What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

A free pattern is worth trying, right? Especially when the fabric is free, too!

I received a bundle of cut 2-1/2″ strips of assorted blue and green fabrics. There were so many I couldn’t see them getting used any time in the near future if I added them to my general stash of strips.

So, it was a try at something new. If I did it again I would make the quilting a darker shade of brown to help tie the front, the quilting, and the backing together better. I don’t love it, but someone will. If ...

Yes, we have a name: Fringe Benefit.

A fringe benefit is a perk, extra or bonus received in addition to regular compensation. In this case, those cut off triangles can turn into a buy one-get one special.

If you are interested in making a quilt, large or small, using this block, I have a few suggestions:

1. Get a bloc lock ruler, if you don’t have one already. Mine is 6-1/2″. It makes the trimming faster and more accurate. They are available in many local shops or a variety of locations online.
2. Dig out all those bonus triangles. They ...

Yep, you guessed it: Started as a handful of scraps in a hand-me-down bag. Maybe someday I’ll get tired of these, but it hasn’t happened yet. It gives a sense of freedom and creative challenge.

That said, some go better than others. I chose to experiment with the quilting on this one. I do believe the red was a good choice, but maybe a different design, something more floral to match the back?

Either way, it is done now. The blocks measure 12″ finished. The entire top is 38″ finished.

Another one for the donation pile. Though it ...

August is here, it's hard to believe that summer is almost over. Seems like summers fly by too quickly. Soon the evenings will start to cool down and the leaves on my one maple tree will start to turn, it's always the first tree. I have a little touch of autumn in the middle of August. The garden seems slow this year... only one tomato so far, I'm hoping for more of course. (We've have had a lot of rain this year.) I have picked a couple of nice batches of green beans. I roasted them ...

August is here, it's hard to believe that summer is almost over. Seems like summers fly by too quickly. Soon the evenings will start to cool down and the leaves on my one maple tree will start to turn, it's always the first tree. I have a little touch of autumn in the middle of August. The garden seems slow this year... only one tomato so far, I'm hoping for more of course. (We've have had a lot of rain this year.) I have picked a couple of nice batches of green beans. I roasted them ...

The polka dots and animal print showed up in a hand me down bag cut into 5″ x 7-1/2″ rectangles. And there weren’t many of them. Only six each.

I trimmed the rectangles down to 5″ x 7″. And created four HST blocks using bonus triangles from previous projects.

An assortment of brown solids became asymmetrical borders for the scraps and HST, creating 16 9″ blocks. I wanted the quilt to have a “jump around” feeling without being too busy.

Just right for a 36″ baby quilt. So very cute!

A while back I asked about “bonus half square triangles,” those pieces that can result from stitch-flip-trim patterns. Many said that they had a lot of them. Many said they weren’t sure how to use them.

I have been thinking about that, and found a number of uses for them. You will see some in upcoming posts.

But I also wanted to create a block that would use them specifically. The block can be created using (at least) three sizes of half square triangles: 2-1/2″, 2″, 1-1/2″. And you can make anything from a mini quilt, to ...

The balloon quilt block was repaired and the top assembled. Sort of interesting math in the borders, but they work OK.

Off to the quilter soon.

It was an ugly tear out. But, the more I looked at it, the more I hated it. The red was too dark and didn’t contrast well with the black.

Much better now. Before and After below.

I am assembling the top and hope to have a finished product (at least flimsy) to share by the end of the week.

It is too small for a couch quilt, or maybe even a lap quilt, but after nearly 800 pieces, I was ready to be done.

The pattern is a block called City Streets from issue 149 of Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I subscribe through my local library. (If you don’t have a library card, get one. It is good for all the traditional reasons, of course, but many libraries are part of the Libby network, an online library that I use extensively for audio books. You are already paying for it through your taxes. Well worth it, too ...

This quick and easy scrappy patriotic quilt is coming along nicely even though I've had a couple of challenges. 

This is another quilt that came from Susan Nixon prior to her death. I am trying to tie up loose ends and honor her.

The top is assembled. I had to create a few blocks to get a complete top. Should have the finish to share in a few weeks.

This quilt was finished in February. I have no idea why I didn’t report on it. I can’t even find pictures of the process.

The pieces parts came from multiple sources: some irregular improv pieces from a hand-me-down bag, jelly roll strips from a different hand me down bag, miscellaneous half-square triangles (possibly waste triangles), and some solids from my own stash.

You could make the entire quilt using a jelly roll and some background or low volume (for those HST) and some solids.

Finishes at 39″ square.

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Happy July! The 4th is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to making my usual treats using blueberries and strawberries. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce. I'm sure to be smoking something yummy, either ribs or a pork butt for shredded pork sandwiches. (Maybe both!) It’s also our 40th wedding anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. It seems crazy, forty years have just flown by! Later this month we'll be going on our annual family vacation up north to the lake. It's always so much fun ...

Happy July! The 4th is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to making my usual treats using blueberries and strawberries. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce. I'm sure to be smoking something yummy, either ribs or a pork butt for shredded pork sandwiches. (Maybe both!) It’s also our 40th wedding anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. It seems crazy, forty years have just flown by! Later this month we'll be going on our annual family vacation up north to the lake. It's always so much fun ...

Just to get started right, this isn’t a completely original idea. I saw a picture (maybe on Pinterest) but couldn’t track it down again or find a pattern. It started the idea, though, and I would love to give credit where credit is due. So, if you know, please let me know…

That said, I started this quilt in January with the goal of using small scraps of solids and low volume prints.

In my version, the rails are 1-1/2″x3-1/2″ strips. The low volume squares are 3-1/2″. The hourglass blocks started as 4-1/2 ...

Susan Nixon (desertskyquilts) was an angel in my life, and in the lives of many others. I met her online through blogging, and we became friends. She visited me, shared her knowledge, and loved my daughter (Sparkle Jane).

Near the end of her life, she sorted fabric and projects and shared some UFOs (and fabric) with me. This is one of them. So happy to see it finished.

It has been gifted to my aunt, who recently celebrated cancer remission.

Quilters live on through their work and the joy and warmth they bring to the world. Amen.

NOTE: I didn ...