step ladder, red and white, top completed

Step Ladder
72 by 64 inches
top finished 2025
Block finishes 3 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches
768 blocks

I have sketched many variations of the ladder quilt design over the years.
You can see one version posted in 2022 HERE.
A reverse coloration with double-width blocks of this current one I posted HERE.
I first used this design with this current proportions in a doll quilt I made in 1995. I will hunt down the pre-digital life photograph of it.

Block is two pieces:
Red rectangle cut 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inches, cut 768
White square cut 2 1/2 inches,  cut 768
Press to the red

Sew into 2s, 4s, then 8s.
Keep the pressing consistant, always pressing to the edge that ends in a red rectangle.

Take three 8s, and sew into a row
Make 32 rows
Press again to the end with a red rectangle

Take two rows, rotate one, and sew together, putting into the machine with the row that starts with a square on the top. This allows the subsequent rows to go together with the seams butting, making accuracy easier.

make blocks, sew into pairs, then into 4s, and then into 8s
(the 8s are pictured in next picture)

Three 8-block segmants, sew into one row
Sew into pairs, then 4s, then 8s

Sew into four panels of 8 rows each

To recap:
Sew the 32 rows into 16 pairs
Press to the left
Sew into 4-row panels
Press to the left
Sew into 8-row panels
Press to the left
Sew the top together
Press all row seams to the left
Stay-stitch right away to keep all those seams from popping
Everything nests

My design, use at your pleasure.

Backing is Clara Jean for Dear Stella, DCJ2844

quilt installation, Solids + Prints

I installed 30 of my quilts to help deaden sound in the performance space for the Windy City Winds 10th anniversary concert held earlier this month.

Quilts are from my Solids + Prints series.

Directions for most are here on the blog. I loved seeing them together! And the concert was a delight.

18 tatami mat

18 tatami mat
top completed 2025
84 by 72 inches
block finishes 6 inches

168 blocks
96 blocks all scrap Block A
72 blocks with solid center Block B; I used Kona Glacier

I love tatami mat layouts for using 1:2 rectangles.
My 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 inch neutrals/pastels bin was overflowing so it was time to go to a project that had been in my sketch book for a while.
The box is no longer overflowing...

Cutting:
Scraps rectangles 1 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches
1728 scraps for Block A
1152 scraps for Block B
Total 2880 scraps
Solid 2 1/2 inch squares
72 solid squares for Block B

Very simple pieceing that works well for times I need to sit at the machine and think.
My mom did her best thinking at her sewing machine.
My dad, in the fields. He referred to this as "tractor time".

Piecing
For Block A start with two rectangles paired into a square
For both blocks, surround center squares with scraps as shown in photograph below.
Press all seams away from the center square.

Block A

Block B

Block A

Block B

Sew into pairs, rotating every other block
Press away from the block that has three scraps on the side
Sew pairs into a unit of four blocks
For the quilt shown, I needed 24 units of Block As and 18 units of Block Bs

Rotate the lower unit, pair up the 4 block units into 8 block units.
Make sure you are consistant in the rotations. Mine, I kept the ending with 3 scraps on the left of the top unit and on the right of the bottom unit
Do not press these units yet
I needed 12 of Block A and 9 of Block B

Piece into large 12 large units. There will be three remaining Block A units for the final layout
Await pressing

Piece large units into columns, adding the remainder of the Block A at the bottom of the columns
Press middle column up and side columns down
The solid squares give a sprocket look.

Three columns ready for final two seams

Stay-stitch around the quilt top to keep the seams from popping.
I plan to bind it with the solid Kona Glacier

My design, use at your pleasure.

Backing by Rae Ritchie for Dear Stella, DRR2372