May
18

Great Granny Squared Sew Along

Posted Sunday, May 18th, 2014 in Fabric Stash | Read More

I finished the Great Granny Sew Along quilt top today. All the fabrics for this quilt top came from my scraps and stash.

We were given our choice of two ways to finish the top. I chose Kim’s version. Both quilts used the same size pieces. The only difference is how they are sewn together.

I plan to put it on the quilt frame later this week or next week after Memorial Day.

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May
9

Night Sky / Lily Pad Lake

Posted Friday, May 9th, 2014 in Quilting | Read More

Some of my Piecemakers friends and I went to the quilt show at Sauder Village on Saturday, May 3. We enjoyed viewing all the beautiful quilts and watching the demonstrations of new quilt products. The demo that caught my eye was the quilt pattern “Night Sky” and the accompanying ruler, “Sidekick” by Jaybird Quilts. Each block in the quilt uses four shades of the same color. Four fat quarters will make six blocks. I have the perfect fat quarter bundle for this pattern. Last Christmas, Bob gave me a Robert Kaufman Fat Quarter Bundle in Farmer’s Market Colorstory. It contains solid color fat quarters in 23 different shades of green.

I do not want to use black background as shown in the pattern because the darkest FQs are very dark. As usual, my daughter had a great idea for the color of the background fabric. She said the blocks reminded her of water lilies and suggested a blue background. I will expand that theme a bit and  make one block in shades of pink to represent a water lily flower.

My next step in the construction of this quilt will be a trip to the quilt shop to choose background fabric and some pink fat quarters.

Stay tuned for the finished quilt, hopefully soon!

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May
1

Hot Air Balloon Quilt

Posted Thursday, May 1st, 2014 in baby quilt, Quilting | Read More

I worked on a quilt for our newest grandson for about a month, a little a time. I had to think and rethink how to design a quilt with hot air balloons to go in the room that he shares with his big (2 year old) brother. I found some balloon designs online at EmbroideryDesigns and purchased them. I used thread colors to match the colors in fabric I was using in the border and to match colors in other decorations in the room.

I machine embroidered the blocks, assembled them into a quilt top and quilted it. After the quilting was finished, I thought there was too much empty space on it. I drew some small hot air balloons and hand appliqued them on the quilt. I also drew a larger balloon in three sections and appliqued it on the quilt. Before appliqueing them, I machine stitched outline stitches with black thread to co-ordinate with the embroidered blocks.

I finished the quilt and gave it him when we visited on Easter weekend.

The quilt will hang on the wall above his crib.



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