Pre-Cut Challenge

I have tons of precuts, from when I started quilting. I've decided to challenge myself to use them up.  I'm calling it the Pre-Cut Challenge.  Feel free to join in.  Here's the hashtag:  #precutchallenge

These are from a batik jelly roll and a Kaffe Fassett jelly roll. The Kaffee roll only had 29 strips while the batik one had the normal 40 strips.  I removed the black batik because who needs a black batik and added 12 solid strips that I cut from my stash.  Then I shuffled everything a couple of times and divided them into two stacks.  This is the result, 2 Jelly Roll Race Quilt Tops. I love how they turned out!  Boy, is my LAQ going to be busy.

 I have a couple more Jelly Rolls I'm going to use, before moving on the Layer Cakes and the Charm Packs.  I have tons of Charm Packs.

May your bobbins always be full,

Kassia's Quilt is finished

When my daughter Sharon asked me to make a quilt for her sons' half-sister, I was happy to do it.  Kassia is a great girl and in addition to my grandson, she has 3 brothers.  She's surrounded by boys!

Sharon says that every time Kassia visits her home, she wraps herself in a quilt.  Of course, since I'm a quilter, there are plenty of quilts, but Sharon wanted her to have one of her own.

This is my 8th finish this year.

Started on May 3, 2020

Finished on July 25, 2020

Measures 48.5" x 57"

 

May your bobbins always be full,

The Plan B X & Plus Quilt Top

Not bad for just winging it!  I really love how the X & Plus quilt top turned out.  It measures 50x64".

Now to decide on the quilt back.

 

May your bobbins always be full,

The Plan B X & + Quilt

About 10 days ago, I made these sashing blocks,  ↑.  They were for another project that I decided to forego.  But, I had all of these blocks and I decided I needed to come up with a Plan B

Plan B involved some X and + blocks, 12 to be exact.  Then I made some 4-patch cornerstones.

Today, I assembled the first four 20" blocks that will be part of the Plan B quilt.  I discovered that I don't have enough of the sashing blocks, so that will be my next step.   Many of my quilts are "organic" and this one is no exception.  Organic means I don't know what I'm doing!

 

May your bobbins always be full,

The Dresden Blooms Quilt Top is Finished!

Here it is laid out on the lawn.  Right after I took this, the wind came up, so the photo-taking had to move inside.  

Some of the Dresden Plates.

This is based on the video tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Co.  I changed 5 things.  (1) I added .5" to the large background squares, I made them 24.5"  

(2) The tutorial calls for the white strips to be 2, 3, 4, and 5 inches.  I decided on 2.5, 3, 4, and 4.5 inches, it's the little things.

Auditioning Background square fabric.

(3) I altered the joining of the Dresden plates; I started at the narrow end with a 3/8" seam and tapered to normal 1/4" seam at the wide end.  This is so the Dresden plate would lay flat.  This method made the Dresden Plates smaller, but having flat plates was so worth it.

(4)  I changed the construction of the inner color circle.  The tutorial called for raw-edge applique, and I really wanted a finished edge.  So I used 2 layers for the circles.  I stitched all the way around, cut a wide slit on the bottom layer, and turned the circle right-side out.

(5), The last thing was dividing one of the Dresden plates in half, then changing the color of the center for one of the halves, to match the adjacent square.

You can find the original video tutorial here.  The tutorial claims this makes a 81" square quilt; it does not, my quilt top is 72" square.

May your bobbins always be full,

Starting a Dresden Bloom Quilt Top

All the prep is done for making a Dresden Bloom Quilt Top, inspired by Jenny at Missouri Star.  I'm just waiting for the Large Dresden Template Ruler that I ordered from them.  Because of the pandemic, shipping is s-l-o-w, all over.  The fabric I'm using is a Jelly Roll of Well Said by Sandy Gervais for Moda.

I've already modified the tutorial, nothing drastic!  The tute calls for the white strips to be 2, 3, 4, and 5 inches.  I decided on 2.5, 3, 4, and 4.5 inches, it's the little things.  I'm also going to make the center disc using a different method.

The ruler has finally shipped, but I'll need to find something else to do until it gets here. Such a problem!

May your bobbins always be full,

Sampler Mystery Quilt

I'm very happy with this quilt top.  I took some orphan blocks that have been hanging around, added some Blocks of the Month from my quilt guild, and this is what I got.  I'm calling it a Mystery Quilt because I really didn't know how it was going to turn out.  It measures 60 x 72".

Now to figure out the quilt back, plus I've had a request for more masks!  My friend is in her nineties, 95, I think, and she was one of the first people I called to see if she wanted a face mask or two.  No, she really didn't. but now, months later as the pandemic has dragged on she's reconsidered.  I'm happy to help, but I really thought my mask-making days were behind me.

May your bobbins always be full,

Busy, busy, busy!

Well, I have been busy sewing blocks; just not busy posting them!  Most of these were made with leftover bits and pieces from other projects.  The trees and the barns are the exceptions.  I've been making these to add to the other blocks I've made in conjunction with the Charity Quilt Project my guild does.  Each month a member presents a block for the other members to make and donate to the project.  Every month I made 4 blocks, 2 to donate and two to keep.

This group is the exception.  I'm keeping 4 of these and donating 1.

The keepers, plus these extra blocks are going to be a large sample quilt.  I've spent the morning working on the layout.  Now, I'm going to let it sit for a while.  I'll come back to it tomorrow and stitch it together.  I have to say that it's been fun using the leftover blocks and HSTs to make something new!

May your bobbins always be full,

Breezy Quilt, #2

While making the Breezy #1 quilt top, I thought it'd be fun to have more colors in the background.  For Breezy #1, I used Kona Windsor and Coty.  For Breezy #2, I used Kona Turquoise, Chartreuse, Citrus, Red, and Surf.  Thank heavens for a fabric stash!

This is a fun finish for me.  Each month I make 4 quilt blocks, 2 to donate to my quilt guilds' Charity BOM project, and 2 to keep for quilts like this one.  One of the blocks in this quilt are from a class I took at Quiltcon a couple of years ago.  The quilt back is made from fabric I purchased; I thought it was printed madras patchwork.  So much for thinking, it's actually pieced; lots of squares of madras sewn together.

May your bobbins always be full,

Breezy, Quilt #1

 

This is a fun finish for me.  Each month I make 4 quilt blocks, 2 to donate to my quilt guilds' Charity BOM project, and 2 to keep for quilts like this one.  Three of the blocks in this quilt are from a class I took at Quiltcon a couple of years ago.  The quilt back is made from fabric I purchased; I thought it was printed madras patchwork.  So much for thinking, it's actually pieced; lots of squares of madras sewn together.

May your bobbins always be full,