Log cabin Red Aggies, a design by Kathy Hamada, top completed

Red Aggies
90 1/2 by 75 1/2 inches
top competed 2025

I call it Red Aggies as it reminds me of some of my favorite marbles in my childnood.
A friend gave me a stack of magazines and this great design by Kathy Hamada stood out on the cover of the Spring/Summer 2014 Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler. Her design is called Log Cabin Beads.
It has a great self-border with the half circles on the sides. And the staggered beads are striking.
Kathy's quilt is multi-colored. I made it in red scraps and Kona Snow for the white
  

It has been a while since I've made a log cabin, and there is a wonderful mindless sewing aspect that can be just what I want when the news is troubling.
I usually have another active project going into the machine while I piece log cabin blocks to take breaks from the logs.

Some log cabin hints:
-I have twisted seams where necessary to nest seams. I am fine with this.
-Match up top and bottom of strip to the block. I usually piece with the block on top of the strip.
If the strip is a bit longer for a block, it eases in if you put into machine with the strip below--remember the classic "baggy bottom" machine sewing advice in easing fabrics while piecing.
-Inspect the back of each seam when you cut blocks apart at each stage. The mindless sewing sometimes lends itself to wandering a bit and I find the occasional need for re-sewing as the seam allowance drifts off too much on the back.
-Rarely will the rounds be perfect. I can live with things being off a bit and the blocks still sew together fine
-Sewing into 12 rows and onto a mother-ship can cause stress on the seams. Also, long seams irritate me.
Instead I sew into sub-units, then rows. This leaves just two long seams for the top.

I love this quilt.

red and white umbrellas--made with block pattern by Lindsey from Pen + Paper Patterns, top completed

Those ducks!!

Umbrellas
about 71 by 62 inches
top completed 2025
36 blocks set 6 by 6
Block finishes 7 1/2 by 6 inches

Made using the well written block pattern by Lindsey from Pen + Paper Patterns Chance of Rain available HERE. I used Kona Snow for the constant and a different red print for each umbrella. I used the Doug Leko mini folded corners ruler for all the flip triangles.

I eliminating the frames from the block pattern and instead used L sashing, a technique I describe HERE and have the specifics for this quilt below.

L-sashing details:
Put first sashing on the edge with the most going on, so for this block, that is the bottom of the umbrella handle. Sew with block on top so you have control over all those tiny pressed open seams. Press towards the sashing of these blocks
All sashing is cut from 2 inch strips.

Bottoms of most blocks:
Cut 6 1/2 inches
Sew onto bottom of all blocks except for those in the bottom row.
Press to the sashing of these blocks

Sides of many block:
Cut 9 1/2 inches
Side sashes on the right sides of all but the last blocks of the top 5 rows rows and the entire final row.
Do not press yet

Sides of bottom row:
Cut 8 inches
Bottom row side sashes between all blocks, none on the left of the first or right of the last blocks
Do not press yet.

Lay out quilt and sew into rows. Press odd rows left and even rows right.
Press rows away from the tops of the umbrellas.
Everything will nest.

I then added 9 1/2 inch cut wide borders to the sides and finally to the top and bottom. My wonderful long arm quilter Sue DiVarco will do her magic in those wide borders.

I have been so drawn to make object blocks. I started with the sewing machines all in solids several years ago. Since November I've made red and white object quilts--teacups, scottie dogs, chickens, sunflowers, and tulips, and now, umbrellas.
When the news is so troubling, I find I can think while doing fiddly work, but I am not overwhelmed. 

In memory of our childhood dalmation, Ginger

red and white Zip: directions, top completed

Red and White Zip
80 by 66 inches
top completed 2025
white is Kona Snow

Back in 2016 I designed the Zip Block that I love.
Block details HERE, quilt is shown HERE.
This current variation has a similar effect but a very different construction.
NOTE: numbers may be off but measurements are correct.

Cutting
Red: 560 rectangles 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches, 40 squares cut 2 1/2 inches
White: 160 squares cut 2 1/2 inches

Make segments
Make 160 A: three rectangles and one white square
and
Make 40 B: two rectangles and one red square
It will make later pressing easier if you press each segment towards the end with the square now.

Make 40 rows: (pictured below)
Each row is made from 
four segments of three rectangles and one white square
AND
one segment of 2 rectangles and one red square
Press each row towards the end with the red square

Make 20 pairs: (pictured below)
Take two rows, rotate one, and sew into pairs, keeping the row starting with the red square at the top of each pair.
Press the seam down

Make 10 panels: (pictured below)
Take two pairs and sew together into a panel of four rows, keeping the pressing in same direction.
Again, press seam down

Lay out panels and sew together.

Press all horizontal seams down
All seams will nest along the zip white squares

My design, use at your pleasure.
It can be easily adapted to making it wider or longer, or with a horizontal orientation.

backing is Contempo's Gathering by Benartex