Friday, September 17, 2021

Weekly Finish ... Or Not: Dandy Star Stash Buster

I started working on this top a couple of months ago and posted updates about it here, here, and here.  And, I am so happy that it is finally finished.

My original plan was to make 56 blocks with a simple 7x8 setting and was so happy when I finally finished the 56th block.  But I was inspired by Marian Birch's scrappy quilt with the beautiful ribbon inner border and decided that's what I wanted to do.  After I started working on the twisted ribbon border, I realized I would need more Dandy Star blocks LOL.  I ended up making 11 more blocks, for a total of 67 blocks.  I need only 52 blocks to meet the challenge so I am definitely in!

 I didn't have a pattern for the ribbon border, so I had a bit of a problem with the corners.  I used instructions I found online and after a couple of misfits, I found the perfect fit.  However, the corners were another issue.  They're not perfect but I'm okay with how it turned out.

I hope I can get the quilt finished by the end of the year, but for now, it's going into my "to be quilted" pile.

I'm linking up to the following parties.  Please visit them if you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are doing:

Until next time ... be happy and keep on quilting!

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Monday, September 13, 2021

Design Wall Monday: Y2K Blocks

 

Last week, I posted about my oldest work-in-progress project: my final Y2K quilt.  And, this past weekend I was able to finish four blocks from two more squishies.  

From Barbara Y. in Pennsylvania: ...I was born in...a small coal-mining town and both my father and my grandfather worked in the coal mines...My hubby and I were foster parents to 47 children over a period of 14 years...I learned to quilt from books and thank goodness for TV and computers...My first quilt consisted of 2 flat sheets and batting.  I drew my design on the sheet and just hand quilted along the lines...Recently I discovered Foundation paper piecing and a new world opened.  We never stop learning.

From Shellie G. in Oregon: ...I have lived in Oregon, Washington, California, Kentucky, and Germany...My husband and I...adopted our daughter Emma almost two years ago from China...We hope to travel to Vietnam...to adopt a sister for Emma...I am in the process of starting an online business making children's clothing...I started quilting about 9 years ago with my first class on piece quilting...I think I have made around 20 quilts and wall hangings...I am looking forward to meeting new friends through this year of swapping.

I love reading these snippets of life from each quilter.  I wonder what they are now doing 20 years later.  And, each one is so different and interesting, but the one thing we all have in common is quilting.  I look forward to reading the next 21.

I really want to finish this quilt by the end of the year, and I figure if I can work on 3 squishies a week I should be able to finish the top by Thanksgiving and hopefully get the quilt completed by New Year's Eve.  Oh my goodness, I can't believe the holidays are just around the corner.  Time flies when you're having fun!

If you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are up to, please visit the following which I'm linking up to:  

Monday Making @ Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall Monday @ Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Oh Scrap! @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Until next time ... 
Be happy and keep on quilting!
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Friday, September 10, 2021

Weekly Finish #8 and #9: Dr. Seuss and Quilt of Valor 2021


I have a couple small completed quilts to share this week.
This first one is a Warm Wishes Dr. Seuss quilt which is the second charity quilt from the pile of UFOs I posted about way back in February.

I used the same E2E alien/spaceman quilt design I used for the Heavenly Bodies charity quilt. The backing is a colorful crayon print with a red with white polka dot binding.


  The quilt measures 39" x 49" and it'll be donated to Quilts For Kids or Project Linus.


I am also happy to share this finished Quilt of Valor for my friend's husband that I posted about last month.


I quilted it with an allover E2E star quilting design that I downloaded for free from Urban Elementz.  This is my first panel quilt and I was worried the quilting design would detract from the beautiful eagle print.  I used a light blue thread and am happy to see that it blends in beautifully.


I used a patriotic print for the backing and also added a sleeve for use as a wall hanging.  It measures 42" x 57".


I finished it yesterday and this morning we met for breakfast and I was able to gift it to him.  He was very happy to receive it and said he will always treasure it.  To Joe, thank you for your service.

I'm linking up to the following parties.  Please visit them if you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are doing:

Until next time ... be happy and keep on quilting!

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Wednesday, September 8, 2021

WIP Wednesday: My Oldest WIP - The Final Y2K Quilt

 
This is the beginning of my 4th and final Y2K quilt - my oldest work in progress.  I call it a WIP since the charms are already cut but it's just been sitting around for 20 years waiting to be completed.  This set of 3-inch charms was swapped in 2001, and I suppose after 20 years, it's about time I get this quilt done!

Since this is my last one, I want to do something more than just sew squares into rows.  A couple of designs are stored with the fabric, but I found a few more ideas online, including the quilt pictured below.


I really like this design, so much more interesting than just squares in a row.  But I especially like it because the signature square is included in the block.  

With my previous Y2K quilts, I received 80 sets of 25 charms plus a signature square; these are called squishies.  But this final set is different as I received 25 sets with 80 charms plus the signature square.  From each set, I can make 2 blocks but have only one signature square for the center.  So I have added my own charms, each one different, for the center of the second block.  


So far I have made only four blocks.  Each block uses 16 HSTs and 8 squares plus the signature square and measures 13" unfinished.

When making the HSTs, I stitch from corner to corner then stitch again about 1/2" from my first stitched line.  This way I end up with 2 HSTs and use the larger HST for my block.  I also end up with a pile of 2.5" HSTs that I'm putting aside for now.

Aside from the charm squares, each squishy had a short bio from the sender.  I truly enjoy reading each one.

From Gerri K. in Virginia: "...My grandmother was a seamstress and used to make quilts from the scraps she had.  My favorite quilt that she made was a Grandmother's Fan made in satins and velvets...I have loved quilts for years...I waited until I was grown and married for 25 years before taking it up...I love material and have quite a stash. I really didn't realize how much I had until I decided that one room was too small for my sewing stuff and started moving it to another room..."

From Laurie S. in Indiana: "I got into quilting about 10 years ago when I ordered Judy Martin's book of quilt blocks from a book club...I plunged in and in spite of points that didn't quite match and seams that weren't quite straight I finished my first two quilts which I gave to my grandmother and my mother...each year I make most if not all of my Christmas gifts...I knew my family was spoiled the year my niece who was about 2-1/2 at the time asked for a "tilk" for Christmas...She showed me a quilt...Since then she's...been the recipient of several quilts."

Gerri and Laurie, you are kindred spirits and I hope you are still happily quilting!

If you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are up to, please visit the following which I'm linking up to:  

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter
Stitch Sew & Show @ Life in the Scrapatch

Until next time ... 
Be happy and keep on quilting!
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Monday, September 6, 2021

Design Wall Monday: International Sister Block aka African Queen

 

It was sometime last year that I stumbled upon Sew Pretti's International Sister Quilt and immediately fell in love with it!


Sew Preeti first came across the African Queen block in 2017 but couldn't find a pattern or tutorial so she drafted this one, which she named International Sister.

I am thrilled and thankful that she so generously provided the free instructions for this cute block.  



When I found Sew Preeti's quilt, I also stumbled upon these instructions which I believe were a document from The Quilting Board but are no longer available.  I found out the hard way they were not accurate so I made the corrections in red.

I definitely wanted to make a quilt with this block and included it as one of my 2021 quilting goals.  These are the first 3 blocks I made as samples using both patterns.  The 10.5" block is made with Sew Preeti's instructions and the 10" block is made with the Quilting Board instructions which use a smaller square for the skirt.  I originally made a 10" block then trimmed it down to 9.5" but I think the skirt is too short.  Either way, I love them all!


I wanted to know more about this block that seemed to be all over quilting land thanks to Sew Preeti.  And yet no one could find a printed pattern.  Apparently, Anne Batiste, a quilter from California, created a pattern in 2014 but it is nowhere to be found.  


Then I ran across this post from 2011 by Theresa McGhee in My Quiet Place, a website by American Quilters' Society.  She says she drafted the pattern for the African Princess from a "very old quilt".  She too was offering the pattern for free via email.  


And for anyone who is interested in making an applique version of the African Queen (or Princess), I found these instructions from 2012.

It seems that the African Queen block has been around for a very long time and thanks to Sew Preeti and her generosity this wonderful block has made a comeback.  If you'd like to make your own International Sister block, please visit Sew Preeti's blog.  Her instructions are the best.


If you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are up to, please visit the following which I'm linking up to:  

Monday Making @ Love Laugh Quilt
Design Wall Monday @ Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Until next time ... 
Be happy and keep on quilting!

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Friday, September 3, 2021

Weekly Finish ... Or Not: Grassy Creek and Uncle Sam's Star

 

I've been busy making quilt tops and have no finished quilts to show you.  But I do have two completed flimsies to share.

This pattern is Uncle Sam's Star from a 2000 American Patchwork magazine.


This is one of my quilting goals for 2021 and thought I'd finish it for July 4, but that didn't happen.  I'm adding it to my UFO pile for now and probably won't finish it until next year.



And I FINALLY finished my Grassy Creek Mystery quilt top.  Yea!

I'd been putting it off because I was undecided about the border.  The thought of making all those string blocks wasn't very appealing so I thought I'd do a plain border just to get it done, but I didn't have anything in my stash that would work.  Then I realized I'd done all that work for the center and why should I go with a boring border.  So I bit the bullet and worked on those string blocks, 7 at a time for a couple of weeks; and I am so glad I did.  This one is also on my quilting goals list and I do plan to complete it before the next mystery starts.

I'm linking up to the following parties.  Please visit them if you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are doing:

Until next time ... be happy and keep on quilting!

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Wednesday, August 25, 2021

WIP Wednesday: How Many is Too Many?

 


Last week I posted about a couple new projects I was working on.  I put those aside to start working on my Uncle Sam's Patriotic quilt which is one of my 2021 quilting goals.  Well, it was my goal to have it finished by July 4th so I'm a bit late ... or maybe I'm just very early for next year LOL.

I've always completed a project before I started another one.  I was impatient to see the finished product and couldn't wait to finish.  But this year has been different because I've been working on a few ongoing monthly projects.  I find that I rather like working on several projects at a time as it helps break up the monotony of working on a single project.

 
And this is the final block for the Very Coriander Christmas BOM quilt.  Gosh, I can't believe it's been 10 months since I made my first block.


This final monthly kit also included all the fabric to finish the top.  Once the top is assembled, all I need to add is the fabric for the binding and backing, which I have already purchased separately.  I've already cut all the pieces so I just need to start sewing.


I'm also making regular progress on my Stashbuster Challenge quilt.  I've already cut out the remaining star blocks and finished 4 more blocks today.  That makes 40 blocks done and 16 more to go.

And I can't forget my Grassy Creek quilt which was last year's mystery quilt by Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville which I haven't posted about since January.  With the new mystery (hopefully) coming out in a couple months, I decided I'd better start working on Grassy Creek again.  I've been working on the string blocks for the border, a few each day, so hopefully I can finish these next week.

If you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are up to, please visit the following which I'm linking up to:  

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Stitch Sew & Show @ Life in the Scrapatch

Until next time ... 
Be happy and keep on quilting!

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Wednesday, August 18, 2021

WIP Wednesday: Stash Buster Challenge and Quilt of Valor


I'm still working on my Stash Buster quilt and have now completed 36 blocks.  I'm going to take the time to cut up the rest of the blocks so I can just grab a couple to sew when I have a few minutes here and there.  


I started this Quilt of Valor (QOV) last week after a dear friend asked me to make it for her husband, a Vietnam War veteran.  I have gifted her a few quilts over the years and I know she values and appreciates the quilts I give her so I was very happy to oblige.  I'm still trying to decide on borders but I should have it completed soon.  Well, this one was not on my 2021 quilting goals list but that's okay.


And this Raven Moon project is definitely not on my quilting goals list.  It is more of a squirrel!  I bought this bundle a couple years ago and recently stumbled upon it.

Since Halloween is just around the corner (isn't it?), I thought I may just go ahead and make it this year.
The bundle includes 2 panels and 6 fat quarters.
It's hard to believe this small bundle of fabrics is enough to make a 46 x 64 wall hanging.
I've never been one for panel quilts but after working on the QOV panel quilt and seeing so many pretty panels online I am now a panel fan!


This is the pattern I plan to use, which is free from e-Quilter.  It looks to be fast and easy so I should be able to complete it by Halloween.

And, I'm still working on my Very Coriander Christmas BOM quilt.  The 12th and final kit has arrived so I will be posting about this project shortly.

So, until next time ... be happy and keep on quilting!

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Friday, August 13, 2021

Weekly Finish #7: Heavenly Bodies Charity Quilt and Flimsies


My first charity quilt finish of 2021.  I posted about this quilt back in February and I finally got around to finishing it.



I love the main fabric with the planets and heavenly bodies.



I found the perfect backing with the constellations.


I did an overall quilting design called Picket, which I think looks like spacemen or aliens.  I guess it's a stretch of my imagination LOL.  What do you think?

The pattern is Warm Wishes and I used polyester batting.  I also attached the binding by machine which I do for kids' quilts, especially donated quilts, because they get a lot of use and are washed frequently.

The quilt measures 50 x 62 which is larger than the baby quilts I usually donate.  I think this size is much better for an older child.

I also finished my St. Patrick's Double Irish Chain top that I posted about here.  I think the fabric requirements in the pattern are wrong as I had many leftover strips. But that's okay because I used them for the pieced border.  I wasn't thrilled with the dark greens but now that the top is finished I am pretty happy with it.  It's in my UFO pile for now.



And, this is my Rolling Rainbow quilt top, a free pattern from Robert Kaufman.  I started this quilt as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2021 and made a couple blocks each month depending on the color.  


Teal (or aqua) is the color for August so I made these 2 blocks.   Then I just needed 2 more orange blocks to finish the top so I decided to just go ahead and finish it.  The original pattern calls for 25 blocks but I made my top with 30 blocks.  I'm not usually a "modern" quilt person but I love the colors and am happy with the top.  It's also in my UFO pile for now.

I'm linking up to the following parties.  Please visit them if you'd like to see more quilting goodness and see what others are doing:

Until next time ... be happy and keep on quilting!

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