Merry Christmas from the Dykstra women

plus? times?

When I am a ways into cutting the parts for a solids-on-prints quilt, I try to think of what I will do next, and start cutting for that one too. That way there is a bit of continuity in these quilts And, why not get going on that next one while I have some wild fabric out anyway?
At the moment, I am  far in cutting and sewing the zipper blocks, and have decided to finish out the year by starting a plus quilt, being 2016 was designated (by someone?) as the year of the plus quilt.

I found this very cute version by Tula Pink. She calls it Summer Days.
I can cut the prints from 17 inch 2 1/2 inch strips to yield a block that will finish 6 inches.

Thinking this would be nice on point--would that make it a times quilt rather than a plus quilt?

calico rose, quilt completed

About 72 by 96 inches.

Deanna at Wedding Dress Blue had a sew-a-long in 2015.
https://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/calico-rose-quiltalong/

It used up a tremendous amount of my 2 inch cut squares bin (which is now overflowing again...).
I love quilts like this, every fabric has a memory attached. Both this quilt and the rail fence quilt include some scraps from my mother's sewing.
This quilt now belongs to my sister Janna.

Thanks, Deanna, for a great project. Any new ideas for that 2 inch squares bin?

The back uses up some of my remaining Lunn fabrics. Love how they glow.

rail fence, quilt completed

About 84 by 102 inches.

This variation on a rail fence has a 6 inch finished block, made from two rows of 3 squares each and one solid strip.
The scraps are 2 1/2 inch cut squares and the solid is a 2 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch rectangle.

http://kleinmeisjequilts.blogspot.com/2015/06/rail-fence-streak-of-lightning-process.html

Photographed on a windy Iowa day.
This quilt now belongs to my sister Beth.

On the back I used up some of my precious Hoffman fabrics--a nice way to enjoy them.

Merry Christmas 2016!

vintage block--quilt completed

Bonnie/Yankee Quilter over at Scraps and Threadtales posted a wonderful vintage block in 2009.
http://scrapsandthreadtales.blogspot.com/2009/02/playing-vintage.html

I immediately drafted it and made a top out of reclaimed plaid fabrics.
http://kleinmeisjequilts.blogspot.com/2009/03/vintage-block.html
The block is huge, 17 1/2 inches finished.

Then I lost the top.
For 7 years.
If you saw my sewing room you would understand.

A couple months ago I found it again, and had it quilted as a wedding gift for Andy's niece.
It really is a great block. Thanks, Bonnie, for sharing it--I hope you got your quilt made too!

framed nine-patch, top completed

Block made from 2 inch strips, finishes 7 1/2 inches
solid: five cut 2 by 2
print: two cut 2 by 8, two cut 2 by 5, four cut 2 by 2

120 blocks, set 10 by 12
75" by 90"

I am liking how the quilts made with solids-on-prints are cohesive, yet each has its own personality.
The zipper blocks are in progress for quilt #7!

madder fabrics

I participated in Lori's Humble Quilts madder sew-a-long and was the winner of random drawing for this lovely stack of madder prints.
An irony as my entry was the only one of the 34 made without madder fabrics. Because, in my stash that could fill a small house, madder somehow does not exist.
I am using my favorite of Lori's fabrics in my current quilt.
Thanks, Lori!

zip

I am nearly finished with the framed nine-patch blocks for the solids on prints and have been thinking what to do next.
Listening to the radio while driving the other day I heard Elaine Stritch do her wonderful "Zip" from Pal Joey, and thought the zipper pattern.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6cvBb5R_Uo

I do not make it with 4-patches, rather in strips of two patches, press in one direction, then press the rows in one direction. This should lead to nesting of all seams
Squares cut 2 inches, rectangles cut 2 by 9 1/2 inches. Block will finish at 6 by 9 inches.

Solids on Prints: ships, churn dash, shoofly, pinwheels, geese in flight, framed nine-patch, and now, zip!

Not sure on orientation of the blocks yet--horizontal is looking good right now.

ll

summer about 1936

My mother on the left with her siblings and cousins.

When you are thinking of throwing away the less than perfect photos, think how precious they may be 80 year later.