Quilting Linda: A Quilting Blog by Linda West

May

25

Quilting in the Month of May

Posted Saturday, May 25th, 2019 in Accuquilt Go cutter | Read More

I apologize for my lack of posts lately. I am finding it very true that time moves very quickly as you get older. This year is nearly half gone and I have so much more I want to do. One of my goals for this year is to quilt all the tops that are waiting in the closet. But I also love to piece new quilt tops, what to do first… piecing usually wins!

This month I made a small quilt from a kit and quilted it. It was designed by my new friend Sue for the quilts we give to veterans going on a Flight of Honor. The quilts are small, lap size, and sew up quickly. This is a Common Threads of Ohio Quilt Guild project.

After finishing it so quickly, I went looking for more red and blue blocks. I found I had enough Winding Ways blocks made to make another quilt. I did make two more blue blocks so I could do the layout with the red in the center. I have the Accuquilt Go cutter for this block which makes cutting it go quickly. I am still deciding which free motion quilting pattern to use. I really like this one and want to make another to keep.

Nov

18

Quilt Guild Challenge

Posted Sunday, November 18th, 2018 in Quilting | Read More

In 2017 I joined the Common Threads quilt guild. The first year I watched from the sidelines , only joining the Secret Pal swap. I missed a few meetings and was just not feeling connected. This year I decided to participate in some of the swaps, again joined the Secret Pal swap, and signed up for the challenge. I have been taking quilts for Show and Tell and have made a couple quilts for the charity, Moms2Be.

The challenge was to use at least ten “orphan” blocks to make a quilt or “whatever your heart desires”. We were encouraged to bring in any unwanted orphan blocks to share with other members. Going through my box, I found several blocks to share. For my quilt, I chose blocks that were red, blue or both. Some of the blocks were left over from previous quilts and some were test blocks to try out a new die or template. I also challenged myself to make the quilt using only fabrics that I had in my stash. I found a large piece for my background that was backing left from another quilt. I framed some of the blocks with fabric from my scrap bag. The backing fabric was a large piece that I bought at a garage sale years ago. I was saving it for backing and it was just the right color for this quilt.

The November meeting was a chili cook-off and the Challenge Quilt Reveal. After the meal, the quilts were paraded around the room to allow everyone to get a good look at them. They then were placed on tables and the floor for everyone to get up close and choose their favorite quilt. I didn’t win but thoroughly enjoyed the process. I can’t wait to see what the challenge will be for 2019.

This is a picture of my quilt that was taken as it was being shown at the meeting.

Apr

8

Trying out a new template

Posted Sunday, April 8th, 2018 in Quilt Blocks, Scrap Quilts | Read More

I watch the Fons and Porter show that is broadcast on Saturday mornings here in Columbus. A couple of weeks ago they used a template from Fons and Porter to make a quilt called Orange Peel Two-Step. It was also featured in their magazine in the March/April issue. I looked up the pattern in my magazine and then ordered the template. It is curved piecing similar to a Drunkard’s Path block. In the TV show, they pieced strips of fabric before cutting the pieces with the templates. A pieced background is then sewn on both sides of the melon shaped  piece. I loved how the different shades played out in the block. When my templates arrived this week, I had to try it out. I used fabric from my scrap bin and a couple fat quarters.

I enjoy sewing curved pieces and have made several drunkard’s path quilts in the past.

Jul

4

July 2010 Table Runner

Posted Sunday, July 4th, 2010 in Fabrics, My Projects, Patterns, Quilting, table runner | Read More

This is the July table runner from the Calendar Table Runners pattern that I have been using all year. This month I followed the pattern suggestions for all the colors and appliques. I have a piece of fabric for the backing that has red and blue stars on a white background.

Apr

4

Red/White/Blue Quilt

Posted Sunday, April 4th, 2010 in Quilting | Read More

I participated in a block exchange at the Quilting Forum at the Garden Web site in May, 2005. I received twenty blocks in the exchange. I had forgotten about the blocks until I was reorganizing my sewing room last year.

At my small quilt group, Piecemakers, I was told of a young man who was injured in the war and  is the husband of my daughter’s high school classmate. The group discussed making a lap quilt for him. I remembered my red, white, and blue blocks and took them to a meeting. We selected twelve of the blocks and I set them together with red sashing fabric and r/w/b star fabric for the corner blocks.

I plan to quilt it as soon as I get the table runner quilted that is on the frame at this time.

The next picture shows the rest of the blocks I received in the block exchange. I am going to make a small lap quilt, setting them together using the same fabrics I used in the first picture for the sashing and corner stone squares.