Thimbles Quilt is Finished!

The Thimbles quilt is finished! There are little stars embroidered on the thimbles and a red running stitch along the light green inner border. I never get tired of using novelty fabrics to add little surprises here and there.

Thank you for your suggestions about this quilt!

Checkers Quilt Makes a Fresh Start

This checkered quilt has a new name: "Checkers."  

The first name "Nantucket" and the focus on the quilt's nautical characteristics was a little confusing. So I'm simplifying things. Here's the pattern.

I'm finishing the Thimbles quilt today. Photo coming soon! Thanks for your input on that one.

Spider Web Selvage Quilt

This selvage quilt by Tanya in Utah was featured on her Squares and Triangles blog. She used an 18 degree Dresden Plate ruler to cut the azure "background" shape. She likes the squared off shapes of the webs. Notice the bright orange binding too. Great job Tanya! 

Mom's Cactus Photo

Here's Mom's cactus photo that I told you about yesterday. Isn't it beautiful? She added the photo below to show what the whole plant looks like. Look at all those buds! Nice job, Mom!

P.S. Mom lives in Connecticut, just 30 minutes from me. She likes to visit Arizona to visit her cousin Joan. She always brings home some great photos.

Photo Contest

My mom and I are in a camera club together. At the meeting last night, my photo "Fisher Towers, Utah" was awarded a 9 (the highest possible score). If Mom sends me her cactus photo, I'll show you. That one got a 9 also, but neither of us won "Print of the Month." We had dinner at Panera with another member. It's fun to go out and play with my Mom.

Thanks for all the comments about steam ironing vs. dry. Lots of good thoughts. My non-quilting sister was impressed that we all had so much to say about steam. Haha.

Do You Prefer Steam or No Steam?

When you're piecing quilt tops do you prefer steam or no steam?

I've read dry ironing is better because steam can distort raw edges, but I use steam...the more the better.

How about you?

Thimbles Quilt Needs Something

This is what I'm up to this morning: Thimbles, and lots of "low volume" playful improvisation. But it needs something. I'm trying to figure out what. Maybe something orderly in the border to calm things down. I do like how the thimbles dance across the quilt. I think I like the 4 apples too. Any thoughts?

Nantucket Quilt Pattern!

This classic nautical quilt sparkles with summer colors. The backing and binding are solid ecru, like sails. The ecru ties look like seagulls in the air, and upon close inspection the little knots resemble boat rigging. 

See pattern here.

This pattern is for a quilt 61" wide x 85" long. It will keep your tallest loved one warm and cozy. Perfect size for college dorm beds: XL Twin. Yardage per block is provided so you can easily make your quilt any size you like. 

If you are new to the idea of improvisational quilt design, this pattern is for you! You'll see how to lay out the quilt 2 ways: the traditional way and using improvisation. Directions for optional tying included. 
Skill level: EASY

Have you seen the Harlem Shake?

Here it is. Take a look. Latest Internet dance craze.

Wanna see one more? The Dartmouth College Harlem Shake.

See Leann's son (with the red hat) in Sydney, Australia. The lady waiting for a ferry doesn't know what to make of this! Haha.

Escher Cartoon

***

My sister Eileen sent me this. I think it's from the New Yorker magazine. Haha!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Winter in Litchfield, CT

 

It's a charming winter scene in the center of town. Courthouse above, white Post Office below. It's a nice place to go for a walk and stop for tea. 

Felted Wool Quilt Pattern: Soft and Quirky!

Here it is! The new soft and quirky felted wool quilt pattern: Felted Noodles. The pattern is for the quilt shown below measuring 20" x 25," but you can make it any size. This is fun for fiber enthusiasts and a good project to do with kids too. Little fingers can tie the knots. And how exciting it will be to see it after felting!

Lots of clear, step-by-step instruction photos. 17 Pages. Easy. Supply list, handy tools, method that's gentle on the hands, ways to use thick yarns, more quilt photos, and lots of "What If" inspiration. 

Below: Solid color basic noodle. Doesn't it remind you of the spiky trees in a Dr. Seuss book?

Only $5, so there's more left for fabric. Fast, free email shipping. Good group/class project.

Happy quilting!

Gail Griffin's New Raw-Edge Tile Quilt!

This is Gail Griffin's stunning new raw-edge tile quilt. I like how the circles and ovals keep your eye moving. Take a look at those flowers in the corners too. So artistic. Here's what she said about it:

I finished my raw edge tile quilt top and have attached a photo. It was a lot of fun to make and I enjoyed the process. It made me feel like an artist! There is an orange block, several Christmas blocks, a couple of red, white and blue blocks, and a block that shows all the states I've lived in. Great pattern - thank you!

Want to make one? See Raw-Edge Tile quilt pattern.

New Pattern Coming Soon

I've been experimenting with felted quilt ties. It took 7 (small) quilts to climb the learning curve. That's because I was starting from scratch, and wondering "What if?" Those favorite quilter's words. (After "I'll take a yard of each one!") This pattern is almost finished. Can't wait to show you.

All the new snow is sparkling this morning. Good day for a walk.

Blizzard Photos

The storm is over and we have 2 feet of snow! It's very windy. You can see the snow blowing in the photo above. That's my quilt room porch. 

This is the side entrance to our "barn." It's a garage, but it's red, so we call it a barn.

We won't be using this back door any time soon either. So you can see I have no choice but to keep sewing.  Until spring!

I hope you are all safe and warm. I'm not too worried about you quilters in Australia, probably at the beach!

The Blizzard has Started!

Now this is a snowman! From Brunch in April.

The blizzard has started! Don't worry, I made sure I had plenty of fabric. 

Here's some blizzard humor for you:

From the New Yorker magazine (above).

Photo of Chicago blizzard (above).

From TYWKIWDBI. 

Another Way to Tie a Quilt - Sheaf Stitch

Here's a nice "Sheath" stitch for tying a quilt. It's basically three parallel lines cinched in the middle and tied with a square knot. (Sometimes a few words are worth a thousand pictures. Haha.) In the photo above, there are two "arms" that have a shadow under them. Those are the tied ends, sticking up a little.

The loose end in the top part of the photo will be part of the square knot (in photos above and below).

In the photo above, you slide the needle under the stitch (so you can gather up the 3 parallel stitches into the square knot).

Above, you're ready to tie the square knot.

Trim the ends and you're done.

See "Quilt Knots, Ten Ways to Tie a Quilt."

New Battings Make Tied Quilts a Good Option

Antique quilt from the Iowa-Illinois Quilt Study Group

The NEW battings don't require as much quilting (or tying) to prevent them from shifting around inside the quilt. Warm & Natural cotton batting calls for 10" intervals between quilting/tying. My ties are closer than that, just because it looks nicer.

Recently Sharyn mentioned having to repair some antique tied quilts because the batting had shifted. The new battings aren't going anywhere. This makes tying a better option than it used to be.

What do you think?

Read June Calender's comment.

Cute!

My Mom sent me this. I don't know where she found it. 

(She's 83 and very up-to-date with electronic devices.) 

How to Tie a Quilt, Ten Ways to Tie a Quilt, Quilt Pattern

You might be closer to having a pile of finished quilts than you think! I hope that's true for me because I have 50 UFO's! But not for long.Tied quilts finish fast, and they can be absolutely stunning. Take a look at my new pattern: "Quilt Knots, Ten Ways to Tie a Quilt." One is called "Monster Noodles." Haha!

"Double Woolies" Pattern #2 in "Quilt Knots"

Included are lots of handy tips that I discovered while doing these 10+ projects. I used lots of different materials and tools. I show some of the quilts before and after machine washing and drying. There is a detailed supply list. Even a handy pattern for those occasions when you need it done yesterday. 

Take a look.

Could someone please put this on Pinterest and FB for me? Thanks.  :)

Another Sneak Peek!

Yes this is a quilt! And it's from the same pattern as the photo from yesterday's post. Haha.

I'm almost finished. I'll show you soon. Quilting is so much fun!

Sneak Peek!

This is a photo from my next pattern. Can you guess the topic? I can't wait to get it finished. I woke up early today with a few new ideas so I had to get up and try them before I forgot! Happy quilting!

30 New York City Fabrics

The City Quilter in New York has a fabulous new line of 30 NYC fabrics. The subway dots above would look great in a selvage quilt. (The dots are 1/2" high.) I wonder what the selvages look like.