What's on the Design Wall?

I absolutely love the quilt that's on the design wall this week. 

Not only is the design named for my co-author and Younger Son -- Jacob's Ladder -- the fabric is by one of my favorite designers, Jen Kingwell.

Jen's fabric line is called "Just a Speck." You can see why in these close-ups of the quilt top:

Isn't that the most fun? I'll use a fabric from her Lollies line for the backing. The fabric has eight different prints -- great for scrappy piecing!

I've made several Jacob's ladder quilts in my day. In fact, one of the very first quilts I ever made was a Jacob's Ladder -- for Jacob! This one uses 2½" strips. The pattern is from Cozy Quilts.

(photo from CozyQuilts.com)

This quilt will be the June Jelly Roll Party project at Ruth's Stitchery.

What's on your design wall this week?


From the desk of your

April 1 UFO Parade -- No Foolin' this time!

Sorry the UFO Parade is late this month. I'm tellin' ya, this having a job is interfering with my blogging! But I love it. Can you believe I get paid to play with fabric all day?

March was a busy month for UFO challengers!  Nineteen finishes. Before the parade begins, here is the number to work on for April

Ethel sent this photo of her pineapple quilt early in the month. I love it so much, I'm thinking it might be the next "A Quilt Block a Day" quilt. (Although it would might be hard to make one of these blocks every day!)

Ethel writes:

I had a lot (I still do) of CW (Civil War reproduction) fabrics that were approaching 2-decades old.  I played with the Pineapple Trim Tool, using those 'scrap fabrics' and fell in love with the 1st block.  So, I just kept going, using the same fabric theme.  I'm so happy with the results!  The top is now being custom-quilted and I should have it back by end of April!  Yippee!! 

Ethel, I can't wait to see how this one looks  after it is quilted!

Jennifer has had a hard month, and I hope you all will send good karma her way. But she still managed to get a lot of things finished!


Her second finish is this darling baby quilt. She even quilted sentences in the borders!

This side reads, "A dream is a wish your heart makes."

And this side reads, "Go to bed, get some sleep!"

Here is a table runner Jennifer also finished:

Look at this adorable "princess" quilt Jennifer made!

And she's ready for summer entertaining with her watermelon placemats:

I think my favorite of Jenn's finishes is this cute bag. And the story behind it is so funny:

Here's my bag #2, hot off the machine.  I'll be binding it tomorrow. I'm not sure what to call it just yet,  but probably something with Nana in it.  My grandmother passed away on Dec 6, 2015, at the age of 92.  it was a running gag to get her things with squirrels and chipmunks since she was absolutely petrified of squirrels or chipmunks  taking over her house.  So I'm up for any name suggestions!

Jenn, I have the candle burning for you and your Mom. I'm so impressed with all you've finished this year!

Donna also had a productive month. First is her block (well, two)  for a raffle for her local guild. Donna tells me the blocks are designed after the house in the Disney movie "Up."

Donna, I never saw that movie, but now I will be checking Netflix for it!

Her second finish has a charming story, read below the photo:

The second one is a quilt I started several years ago for my granddaughter, Kathryn.  I wanted the name of the blocks, as well as the whole quilt, to have a meaning/story to them.  I found a block pattern named "Grandmother's Dream" that I sorta liked, changed it up a little and called it "Nana's Dream" because that is what my grandkids call me. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to piece the blocks and wound up setting it aside for a bit.  I picked it up again in late 2014.  The blocks have words embroidered that are the dreams I have for her as she grows up.  The dream bubbles in the center are her current dreams, or things she likes to do.  I decided to use a quilt as you go method and was working on the embroidery one evening at my daughter's house. Kathryn started watching me (she was then almost 7 years old) and wanted to learn. She chose which picture to put in each block (and had a logical explanation for her choices) and embroidered some of them.  Her first embroidery project was the doll on the "laughter" block of this quilt.  The blocks were partly machine quilted and partly hand quilted then joined together with a fabric that Kathryn picked out.  She also decided the layout of the blocks and the dream bubbles. And yes, that is Susie's Magic Binding.

Donna, that is the sweetest story. And I'm delighted you used Susie's Magic Binding!

Sue's "finish that isn't quite" made me laugh. And it also makes me want to make this quilt!

Check out the rest of the story at Sue's Quilty Bits and Bobs.

Friend Martha in Idaho is looking forward to another new grandbaby in September. She says since she doesn't know whether it will be a boy or a girl, she made a quilt for each!

I can't decide which I like better, Martha!

Kerry is another two-time finisher. She welcomed a new granddaughter in February, and made "Square Dance" from Gigi's Thimble for her.

. 

The second one is a mini called Tidbit from  Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. This was the pattern and charm squares that Kerry won in  last year's UFO parade!

Kerry, thanks for sharing your prize. I wondered if people enjoyed the UFO prizes, or if they just added to the UFO stashes!

Clever Becky finished her "Scrappy Bargello" quilt -- and look what she did for the backing!

Her explanation made me proud:

"Scrappy Bargello" was going to be my March UFO, but I didn't get it back from the longarmer in time.  I finally got the binding on last Saturday (Susie's magic binding, of course) so it can at least make it in the April parade! :)  When I got the top done the fabric I had in mind for the backing just didn't seem like a good match anymore, but I was determined to only use what I had on hand.  A good mix of browns I wanted to clear out of my stash was the perfect answer.

 Good on you, Becky!

And yet another two-finisher, Mary J send photos of these lovelies. First is her modern sampler. Clever layout for disparate blocks, MJ!

And second, blocks from a batik swap she participated in several years ago:

Details at Zippy Quilts.

Just look at these adorable placemats Irene finished in March -- perfect for Easter!

She tells me her grandchildren always use cloth napkins at home, and the ears on these bunnies are really napkins.  Too cute!

Sandi burned the midnight oil to finish this beauty from Pat Spaeth. It's made from 5" squares, and is called "Five Inch is a Cinch," from Pat's collection called "Chesapeake."

Sandi calls it "Kalvert Kliffs," after a location in Maryland (Calvert Cliffs) off the Chesapeake Bay. Check out her blog at KwiltnKats.

And one more finish from Jennifer. She wrote me, 

Last one for March, I'm cutting it really close! Tried to relax a bit today and couldn't shut my mind off, so I started to quilt another top.   Once bound, it'll go to Project Linus. I'm considering this one a finish though. So, despite everything, this has been a relatively productive month. Here's hoping April is better. :)

I hope so, too, Jennifer!

Happy April Fool's Day!

From the desk of your

April UFO Challenge Announced

The UFO Challenge number for April is:

April 1st UFO parade to follow later today!



From the desk of your

Happy Spring! A Quilt Block a Day Tutorial

It's Spring! Not that you'd know it in Colorado -- low of 14F and 22F currently, with snow on the ground.

But, as Shelley wrote, "if Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"

With the advent of Spring comes a new "Quilt Block a Day." Did you keep up with making 90 nine-patch blocks during Winter? I hope so, because you need them to make the Spring BaD!

We're going to convert our nine-patch blocks to Farmer's Daughter blocks. Yes, I'm a farmer's daughter. I grew up on a dairy farm. Maybe that's why I wake up at 4 am every day?

Here is the completed Farmer's Daughter block:

To make it, start with the nine-patch block, tutorial here.

I'm making my Farmer's Daughter quilt using scrappy reds and background tone-on-tone prints. Of course, you can make your's using other colors, or three colors. Or really, really scrappy, with each element a different fabric!

To make the block, first you'll need eight half-square triangles. For a 90-block quilt, that's 720 HSTs. Don't panic, we'll only need eight each day. Cut a stack of HSTs and use them as your Leaders and Enders while sewing other things.

1. Place a 2½" strip of colored fabric right sides together with a 2½" strip of background fabric.

2. Use the EZ-Angle ruler to cut HSTs across the two strips. Then sew on the diagonal seam and press toward the dark fabric. 

3. Lay out the eight HSTs, eight background squares, and the nine-patch block to form the Farmer's Daughter block:

4. Sew two HSTs and one background square together to form the short side of the FD block:

5. Press toward the center background square.   This segment will be sewn to the side of the nine-patch block where the background square seam is pressed toward the dark squares:

6. Although I rarely use pins, in this case, pins will ensure your vertical seams match. Stitch with the HSTs on top, so you can stitch right across the "X" of the seam on the HST:

7. Press toward the nine-patch block:

8. Next, sew three background squares alternating with two HSTs to form the long side of the block.

9. Press each seam toward the outside background square. "nestle" the seams and stitch:

10. Press this seam toward the nine-patch:

 11.  A final pressing, and there's your Farmer's Daughter block!
 

 One down, 89 to go!


From the desk of your

Design Wall Monday: Little House Mystery

I'm a sucker for mystery quilts. I love stitching a little bit at a time -- and Ebony Love of LoveBug Studios is a talented mystery designer!

Ebony's most recent mystery celebrates a favorite book series from my childhood, the "Little House on the Prairie" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The story of Laura, her Pa and Ma, sister Mary and baby Carrie -- I loved them all!

Ruth's Stitchery carries the entire line of Andover's "Little House" fabrics. So I was delighted when my boss agreed I could stitch this quilt as a shop sample. I chose the "Dear Ma" colorway, because it's a bit brighter than the "Dear Pa" choice. (Thanks for cutting all the yardage, Yvonne!)  The best part about it being a sample is, I didn't dare fall behind! In fact, I was eagerly waiting the "quilt layout" clue yesterday morning. I had this much finished yesterday afternoon:

And this much before bedtime:

When I arranged the "orange peel" blocks and flying birds, I realized the center four flying bird blocks should have been those with the off-white backgrounds. But I wasn't about to take it apart! So I placed two white-background-flying birds on the top and bottom rows, and I'm satisfied with this layout.

This morning, Ebony sent a frantic "correction" email. The center four flying birds blocks should be those with the solid background.  Too late for me, I'm not changing it now!

Here is the layout of all the block sewn so far. There must be some borders, because so far the quilt top is 71½" square, and the pattern calls for the completed quilt to be 99" square.

Almost too big for my design wall!

I'm on the list for Cornelia to quilt it. I asked her to use the "Baptist Fan quilting design. I think that will be appropriate for this "prairie style" fabric, don't you?

What's on your design wall today?


From the desk of your

Finally Friday: A Video Tutorial Review

I was lucky enough to be asked to write a review of a new online video course from iquilt, in exchange for free access to the course. Although I received the course for free, all opinions are my own.

The course is "Solids Revolution" with Weeks Ringle. First, a photo of the finished project!

(Modern Quilt Studio copyright 2016)

Here is my review:

Whether your quilting style is traditional, modern – or modern-traditional – Weeks Ringle has great tips and tricks for you in “Solids Revolution." This video is hosted on iquilt.com, a new instructional platform sponsored by Bernina and the American Quilting Society.

Weeks co-founded “Modern Quilt Studio” with her husband, Bill Kerr, in 1999.  But “Solids Revolution” isn’t just for modern quilters, or even just for inexperienced quilters. I’ve been quilting for 40 years, and I learned so much from this video. Do you know how to line up blocks across sashing? Weeks has a great method for ensuring even triangle blocks line up from row to row!

The iquilt video display includes a pop-up “notes” link, so you can take notes right on your computer screen. And questions are answered by the instructor via email – so if you have to ask a “stupid question,” no one sees it save you and your instructor! [I guess my question wasn't really "stupid" -- I asked about sewing a quarter-inch seam with the walking foot. Weeks answered quickly, the Bernina walking foot has a quarter-inch mark.]

“Solids Revolution” includes detailed instructions to make the “Fun House” quilt. The downloadable instructions feature cutting charts for each section of the quilt, a supply list, and optional color choices for your personal quilt. My favorite is the blank “Fun House Coloring Page,” so students can try out various color combinations on paper before committing to fabric. The instruction sheets are especially nice, as quilters won’t need to write down measurements while watching the video. 

The final lesson includes a graphic visual on what happens when your quarter-inch seam isn’t exactly one-quarter inch. Weeks winds up the course with ideas for choosing quilting thread and quilting your quilt. I never realized that quilting thread appears darker in the “valleys” of seams on the quilt!

Weeks’ friendly, personal style of speaking makes the viewer feel that Weeks is right there, talking to you! I’m so excited to choose fabrics for my own “Fun House” quilt. 

I'm thinking it would be fun to make each column in "Fun House" a different color study. Column one, complementary colors. Column two, split complementary. Column three, analogous. Column four, monochromatic. Column five, rainbow -- ROY G BIV!

I'm particularly impressed with the videography on the iquilt.com platform. Transitions from full-screen view to close-up were smooth. Weeks doesn't fidget, chew her lip, or giggle when she misspeaks. All that I expect when paying for a video tutorial!

Take a look at iquilt.com to see all the videos available.


From the desk of your