Pattern: Scrappy Heart Crush, I showed how to make the paper template above. Today I'll show you how to use it, and add a few cutting and trimming details to the template.

Years ago quilters were used to making a lot of their own paper templates, or improvising to recreate a pattern. We aren't as comfortable drawing up our own patterns anymore, and rely on purchased patterns where all measurements are laid out. EQ8 is a big help, but often a pencil and paper is more than adequate. Most people are very capable at creating their own patterns. I encourage you to try it because it's such a confidence builder, and gives you options when you see something you'd rather not spend a lot of cash on. 

Free Pattern: Scrappy Heart Crush

Happy Valentine's Day 2024!

February rolled around sooner than expected yet it's the same time every year. It's funny how that happens. I don't decorate much, if at all, for minor holidays, but it's nice to have a throw to bring out to lay across the couch back. Also, red is especially nice as a pop of color during the drab months of winter!

I added two outer borders this morning to finish this off, and I like how it ties the colors together. 

Scrappy Heart Crush Quilt

Scrappy Heart Crush Quilt

February holds Valentine's Day, is heart health month, and the anniversary of some good, and not-so-good things in my life. For the past 3 weeks I've gotten one bug after the next with the last one knocking me for a real loop. Low energy had me looking for a mini project while I put Lorelei on hold. The scraps were calling out so I dug into my reds coming up with a neat little heart block. The beauty of it was how fast I could sew it. In under 10 minutes I had a 10.5" block to trim! in no time at all, February was looking up, and these blocks were ready for a quilt.

Lorelei Quilt: Lesson 1 Center Pinwheel

Lorelei: Lesson 1 Center Pinwheel

Tools: I used the Creative Grids Flying Geese & 45/90 Degree Triangle Ruler to make this quilt. I believe this to be an indispensable ruler for any quilter, but there are many similar rulers you may already own. This ruler trims the upper point off the triangle. You may use any similar ruler or the corner of any square ruler by allowing it to hang over the fabric strip. 

*An accurate 1/4" seam allowance is important with all piecing. Test your machine so you know the sweet spot. As you add seams to a block you may need to compensate with a slightly smaller seam allowance as you go. That may only be a thread's width. Don't be afraid to rip and re-do. 

**Pressing: Press each set of units as you finishing chain stitching them. I use a dry iron for pieces with bias as steam distorts.

Lorelei may appear more complicated than it is. Let's break the block down into a 9 sub-blocks. The entire block is 15" finished, and each of the 9 sub-blocks are 5" finished. There are only 3 different sub-blocks within the block. If you master 3 sub-blocks, you've got the whole quilt!