What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Well, it's been at least 3 weeks since I last set some goals. I completely dropped my bundle since then and apart from working on my machine cover have not been doing much else...struggling with motivation which often happens after I finish a major project.

Quilting

There is so little that centering the design in each block isn't possible. Also, the shortest length ...

Thank you, Christine, for the name suggestion. Considering that it uses a LOT of 1-1/2″ squares (finishing at 1″) it is a postage stamp quilt.

I started it in August 2023, so a year in the making. I wish I had recorded the day…

But, in the meantime, I am rejoicing over the finish. This one will stay with me for now and is on the full size bed in the guest room.

You can see the original quilt, the tutorial, and a number of variations HERE.

I received a bag of 2-1/2″ HST, carefully made and even seams pressed open. But a little dated. And maybe some odd fabric choices. But, I wanted them to be…something.

It isn’t perfect, but it is a flimsy. And a good reminder that finished (or nearly finished) is better than perfect.

Do you know the Brightly Quilt pattern by Cluck Cluck Sew? (Missouri Star also has a YouTube Video of it HERE.) I had seen a number of examples and decided to give it a try. Twice.

Both will go to friends of my husband. Julia is a math professor at Louisiana State University.

Jenny is from Australia.

Both are about to have new quilts. I can see using this pattern many more times. There are four size variations included for all your gifting (or keeping for yourself) needs. Enjoy!

Quilting

When I received a hand-me-down bag of fabric with a few small pieces of this darling hedgehog/squirrel/bird print, it was too cute to throw away. Surely it could be something…

The pattern is simple, but hopefully it will make a family happy.

The nine patch blocks started as 4-1/2″ squares. The star blocks have 6-1/2″ squares of that cute print as centers. The quilt finishes at 36″. It could be made using just about any fabric.

There is something satisfying about taking another look at fabric and creating around that possibility. Thank you to all who ...

It took most of the day, but it is done. Admittedly, I would do a section and then take a break by emptying the dishwasher, watering the plants, making that phone call, and related things. I could not stand to match that many seams for that long straight.

These pictures were obviously taken indoors in not-the-greatest light, but you can get the idea.

It is 92″ square. And assembled! Going to the quilter soon. I’ll share the finish when we get there. Thank you for all your kind words and support.

Well, we’ve made it this far. Husband is out of town camping with our young men from church, so I have time.

Slow going, but with a little luck, and a lot of persistence, it may be a top by the end of the day.

It is tempting to believe (and to show) that those leftover bits and pieces magically become a quilt. But the truth is more untidy. When I get a box or bag of leftovers, I usually have to lay them out and think about it for a while. Then, gradually, an idea starts to come together.

These pieces will be a baby quilt, about 36″x36″. I am sorting pieces and starting to create blocks: 4-patches, a few stars, some plain cut squares. And those pinwheels snuck in somehow. We’ll see how it turns out.

It is only 20″ square, so it went together fairly quickly.

Even with some hand quilting (which I am out of practice on).

No pattern, but you can find similar things by searching “Circle of Friendship.” I started with 2″ squares.

The blue sashing and red binding give it balance.

It will soon belong to my friend, Jennifer, who does much of my longarm quilting. So grateful to have her.

It started with a box of hand-me-down half square triangles.

And a block idea.

And it is growing towards this…

I don’t have a specific size in mind. It depends on how far the blocks stretch with some from scraps that I come across. But I am hoping for something between a throw and twin size. I hope it lives up to its name (Sunshine and Shadow) and doesn’t end up looking a busy mess.

Quilting

What do you call it when you make the scale of a quilt SMALLER (1-1/2″ squares instead of 2-1/2″ squares), but the entire quilt ends up LARGER than the original (83″ instead of 72″ square)?

I don’t know, but what is does mean is a lot of pieces involved. And I’m really happy with it. It should be quilted soon and a finish shortly after that.

You can see the original quilt, the tutorial, and a number of variations HERE.

 Hello Quilty Friends!  It took two days to work my way through the red and white fabrics.  I took breaks often to give my back a rest. Then I had to cut some of them more than once because the universe knows I love scrappy quilts so it worked in a few miscuts.  Awe, how sweet.

How do you manage major projects–those quilts that have SO MANY pieces and take SO LONG to finish? Here is a glimpse into my project management world.

NOTE: This varies by quilt, but I am using my current Big Diehl quilt as an example. It is based on her Windspinner pattern in the Simple Whatnots III book. Highly recommended.

The blocks are complicated, with many pieces. And true-random-scrappy is harder than people might think. It takes planning. So, one end of my table is taken up with laying out a few sets at a time. With the picture reference ...

I inherited a pile of 9-patch blocks. Sort of I-Spy style. Maybe a block exchange?

The point is that they deserved better than the trash. But, just joining them together would make a quilt that was too busy and too small. (Sorry for not enough pictures. I don’t know where they went…there are many mysteries.)

The solution was to add quarter square setting blocks. Using solids adds a unifying factor and keeps from adding to the busy-ness of the 9-patch blocks.

The 9-patches are based on 2-1/2″ squares, so the blocks finish at 6″. The quarter square ...

I knew it would take a while, and I’m not in a hurry exactly, but it still feels slow.

This is my Film At Five based on 1-1/2″ squares. Ultimately it will be a 10 x 10 layout and over 80″ square.

Maybe by the end of next week…What I really need is an all-day-sew-day.

ps–This is my guest bedroom. Hard to find a place to protect the quilt from the dog while I get it together.