Sister's Choice Quilts

144 Bow Tie Blocks

This is what 144 Bow Tie Blocks look like.  I need to make considerably more to have this quilt be remotely bed sized.  I keep thinking "What a nice center for a medallion quilt..."  But I will keep going with making more Bow Ties.  They are just such fun to do and even if my quilt only ends up a lap sized one, I think the effect is going to be stunning.

I am continuing to make at least nine blocks at a time and sewing the three inch bow ties into nine unit blocks that measure nine and a half inches unfinished.  Those blocks are just so much more manageable than scads of teeny little ones.

Over the weekend, I was able to sew uninterrupted all day Saturday and finished up my Barbara Brackman Stars in a Time Warp blocks.  I am excited to get Bow Ties off the design wall and start putting those six inch Sawtooth Stars together.  I have made 85 of them, can you believe it?  And I love each and every one.

Loads going on around the house this week, so my posting may be irregular.  Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

 

Too Darn Hot

This is where we have been spending our afternoons.  It is just too darn hot not to take advantage of it.  I pick Eva up from preschool and we head right on over to soak in the cool cool pool.  Yesterday we stopped at McDonalds for ice cream and were told the ice cream machine was broken.  On the hottest day of the year.  Those gals that work there are going to get mighty tired of telling carload after carload of kids that they can't have their frosty treat.

As we were driving through the drive through line (for nothing) Eva was fuming.  "Those darn ladies.  They broke the ice cream machine.  They are going to be in so much trouble".  I tried explaining that they didn't do it on purpose (probably), but she wasn't buying it.  That kind of ineptitude is just not ok with little Miss.

We stopped back home for our swim suits and made do with a GoGurt.  

The pool was wonderful and we splashed and floated and had a fine time.  After an hour or so we came home and Eva promptly fell asleep in her bean bag chair.  I took advantage of the quiet to do some housework and make a wonderful black bean and corn salad for dinner.

Are you getting the picture that there isn't much sewing going on?  Maybe this weekend....

72 Bow Ties

So this is what 72 3 inch Bow Tie blocks look like. I feel like I have been making them forever already, but they are pretty cute.  I am going to keep at it and see how far I can get with this quilt before I cry "Uncle".

You may recall that in previous posts I have mentioned my husband and his habit of putting a gigantic fan in the window of my upstairs sewing room?  Well, he is still at it.  You can imagine with 72 teeny tiny Bow Tie blocks all arranged perfectly on the design wall, that the addition of a gigantic fan in the room may not be a great mix.  I don't see any possibility of dissuading my husband from this penchant, so I had to get creative.

 I know I am going to stick with this particular layout, and figured if I combined nine Bow Tie units into a larger block they would be more manageable.  So that is what I did.  So much easier to deal with than a gazillion little 3 inch blocks.  All the blocks will be the same, just oriented as needed for the design.  And an additional bonus is, if I want to take this project down from the design wall, it is no big deal, whereas repositioning hundreds of the individual units would be.

Bring on the fan dear, I am ready for you.

PS:  Thanks for all your suggestions about the border fabric for the Simple Granny quilt top.  I agree, blue was the best choice since all the colors were represented in the blue print.  But I don't really do blue.  So, I  ordered the orange.  It is bright and will compliment the blocks and not be too light or too dark.  It is a winner all around.  

 

Simple Granny, All But Borders

 

Simple Granny is a finish!  ABD (all but borders).  I love the pure saturated colors of the fabric collection I used--Fancy by Lily Ashbury.  I want to use one of the larger prints in the line for the outer border, but am undecided as to which color to go with.  Help me out--The large print comes in blue, yellow, green or orange.

See the large prints?  The top four prints on the left.  Which one do you think would be best as a border?

 

Looking Glass, A Finish

I managed to finish Looking Glass, but not get a very good picture of it.  Looking Glass is a pattern by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.  The fabric I used was mostly Old Glory Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings, but I tossed in some Minick and Simpson, French General and odd pieces from my stash as well.

This quilt went together easily, and is a great stash buster for those of you who have fabric you want to use   up.  The colors I chose aren't really my thing, so this quilt will be a Christmas gift for someone who I think will enjoy it.

 

It makes a good sized quilt too.  This will go on a queen sized be and will be plenty big enough to drape over the sides.  I am thinking of using a wool batting in this one.  Have any of you done that?  Does it quilt well?  Keep you toasty?

The Block Tool

When I was trying to select a category for the post I was in a quandary.  "Books"?  "Blocks"? "Tools"?

The little fan of wonderfulness above is all of those things.  The pages are laminated and double sided, and contain instructions for making 102 rotary cut quilt blocks in 5 different sizes, from 3"  on up.  The instructions are clear and very simple.  I highly recommend this as a reference tool.  I got mine for about $16 on Amazon.com.  If you go to C&T Publishing, you can purchase an e-version for less, but I don't really recommend it.  It is better to spend a few more dollars and get the sturdy laminated version.

Next time you have a hankering o make a three inch Dutchman's Puzzle or Bow Tie block, you will be all set.

Hope you all have a safe and contented weekend.  With some sewing!

 

 

 

Flip Flop

Flip Flop.  I can't decide which project I want to work on, so I am working on both!  They could not be more different, but I love them both.  After the day our family had Tuesday, I found immersing myself in sewing to be very therapeutic.  I had the day off and spent every minute in the sewing room.  I went through three bobbins and umpteen episodes of Gilmore Girls.

Here is my simplified Granny Square block, which I am loving for its ease of construction and those summery fabrics I am using.  (Fancy by Lily Ashbury). I do believe I may make five more blocks and have this be a 5 x 6 layout.  It will have a lattice between the blocks and probably a border of one of the larger scale prints.  It might be a nice quilt for Eva's room.  I like to change things up from time to time for her.

 

Here is my other project.  My goodness, are these little Bow Tie blocks ever fun to make!  I mentioned that my blocks will finish at 3 inches, which I think is just a fine size.  I also like the Barn Raising setting.  I am just going to keep adding surrounding rows to this and stop when I feel it it time to do so.  Let's just see how big it gets!

Is any one else making these fun little blocks this summer?  Either on your own or with the Primitive Gatherings Block of the Week program?  Let me know, it would be fun to share photos.  A little birdie told me Thelma (Cupcakes 'n' Daisies) is making some Bow Ties too.  Maybe she can be persuaded to share some pics.

Years ago, I knew a woman who discovered a bunch of antique Bow Tie blocks from the 30's at an antique store.  She was thrilled with her find and bought them all.  She ended up taking every hand stitched block apart and remaking it on her machine.  Her quilt was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, with all those vintage fabrics.  I wish I could remember what her setting was.  Any way you go with this block, it will be beautiful.

Do You Believe in Guardian Angels?

Well, I can tell you that my hair is now completely white.

My daughter was in an automobile accident Tuesday morning and this is how she ended up.  Poor little Remy was with her, not harnessed, and experienced quite a tumble around in that car.  And both of them emerged from the car unscathed, physically at least.  

Sara was able to lift little Remy out the window, and instead of running like the wind in a panic through the cow pasture, he stayed right by the car waiting to see what would happen next to Sara.  Unfortunately she was not able to get out of the vehicle unassisted, but two gentlemen stopped immediately and were able to get the passenger door open and drag her out.

Next car to stop was a local firefighter on her way to work.  She checked Sara's vitals (blood pressure sky high, but why wouldn't it be?).  By then Sara was feeling pretty shaky and had to go sit in someone's car until the CHP and other rescue people arrived.

Thanks to her extremely well safety equipped new car and a guardian angel, my daughter came out of this minus a car perhaps, but with her life.  My heart is so full of gratitude for everyone (human or otherwise) who helped.

Indecision in the Sewing Room

 

I am itching to start a new project, and I had it in mind that I would get back to my simplified Granny Square blocks.

But then....

I was reading the blogs in my blog feed and found a recent post by the folks at Primitive Gatherings.  You may or may not know that they have expanded their Wisconsin operation and have opened a new brick and mortar shop in Southern California.  Well.  The Primitive Gathering So Cal folks are hosting a Summer Sew Along and it is really appealing. Also super expensive, at $22 per week for 15 weeks ($330).  $242 if you pay all up front.  Their version of the Bow Tie quilt is quite large and is made with charm packs from what I understand.  An awful lot of them apparently!  Believe it or not, they were not prepared for the volume of orders that came in and had to order more fabric.  Lots of people want to make this quilt.  Their quilt is beautiful and I loved it, but could not justify the expense just now.

Then, I got to thinking...(no it didn't hurt too much).  I am working on that Civil War Stars project Barbara Brackman is hosting, and heaven knows I have enough CW charm squares to make two or three quilts.  Why not dig into that stash and make my Bow Ties out of that?  I could then use the Civil War Star quilt and the Civil War Bow Tie quilt to decorate in the same room, and it would be a great look!

Of course I have no idea how big the Primitive Gatherings bow tie blocks are.  Lisa Bonjean has been making teeny tiny blocks lately and using her great new teeny tiny rulers, so for all I know they could finish up at 1 1/2 inches or something.  I searched the internet for tiny bow tie blocks and got a terrific result.  

Quiltmaker Magazine started up a program they call "Itty Bitty Blocks" last January.  Their first month's offering was a 3 inch finished Bow Tie block.  Free pattern.  Works for me.  I got out my tub of Civil War charm squares and started cutting and stitching.  Oh my goodness, those little blocks are so darn cute!  I highly recommend that you check out the link to Quiltmaker Magazine--each month they have had a block of the month that was "itty bitty", with free instructions.  It makes me want to make them all.  You can do some blocks and make a mini quilt, or loads of blocks and make a big quilt.  

You could also order the $22 weekly shipment of charm squares from Primitive Gatherings--an option for sure if you don't have a stash of your own.

Look how adorable those little  3 inch blocks are.  I can tell you, my loyalties are divided between the two very different projects on my design wall!  

Looking Glass: All But Borders

Looking Glass, a pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company is nearly a finish.  ABD (all but borders).  And the border on this quilt is scrappy and will be super fun to piece, so that won't be long in the works.  

Loved how quickly and easily this top came together.  I was going to say brainlessly, but there is some thought that goes into the lay out.  You have to construct the top in horizontal rows.  Eleven of them.  I just put Gilmore Girls on the laptop and stitched away all day Saturday.  Perfect way to spend the day.

This pattern would be terrific in just about any type of fabric or color combination.  I have seen it done in pinks and browns, blues and cheddars, reds and greens.  How beautiful it would be as a Christmas quilt.

I have it in mind to give this as a gift at Christmas time to the most patriotic person I know.  That is a hint and I wonder if anyone in the family circle will pick up on it?  lol   I am probably going to start a fight.  If Patriotic Person #2 doesn't receive it under the tree, I can imagine the fuss.  "What?  No red white and blue quilt?  You know how patriotic I am".  "No, there is one person more patriotic than you..."  Oh dear, maybe I should keep it and avoid the fight.