Sew Scrappy Spools QAL

The February Sew Scrappy Spools .... Sew Checkers and Sew Dash Blocks are done.  While the Spool Box was open, I quickly assembled additional spool units for the next several months.

The quilt was designed by Lori Holt and the quilt along is hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop, which will last through the end of the year.  Slow and Steady.

 

Sew Scrappy Spools QAL

 An advantage to retirement, I can participate in a Quilt-along in addition to sewing my own designs .... sometimes more than one.  I always have a leader/ender scrap quilt going, however some of the  scraps are  starting to overflow.  I keep them in several 20-quart plastic bins by color and/or type.  

When the Fat Quarter Shop introduced the Sew Scrappy Spools QAL, designed by Lori Holt with Bee In My Bonnet, I chose the bin that just won't close - i.e., the Batiks! 

About half of the batik scraps are now pressed to get started. I pulled a piece of greenish/ gray yardage for the spools and very quickly, the first 8 blocks are done. 

Introducing - Aurora Sails Quilt Pattern

*New Pattern Release*

Size:  70" X 94" 

Designer/Maker:  L' Fair Quilts

It started with this quirky little sail block, then I added color upon color and compatible shapes.  The Aurora Sails Quilt Pattern , published by Black Cat Creations, is now my new favorite to make.  Sometimes a pattern comes along that is just plain hard to get through ... you love the quilt, just not fond of the process.  I LOVED the process.  There is enough variety not to become bored and comes together with ease. 

The Cover Quilt uses a Moda Fabric line, Ombre Metallic Confetti by Vanessa Christenson. Cutting into this fabric bundle was such a joy, with a surprise always around the corner as the blocks were sewn.  

Size:  46" Square 

 

A smaller version, using a showstopper focal fabric from Maywood Studio, Veranda Collection.  I wish I had purchased more when the line came out, because this quilt would have been much larger. The green  fabric is from designer  Heather Mulder Peterson, Deck the Halls Line.  Perfect size for a table topper or crib.

Size:  22" Square

And....because I had such fun with the little Sail Blocks, I made a small BONUS wall hanging or pillow cover.  The fabrics were left over from the original quilt, Ombre Line.

 

Show and Tell - Allegro Quilt

 

A very scrappy version of the Allegro Quilt was so much fun to make.  I waited until all the blocks were laid out before auditioning the inner border.  This particular version screamed green.    The recipient was a young girl who loves pink, so it made a perfect pairing.

Pattern:  Allegro 

Published by:  Black Cat Creations

Maker/Quilter:  L' Fair Quilts

Size:  69 X 86"

Fabric:  Scrappy

Show and Tell Sunday, Star Cruising Quilt

The Star Cruising monochromatic quilt of greens was made last year, however I am still catching up posts on this blog.  The uniqueness of the quilt center came from a stencil found on Etsy (Native Owl Customs).  I enlarged the stencil to fit the center.  The young high school graduate recipient  loves the outdoors.  

Other versions of this quilt can be found here ... a couple of them were used for Quilts of Valor.

Pattern:  Star Cruising

Published by:  Black Cat Creations

Maker/Quilter:  L' Fair Quilts

Size:  68" X 85"

 

New Pattern - In Motion Quilt

Introducing --- In Motion

I often talk about favorite blocks or vintage designs incorporated in my patterns.  The Irish Chain is one of those favorites, however I wanted something different using a wide variety of fabrics and/or scraps.  

The Motion in this design moves from right to left and uses large background pieces making the movement obvious.

Far Out! ... The Fat Quarter Shop * announced they were expecting a fabric line designed by Maureen McCormick!  My excitement to make this quilt using the Blooming Bunch Fabric Line by Maureen for Moda, was off the chart.  I grew up watching the Brady Bunch (as with many Baby Boomers) and felt the fabric calling me.  SO GROOVY!

The smaller version of In Motion, is using a stash of Aqua/Teals/Turquoise.  When I came up short on variety, I found a small shop on line called Cotton To Quilts  * who sells cute little bundles by color.  The Facets of Aqua / 20 fabrics 8-1/2" X 21" was perfect to fill the gaps. 

* No affiliation - just a fan.  

Pattern:  In Motion

Published by:  Black Cat Creations

Made/Quilted by:  L' Fair Quilts

Large Size:  82" X 92"

Fabric Line:  Moda, Blooming Bunch by Maureen McCormick

Small Size:  54" X 78"

Fabric:  Scrappy/ two color

 

Helping Hands Scrap Quilt

Once a year, our Quilting Bee exchanges blocks for as part of a challenge.  My blocks were monochromatic and a variety of colors.  The sashing is from 1-1/2" strips of black and white scraps and square cornerstones.  It was interesting at best.  

My though process .... I threw the blocks on the wall and started playing with variations.  I settled on the black and white strips to even up the size of each block.  The quilt was donated to our Helping Hands Program for children living in temporary settings.

No Pattern

 

Strike A Chord - Wedding Gift

 

Strike A Chord  -  A wedding gift 

After being widowed in 2016, our sister found love again and was married earlier this year.  We are so happy for her ....  so to celebrate, I made a quilt from one of my latest patterns (Strike A Chord) for the newlyweds.

Contrary to the number of pieces, the quilt came together quickly with strip piecing.  The new couple like the deep warm colors of fall, especially brown.  Using my abundance of fall fabric, I approached the blocks with a scrappier theme.

Pattern:  Strike A Chord

Published by Black Cat Creations

Maker/Quilter:  L' Fair Quilts

Size:  80" Square

Show and Tell: On Key / Mini and Large Quilt

 

After making the large On Key Quilt, (below) I still had small scraps left over and decided to make a mini wall hanging.  The center uses several small squares from the Art Gallery Stash, along with the dark blue batik.  Finished size:  24" Square

Pattern:  On Key

Published by:  Black Cat Creations

Maker/Quilter:  L' Fair Quilts

Size:  70" X 91"

String Quartet, Show and Tell

 

How it started .... As a wall quilt designer, my ideas morph gradually looking for their own direction.  The Irish Chain is a favorite, however not unique.  I knew the Plus (Cross) Units had to be in the design somewhere, so they landed in the border.  

A love for string blocks definitely had a heavy influence with the next direction.  A quartet of On-Point  Neutral String Blocks replaced the large squares.

The final result is a Rainbow of String Quartets, with gem-like sparkles and melodic movement,  surrounded by the Plus (Cross) accents.  With an Economy exploding around us, the need to use what we have is becoming so important.  

The String Quartet Pattern was published by Black Cat Creations and is available by Download.

Hands2Help, 2021 Comfort Quilts

 

It's that time of the year again .... sewing machines are busy completing comfort quilts for the 2021 Hands2Help Quilt Challenge, hosted by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  This is my 11th year participating and I couldn't be prouder.  

With the Pandemic, I have a feeling this will be the largest collection yet.   Visit the Hands2Help 2021 page on Confessions of a Fabric Addict for a parade of beautiful quilts.

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The six (6) quilts I donated this year, went to Emily, with Aunt Ems Quilts; for her charity Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo.  A side note, Emily also has a You Tube Channel with Sew Alongs and tutorials. 

The first quilt - "Chunky Pinwheels, is a collection of 8" blocks.   Each block contains (4) units with the following pieces:

  

After completing the Chunky Pinwheels, I had a boat load of HSTs, which were a good size to make regular pinwheels.  The next quilt used all of those HSTs, plus many more from my stash. Doing the math, 208 Pinwheels from 832 HSTs!

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Quilt #3, String Quartet (Black Cat Creations), used a stash of Kaffe Fassett strings left over from other projects.  As named, this pattern was designed to use those long skinny pieces.  

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The last 3 quilts are from the "I Love You More" trunk inventory.  The free tutorial is available on Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Good Fortune Mystery Quilt

On Black Friday 2018, Bonnie Hunter, of Quiltville Fame, introduced the first of many clues to her annual Mystery Quilt, called Good Fortune.  Although the clues wrap up in January, it has taken me time to bind, label and deliver to the new owner.

The border is a little different from Bonnie's original design only so I could enlarge the finished size and add something original to my finish.  Bonnie offers a downloadable Good Fortune pattern for this scrappy gem, with detailed instructions and photos.  

For those wanting to participate in the 2020 Mystery, stay tuned and follow Bonnie Hunter's blog "Quiltville's Quips and Snips.  .  She will provide fabric requirements long before the first clue is introduced.  You can also find her on Facebook "Quiltville Open Studio", or Instagram.