Sister's Choice Quilts

Hometown Christmas Quilt

Have any of you seen the Sweetwater Hometown Christmas quilt?  Click on the photo above to enlarge and see the detail.   It is simple patchwork, combined with machine applique and embroidery (eeeep).

The first step is to make twelve blocks that consist of a strip of 2 1/2" squares and two rectangles.  On one of the rectangles you machine applique the shapes, and on the other you trace your embroidery design.  The embroidery is super simple, easy block letters.  I can do this, right?   Hah.  Talk about over confidence.  I quickly discovered how out of practice with embroidery I was. 

I have never been particularly good at embroidery, but I have enjoyed it from time to time.  The last time I did any was when Sara was pregnant with Eva and I embroidered some onesies for the baby.  She is now seven and a half.  It has got to be like riding a bike.  I thought I would just jump right into this new project and all will be good.

No.  It turns out that embroidery is one of those skills that needs to be kept up with regular practice.  My stitches were not straight, not all the same length, and quite sad looking really.  My panels looked like a first graders first attempt at writing.  I had two false starts with my blocks, but luckily the poorly embroidered panel can be un-sewed and you can start over with a fresh panel.

Clearly, what I need is some practice before I pitch myself into embroidering the blocks for the quilt.  I am still rusty, but I think I can get up to speed again.

New Project-American Pie

Aren't these fabrics perfect?  Perfect for me anyway.  I've been talking about the new project I have had in mind to get started on, and finally have something to show for it.

I've made a couple of test blocks and am excited to get going on the project.   The pattern is American Pie by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.  I will share more details on it in my next post.

For the block units, I need to apply two folded corner squares to each 4 1/2" print square.  My Folded Corner Ruler by Doug Leko is coming in handy for this step.

Usually I don't bother to save the triangle trimmings, but these are nice and big-over 2", so I guess I'd be crazy not to.  I can make a wonderful table runner with the leftover triangles.  In fact, I could probably make another quilt, there are so many of them!  Over 700 if my memory serves me correctly.

The snow is melted, at my elevation anyway, and school is back in session.  A lot of folks are still without power, including my daughter Sara who lives near Yosemite at a higher elevation than me.  Electricity is unlikely to be restored very quickly so they have been playing cards by lantern light and trying to amuse themselves.  She says they know they are going to lose everything in the freezer, so they got started eating the ice cream last night.  She always steps up to the plate in an emergency.  Hee hee.

Are You Stringing Along?

The Moda String Along is officially under way.  It's a New Year, so a fresh project is called for, don't you agree? I had a project in mind and made a few test blocks last week when I had a bit of down time.  The idea is, you use scraps (or not) and make some sort of string quilt project.  You can use paper or fabric as a foundation for your blocks, or perhaps use nothing at all.  The point is to do your own thing.  There are plenty of tutorials out there to Google if this method is new to you or you would like to explore alternate methods of construction.  If you use Instagram, check out #modastringalong for lots of ideas for projects.

Here's what I am doing.  Grab a cup of tea and settle in, this is a photo heavy post.

Of course I didn't use scraps.  Why would I ever do anything so practical?  I saw the perfect string quilt pattern (also called "String Along") and bought it as well as all the supplies needed for the project.  I am using a couple of fat eighth bundles by Linzee McCray as well as some additional fabrics.  It takes a lot of fabric to make a string quilt, and there is a lot of waste, in my opinion.  That's why so many people use leftover scraps for their string quilts.

I am using foundation paper by Carol Doak.  I cut squares to 5" for my pattern.  Then I glued a rectangular solid color wedge to the paper.   Just a dab on two corners of the paper with a regular glue stick works fine.

You want to make sure the corners of the paper are completely covered with fabric.

Next up for my project, is to make lots of strip sets.  Mine are between 4 1/2" and 5 1/2".  The width isn't real important, the sets just need to be at least 4 1/2" for what I am doing.

My pattern instructions call for cutting the strip sets down into 90 degree triangle wedges.  The ruler I am using is called The Companion Angle by Diane Zimmerman.  It is a great ruler with clear markings which are easy to see and line up.  I get four wedges out of a strip set.

Sew a strip set triangle to one side of the center wedge, flip and press. Sew the second strip set triangle to the other side of the wedge, flip and press.

Now what?, you say.  This does not look like anything useable.  Well, here's where the foundation paper comes in.  Flip that unit over.

Oooohhhh.  Right.  Don't even think of tearing off that paper yet.  (Ask me how I know this...)

With the block unit upside down, trim the excess fabric from around the paper, using the paper as your pattern guide.  Now you have a perfectly square block unit.

NOW tear off the paper.  This came off very easily.

Four of these units make a block for my project. 

Before sewing them together, I attached a fold and flip square to the pointy corner of the wedge.  It forms a center square in the block when the four units are sewn together.

And there you go.  I have to  make 17 of these red blocks, then some blue blocks, green blocks and yellow blocks!  They are addicting once you get the first few done and are familiar with the method.

Looking forward to lots of sewing in the next week.  Happy New Year everyone!

 

American Pie: New Quilting Project

This is American Pie, a pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company from 2003.  I made the quilt in the photo about 12 or 13 years ago, and gave it to my daughter Sara.  I used a collection of 1930s lavender prints, which give the quilt such a lovely old fashioned "bleached by the sun on the clothes line" look.

I rarely re-make quilts, but after all this time, the pattern still appeals to me and will have a very different look with the fabrics I am using for the 2018 version.  Jo Morton is one of my all time favorite fabric designers, and I have a very nice collection of her fabrics from over a period of years.  I need a lot of prints for the scrappy look I want, and so far I have gathered 77 fabrics that I think will look wonderful in this quilt.

 After the super intricate piecing my recently finished red and white quilt entailed, I am ready for an easy one block quilt that will pack a punch.  Each block is made with four colored squares and four smaller background squares that are trimmed with a folded corner type ruler.  I will demo the method in an upcoming post.  Unfortunately, I do not think you can purchase the pattern any more, but the instructions can be found in a Miss Rosie quilting book called "Miss Rosie's Quilt Collection", which you can buy from used book sellers on Amazon.

If you are interested in seeing some other amazing versions of American Pie, check out this red and white version  I found on Pinterest, and Thelma's version (cupcakesndaisies.com), called "A La Mode".  She reduced it to a fancy border for her basket quilt, but how gorgeous is that?

Hope you all are having a good week.  I have a couple of book recommendations and some recent tv shows I want to share with you tomorrow.  What are you reading now?  I always love to hear about it. 

What's Pulling Me This Week

I don't have a lot to show for my time this week, but I have read a really spooky, good book.  The Corset by Laura Purcell.  I bought this in London, and don't think it is available yet in the US.  If you haven't read her previous book, The Silent Companions, that is another really spooky creepy read, which is perfect for October.  This book is about Ruth, who can put all her anger and hate into her sewing.  So watch out if you happen to treat her mean and she ends up making your corset.  Just saying...

I've also been practicing hand lettering.  Not proper calligraphy, I don't think, but kind of a faux calligraphy that gives such a fun result.  Perfect for journaling or making greeting cards etc.  I will share more about this once I get more of a hang of it.

My ombre triangle scarf is just past the half way mark.  I have really been enjoying making this.  The knitting process and counting rows is almost meditative, it is so relaxing.  I am going to make another one of these when I finish this and give one of them as a gift.  The yarn is so soft and amazing.  

And then this happened.  It turns out that The Clockmaker's Daughter was the Book of the Month Selection for October, so good thing I didn't buy it in London and haul it home with me, right?  It arrived this week and I just read the first couple of pages and I am hooked!

Hope you all will have a great weekend, and wish me luck that I get back into the sewing room and finish up all those red and white flying geese for my Christmas quilt!

Aurora is Underway

I made a little test block for the Laundry Basket "Aurora" project I am embarking upon.  It is an adorable little four inch finished block.  There are 127 of them called for in the quilt top.  I will probably be working on this project for the next three years.  Those are tiny little star blocks.

I spent most of yesterday cutting, and still am not finished.  I took a break and made the test block, using my Bloc Loc trim tool.

That little trim tool is worth it's weight in gold, I tell you.  The flying geese units are coming out perfectly, which they always do when I use this ruler.  One gets such precise results with it.  The stars will go together like a dream.  All 126 more of them.

Hope your week is going well!

9th and Vine

This is my other new project:  131 9th and Vine.  It makes up into a very large quilt, without a lot of effort.  No fussy blocks, no small pieces.  All the 9 patch blocks can be strip pieced, and I am clipping along rapidly using my Bloc Loc strip ruler.

This will be such a summery quilt for my bedroom.  I cannot wait to get this one finished and quilted and on the bed.  I am going to try for this summer---we will see!

I know. Can you believe I am undertaking another nine patch project after that behemoth Double Nine Patch quilt top I just finished?  These are going very quickly however.  I have over half of the large blocks made already.  This will be done in no time.  

This is what the quilt will look like when I finish it.  This is Corey Yoder's quilt, made for the pattern distribution.  Can't wait to start enjoying my own.

Have to admit I am having trouble getting into the sewing room this week.  The weather has been so great that I just want to sit outside and read.  I am also trying to get ready for a visit from my son Ahren, who lives in Ireland and is coming for a 9 day visit this weekend.  Today my housecleaners were supposed to come at 10.  At 11:30 there was still no sign of them.  We have a slight communication issue, due to us speaking different languages, and there have been several mix ups in dates in the past.  After texting him, and much ensuing confusion, they arrived at 1:00 and didn't leave until after 3:00.  So there went today.  Can't foresee what the next week or two will bring as far as sewing, but I will keep you posted!

 

Liberty Road

I started a couple of new projects over the weekend.  This is a block from a Minick and Simpson pattern called Liberty Road.  In the pattern version, they made the quilt from their Charlevoix fabric collection, but I missed out on that one.  I am using Ann's Arbor for my version, which is a very similar collection color-wise:  reds, dark blues, light blues, yellows and creams.

The Liberty Road pattern:

I love the flag block, but don't really want a 43 x 49" quilt.  Better for me would be to make a table runner consisting of three flags, and a border.  I have a table in my foyer that takes a long narrow table runner, and I am thinking something sort of patriotic themed would take me from May through September. I have enough fabric to make several of these table runners, and would keep one and will gift the others.  I love the addition of yellow in this collection.

My second project is very springy and involves the Pepper and Flax collection by the talented Corey Yoder.  More on that later.

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Our weather has turned beautifully warm (80s) and it is hard to stay indoors!

 

Endearments

I can't tell you how much I love this little quilt!!  It is "Endearments" by Betsy Chutchian, made with her fabric collection Rachel Remembered.  The finished quilt measures 29 3/8" square, and has a Memorial Day/Fourth of July vibe to it.  I can see keeping this out on my dining table from May through September.

I have been sticking to my plan to finish up a few things before moving on to something new.  

I got the outer border on Windmills.  (Pattern by Bonnie Blue, fabric Rachel Remembered by Betsy Chutchian). I skipped the narrow red containment border and just went with the one wider border in a solid brown.  I am super happy with this one as well.  I will be sending both of these quilts to my quilter, maybe even today!

To be honest, a new project is calling to me.  Rather loudly.

This beautiful collection by Corey Yoder (Coriander Quilts) is called Pepper and Flax.  The pattern is "9th and Vine".  How springy is that?  I'll see if I can finish up one or two more projects this weekend, then we shall see...

Have a glorious weekend everyone!

Pinwheels and Hourglass Blocks

Just revel in these gorgeous fabrics for a moment.  Ahhhh.  Aren't they just the best?  The darker fabrics are mostly Rachel Remembered by Betsy Chutchian, and the lighter ones are from my stash.  I absolutely love those blues and golds. And of course the reds and browns.  But those golds....

It's an old Bonnie Blue pattern I have had around for years.  Windmills.  The blocks are alternating pinwheels and hourglass blocks, with flying geese for the borders.  The blocks are only 4" finished, so the quilt made as the pattern directs is only 56 inches square.  Sorry, that is just not a terribly useful size imho.

So I need to make more blocks.  Heaven knows I have plenty of fabric.  I have pulled at least 75 prints so far. I just love the colorful, festive look of this quilt.  There is something very joyful about it.

Hope you all have had a good week. I appreciate the comments I received regarding my favorite notions.  It's funny isn't it? We think we have seen it all, but every year there are new things that make our quilting journey easier or at least more fun.

Have a terrific weekend everyone!