Front Burner Items

Long ago I learned that a quaint, more gentle way of describing my tendency to procrastinate is to say I've put things on the 'back burner.' It sound ever so much more agreeable and less accusatory. Today's post will address some projects I'm putting on the front burner because I am really chomping at the bit to work on them. (And, yes, this naturally means that some few things are likely being relegated to 'back burner' status, at least for awhile.)

First, from the 2026 Goals List, I have decided at long last on a pattern and am ready to cut into that Winnemucca fabric. I have wanted to use this fabric since buying it in Winnemucca, NV, in 2020. I've hemmed and hawed over what pattern to use ever since, so consequently it's still hanging around here, waiting to be used.

I'm  going to make a weather-vane quilt using the fabrics in all different places in each block. For example, some blocks will have a floral center, others a dark blue center, and others peach and blue. The same 4 fabrics will be placed in varying positions in the blocks, in what I hope will provide interest while maintaning a bit of order.

 

The pattern I will use is from an old book I've had for a long time, Mulberry Lane by Teri Christopherson.

 

The pattern is called Lavender Fields, but it's a straight-up weather-vane, and I know it will be easy. I made it in 2019 and whizzed right through it. 

So that's one plan for the immediate future. A second plan is to work on a Trip Around the World quilt. I bought the fabric while in Florida this past winter, and the shop owner's daughter sent me pictures of a pattern she'd had for years. I have my fabrics laid out here in a likely order I will be "traveling" in.

It's hard to get so many fabrics to show up in a decent picture, so you'll have to use your imagination a bit. I still may tweak the order of some of these fabrics, but I really don't want to overthink the quilt. I know it's going to look good in whatever order I go.

Here's a pic of the fabric I bought at Quilted Twins; I have added a few pieces from my stash to the mix as the quilt requires quite a few more than I bought.

And here's the pattern the shop worker sent me.

The third quilt I've given "front burner" status is a 9-patch quilt that will imitate the colors in the Kitty Corn quilt that was popular a few years ago for Halloween. I don't want the kitty or the Halloween vibes, but I do like the colors used in the 9-patch, so I've pulled some fabrics from my stash to use for my version.  

The Kitty Corn quilt pattern might still available, and I do refer to this picture occasionally. 

(Taken from Instagram.)

Yet another quilt I want to make involves using a substantial amount of batik fabric I have recently gathered together. I had a small-ish tub of batiks from various projects over the years. As some of my friends in The Frankfort Girls group have been "destashing" and purging, I've acquired a little bit more. (ahem...I oughtn't be continuing to collect fabric!)

I'd love to make a bright, cheery quilt with all of these batiks. Good friend Becky handed off one of her batik patterns called Jewel Box - more than likely I will make it.

Okay, I must stop. I have to also devote time to actual quilting on the long arm machine. Got to. That's all there is to it. S

Oh, isn't it lovely to dream about making quilts!?!? *smile*

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Jayne

August Plans - Part 2

Yesterday I itemized a few quilts that I hope to quilt on the long arm machine this month. Today my plan is to do the same with new quilts I hope to start. 

New starts! The very best part!!

This set of fabrics has captivated me for awhile now, and I think I will use the large yardage of blue polka dot as the background fabric for 9-patches made with the prints. I hope it turns out as pretty as I envision. I have had great ideas before that didn't work out as beautifully as I'd hoped, so we shall see.

Another quilt I want to make is that pine tree quilt. I still have not determined exactly which type of tree I want - the traditional block with all the triangles, or the more easily constructed one with positive/negative trees. This one is the more traditional-style block.

This one is probably easier to make, and definitely has lots of appeal. So I do not yet know which one I will go with. Perhaps there is yet another option out there that I haven't yet found.

Oh, yes, I have more ideas. One of my goals for this year was to make Lil' Orphan Scrappy by Lynn Wilder. I have her pattern, and I have decided to use my stash of William Morris fabrics for this quilt. This might be what I take to work on at our mini-quilt retreat later this month. If I have all the cutting done, I can sew-sew-sew and - hopefully - make a lot of progress.   

 

Back in June while on our western vacation, I bought this set of fabrics and I would love to find a quilt  pattern for it. I sorta' envision a star of some sort. I've spent a lot of the afternoon looking at patterns. Some good ideas are taking shape, so stay tuned.

This green floral has been in my plans for awhile, and I think I will make a snowball/9-patch. I tried with a different green floral, and got my 9-patches reversed, so I lost the effect I'd hoped to achieve. See this post for that earlier quilt.

This two-fabric grouping of pink flowery gorgeousness is special - I plan to make something for that new granddaughter we are expecting in October! I might go the 9-patch route, or I might go the churn dash route, or I might do something completely different. We shall see.

Finally, at the quilt show last Friday, I bought a bundle of 3 1-yard fabrics ready to be used in the Easy Does It 3-yard quilts that seem to be all the rage right now. All the Frankfort Girls have different books  - thanks to Jan! - and so I will come up with some sweet and easy quilt to whip up fast as can be. Note, please, that pink is again represented! *smile*

So I do have some direction for the month ahead. First, though, I have to get over this dreaded bug - yes, THE dreaded bug. Not feeling too awful, but yucky enough that I don't feel much like doing anything. 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

Defining "Numerous TBA Quilts"

The previous post contained my goals list for this year, and as I look forward to making those definite quilts on the list, I am dreaming about the quilts that will fall into the final goal - "numerous TBA quilts." 

I sure did leave myself a lot of leeway on that. Totally intentional! How about let's take a moment to dream about what I am considering for that goal.

Because I am becoming increasingly concerned that my stash will long outlive me, I want to make easier, classic quilts with some of the pretty - and nearly vintage - fabric that I have collected over the last 40 years. The easiest, fastest blocks are 4-patches and 9-patches. Add a plain setting block, or a snowball block, or an hourglass block and a beauty will soon result. 

Here are some examples that have recently captured my fancy. When possible, I will link and/or identify the source, to the best of my ability.

Click for link.

This beautiful 2-color quilt would be very easy to make, if I have enough of the 2 fabrics. But, a quilter could use a group of similar navy fabrics with the white and still have a gorgeous result. My difficulty would be not having the neutral/white that would be required. 

Click here for link.

This second example shows how additional colors can be added so that running low on one or more would be less likely. Still predominantly 9-patches, and the construction is straightforward.

Click here for link.

Sometimes the 9-patch can be jazzed up by elongating certain parts, and adding on more parts, such as what the quilt above illustrates. This would be a wonderful quilt for some of those fabulous larger floral prints I purchased back a few decades.

Click here for link.

And this example, called Irish Change, uses several fabrics for the setting blocks. Again, if I wanted to use fabrics of which I have only minimal yardage, this is a perfect option. I would determine my color palate and pull fabrics that played well together.

Now, let's move on to how that 9-patch looks with snowball blocks. Here are two pics, one made with 2 fabrics, the other using many for a very scrappy look.

Click here for link.

Click here for link.

And now to look at the 9-patch paired with the hourglass block. I've made one like this and it was super-satisfyingly fast. The version shown below has jazzed up the 9-patches. So many versions are possible.

Click here for link.

I dug back through my quilt pictures and found the one I made. I have since sold it, and so making another one would be perfectly sensible. This is from 2013.

My pin boards on Pinterest are chocked full of simple designs that I might find myself making time after time after time. I definitely think simplicity will be the operative word for just about all the quilts I make this year. Plow through the stash at breakneck speed!!

As I glanced through those pin boards, I found some that are even simpler than the ones I've shared here. I will post 3 or 4 that are really screaming to be made.

Click here for link.

Click here for link.

Click here for link.

Are you just dying to get started!?! All this dreaming and planning makes me to want to scramble straight to the quilting room to dig into the stash. Get to stitchin'! 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

Quilts I Haven't Forgotten About

 Every now and then I must remind myself that I have quilts planned or started that I want to make. It seems that I get a new idea (the squirrel syndrome) and take off on some new tangent before finishing or following through on the previous notion. Or notions, as the case may be.

Original Spring Dreams

My new ideas lately have all revolved around making Spring Dreams quilts for our sew along. The pattern is fun and easy, and so far I am not tired of it.

Patriotic Spring Dreams

But I have other plans, too, and I don't want to get so caught up in one new project after another that I forget about them.

So today I am taking stock of the situation. And making a list. I love lists.

First List - Current WIPs: Scrappy 4-patch, Red/White Stars, Sanctuary Spring Dreams

Scrappy 4-patch

Red/White Stars

A picture of my latest Spring Dreams will come Monday on the next sew along update. Hint: it's gonna' be stunning!

Second List - New Quilts To Make: Blue Kaffe Stars, Emma's quilt, Great Granny Square, Scrappy Irish Chain

I have made 4 stars for the Blue Kaffe quilt, however I don't consider it a work in progress, just yet. Just look how gorgeous! I am so eager to make this quilt.

DD Emma has asked for a very low volume quilt. We have collaborated, yet I have not done any more than buy 5-6 fat quarters for color analysis on her end.

The last two listed are for later in the year, I think. The Great Granny Square is one I've had my eye on for several years, yet I don't think I have an inspiration photo. The Scrappy Irish Chain will be fun and if I am not careful about restraining myself, I could see me tackling it next week! 

Scrappy Irish Chain - free pattern!

See what I mean by squirrel syndrome?

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

Making Plans

In recent posts, I have alluded to all the ideas I am having for new quilts to make. There seems to be no end to the possibilities, and as long as I can continue using up fabric in my stash, I see nothing wrong with starting all these new projects.

Sitting atop my list are two in particular that I have set nearby for relatively immediate attention. First, let's talk about a 2-color Double Irish Chain made with solids. It so happens that I have a healthy stash of white and cream from which to pull. That takes care of the background.

For the color, I've been wanting to make a blue and white quilt, so I turned to some sale fabric I bought about three years ago. This color is Regatta, a Kona solid; I have 3 yards of it and seeing this combination come together in the classic Double Irish Chain will be a true delight.

Sharon is making one, too, also blue and white, and has already begun hers. We are using the Eleanor Burns pattern from - what - 30 years ago? One of the very first quilts I ever made used this pattern, and Sharon was actually able to find her pattern from all those many years ago. It was meant to be, right?

The second quilt waiting in the wings is Lil' Orphan Scrappy from Sew'n Wild Oaks. My cyber friend Lynn Wilder is the designer. I have admired this quilt for years - I remember when she was making it and showing her progress on her blog. I finally decided it was time to take action last year some time when I bought the pattern. Since then, I have been setting aside fat quarters and perhaps I will "git to gittin'" on this beauty come summer time.

But first, I've got some things to finish, so I must restrain myself. First, the T-shirt commission is my most urgent finish. It needs quilting and binding. Then, I need to finish some of the WIPs I seem to have accumulated lately: the red and white stars, the blue Kaffe Fassett stars, maybe quilt one or two of the Spring Dreams Sew Along quilts, too. The 4-patch scrappy quilt needs more blocks, and there's always Lake Effect.

Whew! I never seem to run out of projects. And isn't that a good thing?

Happy Quilting, Friends!

An 'Ah-Ha' Moment

After all these years of making quilts, it seems rather unlikely that I would discover something new, but I believe I have. And maybe it isn't new at all; perhaps it is just a new-to-me revelation. Read on to see if you are aware of this occurrence in your own quilting.

"The very act of working on a quilt causes the quilter to dream up plans for making more quilts."

There. What do you think? Could this be an actual phenomenon? Have generations of quilters known this to be true?

I was at the sewing machine yesterday, working on my patriotic version of the Spring Dreams Sew Along. I am currently at the stage where I am attaching sashing strips to cornerstones, and making rows. 

Before too long, I was daydreaming about the next Spring Dreams quilt I will make. It was effortless, I tell you. The idea of making another quilt came to me as naturally as breathing. In September, my sister's son and d-i-l will become first-time parents; that baby will need a quilt. What simpler quilt could be called for than a baby version? I will wait until we have a gender reveal, then get cracking on it.

And you might think - well, that is entirely normal. Everyone knows that making baby quilts is what quilters give to new parents. True; I have recorded making several over the years right here on this very blog. The revelation, at least to me, is the timing of the idea. It came to me whilst nearing the finish of a quilt top. 

Interesting...

But I wasn't done! No! I kept on dreaming. It is clear that I am going to have quite a bit of patriotic fabric remaining when this current quilt is done, so I began planning the next quilt to make with these remnants. Since there are still several jelly roll strips, I supposed a 9-patch would make sense, but perhaps with the yardage I would add hourglass blocks, and then stitch them up for a fun and festive quilt. And just like that, I planned yet another quilt.

Remaining 2.5" strips

Remaining yardage - all from Grandma's stash

See what I mean? Working on a quilt begets plans for more quilts.

This seems rather harmless, and not overly astounding. Just thinking and planning, after all. However, in considering things a bit more thoroughly, it occurs to me that I have been consistently doing this for years - so long, in fact, that my "To Do" list grows significantly with each quilt I stitch. That goals list I share every January becomes laughable by March. I've penciled in so many more quilts to make that an addendum might be in the works.

I don't think this is peculiar just to me. Sharon might have this tendency, too. (Or else we feed off each other!) 

The last few times Sharon has been here to sew, we tossed around ideas for 2-color quilts using solids. This, despite the fact that we were stitching away on our Spring Dreams quilts, and having several other WIPs (works in progress) waiting to be finished. Before too long, we were pulling out fabric tubs and deciding to make Double Irish Chain quilts. 

Mine will be blue and creamy white!

 

If it sounds like I am complaining about this "condition," I assure you that is definitely NOT the case. The very idea of making more and more and more quilts appeals to me on absolutely every level. This pastime provides so much satisfying enjoyment, that it never, ever grows old. 

Wanna' make a quilt? *wink*

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

 

Planning Ahead for History Day

Seems like I have been doing a whole lotta' planning and very little doing lately. That's the way of things sometimes, I guess. Today's plan involved the Greenfield Historical Society's annual History Day celebration coming up on Saturday, October 1. It has been my pleasure to sit at my quilting frame since 2010, demonstrating to guests the old-time art of hand quilting.

Below are two quilt tops I have pulled out of the closet as potential quilts for demonstrating. Both are rather small in size - like lap quilts more than bed quilts. I am considering doing my quilting in a hoop this year as opposed to the frame, so a smaller quilt would be more manageable, I think.

The quilt above is a pattern called Antique Nine Patches from my blogging friend Sue Abrey's book, Pick Four. You can click back here to read about my finishing this quilt top. I would enjoy hand quilting this quilt. The fabric on the right is what I plan to use for the backing.

I dug out this quilt top a few days after the first and thought maybe it would do for history day, also. I have pulled the two fabrics on the right for a pieced back. The quilt top is paper pieced, and was an ancient UFO before I finally finished it in one of those UFO challenges I did with the Frankfort girls awhile back. I found the post that describes my finish, if you are interested in additional details.

Now I just need to decide which quilt I will work on. Or -- and this is a wild and crazy idea -- I could put them both in hoops and take two! Gracious, wouldn't that be the picture of industriousness? Ha!

Here are some links to previous History Day posts:  2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. I began in 2010, but didn't blog about it, and I apparently missed last year, as well.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Future Quilt

It doesn't matter how many projects a quilter has planned, ideas for new ones just keep coming. As if I don't have plenty on my to-do list, I have put together another fabric group for a "someday quilt" I want to make. The idea came to me after purchasing one of the fabrics from Terry's stash sale. That, plus my recent handwork on making 4-patch blocks. These two factors likely were the impetus for the birth of this idea.

The bottom fabric in the grouping above is the fabric that made my idea take shape. It reminded me of the pale rose or pink fabric I used in that doll quilt from earlier this year. I really like the look of that little quilt, and figured it would look pretty darn good as a full-size quilt, too.

Here's the little quilt.

So I have the rose-colored fabric for the setting squares. The neutral fabric on top will be used for the 4-patch blocks. I will attack my stash for the colored portion of those blocks. Should be easy to come up with plenty of variety.

And, of course, the black will serve to be the setting triangles. I think it will be a success, and I look forward to getting to work on it. Someday.

I will never, ever run out of quilts to make.
Ever.

Happy Quilting, Friends!