Baby Quilt Tutorial

I have several friends and family members adding to their families this year so I have baby quilts to make! Here is an easy one and I decided to take pics as I went in case someone would like to make one like it. This is a great beginner quilt. Here is a pic of the finished top:

First cut 8 rectangles 10″ x 12″ of a solid white. Then cut 8 rectangles of a contrasting fabric. I used batick polka dots. Layer one white and one batik rectangle like this:

Then make two random cuts across the width of the block with your rotary cutter and ruler. I like to use my 6″ x 12″ ruler for this.

Make two more cuts across the middle section only.

Your block pieces for two blocks are all cut! That was easy :). Now swap out the middle pieces of fabric and lay out your pieces in order like this:

Time to start sewing! Stitch the side bits to the center piece and then add the top and bottom strips. I like to work on two blocks at a time. This is what they will look like when you are done so don’t worry that they are uneven now:

Time to trim them up! I use my big ruler and trim them to 8 1/2″ x 10 1/2″.

Here are a couple sets all trimmed up:

Once your block sets are all done, throw them up on the design wall and play until you are happy with the arrangement. Then it is a matter of sewing your blocks into rows and sewing the rows together. You could add a border but I am leaving mine without. It measures 32 1/2″ by 40 1/2″. Here is another look at the finished top:

That’s all there is to it! Tomorrow, I quilt.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. If you have any suggestions for improvement, please let me know! I realize many could figure this out by looking but I was hoping to make a beginner friendly project that anyone qould be successful at.

Until next time…..

Posted in Baby Quilts, Beginner Quilts, Tutorials | 4 Comments

Some thrifty finds!

To those who know me, it is no secret that I LOVE LOVE LOVE thrift shops! I am normally not a shopper but a thrift shop or tag sale provides for me the thrill of finding the ultimate treasure :). 

This past week,  I hit the jackpot! First, I found 6 feedsacks for $1.00 each! I got so excited I forgot to take pics. Silly me. Here are a few other treasures:

I found this little enamelware refrigerator dish for $2. Admittedly, it is not in the best shape but I love it and will put it to use in the sewing room.

I also found this wash board for $5. I always wanted one and this is a great small size to hang in my laundry room. It is called the “Zing King!”

I foind this cool 1934 Royal Touch Control typewriter in nearly perfect condition for my daughter for $15!

I found some other great vintage sewing stuff and 5 needlepoint pieces that I also forgot to take pics of.

But here is the best piece of all. The treasure of the week, month, year…..maybe more! Are you ready? Here is a peek:

I saw even less of this when I bought it. It was folded to the inside and wrapped in MASKING tape! Yikes! I saw enough of it to know I had to have it but really didn’t have any idea what I had until I got it to the car and freed it from its sticky prison. Here are a few more peeks:

Don’t you love those horseshoes?

This quilt top is entirely hand stitched. Here is a look at the stitching:

Now, do you want to see the whole thing in all it’s gorgeous loveliness??? Here you go:

Is this not breathtaking? I had to pinch myself when I found it in with the kitchen towels, wrapped in masking tape with “fabric” written on it. The condition is excellent. I am guessing it dates to the late 1800s.  It measures 72″ x 72″ and except for a few slight ripples in the border, it lays very flat.

Sorry for the pic quality. I am still working on how best to take pics of these. I have folded and refolded this beauty and still cannot believe I own it. So sad that it was unvalued by others but it has a good home here now! I may have to get back into handquilting…..

Hope your travels lead you to treasure as well! Until next time….

Posted in Hand piecing, Thrifting, Traditional, Traditional Quilts, Vintage Fabrics, Vintage Quilts | 3 Comments

Time

Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the extent of my days, let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as a handbreadth and my lifetime is as nothing in Your sight. Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. 

And now Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.  Psalm 39:4-5,7

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Pressing Hexagons

A couple posts back, I showed you a tiny hexagon piece I hand pieced in the car during a trip. I thought you may be interested in how I press the backs. I do not use English paper piecing with my hexagon pieces, I mark the seams and hand piece as any other block. However, when it comes to pressing, I am pretty fussy with these. I ‘twirl the seams to reduce bulk at intersections. This is especially important when working with really tiny pieces! Here is the front again to remind you of what I was working on:

And here is what the back looks like:

In the photo above, you can see my marked seam lines. Here is a close up:

Can you see how the twirled intersections form a tiny tumbling block? I finger press as I piece and press with the iron when it is convenient. In other words, this got pressed when I arrived and the hotel and already had more than 30 pieces in it by then. It is a bit fiddly but I feel the results are worth it. The top ends up very nice and even without any bumps.

Until next time….

Posted in Civil War Repro Quilts, Hand piecing, Hexagons, Traditional | Leave a comment

The loot…..

During our trip to Wisconsin last week, my DH stopped at a few quilt shops. I couldn’t figure out why he was so slow to get on the road and then found out it was because he planned it such that we would arrive in Grayling, Michigan just in time for the Ice House Quilt Shop to open!  He was generous as always :).

First 22 FQs of Judy Rothermel’s 12 Oaks Civil War Repros:

Next a layer cake of Frolic by Sandy Gervais for Moda:

Finally, a Wrapped in Paisly layer cake:

I have never, ever spent this much money on fabric at one time. Ever. But he was not quite done. In the UP, we stopped in Norway, Michigan at Jeri’s Quilt Patch. There I got the set of half yard pieces of Judy Rothermel Civil War repros:

He is the best! Since we got home, I have been going through books and blogs trying to decide what I want to do with these lovelies. I am sure I will come up with something!

Until next time…

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Happy Sunday!

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the WORD of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8

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Back from Wisconsin

We went to visit my family in Wisconsin over the weekend to celebrate my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary. Fifty years is a long time and I am proud of them! They are a fantastic example of working through things and remaining committted no matter what. That seems rare these days. Congrats Mom and Dad!

I worked in the car on the way there and back on a few items. First I FINALLY finished this pair of socks:

The best news about this is that they even fit ME! This pair will be mine, all mine!

I also decided to make a very tiny honeycomb piece. The hexagons measure 1/2″ on a side:

I worked on some other hand pieced blocks as well and will post them tomorrow.

I am tired but it was a great visit with my parents and siblings. I will post more tomorrow.

Until next time…

Posted in Hand piecing, Hexagons, Knitting, Socks | Leave a comment

Happy 4th of July!

I am thankful every day that I am able to live in the United States of America. There are many things that are not in order here but there is no where I would rather live.

 I have lived overseas, I have visited other countries. I am thankful for the freedoms we enjoy here and I am most grateful for all those who have served and are serving in our military. We owe them a great debt and today I say thank you to all our service people!

This is a quilt I made in the days following 9/11:

Sorry for the skewed picture! This hangs in my front hallway and I cannot get a shot of it straight on. In the stripes, I have machine quilted 2 Chronicles 7:14 which states:

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

This is my prayer for our great nation this day.

Until next time…..

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

31 Days of Diary Blocks…

Well, I did it. I made a block for every day for a month. Here is the last installment:

And here is a picture of all 31:

The piece in the lower right hand corner is part of another project on the design wall.  So the question now is, what do I do with 31 blocks???? Hmmm…..I am taking a break from the block a day due to vacation. This has been a fun project and I may well pick this up again when vacation is over.

We are heading to Wisconsin this weekend to celebrate my Mom and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary. Happy 50 Years Mom and Dad!

We will spend 8-9 hours in the car each way so tomorrow I will be getting my project basket together. I love working in the car! I want to try a bit more embroidery with the perle cotton and that is where I am headed with this little piece:

But I may change my mind…..LOL! I also have a sock to finish and some handpiecing of some older Grandmother’s Flower Garden blocks made from fabrics I bought in Holland.

Until next time….

Posted in Journal Quilts | 3 Comments

My backyard in the morning…

….is a wonderful place to be in the summer! Grab a cup of coffee and visit a while.

That oak tree to the right is my favorite tree in the yard. It was on clearance at the end of the summer a few years back and it was the scrawniest, half dead looking thing you ever saw. It is now the straightest, most lovely tree we have! It keeps its leaves until spring and drops them just before the new ones come out. 

Hope you enjoyed this little visit. Come again soon! Until next time…

UPDATE:  I just found out my page made it into WordPress’ Photography page. W00t! If you are here because of that link, check out the posts in my Photography category (link in the sidebar). As always, enjoy looking but please don’t take and use without permission! Thanks!

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