Wowza Quilt!

 I follow Missouri Star Quilts on Youtube. When I saw the Wowza quilt that Natalie made, I knew I wanted mine in to be done with a black background fabric. 

A rainbow quilt has been on my to do list. 

This was a fun and easy quilt to make.

Testing!

 

I had always wanted to try the pineapple quilt pattern, but just wasn't interested in doing a quilt size.  Realizing that I had just enough leftover scrappy fabrics, I decided to try making a table runner in a Christmas theme. It's a fun pattern to do! Doubt I'll use this pattern for a larger project since I have other fun projects to do.

A Star is Born!

 

Started the New Year by working on a project that takes a day to complete. These are easy to make! This one is my test block for this tutorial. 

Start with cutting well starched fabrics:

• 5  3x3" squares one for placement fabric and rest for row 1
• 8  3.5x3.5" squares for row 2
• 8  4x4" squares for row 3
• 4  4.5x4.5" squares for row 4
• 4  5x5" squares for row 4 corners
• 1  9x9" square of muslin fabric for grid
• 1  9x9" square for backing

I started with a 9x9 muslin cloth that I folded in half and half again, pressed, and then opened it up flat. I marked those lines (vertical and horizontal) along with lines going from corner to corner. From the center I then marked 1 1/2", 2 1/4", 3", 3 3/4" for the placement lines on the vertical and horizontal lines.

I placed one of the 3x3 blocks in center for starting fabric with edges on that 1.5" marked lines. 

All other blocks minus the 5x5" get folded in half and then half again, and then open last fold. Mark that fold line with a pencil for reference for stitching. Then fold the two corners down towards center marked line to form a triangle and press well. 

Starting with row 1, place 4 triangle fabrics on top of placement fabric making sure to center with vertical and horizontal center lines. Sew down first on the pencil marked line as shown above. Best to use thread color close to fabric color. 

After all 4 triangles are down stitch around as seen in photo above for row 1.

Second row is sewn by first placing 4 of the 8 triangles on the vertical and horizontal markings, and making sure that the tip of those triangles are a 1/2" from center.

Block will look like this. By sewing down the triangles individually one is able to sew them down more easily. 

Place the last 4 triangles down on the diagonal lines making sure those triangle tips are also 1/2" from center and sew on pencil line. Tack down those 4 triangles in center along open raw edges.

Continue this method for row 3. 

For row 4 do the same for the vertical and horizontal placed four triangles.

Next fold the 5x5" squares in half on diagonal and then fold in half again, press well after each folding.  Open that last fold and mark that line with pencil for easy stitching reference. Then take the two corners and fold them to the center marked line to form a square. Now place those squares in the corners along the diagonal lines and stitch down. 

Trim to a 7x7" square. Place batting down along with insulbrite on top of wrong side of backing and then place trimmed top right side up on top. 

Stitch around edge of last row through all the layers. Then stitch around the edge of potholder.

Make binding from 2.5" strip folded in half. Decide on how wide for the top of binding and then stitch down on top of potholder.  Turn binding over and then stitch down either by hand on back side or by machine stitch.  If machine stitching, then stitch from the top by using the stitch in the ditch method. 

Baby It's Cold Outside!

 Made a snuggly quilt using a minky blanket that I picked up at Bass Pro Shop recently.

The motif screams camping. I just had to get it! 

I decided to use up leftover Christmas fabrics to turn it into a quilt.

Irish chain pattern is quick to cut and assemble.  I did minimal quilting, spacing six inch apart for the rows.

The rest of the quilt is held together by small stitches that hold a decorative knot in the center square of the nine patch blocks. 

This is the last quilt and project for 2024. Staying warm and resting until the New Year arrives!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Found a double-side black quilted fabric and used scraps from previous Christmas projects for the balls and garland. 

Let's Sew

 

This pattern is from Missouri Star, disappearing four patch. 

The theme is sewing since some of the fabrics have a sewing motif. 

I'll use this in my sewing room to cover my huge roll of batting.

Sorbets!

 

And remembering a cheerful bedroom I had as a teenager. I shared a bedroom with my older sister. After my sister moved out of the house, the bedroom was mine to decorate as I pleased. I told my mom that I wanted an orange and pink room.  

The walls were painted off white/pink, the bedspreads were orange, and the curtains made from sheets that had a cute poppy print of orange and pink flowers. My mom made the curtains. I loved that color combination. It was a cheerful room!

I loved that color combination so much that I decided to make a quilt using those colors. Since I didn't have a pattern in mind to use for the fabrics, I waited until I saw the Blueberry Kisses quilt. I knew that was the pattern for this quilt. As I was working on the quilt, all I could think of were sorbets- cheerful and cool!

The Lone Star

 

I started this quilt in April while taking care of my mom's taxes and taking care of her estate. At times I felt like the lone star, will this ever come together and be done. 

This process of assembling the quilt went faster and with less frustrations than dealing with financial institutions. I knew the quilt would get completed!

The back of the quilt is simple since I feel the front needs all the attention, like alone star.

There is a pattern to the star, just not as pronounced as some lone star patterns. For me this pattern complements the floral fabric used on the back. A field of flowers for my mom, who must have felt like a lone star after the love of her life, my father, had passed. Peace!!

Healing My Soul

 

This is a Sue Pritt kit from her Sweet Seasons collection. When I saw this kit, I knew I had to have it. For some folks, cardinals can represent a lost love one and bring comfort when they see a cardinal. And that is true for me. These cardinals represent my parents. The eyes of another bird in the birdhouse represent my brother who passed away in 2022. 

They will keep me company as I quilt to heal my soul!

Chirps!

My son loves the Sparrow quilt that I made last year. He likes it so much that he asked if I could make him a smaller version for him to hang up in his apartment. 

He wanted the same fabric colors too. Luckily I did have some leftovers, just enough to produce this cutie for him. It will be one of his birthday gifts.