I was inspired by the Pleasant Home blog to use up some of the fabric that I have in my stash. She says she is not going to buy any more new fabric until all of her projects are caught up…I’m not going that far, but it does feel good to get a 3-year shelf sitting project started!
So here is the project of the weekend. I bought this fabric when I worked at The Calico Shoppe in Eau Claire WI. As I was ironing the fabric, the smell of the fabric brought me right back to the shoppe. Oh, how sweet! A little trip down memory lane…
The pattern I am using is “Twist and Shout” (I modified it a bit) by Terry Atkinson. I was again reminded why I like her patterns so much–she does a fabulous job of making everything as easy and fast as possible. If you are a beginner quilter I highly recommend doing some of Terry’s patterns as your first projects.
First I made my “strip sets.”
Then you do a secondary cut.
Here you see my 3 piles from my different strip sets. (strip sets=fast cutting!)
Your blocks go together just by sewing the strips together in different ways. I started this last night and I already have all the blocks done!
I am using Civil War fabrics for this quilt. After I wash it and it gets all crinkly, it will look like it has been around for years–love it! This quilt will actually be a gift for a special someone…can’t wait to get it done in time for the big day!
In the groove! I got my butt moving on a custom quilt tonight. I loaded it onto my quilting frame and got about half way through it. Feels so good! I have found that if I set mini goals I am able to accomplish more. My goal of the night was to simply get the quilt loaded onto the frame. (This takes more time than one would think.) I made supper and then decided that I should just do some of the quilting for 1 hour. I worked a little longer than that and I made some great progress.
For this particular custom quilt, the client picked her own fabric and sent it to me. What fun to see what someone else picked out!
I often have people ask me if I have made a special quilt for the baby since quilts are my business. I have not up to this point, in part I think because we have not decided on a name (sort of weird, but a true reason), and plus I have a hope chest with several quilts waiting to be loved in it. However, I did just complete a quilt I had in the back of my mind for a few months. It is a flannel rag quilt and I think it will be a great rough and tumble quilt for our little guy. It was super easy to make and washed up like a dream.
The fabric line is called “All Stars” and you can purchase them here.
If you would like to try your own rag quilt, here are some simple steps I followed.
-For 6″ finished blocks, cut your squares 7″. cut your batting 5 3/4″ square.
-layer 2 squares with your batting square centered in the middle.
-sew an X through the middle of the square. (your doing the quilting as you go.)
-lay blocks into rows and sew together using 1/2″ seams. Remember your seam is going to be on the outside of the quilt!
-Once your quilt is all put together, cut about every 1/4″ on all the seams and around the outside. Do not cut into your seam stitching! (I did sew a seam 1/2″ around the entire outside of the quilt as well.) NO binding needed!
-Throw it in the washer and dryer and ohhh and ahhh when it comes out!
It has been busy around here! I so enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday. (I must say I have been looking forward to holiday eating ever since I got pregnant!) I had in-laws in town and then my dad came for a little hunting and some house projects. Yay dad!
Since the beginning of last week I have quilted 3 quilts, completed the binding on them, and pulled them from the dryer (one of my favorite parts of quilting). I also completed the top for a custom quilt order! I really wanted to get the custom order done in 1 week, but alas, my pregnant body says no. A few extra days won’t hurt.
This is a modern baby quilt that I just completed. I think all modern quilters love the wonky square block! 
This weekend I was in a total mood to get some projects done. Now this doesn’t happen all the time, so I was delighted with myself for the motivation! (I have fabric for a custom quilt arriving this Friday so I’m trying to get some things done before that arrives.) Looking at my stash, (shamefully, you only see about 1/3 of it), I decided on some Christmas fabric I bought earlier this fall.
I really liked the vintage look at the time of the purchase, but since then I have been wondering if maybe I was being a bit silly and not so practical. (Practical…who am I kidding.) Here’s a look at what I came up with… You have to be creative when you buy fabric before you know what pattern you are going to come up with. I think I like it. I think my future children will like it. A Christmas quilt that is just a bit off from the typical red and green. 
I also got 3 quilt backings pieced and 3 matching bindings all set to go. Hopefully tomorrow I will set the frame up and get some quilting done. My goal is to do a little video blog on the actual quilting for you. Possibly tomorrow’s post…
Then you do a secondary cut.
Here you see my 3 piles from my different strip sets. (strip sets=fast cutting!)
Your blocks go together just by sewing the strips together in different ways. I started this last night and I already have all the blocks done!
