Category: Pieced Quilts

Cat’s Cradle Blocks

Several years ago I bought this ruler from Creative Grids…..

I was CERTAIN that I could make tons of quilts using it.

But, then I couldn’t find a pattern that I liked…. and then some things got stacked on top of the ruler…… and then it got stored in a drawer…….

AND FORGOTTEN!!

Today I was looking through some patterns I have collected over the years and came across one page with all of these patterns……

…..and look at this one……

Now I could have fun using some of THESE designs….especially using some of the copious drawers of scraps that I have!!!

So I have the tool……I have the pattern……

Now I need the time…..

Have you made a quilt using these blocks? If so, I would love to see them!!

If you enjoy this blog, please share it with your friends!!!

Thank you…….

A cute crumb quilt….

Have you ever made a crumb quilt?

I have made one!!

“Crumbs for the Geese” was so much fun to make and there is even a pattern available for it!!!

While at the gym last week, I saw a video about making a different type of “crumb quilt” and I thought that it was a great idea.

You might enjoy seeing it too…..

The video is a bit long, but you might do what I do and speed it up to 200%. You still can see how things are done but do it faster!! Of course, you NEVER want to do that with MY videos. 😁😁

Is this a pattern that you might try??? I am certainly thinking about it!!

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One of my favorite things about quilting is motivating others and helping them in their quilting journey. As part of this endeavor, I LOVE to present programs and workshops to groups and guilds around the world. All of my programs work well with Zoom meetings, and I would love to speak to your group.

You can find out more at this link…..

BQL Bargello

Years ago, when I was involved in the “British Quilt List” monthly challenge, I made a VERY simple bargello quilt to honor our Nation’s birth!!

Since the quilt could only be a 12-inch square, that didn’t leave much space for manipulation!!

I loved picking the fabrics for this quilt and am especially happy with the “fireworks” that look like they are coming out of some firecrackers…..

It was a fun quilt made for the perfect occasion!!!

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Do you struggle to decide what to quilt in your blocks? If so, check out my FREE series…..

Click HERE for more information

The Reboot quilt…..

Yesterday I wrote about needing to reboot my creativity and pulled a quilt that I had started at a retreat a while back.

My thought was to lay out the blocks in a diagonal set with large navy sashing between them…..

So I headed to the machine and started piecing the sets together…..

Then it was time to press…..and that is where the rot set in…..

As I looked at these gorgeous fabrics and colors, I started wondering if they would lose some of their impact by setting them on a diagonal.

I spread them out like a brick wall would be…..

….and decided that I really liked it!!

But what if I added “grout” to the top and bottom….

….and maybe turned it vertical…..

OKAY….now there are TOO many options!!!

I started making long strips and attaching them together…..

But this is going to be boring if that is ALL that I do.

So, what if I added the diagonal pieces to both sides?

I hopped onto Procreate and sketched out this idea…..

I kind of like it!!

I laid it up on the wall to see what I thought…..

…and that is when I realized that I won’t have enough of the Navy fabric!!

So now I am waiting for fabric to be delivered and honestly, have lost interest in the project again!!

It will go back in the box and re-emerge some other day.

BUT it did the job that was intended…..

Stay tuned for more!!

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In this blog, I post stories about creativity, techniques, tools of the trade, and lots more about the wonderful art of quilting. If you are enjoying these posts, please subscribe to be notified of each new blog as it becomes available.

A quilt to celebrate America!!!

In my home I have a pie safe that was built for one purpose…..to store my quilts. Now this was early in my quilting career and the small cabinet could hold all of them.

Not ANY MORE!!!

Anyway, each month I change the decorating to reflect the flavor of the month and over the years I have created or acquired a quilt that specifically fits over the cabinet.

Here are the decorations that are up right now…..

This is special for two reasons….

Firstly, I highlight my Dad’s veteran status, displaying his army insignia and papers, and

Secondly, I love the quilt that I made for this month.

It started with a pattern in one of my Mom’s quilting books. But the pattern was for a BIG quilt….. I wanted a small (36″) quilt.

So, I decided that I would simply reduce the pattern size and make the quilt anyway.

Now, this was back in 1995, and my skills were a bit less developed than they are now.

I remember finding it to be a stretch to piece 1/2-strips and keep them straight!!

And when I began the quilting process, I started having issues with my sewing machine (a Singer School model).

I would start out fine, but the foot would stick and I wouldn’t be able to stop when I needed to…..YIKES!!! Fortunately, I learned to kick the pedal really hard to make it stop!!

This was quilted with monofilament thread and that was the only saving grace…..you couldn’t SEE the quilting!!

Anyway, it is now a favorite quilt and I love when July rolls around so that I can enjoy it hanging in my home……

I hope that you have a wonderful day of celebrating the Red White & Blue!!!