More Drunkard's Path and a Winner!

First off, the winner of the Drunkard's Path Mug Rug Kit is Patty!! Congratulations!

Thank-you to everyone who entered!! And for all your kind words!!♥

There seems to be a general consensus that curves are scary! And before the GO! cutter, definitely something I would never have attempted - love the Baby GO!!!

More DP's cut out today!

I had some leftover FQ's from another project and decided to pair it with some white fabric to make a table runner. It took me less than half an hour to cut out 72 blocks! It will take a lot longer to sew.

I was given this book several years ago, and knew that I would never attempt anything.

Now it has given me all kinds of options for the DP blocks.

Who knew!!

I saw this cartoon, from an add in an old Quiltmaker magazine, yesterday! I am waiting for some other Accuquilt dies to come in! LOL

Yesterday I free motion quilted this little wall hanging that a friend made. It is from a McKenna Ryan pattern - something else I never plan on attempting - so many little pieces. It is the first time that I have quilted something for a non-family member - I hope she is pleased.

We have had lots of snow, so the birds have been going crazy at the feeder (I have been filling it twice a day). There was even four Blue Jays at it earlier and a Woodpecker.

The rabbit came right up to the patio door this morning - looking in! I guess the snow had covered up all the food and she/he wanted more!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Block #12

This week's block is a variation of Goose/Turkey Tracks.

This variation is from the book "Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts" by Judy Martin. I chose it because it is called "Breakfast at Tiffany's", a wonderful movie I enjoyed over the Christmas holidays.

This block seems to have lots of pieces, but it went together pretty easily.

You will need-


Background -

4 - 2½" squares (for the corners)
2 - 3¼" squares for the half square triangles (HST)
4 - 1½" x 4½" rectangles

Print A (red) -

2 - 3¼" squares for the half square triangles (HST)
4 - 2+7/8" squares (mine are cut in half, but while sewing I realized that they didn't have to be)
4 - 1+7/8" squares cut in half on the diagonal

Print B (green) -

2 - 2+7/8" squares - cut in half on the diagonal
1 - 1½" square for the center

Print C (blue) -

4 - 1½" squares

With the 3¼" squares (two background and two print A) make four HST (mark a diagonal line on the back a square and sew ¼" on either side, cut on the line, press open). They should be trimmed to 2+7/8" squares.


TIP -
When trimming any of the units, match the diagonal line on the ruler with the diagonal seam, to keep the proportions of the unit. There is lots of trimming in this block.


This is were I realized that the 2+7/8" squares didn't need to be cut in half. You can sew this unit the same way as making HST (with a HST and a print A square)

Because I had cut the 2+7/8" squares in half, I cut the HST in half and stitched them to the print A triangles. Make 8 of these units (they should be 2½" squares when finished).

With the four 1½" print C squares and the 8 small print A triangles (made from the 1+7/8" squares) make these pieced triangles. Sew them to the four print B triangles (made from the 2+7/8" squares). These four units should also measure 2½" square.

The units are ready to be sewn into these four-patches - using the 2½" background square, two of the HST variation units and one of the square/triangle units.

There will be four of these units (trimmed to be 4½" squares).

Now everything is ready to be sewn together, in a regular nine-patch method.

Trim the block to a 9½" square.

Here are some options for the block from the book, I chose the one on the right for my second one.

Sorry about using less pictures/instructions for this one, hopefully it all makes sense.

Joan has finished all of her alternating blocks!!!! Way to go Joan!!

I have really enjoyed seeing everyone's blocks!!! Thanks for sharing on your blogs and Flickr. And for all your kind comments, as well as spreading the word! Thanks!!♥

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Romanian Point Lace

I have been working on the Romanian Point Lace table center.

I have finished crocheting all the braid and tacking it to the pattern. Now just the needle lace/filling stitches to complete.


It always amazes me what happens when I "knuckle down" and work on something!! I really see an end in sight!

I was worried about how to attach the outer braid (pattern is here), but it turns out to be quite easy - just attaching at every point and running the thread through the regular braid.

FYI - The work is all done on the back of the piece. When it is finished the piece will be removed from the pattern and the right side will be revealed - I hope some of the stitches look as good on the right side (the leaves?!).

Here is the finished piece in the Anna magazine.
It finishes to 70cm/27".

And the January 1990 Anna magazine the pattern comes from.

Ileanak has a great new Romanian Point Lace blog.

Downy Woodpecker at the suet feeder today.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Mug Rug

I made a Christmas mug rug and found out that it was more useful than I thought it would be, so this week I made a regular mug rug (drunkard's path of course).

Usually my coffee table (an old trunk) is strewn with coasters, and I found that it looks much neater with one little mug rug.

This one is the colour of spills (the Christmas one had some light fabric - not practical) and I only used one layer of foil batting (the Christmas one also had a layer of wool batting - too tippy) - live and learn!
I used the Baby GO! to cut out the Drunkard's Path blocks and it all went together very quickly.

The secret with the GO! Drunkard's Path blocks is lining up the notches, notice the edges of the two pieces are parallel.

Then using only a few more pins, lining up the sides and the curved edge.

The pieces are sewn together with the quarter circle on the bottom (next to the feed dogs).

Works every time!! The seam is pressed away from the quarter circle.

I have discovered that the Drunkard's Path has lots of possibilities for quilting designs - I chose a feathered wreath for this one - so easy to follow the circle. It is about 8" x 11".

Now for a Give Away!!

I had so much fun making the mug rug, that I made up a little kit for a mug rug (6 Drunkard's Path blocks ready to be sewn (the fabric is Reflections of an Era Past), foil batting, brown backing fabric and the binding) so someone else could try it out.

Just leave me a comment on this post and I will make the draw next Friday (January 14th, 2011) - make sure I have a way to reach you. Good Luck!

The Giveaway is over and the winner was Patty!

I have been blogging for a year now (made some changes to my blog for the new year). It has been such a positive addition to my life. I have met some amazing people and been so inspired! Thank-you!!♥

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Block #11

Back to the Thread Head Quilt Along! I chose an easy one this week, as I get back into the swing of things (this is my last day of Christmas vacation)!

This one has various names - Lady of the Lake, Sawtooth....

You will need -

Background -
1 - Half of a 5+3/8" square for the center
6 - 3+1/8" squares for the half square triangles (HST)

Print (I chose 6 different prints for this) -
1 - Half of a 5+3/8" square for the center
6 - 3+1/8" squares for the half square triangles (HST)

Make the HST with the 3+1/8" squares (draw a diagonal line on a background square, layer with a print square, sew ¼" on either side of the line, cut in half on the line, press open). Trim the 16 HST units to 2+3/4".

TIP - When making HST you can cut the squares larger (in this case - 3¼" squares), and trim the HST to the correct size.

Sew the two 5+3/8" triangles together.

Trim this unit to 5".


All the units are ready to sewn together. (Make sure the HST are in the right direction - I unpicked various seams!)


For the second block I used 5 different prints and 2 background prints (I used one different 3+1/8" square of background and cut it in half along with 2 prints and 1 regular background squares before sewing, so that the HST units wouldn't have the same print and background combination).

Here is the Flickr Link to see what other members have been up to.

If you are new to the Quilt Along or considering joining there are lots of options (different layout options, applique options #1 and #2) using a couple of blocks or all of the blocks.

Recently I have seen this style of quilt on the web. All the same background fabric for the squares and the alternating squares. I really like the way the blocks seem to "pop".

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥

Drunkard's Path

Happy New Year!!!

I have been having fun sewing Drunkard's Path blocks (cut with my new Baby GO!).


I made a wall hanging - no pattern, but I was inspired by the books "Fat-Quarter Quilting" by Lori Smith and "Hop To It! Appliqued Blocks and Projects" by Edyta Sitar. The DP blocks are 3½" and the applique blocks are 7".
It is 21" x 28", using a mix of Bali fabrics and more traditional fabric. I machine quilted it with Invisafil thread on the top and Aurifil 50wt in the bobbin.

I had lots of fun trying out different quilting patterns for the DP blocks.


The applique blocks are machine appliqued with the freezer paper method (tutorial). The quilting was inspired by the Edyta Sitar book (quilted in the ditch around the applique and then echoed ¼" out, the rest of the block is quilted with random designs).

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!♥