Sister's Choice Quilts

Trim, Trim, Trim

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am working on a number of units for the star blocks in my Raise the Roof Again project.  I am not following the pattern instructions 100%.  For the flying geese units, I am using Monique DIllard's Fit to be Geese ruler, which I have raved about numerous times.  For her method, you cut your fabric pieces slightly larger than required for the traditional flying geese method, and then trim them down to the perfect size.   I highly recommend this tool. 

All the flying geese are complete, and now I have moved on to making the 96 half square triangles. 

I am using the same concept with these HSTs:  make them a bit big and trim them down to the perfect size.  For these units, the HSTs need to measure 2 1/2 inches.  I cut my squares 3 1/4". sewed a light and a dark together and cut down the middle, getting two HSTs per fabric combo.  

Do you see that teensy tiny square ruler on the left?  I have no idea where that came from, but it is the cutest little thing.  It measures exactly 2 1/2 inches, and when you position the diagonal line on your seam line, you can just trim the sides down to a perfect HST.  It is by Creative Grids, and comes in numerous sizes, 3 1/2", 4 1/2", 5 1/2", 6 1/2", and so on.

This isn't sewing related, but my grand daughter turned five years old this week!  Can you believe it?  It is hard to recall our family without her in it!  Here is an action shot of what she has been up to this summer:

That's her, flying through the air after jumping off the diving board.  Goodness, when I was her age, I was too afraid of getting my face wet to even consider such a thing!  She is a free spirit, always looking for the next adventure, and I am so blessed to be along for the ride.

Raise the Roof Again

I've always wanted to make this quilt.  The pattern is "Raise the Roof", an old Miss Rosie pattern that you can still buy.  I searched online and found that Homestead Hearth carries it.  The quilt is a combination of star blocks and log cabin blocks arranged in a Barn Raising setting.  The fabrics I am using are mostly from Jeanne Horton's Jefferson County line, which she designed for Windham Fabrics.  I have been using the bundle as eye candy for a couple of years and finally took it apart to actually make something.

As a matter of fact, this latest effort is the second attempt on my part to successfully complete this Raise the Roof pattern.  I am pretty good at selecting colors for my projects, but every now and then the contrast thing gets away from me.  Well, back in 2008 when I last tried to make this quilt I failed big time in getting the necessary contrast of colors to best achieve the strong look required here.  I am going to show you two blocks from my 2008 failed attempt, as an object lesson.

My fabrics of choice in 2008 were some browns and pinks in a line designed by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass.  I have always thought brown and pink was a great combination in a quilt, and wanted to try them out for this pattern.  

Here is a block with mostly browns.  Not bad you say.  All right, that looks pretty good.

And here is a block with more pinks.  Good grief, what was I thinking?  The lack of contrast completely ruins the look of the block.  Needless to say, these blocks did not make it into a quilt. 

As you can see in the photo at the top of this post, the lovely dark fabrics I have chosen for my 2016 version (which I am calling Raise the Roof Again), will contrast sharply with the scrappy lights I am using.  These blocks require lots of "units" for their construction.  I have flying geese, half square triangles and hour glass units for the star blocks.  And then I move on to the log cabin blocks. 

I have not done much sewing this summer, as things have been pretty topsy turvy around here.  This is the perfect project to ease back into things now that life has settled down.  It feels rather Zen to plug away making first the flying geese, and then the half square triangles.  I am listening to an audio book called The Forgotten Room, and the time is being passed very peacefully.

Hope your summer is going well!

 

Single Wedding Ring Blocks

Awhile back I was inspired by a Fatquarter Shop YouTube video on how to make the Single Wedding Ring block.  I made three blocks with some Japanese fabric I had on hand in my stash, then put the blocks away in a project box.  I had a free Saturday recently and made six more blocks for a total of nine.  The fabrics are so soft in texture and the colors have that wonderful faded vintage look.  I don't think anyone is designing anything quite like these fabrics these days.  It is such a beautiful look; I hope the style returns to fashion sometime soon.  I never get tired of it.  The bright modern prints that are all the thing these days are fun, but nothing soothes the eye like these softer sun washed tones.

If you are interested in watching the YouTube video click here for some inspiration.   It is part of the FQS Classic and Vintage series.  The pattern for the block is free, and a pattern for the entire quilt is available on www.fatquartershop.com for $5.99 (downloadable).

FYI, I cut my block size down to 10.5 inches, unfinished.  I like the look of the smaller block, and also my fabric scraps were pretty small. My block consists of 16 2.5 inch half square triangles, four 2.5 inch print squares and five 2.5 inch background squares. I used Star Singles half square triangle papers (2 inch, finished size) for the hats.  They came out super accurate, and with pressing the seams open these blocks lay nice and flat.

I am not sure how large I will make my quilt.  I have enough fabric to make a small lap quilt, but a square table topper with just these nine blocks would be very pretty.  These colors suit one of my sisters perfectly, so I am thinking however it ends up, this quilt should go to her.  After all, this is my year of Finish It Up and Give It Away.

A Table Topper for Sara

I was able to squeeze a bit of sewing into my schedule a few weeks ago, and made up this cute little table topper with some Minick and Simpson fabric from a Frivols box.  I made the quilt a bit smaller than the directions called for, so that it would fit just right on Sara's round kitchen table.

Ugh, I quilted it myself, and am not particularly happy with the results.  I was having some issues with the tension on my Bernina, not sure why.  Anyway, it is what it is, and Sara seemed to appreciate it.  Sometimes I think I would be better off to just hand quilt these little toppers!  

Happy 4th of July

Hope you all have a safe and sane 4th of July.  We will try to beat the heat with cool drinks and perhaps a dip in the pool.  Of course there will be a barbecue and maybe even a sparkler or two!  I picked up some Teavana peach iced tea at Starbucks that I am looking forward to trying.  Each little sachet makes a 64 oz pitcher of iced tea.

I have been enjoying my little Frivols table topper made with some beautiful fabrics by French General.  Their style is very French, but I found this combination of fabrics to be Americana enough for my 4th of July display.  The simple quilting pattern is just right for this little quilt.  I found some little metal balls at my local hardware store and put them in a crystal bowl with some battery operated LED lights. The display flashes in a most festive way.  I like it so much, I may leave it out all summer!