double four-patch, top completed

I wanted to finish this top here at the house as it is on-point, making it hard to put together without lots of room to spread out.
I do like how the chains of solids stand out and melt in with the various contrasts.

Block finishes 8 inches
Print: two 4 1/2 inch squares, four 2 1/2 inch squares
Solid: four 2 1/2 inch squares

98 blocks set 7 by 8, measures about 65 by 75 inches

12 half blocks (I cut the triangles with grain to edge of quilt)
4 corners
14 setting triangles

Gerald's quilts

Our cousin Gerald spoke for our family at my father's funeral five years ago.
After the funeral, my mother and sisters and I decided we wanted to give him this pair of quilts that I had made in the late 1990s for my father and my father-in-law. They were made using a Judy Martin design called Fathers' Day.
One quilt was at my house and one went with mom for several moves over the five years. We kept referring to them as "Gerald's quilts" and it was time they got to him.
This spring it finally happened. They look great in their new home!

tipping the scales?

When does a series of quilts tip into a "crazy cat lady" obsession?
The solids and prints quilts have been a wonderful way for me to revisit deep stash as we have prepared for our move.
I like them as they give me a focus. I figure out what block to work with, and, with repetitive cutting and sewing, a new quilt results.
I do look forward to something else taking my interest soon. Until then, this continues.

Completed so far: (not all photographed and posted yet as some have been packed up already)
ships
churn dash
shoo-fly
pinwheel
geese in flight
framed nine-patch
zip

Tops awaiting quilting:
times
woven
positive

Cut and kitted for sewing while on the move:
double four-patch
party line
unit blocks peter/paul

Sample blocks made:
keyhole peter/paul
window

Contemplating:
Portuguese tile

window

Window.
Looks like the ones being installed at our new place!

Block finishes 7 inches

Solid: one 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch rectangle
Print: one 7 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch rectangle, one 7 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch rectangle, one 2 1/2 by 1 1/2 inch rectangle, one 2 1/2 inch square

A simple block and goes together fast.
My design. Use at your pleasure.

keyhole

My friend Donna made a lovely quilt with Cherrywoood solids using a larger version of this block. I shamelessly ran with the idea, drafting down the block a bit, and am adding it to the solids on prints quilt ideas pile.
I love any block with the robbing-peter-to-pay-paul fabric placement and like how it is similar to the unit blocks one, but with a rectangle finish.

Block finishes 6 by 12 inches

Solid: one 6 1/2 by 2 1/2 rectangle, three 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 rectangles
Print: one 6 1/2 by 2 1/2 rectangle, three 4 1/2 by 2 1/2 rectangles
Sew the sets of three 4 1/2 inch rectangles and press to the solids, then sew together
Sew on the end 6 1/2 inch rectangles
Press whole block to the side with the solid rectangle

We are a few weeks away from moving and I have been kitting up projects for the transition time between homes.

monday mini--Temecula Quilt Co. sew-a-long

There is a 12-week sew-a-long on Temecula Quilt Company's blog.
I'm working in solids.
The bordered blocks now measure 4 inches, will finish to 3 1/2 inches. The tiny center blocks finish 1 1/2 inches.
This is way too much work.
And way too much fun.

visiting my quilts: party like it's 1999...

I had a quick visit with mom this week. She asked we hang this quilt.
I made it in 1999 using scraps from mom's and from her mother's sewing.
The pattern was in an early Fons and Porter magazine.
Beth uses waste triangles to make a legend of the origin of each fabric.

circa 2016 Temecula Quilt Co., top completed

I decided to keep it very simple. I tried a triangle border but this seems to be where this quilt wants to stop.
The blocks were made with a 2016 sew-a-long on Temecula Quilt Co.'s blog. I made double the blocks assigned each week and deviated from the directions by setting the blocks straight rather than on point. I finished with a 3 inches cut plain border.
It is rather somber in photographs, a bit more lively in person.
The medallion blocks finish 2 1/2 inches. The main blocks finish 3 inches.
57 by 69 inches.
Thanks, Temecula Quilts, for the very enjoyable sew-a-long! Each week was a gift.

unit blocks

This is not an auspicious setting of tatami mats, but it is not made with tatami mats, so I do not anticipate bad fortune.
It is made with unit blocks, twice as long as wide, the proportion of kindergarten wooden building blocks (and tatami mats).
I used this same block (smaller scale, finished block was 4 inches) in a quilt in 2013 with a more random scrap placement.

This time it is in a robbing-peter-to-pay-paul fabric placement.
I have seen a similar block online several places, usually made with several sizes of pieces.
It is all made with unit blocks, cut 2 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inches, to finish 2 by 4 inches.
Four solids and four prints.
A 2 1/2 inch strip exactly 18 inches of fabric yields the pieces for one block. More fabric is needed if you are dealing with directional prints.
Block finishes 8 inches.

Construction works best when piecing two blocks.
Pressing:
Sew the center column and press all towards the solid end rectangle.
Sew the side pieces pressed to the print.
Block A press to center column.
Block B press away from center column.
Then, sew the two blocks together nesting the seams.
Sew into rows and the whole quilt should nest.
(I've only made the four blocks above, so we will see...)

Our time between homes will involve a wandering existence for a while, so I am cutting this and a few other projects that I can work on wherever I set up my machine.

I do have a commission due the end of the month that will take most of my creative energy and sewing time.
Note to self: no more commissions.
Ever.

positive, top completed

After the on-point version with 6 inch blocks (making it a times symbol) I decided to make a straight-set positive quilt.
I needed to have a positive mindset and fit the piecing in while in the final preparation time for putting the house on the market. During the showing weeks, when we had to keep the house tidy and not being a tidy sewer, I could do little sewing but did sneak in constructing a few blocks here and there.

These blocks are based on the Tula Pink block, but with slightly different proportions.

143 blocks set 11 by 13
82.5 by 97.5 inches
Block finishes 7 1/2 inches
Solid: one rectangle 6 by 3 inches, two rectangles 2 by 3 inches
Print: four squares 3 inches, four rectangles 1 1/2 by 3 inches

My design with a block adapted from Tula Pink.
Use at your pleasure.