Quilting Linda: A Quilting Blog by Linda West

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.

Feb

3

On Ringo Lake Mystery Quilt

Posted Saturday, February 3rd, 2018 in mystery quilt, Quilting | Read More

I put the last stitch into the quilt top today! Yippee!!! I am so glad to be finished with this one. I hit a rough spot when it came to adding the sashing around the blocks. I was ready to move onto something new but I would’t let myself start a new quilt until this top was finished. This past week I started working on it and it was enjoyable again. Sometimes I just need a break from a large project. I read that there are 3339 pieces in the quilt. I haven’t counted so I will go with that number. It just so happens to be my old house number.

Although I haven’t started a new quilt since I began working on this one, I have made some blocks in two sew alongs this year. I am doing the Women of the Bible (see my first 4 blocks here) and also the 1930s Farmer’s Wife Sampler. Two new blocks for the WOB were posted this week and I cut out and sewed them today after finishing the mystery quilt.

I started blocks for the Farmer’s Wife quilt in 2015 but only made 3 blocks. I broke down and ordered Marti Michell templates to help speed the cutting process for Farmer’s Wife. I am using my 1930s reproduction fabrics for this quilt. I will posted more about this quilt along later.

This is a closer view of the mystery quilt.

Bonnie is having a link up party on her blog. To see the mystery quilts others have made click here.

Dec

31

Mystery Quilt Rapid Fire Clues

Posted Sunday, December 31st, 2017 in Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt | Read More

Bonnie surprised us by releasing  clues 6 and 7 in rapid fire mode. We received the 6th clue on Friday as we usually do. On Saturday she posted clue 7. They are easier clues, working with pieces we made previously.

In Clue 6 we added triangles to the pieced triangles from clue 4.

Clue 7 had us joining the flying geese from clues 2 and 5.

It’s not too late to join the mystery quilt. Bonnie will have the free clues on her blog until February 1, 2018. After that date they will be removed and will be available for sale at a later time.

Nov

25

Bonnie Hunter’s “On Ringo Lake” Mystery Quilt

Posted Saturday, November 25th, 2017 in Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt, Fabric Stash, Quilting | Read More

One of my favorite quilt teachers is Bonnie Hunter. She is the queen of scrap quilts and is a great teacher. Since I have been following her, I am actually using my scrap fabric. I have it organized by color but I haven’t cut it into the sizes that she recommends.

Every year she presents a mystery quilt on her blog, Quiltville’s Quips and Snips. It begins on Black Friday and usually ends around New Years Day. This year she says it may go a little longer into the month of January because of her busy schedule. Her new quilt is called “On Ringo Lake” and the colors are based on the sunrise she saw while on vacation at Ringo Lake in Minnesota. She again gave paint chip numbers  to help us find the same colors that she used in her quilt.

The first clue was given the day after Thanksgiving and her followers, including me, have been busy cutting and sewing blocks for the first clue. A new clue will be given each Friday until the big reveal in January.

We had family here for the Thanksgiving holiday which we enjoyed immensely. They left on Friday afternoon. After getting a good nights rest, I started cutting strips for my first clue on Saturday morning. I had time to start sewing the blocks before we went to our daughter’s home to watch the OSU/Michigan game. As soon as we arrived back home, I went up to my sewing room to finish my blocks.  Here they are!!!!

To see what other mystery quilters are doing, click here.

Mar

6

Life in Columbus / A New Machine

Posted Monday, March 6th, 2017 in Quilting | Read More

Since our move to Columbus in 2014, we have been adjusting to city life.  We have settled into a routine which includes watching our oldest granddaughter two days a week.  Sometimes we take her with us to get groceries at Meijer. She shops for “peanut butter sandwiches” (but we haven’t found them on the shelves yet). The shopping trip ends with a ride on the horse named Sandy. Sometimes Sandy is out of order and that requires her to check him out before we leave the store.

She turned three years old in December and keeps us on our toes. She loves to pretend and to act out stories I tell her. She especially likes to hear Goldilocks and the Three Bears every morning while she eats her oatmeal. She also loves to have me tell her the Cinderella story as she acts it out. Her facial expressions are priceless.

For the last two weeks she has been playing with her imaginary friends, Pooh, Tigger ( he bounces!), Piglet, and Mouse. As you can tell, the first three are Winnie the Pooh characters and Mouse is from the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” book. We have to find them when she gets here in the morning and throughout the day. Sometimes Moose from “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” joins us too. She loves to have picnics with them and sets a plate for each one. Sometimes she says she is ‘exdasperdated’ (exasperated) with their antics.

I don’t have as much time for quilting as I had back home. I try to go upstairs to my sewing room for a while in the afternoon to sew when Sami isn’t here. Sometimes the weekend is my only sewing time. I have been working from my stash more than I did before the move. I also found a lot of things that I had started and am trying to finish some of them. I have made several new quilts and find I am drawn to making smaller baby and throw size quilts. My fabric choices are changing also. I am leaning toward brighter colors and more contemporary patterns. I am also trying to use up my stash and scraps. I have made Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilts each year since 2013. (It hasn’t even made a dent in my stash!)

In January, Jen and I joined a quilt guild. We each signed up for a “secret pal”. We are hoping this will help us get to know some of the quilters. I also signed up for the Bonnie Hunter workshop but am on the waiting list. I’m not wishing bad luck on anyone but I am hoping to get into the class. I have started cutting strips from my scraps so I will be prepared if I do get in.

My most recent purchase was a new sewing machine. My favorite machine is starting to have some issues and I had been looking at the new machines since last fall. In February I went to the Viking Gallery at Easton and looked at the models available that have the same features as my Quilt Designer. I found that the Sapphire models have the same features and went back with my daughter to try it out.  My old machine makes a perfect scant quarter inch seam and found that the Sapphire makes the same size seam with the foot from my old machine. All the extra feet that I had purchased for the Quilt Designer also fit the new machine. The extension table that I have won’t fit but the dealer said she would include an extension table for the Sapphire.

My first project with the new machine was to finish the hexagon quilt that I am making with Kaffe Collective Spots Kaleidoscope Hexagons from Missouri Star Quilt Company (more about that later). My next project was to use my Go! Cutter  to cut out Winding Ways blocks from the fat quarters I received in the gift exchange at Piecemakers last Christmas. I used the leftover white fabric from the hexagon quilt to cut the light fabric for Winding Ways. I am still in the process of sewing the blocks but I am getting familiar with using the Sapphire. I am LOVING it! It sews just like the old machine but much quieter, smoother and without the issues. It is also a little bigger than the Quilt Designer.

Sew, that is what has been happening here in Columbus.  Stay tuned to hear about the Brown Bag Mystery quilt that I am starting soon.

Aug

17

Summer 2016

Posted Wednesday, August 17th, 2016 in Personal | Read More

This has been a busy and hot summer at the West residence. My sewing room is so warm in the afternoon that I have not enjoyed sewing in it, even with the fan blowing in my direction. The ceiling fan seems to make it warmer. I have used my stand-up fans to try to stay cool.  We have stayed busy playing with Samantha on Tuesdays and Thursdays and taking her with us to get groceries on Wednesdays. She enjoys bringing home lunch from Wendy’s and eating before we take her home. Another big thrill and the reason she likes to go shopping with us, is to ride the horsie. “Sandy” had been out of commission for several weeks. We had to inspect him every week and tell him to feel better before we could leave the store. Today he was working again, much to the delight of Sami!

I have made a few quilt tops but haven’t quilted them yet. I’m waiting for cooler weather to arrive before loading them on the frame. Lately I have been sewing string blocks using the template paper from Missouri Star Quilt Company to use strips from a Moda scrap bag. I bought both of these items years ago.  Most of the projects I have made this summer were from things in my stash. I hope to get them quilted soon and will show them to you then.

May

16

Spring 2015 in Columbus

Posted Saturday, May 16th, 2015 in Fabric Stash, My Projects | Read More

Wow! It has been a long time since I posted anything except Zelda blocks. This has been a week of finishing some of my projects.

Jen and I took a  class at Quilt Trends this spring using a Judy Niemeyer pattern. Judy’s patterns are paper pieced and that was never very high on my list of things to do. I do have to say that I really enjoyed the class and am ready to make another PP quilt.

Quilt Trends made up kits of fabric for this class. We purchased the kits and I loved the fabrics they selected. Jen and I have identical fabrics but we chose to pair them differently. This week I put the final border on my “Island Sunrise” quilt from the class. My plans are to hang it in my entrance way when it is quilted. The colors in the quilt are more intense than they are in the picture. (This was taken with my phone.)

Last fall I bought a pattern to make a wall hanging for my kitchen. The pattern was purchased at Quilt Beginnings in Columbus and is from Fig Tree Quilts. I bought two red FQs but the rest of the fabric I used is from my stash.

I wanted to find another pattern to go with the pears but could not find what I wanted. When I received the “Farm Girl Vintage” book that I had ordered from Lori Holt, I found a cherries block that was just what I had in mind for the second wall hanging. I used the leftover scraps from the pear quilt and added a few more red fabrics from my stash. I designed the quilt using the cherries blocks to be similar in size to the pears quilt.

I have several other projects to show you but they will have to wait until I take more pictures.

Dec

14

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt – Part 3

Posted Sunday, December 14th, 2014 in Grand Illusion | Read More

This week the blocks are easier to cut and  assemble. The piecing was quicker because I made strip sets, re-cut, and sewed again. I pressed each strip in opposing directions and was able to nestle all the seams and sew without pinning.

I had a large piece of solid green that was left over from the Zelda quilt I made for Tristan in 2012. I  used the  this green fabric for all of the blocks rather than making them scrappy. I used fat quarters for the other colors in this block.  I have been able to find all the fabrics I needed in my fabric stash. It feels wonderful to make a small dent in my piles of fabric!

Here are my 120 blocks for clue three.

I am linking up to Bonnie’s link up page.

Dec

11

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt – Part 2

Posted Thursday, December 11th, 2014 in Fabric Stash, Grand Illusion, Quilting, Scrap Quilts | Read More

This week we are making 200 pink, black and white rectangles and sewing two together to make 100 blocks. Bonnie gave us three different ways to assemble the rectangles. I chose to use the second method.

I printed the template for the diamond and taped it to the EZ Angle ruler to cut the diamonds. I wanted to try to make a block before cutting 200 pieces and took the template off my ruler to cut a few triangles. The pieces fit together perfectly.

I like to sew assembly line style. After sewing all 200 rectangles, I pressed them. Next I pieced all the blocks together and again did all the pressing.

To see the progress of other mystery quilters, click on this link.

Oct

25

August, September,October – Quilt Doodle Doodles BOM

Posted Saturday, October 25th, 2014 in Quilting, Scrap Quilts | Read More

I have been making the blocks each month, but since the move, did not post them on the blog. Here are the last three blocks/rows.

I am making this quilt  entirely from my stash. As I was finishing up the last row, I ran out of the background fabric so I mixed in another fabric that I used in another block. That is the beauty of scrap quilts, you do not have to panic when you run out of a certain fabric.

The background in the pattern used 2 1/2 inch squares but I cut larger pieces rather than piecing all the squares. I did this with all the blocks and rows. It not only saves a bit of fabric, but it takes less time to sew.

August – Sweet Tooth (ten peppermint candies)

September – Evergreen Tree

October – String of Lights

This is the last row of blocks. I have enjoyed making these blocks/rows. Thank you to “Quilt Doodle Doodles” for the free patterns.

Oct

20

Grand Illusion: A new mystery quilt

Posted Monday, October 20th, 2014 in Grand Illusion, Quilting | Read More

Each year, Bonnie Hunter gives her blog followers a free mystery quilt pattern. The mystery begins the day following Thanksgiving and a new clue is given each week until it is completed. She gives the fabric requirements earlier along with numbers for paint chips that are available at Lowe’s. The paint chips are the colors she used in her quilt. She posted the “Introduction” on October 9 which includes the paint chip numbers and pictures of the fabrics she used in her quilt. She chose colors that she saw in the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

Last year I made the Celtic Solstice mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter’s blog.  I was able to find all the fabric colors I needed for the quilt in my fabric stash. I enjoyed the process very much and want to follow along again this year. I was hoping to find all the fabrics from my stash again. I picked up the paint chips last week. These are the fabrics I pulled from my stash for the new quilt, “Grand Illusion”. Bonnie makes scrappy quilts, so if I need to add a bit more fabric it will still look great.

My fabrics are not a perfect match to the paint chips but are actually closer in color than they appear in the picture.

I will be blogging about my progress with the quilt as I do each step. Would you like to join me? Click the links above to see Bonnie’s blog and to get the fabric requirements.

Jul

2

Quilt Doodle Doodles BOM 2014

Posted Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014 in Quilting | Read More

With a big move coming soon, I got busy and made the rows for June and July this week. I don’t know when I will have time to sew for a while and don’t want to get too far behind.

The June block is a row of hockey skates. The blades are appliqued but the rest of the blocks are pieced. The July block is a row of mugs with steam rising above. Again, the handles of the mugs and the steam are appliqued.I chose to use a different fabric for each mug and have switched to a white background for these two rows. The reason for the change in background fabric is because I am running out of the blue. The white is also from my stash and has white on white snowflakes and stars with a bit of blue.

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.

Apr

28

Great Granny Squared Sew Along

Posted Monday, April 28th, 2014 in Quilting | Read More

A new sew along began on April 21. We were away visiting our children and grandbabies for a few days and I didn’t start my first block until the end of the week. I finished my basket block on Sunday and cut out the yarn block too. On Monday I put the second block together. I have to admit, I didn’t know what the crochet hook block was until I read the blog. (I thought it was an arrow. lol)

I am using 1930’s reproduction fabrics leftover from the barn blocks I made last year.  I may have to use a few fat quarters from my collection before this sew along is finished.

If you want to join the sew along, it can be found on the Jolly Jabber blog. There are two settings for the blocks. I plan to use the setting by Kimberly.

Basket block

Crochet hook and balls of yarn

Mar

12

Quilty Fun Sew Along – part 3

Posted Wednesday, March 12th, 2014 in Quilt Blocks, Sewing and Crafting | Read More

The blocks are starting to fit together to complete the Quilty Fun Sew Along quilt.  There are three sections in the quilt.  I am still making blocks for the center section but the two edge sections are almost complete. The section on the right will have flower blocks on the bottom.

Today I made the 17th set of blocks, the mittens.

Every week we can put pictures of our blocks on a Flicker group, Quilty Fun Sew Along to be eligible for prizes . On Monday, three winners are announced. One of the prizes each week is a package of “Alphabitties”. They are little laminated cards with the letters of the alphabet and ten numbers.. I was lucky enough to win a pack of Alphabitties. I used them for the first time today when I cut out the mitten blocks. I found they were very helpful.. This is how I used them.

These are the rest of the blocks I have made since the last blog post.

Neighborhood Houses

Butterflies

Sewing Spools

Feb

24

Eli’s Rocking Chair

Posted Monday, February 24th, 2014 in Fabrics | Read More

When Bob and I saw our grandson Eli  sitting on an upside down colander to watch TV, we decided to buy him a chair for Christmas.

We found a small green rocking chair that is just the right size for him. The back and seat are made of slates with a small space between each slat. We gave him the chair for Chrismas. The first time he sat in the chair, he put a finger between the slats and said “broke” as he jumped out of the chair. He would not sit on it unless we put a blanket on the seat. Of course grandma knew just what to do…make a chair pad for him.

He loves tractors and I had a few scraps of John Deere fabric left over from his tractor quilt.  I made a pad for the back and the seat with leftover quilt batting for padding. I did not have the chair available when I made the pads but I had taken measurements before giving it to him.  I also had a limited amount of John Deere fabric and was hoping it would be large enough to cover the seat. It turned out to be just the right size.

Here it is with our precious grandson and his teddy bear.

Feb

1

BOM 2014 – February- Cozy Cabin

Posted Saturday, February 1st, 2014 in Quilting | Read More

I am trying to stay on top of the blocks of the month this year, but it’s only February. I hope I can keep it up all year. The pattern for the February block has been posted and mine is finished!

Again, I did not follow the directions completely. I cut the pieces that were supposed to be the same color in rectangles rather than 2 1/2 inch squares. My blocks don’t have the scrappy look but I’m fine with that. I am using fabrics from my scrap bag so the quilt will have a scrappy look when all the blocks are finished.

I’m loving the simplicity of the blocks in this BOM.  You can find the pattern here until the end of February.

Jan

18

Celtic Solstice – Bonnie Hunter’s Mystery Quilt

Posted Saturday, January 18th, 2014 in Celtic Solstice | Read More

This is the mystery quilt, Celtic Solstice, by Bonnie Hunter. She instructed us to go to Lowes and get paint cards in the following colors, listing the darkest color on each card they are:

I have been working on this quilt since December and finished the top yesterday. Bonnie Hunter gave clues weekly, starting on November 29. I got behind with my sewing in December when we were in Columbus for the birth of Samantha and again for Christmas. My favorite machine, the Husqvarna Viking Quilt Designer, had an issue when I was starting clue two and had to go in for repair. I got out my white Singer Featherweight to sew the chevron blocks. It doesn’t run as fast as I like, so then I switched to my Janome 10001. In the mean time, I received a call that my Viking was fixed. I went to Fort Wayne to get my machine and finished assembling the quilt on the Viking.

Bonnie will have the pattern available on her website until June 1. Click here to see the instructions. You can add your link to Bonnie’s blog by clicking here.

Nov

26

Piecemakers Row Quilt 2013

Posted Tuesday, November 26th, 2013 in Quilting | Read More

My quilt group, Hicksville Piecemakers, completed this row quilt recently. We are going to raffle it to raise money for a friend who has been experiencing serious medical issues. You can buy tickets at the Village Christmas event. We will have a booth in the multipurpose building at the Defiance County Fairgrounds on Dec. 6,7,8 and 13, 14, 15.

The pattern is from a mystery quilt in McCall’s Quilting magazine in 2005. We divided the rows among the quilters and used fabric from our group fabric stash. Some of the rows had as many as three people working on them. We made the rows at home and brought them to quilt group meetings to assemble the quilt top. I quilted it on my short-arm machine and frame. This is our best quilt ever! I had no issues with loading it on the frame and quilting it. Good job ladies!!!