Wednesday, July 09, 2014

a shoebox full of two inch squares


I am working with two inch cut squares since the box is full.
The solid is Kona Celadon.

While I am sewing these, I am also cutting down scraps, so the box seems to be getting fuller...

I am putting these together in rows of 6 patches, making 36 patch blocks that finish 9 inches.

I have about 20 blocks completed and will continue until I run out of the celadon.

Kathie over at Inspired by Antique Quilts is making a postage stamp quilt from 1 1/2 inch cut squares and gave me the inspiration to start this.






Sunday, June 15, 2014

Father's Day


My dad, Leroy and me and his Davis grandchildren, Paul, Eve, and Seth.
1998

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

binding time--Goodnight, Irene

The quilt is back from the longarmer, and machine work of the binding is done.
Made following the sew-a-long of Terry's Treasures.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Memorial Day 1960

My sister Janna, our neighbor Shirley, and me at the cemetery on Memorial Day 1960.
Mom made Janna and my dresses, white with red and blue pin dots. I used some scraps of the pin dot in quilts I made for my sisters last year.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

love this aqua


Kona Cotton Caribbean.
Solid cut 3 1/2 inches. Scraps cut 2 inches.
It is amazing how much sewing I get done when the semester ends!

Thursday, May 22, 2014

pillows

There were a few blocks left over in making my Chinese Coins quilt. Sewed them up into a couple of pillows.
And, a call came today from my longarm quilter that I can pick up the quilt! Some binding in my future.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

strips

At a loss lately on what to do, so I took a box of short and long lengths in the purple range, plus a few golds and and random others , and started sewing.
I like where this is headed.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Happy Birthday, Janna!


Happy birthday to my sister Janna. I get my sense of style from her.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

doll quilt exchange




Lori at Humble Quilts organized a Doll Quilt exchange and I am the fortunate recipient of Sandy Helin's adorable piece. Sandy blogs at My Material Creations.
The blocks finish 4 inches, and the quilt measures 18 1/2 by 13 inches.
She chose fabrics with care, hand quilted it. and used a butted binding that she has a tutorial for on her blog. I am going to have to try that soon. And, I love the backing fabric!

Thank you, Sandy, for this wonderful quilt, and Lori, for making it happen.

Friday, April 18, 2014

new pattern


I'm writing up directions to make a pattern I call "Party Line". Watch for it to be posted here soon.
This time of year I love to work with the '30s reproductions and their Easter Egg colors.

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Dykstras, about 1953

Cousin Harlan, Grandma Dykstra, Aunt Marlene, Aunt Tracy, Cousin Lorna, Aunt Anna Mae

Monday, April 07, 2014

doll quilt exchange



Lori over at Humble Quilts has organized a doll quilt exchange. I finished up one of the little quilts I made with Temecula Quilt Company's "12 Days of Christmas" sew-a-long with both machine and hand quilting on it.
For the back I used a piece of wonderful Jeff Gutcheon fabric I have hoarded for 30 years.
On its way tomorrow to its new owner!
Thanks, Lori, for this fun exchange.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

bar quilt


I finally got the binding on this one. Andy wants it for his office.
Made with re-purposed shirts.
The pieced bars are made with the "serendipity snakes" method described earlier, from 2 inch cut strips. The red is Kona Rich Red. The larger plaid bars and borders are from 6 1/2 cut inch strips.

Quilted by Suzette Fisher.
The neighbor's growing tree is messing with my photography!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Good Night, Irene--March progress


The top is complete!
I used 2 inch cut scraps and Kona Punch for the constant.
Thank you, Terry for the sew-a-long at Terry's Treasures.
Now, off to the quilter.


Yes, it is snowing again! I love winter, and am feeling a bit guilty for this pleasure when I know so many are hating it.

Tuesday, March 04, 2014

doll quilt


For our church auction. 18 by 20 1/2 inches.

Made from leftovers of several projects--including a binding scrap from a quilt made over 10 years ago!
I store leftover binding pieces on spent spools--ready to go for small projects, or to put together for scrappy bindings for larger projects.

Monday, February 24, 2014

sew-a-long with Lori, MidWinter Blues

Lori over at Humble Quilts has another wonderful sew-a-long where she adapts an antique quilt to design a doll quilt.
Because I had hauled out my 30's repros for another project, I decided to use them.
Is it perfect? No.
Is is adorable? Why, yes it is!
Thanks Lori!


Saturday, February 22, 2014

split 9-patch

I joined in on Bonnie Hunter's split 9-patch project of 2013. It is made with 2 1/2 inch cut squares and half-square triangles. I used up many of my pre-cut squares, but there are many more in the bin.

The block finishes 6 inches. The border is 9-patches with just dark fabrics.
I love streak of lightning sets and it works well for this quilt.
Machine quilted by Suzette Fisher.

The back uses up large blue pieces, many with special meanings to me.


Tuesday, February 11, 2014

tip #28, using sew-and-flip triangles and making hatchet units


Sew-and-flip triangles techniques are good to use in some units, but they are more complicated than they look. (There is some waste in making them, but the cut-aways can be saved for another use when making larger units than I am making here. With these, I threw away the cuttings.)
The ones I am showing use a 3 1/2 inch cut large square and a 2 inch cut top square that becomes a triangle.
There are several methods and I think I've tried them all--drawing the diagonal, using a plastic sole plate guide, drawing a line on my machine. That last method I used for many years. I put a piece of clear tape over the line to prevent it from wearing off.

My newest method seems to be more accurate for me. I press the smaller squares in half.
Place it carefully on the base fabric, then, sewing about a needle's width away to the right of the pressed line.
My #37 foot on my Bernina has an edge right by the needle that if I line it up with the fold, gives me just the distance I need.


I then press to the smaller squares, assess for accuracy, resew if needed, and clip out the bottom two layers.
This method has been very accurate. I had to re-sew only about 8 of the 200 dark squares on my latest project.


Such accuracy isn't necessary with many layouts and uses of the sew-and-flip method, but is needed when the hatchet units need to meet.
I re-press seams to allow them to nest together.