First Finish for 2026

The first flimsy is finished! It has felt as though I've not really been sewing much so far this month, but to be able to say I finished a quilt top by the middle of the month (I finished it on the 15th) feels like at least something is being accomplished! Yay!

My dear, dear friend Sharon gifted me a Layer Cake for Christmas - Emma by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda. She thought, and I agreed, that this would be a great baby quilt for our new granddaughter who will be arriving in April. 

I cut this out at the end of December so it was ready to go the minute we got settled into our Florida routine. Since I've made this pattern before, it was a snap to stitch up. 

If you have an extra Layer Cake that you don't have planned for anything, you ought to try this! The best part is that the waste is absolutely near zero. Let me simplify the steps for you.

1. Pair up a light and a dark from the Layer Cake (LC). Should end up with 21 pairs.

2. From each pair, cut 1 - 5" square. Set aside.

3. Cut 2 rectangles, 5" x 2.5". Set aside.

4. Cut 4 squares, 2.5".

5. Match up opposing combinations. See picture above. Each pair will be an opposite of one another. 

6. Stitch in 9-patch fashion and then sew the top, chain piecing in Eleanor Burns method. 

Easy-Peasy. 

Once I finished the top, I experienced that lost feeling of being indecisive over what to do next. I have several options, so I won't be wallowing in doubt for long.  

To see my other Layer Cake quilts using this pattern, click here to see 2 in one post - mine and Sharon's. Helen has made one, too. Scroll down for her purple and green quilt. 

We all love an easy and fast project!! 

As soon as we get back to Ohio, I MUST get that long arm going again and quilt up this newest flimsy. That baby will be here almost as soon as we return.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

 

Binding One Quilt

Just before the knee replacement, I quickly quilted two quilts with the intention of hand stitching the binding while I elevated and iced my knee. Since I did not get the bindings sewn on, this task has been a priority now that I am able to navigate the stairs to the quilting room and move about there, as well.

I stitched the binding onto the smaller of the quilts a couple days ago, and then stitched it down a day or two later. Instead of finishing it by hand, I opted for the machine just to have it done faster. I have gotten pretty good at doing bindings this way, so I felt pretty confident that it would go fine and look good. And it does!

The quilt is a layer cake quilt using Lydia's Lace by Betsy Chutchian/Moda. The binding came from my box of extra bindings. It is a red floral from an old 3 Sisters/Moda line (I forget the name of the line, it's been so long) and it works great with this quilt.

You know how I love to use from the stash, and all of this quilt is exactly that. I had the layer cake and no particular plan for it; I had the backing (Kim Diehl)  left from an earlier project; I had the binding from way-way back. Excellent use of existing stash on hand!

Next up in the binding department is 9-Patch Strippy; it will get a reddish binding, too. I had a yard of this Primitive Gatherings fabric, so I decided it would be a fine binding. This is a big quilt, so I used just about all of the piece to make the binding. I have yet to attach it; I will post those details when I've accomplished the task.

Here's the quilt again, just to jog your memory.

I'm stoked to find myself more willingly going to the long arm machine to get these quilt tops quilted. I recently found a good deal on backing fabric and bought 5 for a pretty good price. Wouldn't it be great if I could use all 5 backings before Christmas? I think I can do it! I really want to do it!

Since I have significantly slowed down with the making of new quilt tops, it only stands to reason that I must be picking up on the quilting of existing tops. Motivated - that's what I am.

Hope you are motivated to be getting some things done, too!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Easy Layer Cake Throw

Back in April at our retreat in Jamestown, Sharon made an impromptu quilt from a layer cake which has inspired several of us since then.

Here is Sharon's quilt and a link to the post with more details.

Helen also made one and shared it at one of our Friday gatherings. These are just so satisfying in a couple of ways. First, there's no waste of fabric, as the entire 10" block is used. Second, they make up so fast, since a layer cake only has 42 pieces of fabric, you know from the get-go that it will be quick.

Within a month or so, I had one of my own made. I used a Betsy Chutchian layer cake from her line Lydia's Lace. Here's a link back to that.

About a week ago, I quilted it. Yay! It's such a small quilt, and it gave me good practice at perfecting my freemotion skills. Each quilt I do is giving me more and more confidence.

I determined from the start that I was going to be non-fussy about how this worked up. I would try to do my best, but also improvise a bit and be inventive, if possible. Grow my confidence, definitely.

I've got a binding pulled from my box of scrap bindings. Believe it or not, I have more than enough of a perfect burgundy binding all ready to go, and will be more than enough to bind this small quilt.

 Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne 

My Hands Have Been Busy

While my fingers have not been clicking away here on my laptop writing blog posts, my hands have been super-busy with a couple of projects.

I have a whole lot to say about my Grandmother's Flower Garden, but I will hold that for the next post. Today, I will quickly share a fast and super-easy layer cake project.

Sharon inspired me when she made this pretty throw-sized quilt from a layer cake of French General fabric. She created this beauty so fast - like in two days! - and the result is so pleasing that I just knew I had to make one, too. 

Of course I had many options, as my supply of layer cakes is bigger than I care to admit. I selected the newest one in the stack - one I bought in Daytona at the AQS Quilt Show. This is Lydia's Lace by Betsy Chutchian/Moda. With little to no effort I had mine completed.

I know there are patterns you can find on the internet, but one is not needed.  It's very easy; beginner friendly, for sure. And there's absolutely zero waste. That's almost as good as having a super-fast quilt.

Step 1: A layer cake has 42 fabrics in it, so match up 21 pairs consisting of a light and a dark. From each pair, cut in fourths. You'll have 4 stacks of  5" squares. Take out a light and dark square for the center of the blocks. 

Step 2: Cut 4 light and 4 dark of these sizes: 2.5" squares and 2.5" x 5" rectangles. Refer to the pictures if you need a visual.

Step 3: Working with the predetermined pairs, put all the dark squares with the light rectangles; put all the light squares with the dark rectangles. Stitch like you would any 9-patch block.

Step 4: Arrange the blocks to suit your eye. Sew rows for a quilt that will be 6x7 rows total.

Now, let me tease you with an update on Grandmother's Flower Garden. I have the center portion all together! I began stitching the flowers to the paths in January and have worked on it in earnest ever since. Here we are in mid-May and I have it all together. Now on to borders.

This is the very last flower to be sewn into the quilt top. I am now searching the stash to come up with a pretty solid to use as a border. And one more thing - I have a gazillion hexi papers to remove, too. *grin*

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Sweet Ruby And Her Quilt

In yesterday's post, I alluded to the two tiny baby girls not yet ready to be included in such pictures as that one of the 'big kids' sitting on the garden steps. I'd like to introduce you to the newer of the babies - tiny little Ruby Jean, who is now about 5 weeks old and trying her hardest to grow and become strong. My niece Abby and her husband Stephen have a sweet, agreeable, and content little darling to love on.

 

She looks tailor-made for the quilt from Great-Aunt Jayne, doesn't she? Ruby is the perfect little bundle for this easy layer-cake creation I made earlier this year.

 

In the few visits I've made in which Ruby was around, I've never actually seen her eyes as she's always been sleeping. This picture of her with eyes wide open gives me a good idea that she looks remarkably like her two-year-old big brother Boone.

The quilt pattern is an easy one to construct from a layer cake, and results in a baby quilt of ample size. I've made several and it does not require a border. I hope Ruby loves her quilt! I tell all the new moms who get a quilt from me that they should let their kiddos wear them out! I will gladly make another one if their first one falls apart. 

Baby season in our family continues! I still need to share grand-niece McKenzie Mae and her quilt. McKenzie was born in January, and coming in September our daughter Emma will be adding another little girl - our 2nd granddaughter! They and their quilts will be introduced here by and by.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

McKenzie Mae’s Quilt

Edit: In the end, since I don't see Will and Krisit as often as I see Abby and Steven, I gave this quilt to Abby when Ruby Jean was born. I have another baby quilt made for a little girl, so it will go to McKenzie Mae at a later date.

While we were gadding about in Florida this past winter, my nephew Will and his wife Kristi had their second baby, a little girl named McKenzie Mae. I finally got to meet her on Mother’s Day when the family gathered at my sister’s and she is adorable! That tiny little face and with her tiny, button nose seems almost too perfect; she knits her brow just like her big brother Archie, as if she's trying super-hard to figure out all that's going on around her.

Of course, I knew she was to be a January baby and made her quilt early on - maybe as early as September. I love using layer cakes for this particular pattern. It goes together really fast and makes a perfectly-sized baby quilt.

 

I no longer have exact info concerning the fabric, but I am pretty sure it is a Riley Blake line called Emma. (Having a daughter named Emma helped me recall!) I do remember that there was a really sweet deal at one of the on-line shops I follow in which layer cakes were on sale. I got several, and I specifically bought baby- or youth-themed lines for all the babies which seemed (at the time) to be coming droves.

 

 

This is my 3rd baby quilt using this same pattern from layer cakes. It just doesn't get much more basic than this: match up pairs in your layer cake, and cut the pairs together. Cut from each pair 1-5.5" square; 2-5.5" x 2.5" rectangles; 2-9.5" x 2.5" rectangles. This leaves only a tiny 1" x 5.5" piece of waste. Perfect.

I quilted with a somewhat tighter, denser design and used curliques rather than a stipple pattern. I am so thrilled with the results - the tension was spot-on and I mostly did a good job with my free-motion quilting.

 

I finished the binding by machine stitching rather than by hand, since it’s likely to be laundered regularly. 

And now another baby quilt is ready to be delivered. I am sure to see sweet McKenzie Mae throughout the summer; this will be delivered soon.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

A Reveal!

Sorry I've been away from blogging for awhile. I hosted 2 women's events this week, and we got called to Columbus for an unexpected day of babysitting for our granddaughter, consequently tending to details here at JQR sorta' fell way down on my to-do list.

With that all behind me, let's get back to talking quilts.

I've been slow to restart my quilting gears this year what with that 3-month snowbird getaway. Finally, now in mid-May, I’m getting back into the groove and at last, I’ve got some projects and finishes to share! 

First, let's focus on the quilt that waited all those long 3 months strung out on the long-arm frame - Floral Explosion. I put it on the frame before Christmas with the hopes that I'd be able to quilt it and take it with me to Florida. The tension on my machine had other ideas, though, and I could foresee problems, so I left it. Just walked away all through the holidays and then all through those snowbird months.

 

I didn't even really try to address the tension issues for a good long while after we returned to Ohio. Troubleshooting tension requires tremendous focus which I was sorely lacking.

There comes a point in time, however, that one has to engage the 'mind over matter' mentality. I had so many quilts to get done! Baby quilts especially. I needed that machine to work properly. 

Yes, it was as aggravating as I expected. It actually took me a couple of sessions before I finished the quilt. I am not entirely happy with the results, but done is better than nothing, and a finish is something to celebrate.

I admit to having some ambivalence toward this quilt. There are definitely so many things to love. I love all the happy florals. I love the simplicity of the big 9-patches. I love that I shopped the stash for borders and backing. I love that I used a layer cake (below) with very little waste.

But for the poorly-managed tension, the quilt would be perfect. Alas, I will use it here for my own purposes, and ignore how dreadful the back of the quilt looks.

Details on the quilt: I bought the layer cake in 2022 at Mae-Lynne Makers while on retreat. Last year, at the '23 retreat, I made the 9-patch blocks and constructed the quilt center. (In re-reading that post, I mention that I wasn't planning to add borders; I am glad I had a change of heart on this!) This post focuses on border issues. The borders, backing and binding are all from existing stash, and are similar to the happy, spring-like flowers represented in the layer cake. The backing is pieced, and the binding is hand-stitched. The size is 67"x75". Nice for draping over the back of the couch.

I am happy to report that since correcting the long-arm tension, I have successfully finished 2 more quilts. I love how the quilting looks - both top and bottom threads appear to be perfect! It sure is satisfying to complete the quilting process when all systems are working properly. 

And, yes, I will definitely be sharing both finishes in upcoming posts! 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Buckaroo Baby Quilt

A few months ago, several members of our quilting group (The Frankfort Girls) were on a clearing out and giving away sort of mood. Completely unplanned and independent of each other, several went through closets, drawers, and/or storage tubs and came away with a few things they knew they no longer wanted or needed. I was a lucky in this paring down phase as I nabbed a layer cake of Sasparilla which Terry was relinquishing. Seems as though I almost immediately knew I needed yet another baby quilt, and this would be perfect.

I have now made 3 baby quilts using this same design from layer cakes. And it doesn't get much more basic than this - from a 10" square (layer cake size) cut 1-5.5" square, 2-2.5"x5.5" rectangles, and 2-9.5"x2.5" rectangles. That leaves only a bitty piece as waste - 1"x5.5" for the trash. 

I cut this quilt out on Sunday, and had it all stitched up on Monday. A full layer cake will make a quilt 6 blocks by 7 blocks. The blocks will be 9.5" square, and thus the quilt should measure 57"x66.5".

The first quilt I made like this has been gifted to baby Henry L. I made the quilt kit in January for stitching while we were in Florida. That worked out so well. When I learned of these 2 upcoming births - both in January - I knew exactly what I would make. One is for my nephew and his wife who will welcome baby #2, a little girl. 

I don't seem to be able to find a post on my nephew's quilt; maybe I was holding off until I quilted it. Anyway, here's a picture of the blocks. I do have the top sewn together, and most likely, it will be on the longarm this week.

This third quilt, Buckaroo, is for daughter Emma's long-time friend Laura and her hubby. They will become first-time parents.

I am attempting to find suitable backing fabrics for these two quilts from my existing stash. I have every hope that I can come up with something.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

A Floral Explosion

I intimated very recently that borders are like cryptonite to me. I really balk or stall out on adding them, and more often than not lately, I am leaving them off all together.

So today I basically made a liar out of myself.

Here's what I did. I added not just one border but 4 borders to a little quilt I made back in September.

Geesh.

 At the retreat in Nelsonville, I used 3" squares made from an entire layer cake to make this lap quilt. At the time, I considered it finished, and was totally pleased with it. I knew it would be a small quilt, measuring 45"x53", but I didn't mind. I would use it somehow, somewhere.

Well, earlier this month, I came across two similar floral prints in my stash that had no specific project assigned to them. Hmmm...maybe I would add borders to this little quilt, after all.

Laid out here next to the quilt, I liked the way these blend together so well. I had an idea that I would do a small off-white border between them and the quilt, and I would greatly increase the size by doing so.

I have increased a 45"x53" lap quilt to a whopping 67"x75". Mercy! To be sure, I was questioning myself as I added that final blue border - golly, what a lot of measuring and cutting and pinning. But now that it's done, I am glad I did it. The quilt is so much more appealing having the framing of the borders to set off  the center.

I still have no fondness for borders, but I definitely know that some quilts are better when they have them. Instead of being so eager to be finished and move on to the next quilt, I need to to what all quilters tell us -  enjoy the process! I do. Most of the time.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Planning and Prepping

It seems doggone near impossible lately for me to maintain an interest in regular posting to this blog. I think it's because I have slowed down so very much in my productivity. There's a direct correlation between the amount of sewing and the amount of blogging. Consequently, if I'm not producing as much, I am not writing as much.

So, what have I been doing in the quilting room?

Preparing for a quilt retreat!

A week from today, I will join most of the Frankfort Girls (and a couple of extras) for a 4-day/3-night retreat at Needles n' Pines over in Nelsonville. It's the same retreat center we go to several times a year, and we always have such a wonderful time together.

Being productive is the name of the game at a retreat, so I should have a few things coming up for future blog posts.

 

I have cut one layer cake into 3" squares for a fun and fast quilt. I bought this layer cake last year while at retreat, and have had as a 2023 goal to make it into something. Wait till you see what I've come up with!

I will be tackling another 2023 goal while there - making a Falling Leaves quilt. I mentioned recently that I've always wanted to make a maple leaf quilt using fall colors, and now I am about to make it a reality. The parts are all cut - I've used only stash fabrics and scraps for this quilt. I have no idea how many individual blocks I will get out of what I've cut, but it will surely give me a whopping start. 

Yet another goal on the '23 list is using my stash of Effie's Woods fabrics in a quilt for my granddaughter. No, she doesn't need another quilt, as my daughter will tell me, but I can't help making 'just one more' for her. I seem to have accumulated quite a bit of this line thanks to my friend Jan who gave me all her remnants after she finished a quilt using Effie's Woods. I have picked up additional pieces along the way, so I will peruse my options for easy, scrappy-style quilts.

Lastly, I'd really like to continue tackling that '23 goals list by using my Winnemucca fabric. Click here to go back to read about the fabric I purchased last summer while vacationing out west. I have no firm plans as yet, but I do see either star blocks or churn dash blocks using this little collection. Or pinwheels blocks. Or 9-patch blocks. Or chains across a quilt with any of the above blocks. Lots of options still under consideration!

So, if asked what I've been up to lately instead of blogging, I guess I'd have to say I've been planning and prepping. Activity like that does not really translate well to blogging content.

Have a great week! It promises to be a hot, busy week here at my house.

Happy Quilting, Friends!