Log Cabin Finishes

I finally finished up my Log Cabin quilts. They are fun to make, and I have plans for more!

First, a very traditional brown/neutral one.

Brown Log Cabin 95" x 95"

Brown Log Cabin (center detail)

Brown Log Cabin (detail)

Brown Log Cabin (detail)

Brown Log Cabin (back and binding detail)

For this quilt I used 1.5" strips (finished at 1"). The center red square is a constant fabric which I also used as binding. The back is a brown paint stroke print with a center panel of fruit and foliage (you can just see it in the backing detail picture). I quilted it with straight lines.

The second is a curved Log Cabin in red and white.

Curved Log Cabin (67" x 88")

Curved Log Cabin (detail)

Curved Log Cabin (back and binding detail)

This one was made with 2.5" red (and white on red) strips and 1.5" white (and red on white) strips. The center is a constant, and I also used it for binding. The back is a red/white check. I started the light side of these blocks with plain white strips to make sure the contrast in the center was strong. Again, I quilted it with straight lines.

I enjoyed making both of these. The red (2.5") strips seemed very wide--I may adjust them a bit if I do another curved Log Cabin block. I really love the brown one--I think the colors turned out well.

I have another Log Cabin in progress. This one is in the Courthouse Steps variation, and it is VERY scrappy. I have plans for several more as well, so you will be seeing more Cabin construction from me!

Happy Quilting! 😸

 As I mentioned last time, in all my years of quilting, I've never made a Log Cabin quilt before.

I went very traditional with color and layout, and I am basting it for quilting today. This picture only shows a part of it--it is 96" x 96"!

 

I'll post a better picture when it is completed.

Happy Quilting! 😺

Anvil for my Nephew

I've been working on gift quilts for my youngest nephew and nieces. The quilts are now in their hands, so I can now share my work without spoiling the surprise. 


My nephew enjoys metalworking on his forge. When I decided to make him a quilt, the traditional Anvil block seemed appropriate.

I wanted to make a bold, geometric quilt--not a fussy one. For this reason, I chose to go with only two fabrics on the top--a struggle for a scrappy quilter like me!


The basic units are 3.5" and 6.5"--this creates a 12.5" block.

The block is easy to assemble:

Sew a 3.5" HST to a 3.5" solid light square

Sew a 3.5" HST to a dark solid square

Sew the two units together. You will need 2 of these four-patch units per block.

Sew the unit to a 6.5" HST to form a half-block.

Join the half-blocks to make a complete Anvil block.

In this quilt, I used 36 blocks to create a square quilt approximately 74" x 74" when finished and bound. Even numbers of blocks for each row and column made the overall pattern seem more complete to me. Experiment with your blocks to determine if you wish to make it differently.

Other layouts are possible with this block:

This layout turns all the scrappy anvils in one direction and adds sashing between the blocks. (Click the photo to find the original site of the image.)

Again, here the anvils all run in one direction this time without sashing between the blocks. (Click the photo to find the original site of the image.)

I chose the layout I did because I like the secondary pattern that is created by the light-colored fabric.

I backed this quilt with a fabric featuring American flags.

The binding is the same blue fabric as I used on the front.

My nephew is interested in the Navy, so I thought of using backing fabric printed with semaphore flags. The problem is, I don't read semaphore, so I wouldn't know what those flags were saying.I didn't want to give him a quilt where the flags spelled out "You are a scurvy rat" or "Your granny sucks eggs"!  :)



Thanks for visiting and happy sewing.


I'm linking to Myra's Busy Hands Quilts Finished or Not Friday and Fiber Tuesday 79 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

China Blue

Another D9P for donation made with mystery charm packs from Missouri Star Quilt Company. 

Fabric Line: China Blue by Kanvas

64" x 75"

Detail of front

Pieced Back

Quick, easy, and pretty!


I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 69 at The Quilting Room with Mel and Jo's Country Junction UFO Challenge .

Zesty Donation Quilt

In an effort to stretch my color and fabric print boundaries, I ordered a couple of mystery charm packs from MO Star Quilt Company. I figured it was the luck of the draw--they would either be colors I loved or colors that I probably should use more often.


Here is what I received:

The solid yellow and background are from my stash.

The name of the line is Zest. To make best use of the prints in the charm pack, I decided on a D9P, so I wouldn't have to cut the charms.

Here is the result:

64" x 75"

(detail)

Purplish-grey binding matches a color in the print

Only one extra block this time--I'm improving! It went on the back.

Not my favorite colors or prints, but it should make someone happy! I'll have to try this again--stretching is good for me.

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 68 at The Quilting Room with Mel and Jo's Country Junction UFO Challenge .

Cheerful Donation Quilt

While these aren't my favorite colors, I think someone will enjoy receiving this quilt.


The pattern is "Easy Peasy" from Cool Cat Creations. I previously wrote about it HERE . I pieced both the front and back (I love pieced backing, and it uses LOTS of scraps!).

Front

Front (detail)

Back

Binding (detail)

I'll be putting this in my donation stack after I wash it.


Happy Memorial Day!

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 62 at The Quilting Room with Mel.

Gift Quilt=No Posts!

I've been working on a gift quilt, so I haven't been able to post pictures of my work this week.


During the time I had between steps, I pulled fabric for a donation quilt. My only thought was "cheerful." Here are the pressed FQs.

I used a pattern I'd been wanting to try, "Easy Peasy" from Cool Cat Creations. (Here's a LINK to their Etsy shop.)  Got the top together, but I haven't decided on a backing yet. So . . .  to be continued . . .

I also made binding for three quilts I have to finish. Check out those fancy-dancy binding holders. Hey--they work!

I'm back to the gift quilt--only the binding to finish now!

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 56 at the Quilting Room with Mel.

From Limbo to Finished!

Last post, I told you about the quilt in limbo--this week, I finished it!

It is a simple string quilt with a scrappy patchwork back--not fancy, but colorful!

2.5" white strips in center of blocks and 2.5" white sashing and border

7" Squares for a patchwork back

With the trimmings from the back, I made scrappy binding.

A close-up of some of the fun fabrics I used.

Very glad to have this one done--it is too pretty to remain unfinished!


Stash report:

In this month--0 yards
Out this month--16 yards

I'm linking with Patchwork Times for the stash report.

Revisiting the Quilt in Limbo

I pieced a string quilt way back in June (HERE) and July (HERE), but never got it finished. I couldn't decide how I wanted to do the back, and time got away from me. Now it is time to get back to it!


I decided to piece the back from 7 inch squares I had cut from scraps. I realize that a pieced back on a string quilt may lead to some thickness because of all the seams, but my machine has never yet balked at sewing thick areas, so I'm going to try it.

 The scraps are random, though I did try to alternate light/dark when I put it together.

Now to layer and glue baste it--I hope to do this tomorrow.

She is Plain, but She is Done!

I've been working on units for several quilts (small pieces), and I was feeling the need to finish something.


This is from the "Wickedly Easy" quilt pattern (available free online). The pieces felt enormous! I used leftover bits and pieces on the back.

I'm not thrilled with the lack of color/value contrast, but she is soft and warm, and I'm sure someone will love her.

They Can't All Be Beautiful!

I've been working on a quilt. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I chose the fabrics and put them together, but this poor girl is homely!

I've pieced a panel to put into her backing, so she would feel a little better.

She is a quilt for donation, so I'm sure someone out there will love her. 


I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 42.

Under the Needle Today--Golden Aria

Put this together today:

It doesn't look like much at a distance, but the fabrics...

...so beautiful.


 I didn't want to cut them up much or have the pattern detract from the colors and designs, so I chose a really simple Turning Twenty pattern (Superman from Turning Twenty: Simply Sashed)  with big pieces. Most of the fabrics are from one of Robert Kaufman's La Scala lines, (I don't know which number; he has done several.) though I filled in with stash since I only bought half-yards of the RK--and I used almost every scrap of them!