A Long-Awaited Reveal

The year has been filled with far more things than quilting, so 2024 is definitely seeing a markedly reduced number of quilt finishes. We are celebrating today the near-finish of Tiny Nine Patches! A whopper of a quilt, she needs only to have her binding attached and a label secured, then she will truly be finished. 

Many previous posts have chronicled the long journey this quilt has made from start to finish. Here's my Reader's Digest condensed version.

She was actually started before I knew what she was going to be. I was making 9-patch blocks out of a huge tub of 1.5-inch squares and strips - all scraps. The amount of scraps in this small size had gotten completely out of hand, so I decided that it would be easiest to just make 9-patches and then figure out what to do with them later.

During the process of completing the 'niners' I found a fun sew-along or a challenge hosted on Instagram by Taryn @reproquiltlover. It looked like a very doable effort, so I joined in. This post describes my initial sewing as well as discovering Taryn.

By February, I was well into the 300s for completed 9-patches. I'd also purchased my background fabric. I loved it in the store, I loved it laid out with my blocks, and I still love it in my quilted finish. It has the look of a faded old quilt and it so nicely sets off all the little 9-patch gems.

I didn't begin sewing the blocks together until we came home, and when I did, I couldn't believe how quickly the entire top went together. I even changed my mind midway into creating a straight-set quilt, opting instead an on-point quilt. Read about that in this post.

Making this has taken me on so many reminiscences! I come across a bit of fabric here and there and there and am reminded of the quilts I made with them. Most have a story, and don't get me started if you are here and we begin pointing out different blocks. I have fabrics from my old projects plus bits from my grandma, and also from a handful of friends. Some represent quilts I have gifted, while others are quilt tops hanging in my closet waiting to be quilted. 

The quilt measures 100x80 inches. In previous posts, I talked about making it a square quilt, but I cut one side down a bit so that I could get it on my long arm machine! 100 inches is just way too big! I calculate that there are over 5400 pieces of fabric used in this 22x20-block quilt. I also have 1.5-inch pieces in the 4-patch border. 

I've linked up with Cynthia and her weekly Oh, Scrap! link party. Go have a look at other scrappy endeavors!

Happily, my small scrap bin is nearly empty!

Yay for a finish!

Hope you have a great week! Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

Lunch Box Social Flimsy

For years I have put Lunch Box Social on my yearly goals list, and for years I have failed to accomplish it. But no more! About a month ago I cut it out with the intention of making it on a sewing day with the girls, and while that did not happen, I did continue working on it through the past few weeks, and today have finished off the top by adding the outer borders.

The pattern is by Kim Diehl, whose designs I just about always like. This one has been around for awhile, like over 5 years, I'm sure, and ever since I saw the one my friend Terry made, I've wanted to make one, too.

And now I find myself wondering why I had such an attitude about doing it! Gosh, it was so simple! There are only 9 blocks needed, and while each block has quite a few pieces, they go together quite easily. I had definitely been making it a bigger job than it was.

The block is made with rather an ingenious method of construction. The center 9-patch measures out at 3.5 inches. Instead of triangles surrounding the 9-patch, you add rectangles. The triangles are formed when the anvils are added to the corners. How nice not to have too many triangles to fuss with. 

Diehl's design also calls for hefty sashing strips, and uses more 3.5 inch 9-patches for cornerstones. My fabrics were all pulled from my stash, and it's quite a variety of old and new. With the goal of scrappy-looking, I really used a lot of variety in the 9-patches. The consistent neutral background and the brown and pink stripe for sashing and block triangles, it really looks more ordered than it might otherwise.

In the last post, I referenced several near-finishes I have in the quilting room. This is one. Now, to check it off the list, and move on to the next one.

I am still fighting the sinus congestion, and I am not happy about it! I have never had a sinus infection linger the way this one is. Ugh.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Starting Again

It seems my case is hopeless. Some quilters have the ability to finish one thing before starting another, but I am not one of them. 

I'm sorta' happy about it, too.

Some of my most enjoyable moments in the entire quilting process come when I am starting a new quilt. Finishes do feel good, don't get me wrong. Taking the last stitch in the quilt top or the quilting or the binding - all those rank right up there on the satisfaction meter. Honestly, though, I believe starting something new beats them all.

I mentioned in this post that I was super-inspired by Sheryll's Ohio Star quilt when we had show and tell last Friday morning. That quilt stayed on my mind all weekend! So, yesterday, I finished up some partial blocks for my 4-patch scrappy quilt, then rewarded myself by allowing ONE block. 

Just a test block, you know. To be sure of the size of my cuts and all that. Yes. 

I've made no more, but I have parts for 3 more cut out. *smile* I tell myself that these can only be made once work has been completed on current WIPs.

And speaking of current WIPs - the Scrappy 4-Patch is coming right along. I have gazillions of 4-patches made, pressed and trimmed. Several had the first round of corner triangles added, and now the final round has been added on these.

As it is a scrappy quilt, I am allowing the 4-patches to be as wild and random as can be. For example, that one on top has a Kaffe Fasset scrap, a shirting scrap, a juvenile scrap, and a calico floral scrap. Quite the mish-mash. The surrounding red is consistent, to give order to the madness. The shirtings are all varied, too. As the quilt comes together, the red seems to do well enough in preventing too much chaotic.

Stitching this week might have to take a back seat to housework. I am hosting the card group on Thursday, and family is coming on Sunday. Not only must I tidy up around here, I have food prep, also! Heavens! Do I remember how???

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

 

 

Scrappy Goodness

 Welcome to the first day of spring! Yippee! In the midst of the social distancing and self-quarantining and flattening of the curve, I hope you are able to get outside and take a walk. The songbirds are ready for a weather change, and we have crocuses, daffodils and jonquils in bloom.

Yesterday saw me with some extra time to work on my scrappy blocks. I finally have around 20 of each version - enough for laying out on the bed to see how they look together. I've always known that I am a visual learner; now I think I am a visual crafter, too. Seeing it for real is very different from seeing it in my head.

I really like how it looks. Call it controlled scrappy. And yes, I have barely dented the scrap bins. These 2" squares are not nearly enough to make a difference there, but isn't this going to be a pretty quilt?!

If you stare at it long enough, you can see red stars. Then look away and stare again, you can see white stars. Very cool.

I debated using this picture. It shows all my blocks laid out on a quilt on the bed; the quilt interferes with my design, however. To try to reduce the background interference, I used my editing program to "muddy" the background to more easily see the new blocks. (I'm an amateur.) Hopefully, you see the quilt I intend you to see.

Don't forget that March is National Quilting Month, and Saturday is National Quilting Day. It's a good time to get in on the scrap-busting fun along with a host of other quilters by checking out the Scrap Challenge being sponsored by Meg at Tea and Brie.

And with that, I'm off to make some more scrappy blocks. I hope I am halfway to all I need for a good-sized quilt.

Happy Quilting, Friends!