Across Kansas Remake

During my recent endeavor to add up all the stash I have sitting on my shelves, I ran across a few forgotten UFOs. One of which was a box holding 12 bright yellow Dresden plates. Sunflowers. I've had these for years. I seem to remember purchasing them on ebay or maybe at a garage sale. The centers are cut out but not sewn on. The points need pressing. Just a little finessing is all they need...and a nice setting.

I have experimented with different ideas through the years. Pictured is a block I made using scrap neutral squares and then I appliqued the Dresden, or Sunflower in the center. Meh. Likely why I quit after one block. In the box they went, waiting for new inspiration. 

I combed Pinterest for ideas a couple of times and found a few I like - you know how that goes. But then I happened upon a pattern I tore out of an old Quilter's Newsletter Magazine from 1996. It was written by Faye Anderson and the pattern is called, Across Kansas. 

I am hooked! Unfortunately, the pattern as given in the magazine finishes with 9" blocks. Because of the fact that my Sunflower dresdens are 12", I have a problem.  My first attack at enlarging this pattern was to go to my EQ software. All was going well, except when I saved to my workbook, two lines separating the center squares would disappear. Perhaps I need to set up the worktable with more division marks but after 4 tries I gave up.

Now it is time to take out the trusty Quilter's graph paper by June Taylor, and say another silent prayer of thanks for the hand-sewing, quilt-drafting class I took many years ago. June? Are you reading this? If so, I love you!

I learned so much in that class. ANY block pattern you see, you can redraft, trace unto template plastic, add seam allowances and go! Yeah, its old fashioned, but it gets the job done. 

So now I have my templates made and cut out ready for my first sample block. I am so hopeful this all works because I really, really love this pattern! And did I mention that I have lots and lots of fall fabrics to use?

 

I did a little searching online and found that Kaye also wrote the pattern, The Early Bird Gets the Worm. Remember that one? So crazy cute!! I think it made the QNM cover one month.

And she also wrote the book, Applique Designs My Mother Taught Me to Sew. 

I own both of these items and I may have to give them a second look soon. Does anyone have information about Faye Anderson? Is she still an active quilter? She certainly was a talented one! I can certainly name three designs by her that I love!

So wish me luck as I dive into the fall stash and make my first test block. If you hear someone screaming in the distance, it might be me. Angles and arcs are not my strong point, but I am determined! Sometimes we need a little challenge, right?

Happy Stitching!

My First Finish - and it is March Already.

It seems I am a bit slow in getting my projects to a finish this year, but slow is still progress, right? This quilt began in 2016 as a New Year's Day Mystery with Merry Mayhem. I think this might have been my first mystery I participated in with her. I am very happy with the final quilt.

The original directions were for 4 blocks in a row with wide rows on each side for lots of white space. It was really quite pretty, but I fell in love with these star blocks and decided to make 12 more for my own setting. 

I copied the center star as cornerstones in the sashings for some extra interest and expansion of the design. It is very scrappy and made with reds, greens, golds, and browns. I also used various beige and cream fabrics for the backgrounds. 

The backing is a plain muslin and the binding I used was a print that had all the colors I used in making the stars. Strangely, that was the hardest decision in finishing this quilt as I debated between a plain cream binding (safe choice) or go with framing it by using a multi-color print. It should have been done months ago! 

I sewed on a piece of the binding fabric diagonally in one corner to partition off an area to sign and date the quilt. 

It finished at 85" x 85" and I used up 12 yards of stash. 

So I recommend Merry Mayhem Mysteries. They run each year with fabric requirements and pre-cutting the week before the new year begins. I have since participated in two other mysteries. Twist and Shout was done earlier this year and you can read about it here.  It still needs to be quilted.

Happy Stitching!

 

 

Quilt Alongs are Rewarding

Rewarding because they keep you on task, on time, and using a chunk more of your stash. This quilt-along that I jumped in on is Cheryl Brinkley's Takes 2 Charms and the pattern's name is Betty. I am in a granny square kind of trend right now. These quilts with squares so appealing!

I have the Betty blocks sewn together now and it is currently a flimsy. I've been debating on purchasing some large print border fabric to extend it a bit more. Hmmm....

I love the charm pack fabrics I used. They were Moda's Field Notes by Blackbird Designs. No guess how long I have had these charm packs. At least since 2016 when a local quilt shop closed. 

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I made 18 of these little prayer pockets to pass around to the ladies in my Small Group Bible Study. And another 8 that I gave to my darling grand-daughter to pass on to her teachers and friends. She sewed the crosses on hers, and tucked in little prayers for the back pocket.

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And while I wait for my Maymont to come back from my quilter, I am working on this Wee Woodland cake mix pattern. 

Oh how fun and easy this pattern is! These whimsical 9-patch blocks are stacked with background fabric, and cut using different widths both horizontally and vertically. Be careful not to get ahead of yourself though. I would only work on 2 at a time.

I have all the blocks completed with what I had left of a  layer cake pre-cut. I will add a narrow border and perhaps order a nice border fabric to bring it to a 70" x 70" throw size. 

I have several more layer cakes in packages. Perhaps I will make another using this pattern. 

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So how many layer cakes do you have? Jelly rolls? Charm packs? I have a drawer full and it is time to use them up, or pass them on.

Hope you are staying warm and looking forward to spring. The days are getting longer and Daylight Savings time is about to spring forward in a couple of  weeks. It is time to take inventory on seed packets.

Happy stitching!

 

A New Year and New Starts

While we are getting used to the fact that it is 2024, I have been biten by the New-Year New-Start Bug that was lurking in the sewing room (and online browsing). It was a BIG bite because I have 3 new starts to share here today.

My New Year's Day Mystery with Merry Mayhem was completed into a flimsy the first week of January. It was a fairly rapid project that finished at 55" x 65". I dug into my stash of civil war reproduction fabrics because I have more than I need and can afford to "waste" on a mystery project. But this was no waste of fabric!! I really enjoyed this mystery quilt making and am delighted with the end result. I will either take this to my long arm quilter, or maybe quilt it myself when I catch up on my current hand projects.

If you decide to make this yourself, take seriously her advice of sorting and labeling blocks A & B. It can get confusing fast as they mirror one another. This is my third Merry Mayhem Mystery that I have participated in and I have always been happy with the big reveal. I highly recommended her mystery projects!

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I finally got my Maymont beast sewn together and it is now ready for the outside edges to be trimmed. This is not a new start and has been an ongoing project since last August of 2023. I am happy to have come this far with it.

And oh how I love, love, love this quilt! I fell in love with it at first sight and knew I had to make it. Bonnie Hunter strikes again! It ate quite a bit of my 2" scrap strips and squares. After trimming the edges, I will add a 3" border, have it quilted, and am considering adding prairie points when I bind it.  I have never made prairie points before and I think it will be an appropriate finish effect to this quilt. My goal is to have this off the wall and ready for the long arm quilter before the end of February.

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Another new start this month was an unnamed quilt block that I found on a Youtube video by The Quilted Forest. It is their December 2022 Block of the Month block. How original, right? It seems like a variation of a double disappearing nine-patch, but it is assembled very differently than a double disappearing nine-patch. 

This is an extra block that I did not use because it was too pastel and faded into the overall look. Do you know the name of this 16" block?

These are the 20 blocks that made their audition. They are now sewn into rows and ready for final assembly and a simple 3" border. This will also be taken to my long arm quilter. Did you notice it is on top of my Maymont? I can't wait to get them both down and sandwiched for quilting.

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And lastly, I got the notion to make a handful of prayer pockets for the ladies in my small group Bible study for Valentine's day. Originally, I wanted to make them into hearts, but I fear I won't get 15 of those finished in time for gifting. Instead I have chosen to make simple blocks from 3/4" squares (finished size).

 

I have passed out a few of these already but am busy making more.  These are such fun assembling by using and coordinating just a few scraps. You can find free directions, pattern, and prayer sheets on Hello Sewing and ShabbyFabrics.com. Make a few for gifting yourself. You can tuck these in get well cards, leave on the table for your server at the restaurant, or anytime you want to encourage and uplift another with a little prayer and love. 

Now that I got my January post in, I can get busy with putting the borders on the above two tops and embellish some prayer pockets.  

Happy Stitching!

 

 

 

Finishes for 2023

 All totaled up my 11 finishes added up to busting 105 yards of fabric. That makes my goal of using up a minimum of 100 yards a succeeded goal. It is not so big when you find that these were not projects starting from scratch.

1, Fidget Quilt - 20" x 28",  2 yards total, made for my dear sister. It was a fun project of hand embellishments and fun textures.

2. Just in Cases - 57" x 68", 9 yards total. American Jane has such cute (and sometimes challenging) patterns. This was made using 30's reproduction fabrics. The backing I used was a vintage muslin. It was 58" wide and was heavy yet not very finely woven. 

3. Red & Green Train Tracks Kid's Quilt - 47" x 47", 3.5 yards total. This small quilt was given to friends for the birth of their first grandson. Backing was a minky and was so very soft!

 

4. Blue & Gray Boomerang 3-yard quilt - 44" x 58", used 6 yards total. Another small quilt I had quilted with soft fleece backing. It has a warm and cuddly feel and ready for gifting. 

5. Brown & Black Vertical 9-Patch - 47.5" x 58", total of 8 yards.  This top has been hanging around a while so I sandwiched it up and hand quilted it in the evenings,. Made a nice throw for the TV room.

6. Jelly Nougat - 85" x 91", used up 18.5 yards of stash. This finished as one of my favorite scrap quilts. Made using muslin and a huge amount of "crumbs".

7. Trumpet Vine - 53" x 68", used 8 yards. A Karen Griska pattern that used up a lot of scraps in my Brights box. Loved the backing so much I had to go back and buy several yards more for future use.

8. Green & Yellow Moda University BOM Medallion - 98" x 98", used 18 yards. My largest finish this year. It has been hanging around since 2008(?) and just needed borders. Its finished and on the bed now.

9. Red Churn Dash - 78" x 87", used 14 yards. Love how I found a random remnant in the closing of a local quilt shop to use as vertical rows. I had just enough to finish it with only inches left over. 

10. Vintage Column Quilt - 94" x 94", used up 17 yards. A totally scrappy quilt using 1.5" finished size squares. Fell in love with this pattern the first time I saw it. My box of scraps took a big hit with this one. (that's a good thing)

11. Steampunk Violinist Christmas Wall Hanging - 14" x 28", 1 yard used (barely). Embellished with sequins and beads for extra holiday sparkle. 

So that is what 105 yards looks like. I also completed a Partridge in a Pear Tree wall-hanging but it cannot be counted this year as it still needs to be quilted. Its on the UFO list for next year.

I am now planning and dreaming up goals for 2024. So far I have a list of 18 UFOs and 5 or 6 new starts planned. I'll need to sew like the wind to accomplish all that! Especially when you know that the top 5 UFOs are labor intensive - Dear Jane, Montmellick, Love Entwined, Antique Wedding Sampler, and  Jaye's Bouquet. Maybe I should rethink those new starts!

Blessings and Happy Stitching!

The Partridge in a Pear Tree Challenge

Have you ever worked on a project that was a bit challenging and you felt the need to baste the pieces together before sewing them together to ensure that they match up nicely? That is what I have been doing to make these triangles with multi points to line up in my Partridge in a Pear Tree wall-hanging. Below you will see the two triangular pieces marked and ready to be sewn together.

These are the 2 pieces that make up the sides of the tree trunks and the sky blues. I hand sewed them together, matching end points and seam lines, and then pressed the seams open for a flat finish piece. 

Once these triangular blocks were sewn together, it was time to sew the rows together. I place a pin in EXACTLY the point where the seams should meet. Keeping the pin vertical.

 

You can see on the opposite side that the pin meets exactly on the seamline I want it to match up with. 

I carefully keep that pin in an upright position as I pin along each side. I often use the edge of my sewing table to do so.

 I then place 2 pins on both sides of the vertical pin all while keeping it upright the best I can. 

When pinning, be sure to take large enough "bites" so that your seam does not bunch up in thickness and make it hard to run under your machine needle. It can sometimes shift or bunch up into a knotted mess if you don't. 

This might be a good time to give suggestions for the pins I use. They are extra long and very thin. They are my FAVORITE pins to use. Actually, they are the only pins I use. These silk pins are made in Japan and are perfect pins for piecing.

I have no affiliate link. They are sometimes hard to find but they last a long time. When they become bend or damaged, I save them in a special box.

The Japanese have a special day they call, Hari-Kuyō. It is celebrated by women in Japan as a memorial to all the sewing needles that have become broken in their service during the past year, along with the added opportunity to pray for improved skills. My collection of broken pins and needles are several years' worth, but I think of their tradition and it reminds me to pray for improved skills along with being thankful for useful tools in my sewing box. 

My little box sits on the shelf above my sewing table. Do you like my little antique "studda bubba" pincushion? She makes me smile too and reminds me that I am becoming a studda bubba myself (old lady). Although I do not have a babushka. :-)

So back to the Partridge challenge. You can see my machine needle is lined up ready to sew this seam together below. My pinned seam joints are laying flat as I gently WALK my machine needle over the pins. Yes, I have hit a few now and again (see hari-kuyo above), but because it is s-l-o-w I have not knocked my machine out of time....yet. The only other solution is to baste these points together. That is probably what my Home Economics teacher, Mrs Starr would suggest. No wait, Mrs Starr did not suggest anything. Her motto always was, "There is a wrong way, and a Mrs. Starr way" Haaaa! I owe my attention to precision sewing to her. Thank you Mrs Starr! ♥

Pressing those seams to "set" once they are sewn. You can see my stitching has been guided along with my markings.

This results are points matching nicely once done.

And the real test is the basted seams with multiple points matching up together. Yippee! Success! These were the half diamond pieces (tree trunk and sky blue) sewn together by hand and them basted before sewing together in rows. (did not risk the 3 pin technique here).

So how do you conquer your sewing challenges? Do you baste and/or hand sew? Is there another technique you use? 

Do you have a favorite quote from your Home Economics teacher you can share? Do you have a favorite pin cushion? 

Please leave your comments below as I would love to read your insights and tips.

Happy stitching!

Pre-Holiday Sewing

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

With Christmas coming in a few short weeks, I thought I would dig out that project from last year that gave me fits! It is done with paper piecing and somehow I forgot the proper steps, and wasted material with plenty of mistakes (triangles and diamonds anyone?). So I bagged it up for... just a time like this. Feeling brave (and more patient) I dove in and alas! I made the remaining 6 pears in one evening! Don't stop me now! Another day of cutting green diamonds from my stash that would compliment the existing pieces that came with this "kit" and another evening was spent cutting the blue and setting pieces.

I should mention, I purchased this at a Quilter's Garage Sale last year. I found this steal at Mary Huey's booth, and being a big fan of Mary, and her work, I felt quite pleased that I managed to bring home something that she had put her mind to.  Even though it took me a YEAR to finally attack it successfully myself. 

Some of the work had already been completed by Mary. The partridge was finished, and 4 pears, and several dark green diamonds were cut out. The fabrics were from the late 90's and the pattern was featured in QNM's Quilt It for Christmas, 2001. This was when you could purchase a magazine for $4.99!

So now I am happily at the stage in piecing the diamonds into rows and sewing the rows together. While this sewing gets done it is fun to contemplate border ideas, right? I have little fabrics leftover and not sure I want to introduce new ones for borders, so I am not really sure how that part will go. Stay tuned.

The pattern says this quilt hanging finishes at 45" x 54" but mine will probably be smaller because of a lack of borders as the pattern recommends. I am not even sure I will have this finished in time to display it this year for Christmas, but I am enjoying the process and I am committed to finish it regardless.

Another holiday project I found was this block featuring a violinist in a steampunk style. My daughter is also a violinist, has a Christmas birthday, and has a liking for steampunk so this work for her. This orphan block came with a bundle of scraps I purchased a few years a go. I think it is a Loralee design.

I added a few borders, and I will sandwich it with batting and a backing to begin hand-quilting it. I remember having some beads and embellishments leftover from January's Fidget Quilt so now I am brainstorming how to make this mini hanging sparkle for Christmas. I may need to forage for some metal and leather trinkets in the button tins.

My Jaye's Bouquet embroidery project is falling behind but I will pick it up in the new year. Yes, it is time to begin planning next year's goals. I have TWO big commitments in 2024, so my sewing time will take a hit...but you know how they say if you want to get something done you ask a busy person? I hope to get better at managing my time because I can get cranky if I don't get into the sewing room on a consistent basis. Can  you relate to that too?

Happy November. Count your blessings before shopping for more "stuff", and happy stitching!