Block #18

I chose the block for this week just because I liked it.

It is Mosaic #19 from EQ7 (9" block). It reminds me of some of the Farmer's Wife Quilt blocks.

For this one you will need -

Light Background -

2 - 3+1/8" squares for the half square triangles (HST) in the corners of the block

Dark Background -

1 - 5+3/4" square for the fast flying geese (FFG) (this measurement is slightly different from EQ7)
2 - 3+1/8" squares, cut in half on the diagonal, these will go around the center square

Print A (mine is the green and gold/red print)-

4 - 3+1/8" squares for the FFG

Print B (mine is dark red)

2 - 3+1/8" squares for the half square triangles (HST) in the corners of the block

Print C (mine is the red print) -

1 - 3+11/16 square for the center

Sew the center unit by surrounding the center print C square with the dark background triangles.

Trim this unit to 5" square.

Make the half square triangles with the light background squares and the print B squares. (HST - draw a diagonal line, layer the two fabric squares, stitch ¼" on either side of the line, cut on the line....). Press the seams to the background fabric (ignore the picture - I had to go back and re-press the seam allowances - it will make sense when all the units are sewn). Trim the four HST to 2+3/4" squares.

With the large dark background square and the four print A squares make four fast flying geese.

Here are some online FFG instructions.

Trim the four FFG to 2+3/4" x 5" rectangles.

All the units are ready to be sewn together in the regular nine-patch method.

The seams are a bit bulky where the points of the FFG and the center unit meet - I used lots of steam. Trim the block to 9½".

I made the second one the same way.

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

Quilting Weekend

It has been a wonderful long weekend (today is Louis Riel Day in Manitoba). I have been working on machine quilting the pinwheel quilt.

Just the borders left to quilt. The quilting is slow-going because when I sew at a normal faster speed the bobbin case slips out of place -

and the thread gets caught. See the little knife on the left side of the picture - my finger has so many little cuts in it! You would think I would learn!!
The black bobbin case should look like this -

I'll schedule a check-up for it after I have finished all the quilt along blocks.

We have also been having lots of fun outside too.


I have never seen so much snow here.

The snow drifts are so high that we look down on trees and

hop over a 6 foot fence!

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

Friday Night Sew-In Results

Last night I finished the stay-stitching (quilting in the ditch) on the pinwheel quilt,

And started on the free motion quilting - feathers in the black pinwheels.

It is the first time I have stay-stitched a quilt, and I don't know if I like how it looks on the back of the quilt - that is why I only did them one way. Maybe once all the quilting is finished the straight lines will "disappear"?

Thank-you to Bobbi and Heidi for hosting the FNSI.

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

Friday Night Sew-In

Tonight is the Friday Night Sew In hosted by Crafty Vegas Mom.

I am working on the pinwheel quilt. I added the borders and got it all ready for quilting.

I am quilting it in the ditch with a walking foot and Invisafil thread (Aurifil in the bobbin) to start with, then I'll do some free motion quilting.

I am using my regular quilting set up.

There was a blizzard over night (started yesterday afternoon).

This morning there was just high winds and blowing snow,

by this evening things had calmed down, just lots of snow drifts left.

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

OWOH Winner!!

One World One Heart has been so much fun! It has been wonderful checking out all the new-to-me blogs! Today is the day to announce the winner.

I am thrilled to say that the winner of my little quilt is Lynn Stevens from Trash to Treasure Art!!! Check out her beautiful art! I would love to try mixed media art - maybe one day.

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

Block #17

This week I chose "Ohio Star" from EQ7 (I made one slight adjustment- more later).

It was a quick, easy block too make.

You will need -

Background (this patterns works well with a directional fabric) -

1 - 4¼" square - for the hourglass units (this is where I made the change - EQ7 calls for a 4+3/16" square for a 9" block, but 4¼" works better - the hourglass will be trimmed)

4 - 3½" squares for the corners

Print A (mine is dark green)

2- 4¼" squares - for the hourglass units

Print B (mine is gold) -

1- 4¼" square - for the hourglass units

Print C (mine is red) -

1 - 3½" square -for the center

To make the hourglass units start by making half square triangles with one background square and one print A square, and one print B square and one print A square. Draw a diagonal line and sew ¼" on either side, cut along the line.

Here are the four half square triangles (note the colours - 2 with print A and background, and 2 with print A and print B). Press the seams towards print A.

Repeat the HST process, this time pairing a print A/B HST with a print A/background HST, locking the seams together.

Trim the resulting four hourglass units to 3½" squares.

I pressed the seams open at the center of the hourglass to reduce bulk.

Now all the pieces are ready to be sewn together in the regular nine-patch method.

Trim the block to 9½".

I made the second one the same way - can you tell we are coming to an end!?
I originally thought this block was too simple, but it is such a classic block that I wanted to include it. Lots of variations can be made - it could have another hourglass in the center or a four patch, as long as all the units measure 3½", also the print B could be replaced with background fabric (standard classic Ohio Star).

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

Alternating Blocks

Last year when I made Rachel's (p.s. i quilt) Pinwheel quilt I saw pinwheels everywhere.


Now that I am making the Quilt Along quilt, I see quilts with these Alabama Variation blocks everywhere!

Here are some to check out -
from the EQ Blog.
from A Passion for Applique - not quite the same, but I love the look with the Hop to It blocks.
from Sew Karen-ly Created, the blocks are set on point and "scrappy".
from Bountiful Heirlooms - she is making a Lori Smith quilt, I love how the blocks extend into the border.
I saw another one where the blocks seemed to float (the backgrounds of the blocks were the same as the diamonds created by the alternating blocks) - but I can't remember where I saw it.
The Alabama blocks are a great alternating block (even if I do say so myself!!).

There was a beautiful sunset tonight.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping!!♥

Pinwheels

I finished piecing all the pinwheels for the quilt that my youngest designed.

He made about 6 of the blocks. They are 12" blocks, the quilt is 48" x 60" so far. I will add a border. It is one of my projects for the PhD Challenge.
I was originally going to have a small green inner border, but have decided against it.

I had made an green pinwheel, but decided not to use it, so I added some applique and some foil batting - now it is a hot pad (12" square). I did the applique and free motion quilting with Invisafil.

I had lots of problems with my sewing machine when I was free motion quilting - the bobbin case kept jumping out of its proper place. I vacuumed the whole machine very well, changed the needle a few times, and it seems to be working fine now. When I bought my machine almost two years ago, I had one for a week and it kept doing the same thing - the store replaced the machine with the one I have now. I hope this isn't a problem with Husqvarnas?!

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

BOM's

I finished February's Granny's Hankie BOM.

This is a 16" block - the applique pieces are nice and big. This pattern works so well with machine freezer paper applique - lots of fun to make (very beginner friendly).

A new BOM starts on Esther's Blog in two days - something else to think about!

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

Udates

Phyllis (no blog) sent me some fabulous pictures of her Quilt Along blocks.

Phyllis is also from Manitoba! I was thrilled that she sent me some pictures - they are wonderful!! Thanks Phyllis!

This is Needled Mom's quilt along blocks. I love the fresh, bright colours she chose and the contrast she created with the alternating blocks - stunning!!

February's Granny's Hankie BOM came out yesterday. I have prepared all the applique pieces and they are waiting to be stitched down.

I have also been having fun "zentangling". Just paper and pencil for now - it is lots of fun. I found a great web site for zentangle pattern ideas (with explanations) - Tangle Patterns.

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

PhD Challenge Update

I have been working on my two projects for Myra's PhD Challenge.

I am really starting to enjoy hand-quilting again. I am using Valdani 35wt cotton quilting thread - which is my favorite for hand quilting. I think I have figured out the quilting designs for the Bear Paw's quilt too.

I finished making all the half square triangles (they are 6½" squares) for D's Quilt too, they just need to be trimmed and sewn into pinwheel blocks.

Last week I won this Zentagles book!!! And it came today!!! Thank-you so much Jill (aka the Quilt Rat)! Zentagles is an art form that I have been wanting to try.

Jill even signed the book on her project page!

A while ago I also won PDF Cookbooks from Linda (aka Scrapmaster) - thank-you so much Linda - the recipes and quilt pictures are fantastic!!

Four rabbits today - hopefully that is all of them!!

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