Sister's Choice Quilts

Year of the Sew Along

2020 is turning into The Year of the Sew Along for me.  In our current lockdown situation, so many designers, quilt shops, and groups are hosting the most fun sew alongs.  If we are stuck in the house, surrounded by our fabric stashes, why not make the most of it!  I have an all-time high of five, yes FIVE sew alongs going right now (technically one is a UFO, but it WAS a sew along lol), and I am loving it.  I will share the details of them with you this week.

Let me tell you about the one pictured above.  Since we are under orders to "shelter in place" in our homes, working on some cute little house blocks seems just about perfect.  I first heard about it on Instagram #modavillage.   There is a Miss Rosie pattern called Village that features an entire neighborhood of these adorable blocks.  I happened to have the pattern, but it is FREE for downloading on the Sew Lux website.  Lots of people are posting on the Instagram site and it is so much fun to see what they are doing.  There are also helpful tips--for instance, some of the houses have little chimneys which look tricky to construct, and I noticed some kind soul had done a tutorial.

You can use charm packs or scraps to make the blocks, and I am telling you, they are absolutely addicting.  Wouldn't this be a remarkable memento of the time we were all stuck at home but found a way to connect with other quilters?

I had a box of American Jane (Sandy Klop) scraps which got me started.  I wanted the happiest, most cheerful fabric I could get my hands on and this fit the bill.  If you have leftovers from Bonnie and Camille, Fig Tree or any of your favorite designers, they will work perfectly for this quilt.  Or just use any random scraps.  Whatever you choose, it seems to work.  Thelma (Cupcakes 'n' Daisies) made one with scraps from every quilt she made in 2016.

How are you all getting along?  Every day seems to bring more bad news, doesn't it?  We will get through this eventually.  In the meantime, I will try to post positive thoughts each weekday.  If you are alone, feel free to email me or comment on my blog.  I will be happy to answer you and be at least one person you interacted with in a day!

 

Block Mayhem

I've been tossing BlockHeads 1 blocks right and left.  I stare at my blocks on the design wall and see one that looks too dark, or one that looks too light, or one that has too much orange and "snap", it's out.  And good grief, is anyone else troubled by blocks that look like swastikas?  I have a little discard pile and it is growing.  Somebody stop me.  I need to move on from making the blocks and get the top finished for goodness sake.

I have remade some of the BlockHeads blocks with blocks from the Summer Moon book and am pleased with them.  This one is Weathervane.

Crown of Thorns. 

I forget what this one is and am too lazy to go upstairs and check the pattern book.

Bear's Paw.

I've been having fun, but it's time to move on.  I need to come up with a plan as to how to best use the orphan blocks.

Oh, and if you are looking for an easy and adorable Valentine's table runner pattern, do check out this new offering from Atkinson Designs.

 

 

Sampler Block Resource

When I realized I needed more six inch blocks for the setting I have in mind for my BlockHeads1 sampler quilt, I started searching for block resources.  The Summer Moon Block of the Month was quite popular last year, and a book has been published to go along with the sew along.  The blocks in this book are in three sizes:  5 inch, 6 1/2 inch and 8 inch.  I knew the 6 1/2 inch size would work for me, so I ordered the book.  It is by Carrie Nelson, so I knew I couldn't really go wrong.

The book arrived while I was away last week, and I had a lovely time going through it Sunday afternoon while my husband and I watched the SuperBowl.  I have marked the pages of block instructions that will work great for my project and can't wait to get started on making the five or six extra blocks I need to finish up my BH1 sampler setting.  I am planning to surround the sampler blocks around a central appliqued medallion, which is also going to take some figuring out.  First the blocks, then the center!

We had a terrific time down in the desert.  The weather was gorgeous-temperatures in the high 70s every day.  I bought some new tee shirts and even wore shorts out by the pool.  Now that we are home, it is so much colder.  As I am writing this post at 6:30 AM, it is 27 degrees outside!  Back to reality.  Like Mr. Groundhog, I need to wait six more weeks for spring.

Pie Birds

This is the first completed block in a Kim Diehl table runner that is made up of seven of these little guys.  It took quite some time to put it together, as each of those block triangles is actually two folded corner triangle units sewn together.  You do the sew and flip method with the black fabric on all the colored strips and then sew the smaller strip units together to make longer ones.  Lots of points and seams to line up, but the super scrappy effect is worth the bother.

34 different fabrics in each block, if you don't repeat any (I'm trying not to, but it's hard).  65 total pieces in each block.

In honor of my year to "Use It Up", I pulled fabrics from my Kim Diehl storage box.  I have so many scraps leftover from her Simple Whatnots projects that I could construct about twenty more Kim Diehl projects out of the leftovers alone.

Pattern is in the book "The Big Book of Table Toppers" by Karen M. Burns.

If you are wondering about the title of this post, "Pie Birds", that is the name she gave this little quilt.  It made no sense to me either until I really looked at the block from a distance.  The little black triangles are blackbirds baked in a pie!  See it?  How cute is that.

Super cute, but just wait.  This quilt was one of the wackiest I have ever made.  Here is how you sew the thing together:

So, where are we going with this?  Well, this quilt needs to be trimmed up.  Keep in mind, each block has 65 pieces.  Seven blocks x 65 = 455.  Four hundred and fifty five little pieces that took FOREVER to line up perfectly with no points cut off, every seam intersection perfect.  And here is what I am supposed to do:

Cut the sides off.  (Sound of Nicole sobbing...)

To be continued.

 

Blissful Weekend of Sewing

What a wonderful peaceful weekend I had!  On Saturday I got three more ModaBlockheads blocks done.  You will notice one of them is a remake.

I ended up remaking the block on the right with a darker background.  I was going to try tea dying the lighter background one, but wasn't sure if after a number of washings the dye would come out and the block would be light again.  I just remade it instead.

I really enjoyed making the little bird house block.  I am surprising myself with how much fun I am having with that scary old appliqué.  I changed up the pattern just a little bit.

The placement of those little circles seemed kind of random to me, so I put in just one larger "hole" in a place that made more sense to me.

I am caught up now, and quite happy with the blocks.  I got some great ideas from you all regarding settings, and like the idea of making a center appliquéd medallion with the sampler blocks arranged in two rings around it. I also like the idea of separating the rows of blocks with a wider solid border to set them off and separate them.  Since I am loving doing the machine appliqué so much, the idea of a focal appliqué scene in the center of the quilt is a great concept, and would tie everything together so nicely.

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Thinking of our friends in Florida and hoping for the best.


 

Here's a Thought

On the left we have a 6 1/2" block.  This was Block #1 in the 2017 Triangle Gatherings Sew Along.  I like it a lot.  

The block on the right has a 4 1/2" version of Block #1, surrounded by star points.  That block is 8 1/2" square.  I am crazy in love with it.  The smaller center block is adorable, and the star points add interest.

Now, imagine these star blocks in a quilt, all with a different 4  1/2" center square.  I think it would be stunning.  It is totally not my idea.  I saw it on the Triangle Gatherings Facebook page.  A brilliant person named Leanne Malzewski came up with this variation.  I think it is so interesting to have the 2017 Triangle Gatherings blocks featured as the center of a star.  And the star points will add a continuity to the different centers.

Now imagine a diagonal setting.  I tell you, the wheels are turning over here.  Since the star block ends up being rather larger than the  6 1/2" version, I think I would make far fewer of them for a quilt top.  With a diagonal setting you can get away with fewer blocks as well.   I am going to play around with adding in some additional colors:  red, gold, black and more of these dusty blues.  I would use the same background for all the blocks.  

Check back tomorrow and see what I hope to have come up with.

 

Blogger Girls BOM Quilt Parade

Welcome to the final reveal of the Blogger Girls BOM, hosted by Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts.  This beautiful design of Monique's has been such fun to work on over the past six months.  Monique designed a total of six quilt blocks, one a month, starting in January.  She had clever alternate color suggestions, so you could make two blocks a month from the same pattern, and have them look totally different depending on how you placed your colors.

I chose a different setting than the one that Monique designed to go with the pattern.  In the past, Monique had designed a setting that I loved, that used an alternate block that formed a secondary chain pattern.  I combined that earlier design of Monique's into this quilt, with great results.

That alternate block also increased the size of the quilt to ginormous proportions!  This quilt turned out King size for sure!   I think the longer side is 100 inches. 

The size of the quilt made it really tricky for me to photograph.  You can get an idea of the size of the quilt by how much is hanging over the side of my queen sized bed.  You wouldn't believe the gyrations I went through trying to get a decent picture.

The fabric collection I used was Audra's Iris Garden, designed by Brannock and Patek for Moda.  You can still download the block patterns and setting instructions from Monique's website, but don't delay printing them out, because they will not be available for free much longer.  You may enjoy visiting the Flickr site to see other versions of these blocks made by a number of people who have joined in the sew along. 

Also, don't miss checking out these blog sites today to see the final reveal of the bloggers Monique invited to participate in this fantastic project:

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog/ 
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

Thank you so much Monique for the invitation to join in this Block of the Month program, and for your beautiful pattern designs. 

 

 

 

 

 

Blogger Girls BOM Month Six

It doesn't seem possible, but month six in the Blogger Girls BOM program is here already.  My two blocks did come out quite different looking, which is good.  I started with the variation block (pictured on the bottom), because I was really challenged by the difficulty of making sure I cut out the right fabrics in the right sizes.  Sometimes these things take me awhile to puzzle out.  I left off the corner thingys, because I preferred the clean look of the background fabric surrounding the design.

Here are all twelve blocks.  When you make two a month, you have them done before you know it.  Practically painless.

Our final reveal of our finished quilt tops is scheduled for July 1.

Go have a look at some of the others who are participating in this sew along:

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog/ 
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

Blogger Girls BOM--Block 5

I loved making these blocks.  They are my favorite in the series so far!  I think they came out quite different from each other, which was my plan.  This project is coming together in a way that is making me super happy, and exceeding my expectations.  I knew I was in for a treat, as any Monique pattern is fun to make, and just challenging enough to be interesting.  Her tools make every block come out super accurate as well, which is such a joy when piecing a top.

These block patterns are all so lovely, the fabrics I chose are pleasing me so  much, and I am really jazzed about my plan to do an alternate block and a diagonal setting.  My fabrics are a collection called Audra's Iris Garden by Jan Patek for Moda.  Beautiful springy greens, yellows, reds, purples and browns with an iris print that is so different and gorgeous.  I have used two of the larger iris prints in the blocks shown above.

This layout gives you an idea of my plan for the alternate block and diagonal set.  I think my quilt will have such an airy and springy feel to it with this variation.

Here are my ten blocks all together on the design wall:

Do go check out the posts on how the other Blogger Girls are progressing!

Sherri from A Quilting Life - aquiltinglife.blogspot.com
Thelma from Cupcakes ‘n Daisies ~ cupcakesndaisies.blogspot.com
Lissa from Moda  Lissa  ~ ModaLissa.blogspot.com
Denise from Quilter’s  Window ~ Quilterswindow.com/blog/ 
Lisa from Stashmaster ~ The-Stashmaster.blogspot.com

Blogger Girls BOM Setting Squares

I have been experimenting a bit with some alternate ideas for my setting squares for the Blogger Girls BOM.  Here is a little peek at what I am thinking of doing.  Not so many Square in a Square blocks, and more of a chain design.

I am also thinking of doing a diagonal set rather than a straight set. 

Don't you love changing things up a bit?  I plunged into this innovation a bit too quickly however, and realized when I was well into it that I could have strip pieced the strips with the green squares and cut sections of them rather than sewing each and every green square onto a strip.  Sigh.  Oh well.  Guess my mind was on something else while I was cutting out all those strips and squares.  Ack.  Now I have lots of extra work for myself, but I can't do anything about it now.

I like the look of this alternate block and the piecing is easy, so I will just get on it and get the job done.

Thanks for all the handy tips on how I should deal with my naughty dog and his penchant for destroying all things belonging to little Eva.  I am going to look into some indestructible dog balls for him, and when I replace her play balls, they will be kept way out of his reach.  He needs more exercise, which many of you wise readers suggested.  I just wish I had the time and energy to give him more of what he needs.  I will make an effort to make what he needs more of a priority.  Poor fellow, he just wants to be loved and paid attention to.