What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

These started  when I was trying to work out how to get Strings of Beads to around corners.

I have just asked myself a question … what if … I made them look more like Medallion Quilts, with different colours backgrounds?

I need something to play twith in the next few days as it will be too hot to venture outside.

I fell in love with String of Beads the first time I saw the traditional block design, and started playing with the simple  leaf shape bead with pencil and paper.

 The first photos of quilts featuring the design they had been appliqued by cutting out the shapes with a seam allowance, turning the seam allowance to the back and tacking it in place, then hand stitching, including those two pointy ends.

About the time I read the first story in a quilting magazine about a new product which could be ironed onto the back of fabric, then fused onto the ...

I wonder how many two inch long beads are required for the design above!

Love the first design because of the way the individual borders are welded together by the strings of beads, and I love the second design because each border stands alone.

I like the subdued colours in this project file.

Love the second design. I think it would look good in bright, or pretty, or even dramatic colour schemes, not just the subdued shown here.

I love just about every String of Beads design I have ever seen, but the one above is one of the best ones.

However the one above is also a contender for entry into the favorites list., but this morning the first one is the winner.

This project file was started so I could play with beaded applique borders, in particular, getting around corners.

String of beads, no matter how I tangle them up, are my favourite traditional style applique quilts to play with virtually, as well as in real life.

The applique was originally turned applique, either needle turn or folded and tacked before stitching, but now I can fuse the beads onto the background, and stitch by hand or machine. The quickest is to use a narrow zigzag by machine, and I like buttonhole stitch by hand.

They would also be easy machine quilting ...

Love just about every String of Beads quilt design I have seen, including the one above. And the one below!

I love playing with virtual beads … and love the results.

Love the simplicity of the straight lines of beads, and also the double swag border.