Quilts for Donation

 I put together a year's worth of 3.5" leaders and enders to create six quilts for donation. Each is 62" x 74".

Closer to the 2025 holiday season, I will take them to a local agency that helps children and adults with developmental disabilities. 🎄🎄🎄

Leaders and Enders for Donation Quilts

 I'm chain piecing miles and miles of  Leader and Ender (L & E) blocks for donation quilts.

For the past few years, I've been using 3.5" squares for L & E. Each year, I piece them together to make simple patchwork quilts for donation.

Because these are amenable to straight-line quilting, I am able to use the white-on-white (or natural) fabrics that have the thicker paint on them. These tend to shred my thread with FMQ, but quilting with my walking foot works well. Each year, I gather the blocks and assemble the quilts--it's fun to see the different fabrics that I have worked with during the past year.

I have found that working with consistent squares as L & Es is less confusing for me than trying to use parts for a more complicated quilt. The first couple of years that I did this, I used two-rail fence blocks (even or uneven rails), but the stairstep quilting I usually did with those was quite tedious (stitch, turn 90 degrees, stitch, turn 90 degrees, etc.).

I love using L & E--in fact, I feel guilty now when I use my machine's thread cutter because I feel like I should have another block to go under the needle! I also like the idea that I am creating donations for those in need every time I sit down to sew.

Happy Quilting! 😸

A Couple of Summer Finishes

Summer is here--the heat is ON! 🔥

I have a couple of finishes to show. First is another donation quilt--this time in neutrals.

Neutral Donation Quilt 62" x 74"

Neutral Donation Quilt (backing and binding detail)

I continue to use 3.5" squares as my leaders and enders (I think this is quilt #12!). As I was working, I set aside the neutral squares until I had enough to combine for this quilt. It is quieter than usual, but I think someone will like it.


This second quilt is for a friend (actually, the mother of a friend!). She likes blue, so I cut from a variety of fabrics. The block is the 2020 Stashbuster from Border Creek Station (January version).

2020 Stashbuster (66" x 98")

2020 Stashbuster (backing and binding detail)

There is a second stashbuster block from Border Creek Station that was revealed in June. With everyone staying home, the participants finished the first quickly, so the company added another project. You can check it out at the same link given above.

I've made and distributed a few masks. There are some I did for family (human and feline!).🐱

In other news, my garden is growing, even though I put things out very late. Something (I'm suspecting a rabbit) denuded my beans, but everything else is doing well in the heat. My crops will be late, but I hope to can several things for winter enjoyment. Stay tuned. 🌿



Try to stay cool, wear a mask, and wash your hands often.

I Love Scrappy Quilts!

My title will come as no surprise if you have seen any of my quilts!

This first one is made of HSTs that I created from a batch of "creatively-cut" (AKA wonky) squares that I got from a friend (Thanks, Leesa). This is the second quilt from the batch of squares--you can find the first HERE.

Scrappy HSTs--64" x 76"

This photo is of three quilts (overlapped) made of 3.5" squares. I cut these from scraps and combine them with neutrals to use as leaders and enders.

Leaders & Enders Quilts (each is 64" x 76")

These also have backs pieced of 5" scrap squares. They even have scrappy bindings--like I said, I Love Scrappy Quilts!

Leaders & Enders Quilts (back and binding detail)

Happy Summer Solstice! 🌞

Time to Catch Up!

I finally got some photos of the work I've been doing.

*****

Donation Quilts

I cut flannel scraps to make donation quilts. You can see the first batch HERE. They were kid size and made with kids' prints. The next ones were for adults.

Two with many florals

Three with plaids, stripes, and more

I layered them on the fence to take photos. They aren't identical, but they are made with the same mix of fabrics. All five are 60" x 72" and are backed with flannel.

*****

I've been using my 3.5" squares as Leaders/Enders this year. Here are three more I've put together for a total of eight. I don't have pictures of all of them, but they are all made the same way with a wide mix of scraps. They are 62" x 74" and are backed with solid colors.

Leader/Ender Project

I'll be continuing with the same leader/ender project this year. Though I've reduced my 3.5" square bin, it still has plenty of fabric left!

*****

I mentioned that I've been making Bonnie Hunter's quilt Sand Castles. You can see my previous posts here: 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Here she is--

Sand Castles (a Bonnie Hunter design) 84" x 84"

Sand Castles (backing and binding detail)

Sand Castles (detail)

Sand Castles (detail)

Though the design is titled Sand Castles, for some reason, the string squares remind me of birds' nests; thus, I used a backing fabric covered with birds on branches. This was a fun quilts to make--Bonnie Hunter writes great instructions, and it went together without a hitch!

*****

As I mentioned HERE, I have  been intimidated by Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay pattern. I loved the quilt, but I was afraid to start it. I have overcome the fear and now I have my own version of the beautiful quilt. 

Meet my Orca Bay: The Christmas Edition.

 Orca Bay 80" x 90"

Orca Bay (detail)

Orca Bay (detail) The fabric with the beaver is from Christmas outfits I made for my kids over thirty years ago!

Orca Bay (detail) Look closely and you will find Waldo.

Orca Bay (detail) Santas, Cardinals, Snow People,...

Orca Bay (detail) Nutcracker, Peppermints, Christmas Goose,...

Orca Bay (detail) Musical Cat, Stripes, Dots,...

Orca Bay (detail) Santa Flamingo

Orca Bay (detail) And a partridge in a pear tree

I have made many Christmas quilts, but I never had one of my own--now, I do! 

Lesson Learned: Take one step at a time, and you can create something amazing, even if you are afraid.
 

 

Good Fortune Clues 1 & 2 and Donation Quilts

Yay for Mystery Quilts! I'm enjoying Bonnie Hunter's Good Fortune Mystery.

Clue #1

Clue #2

And a selection of each

Five Leader/Ender Donation Quilts--I provide only one picture, but all are 3.5" (unfinished) squares arranged the same way. Sizes: 2@ 67"x86" and 3@ 62"x74"

I'll be linking with Quiltville's Monday Mystery Link-up.


Soon it will be time for Winter Break--yay! I'm ready for some serious quilting time. 😀

Final Two Leaders and Ender Quilts

These are my last two Two-Rail Fence leader and ender quilts for my year-long project. I have enjoyed making and donating these. I've experimented with colors, fabrics, layouts, and quilting methods. And after making 11 of these, I'm done! 😅

 Easter Eggs (#10 for donation)--62" x 74"--all solids

 

Jimi Hendrix (#11 for donation)--64" x 68"--batiks and blenders

Next year's leader and ender project for me will be simple 3.5" square patchwork. I'll also check out Bonnie Hunter's L&E project (Here's the link to Jewel Box Stars, the new L&E project from Bonnie Hunter), but I have a large number of 3.5" squares in stash, and I'd like to use them. I plan to start with four-patches--we'll see what comes after that!

I'll be linking with Fiber Tuesday 163 at The Quilting Room with Mel, Jo's Country Junction, and Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Busybusy May

Long time, no post! May is usually consumed with finishing up the semester, and this year was no exception. Add to that a shift change from days to nights in the household, and May has felt a bit topsy-turvy.

I have been working on projects--it just seems that I haven't finished anything, so I'll have a bunch of finishes at once one of these days.

I have been continuing my two-rail fence leader and ender project. This one is number ten for the year. I call it my Easter egg quilt--not because any part of it is egg-shaped but because of the colors.

I quilted it in a stairstep pattern. I've done several of the rail fence donation quilts this way, and I have to admit, I'm a bit tired of sewing three inches, turning ninety degrees, sewing three inches, turning ninety degrees,... 

I've been looking ahead to what I will do with leaders and enders next year. Bonnie Hunter begins her challenge in July, but in looking at what I have that needs to be done, I have settled on 3.5" squares. I've cut many scraps to this size through the years, and I think it is time to use them. I'm planning to do four-patches--neutral and scrappy prints. Since many of my quilts are donated, this seems a good choice. When non-quilting people think of quilts, a simple patchwork of squares usually comes to mind. Sometimes, simple is best.

I'm also working on a new string design. I'm still refining it--this one has taken some experimentation.

I began completely scrappy,

but I felt like the red stars were lost in the busyness. I'm trying neutral strings now,

but, this one feels kind of blah. I may try adding a few neutral prints for interest, but I have to be careful not to get too busy again. My quilts are normally about as calm as a riot, so I'll have to rein in my natural inclination! :)

So my busybusy May is nearly over--I'm hoping for a calmer June.

I'm linking with Whatever Wednesday at Jo's Country Junction.

Batik Leader and Ender Rail Fence Donation Quilts

My personal leader/ender project has been fruitful this year. These are donation quilts #7 and #8!

Numbers 5 and  6 can be found HERE.

Numbers 3 and 4 are HERE.

Numbers 1 and 2 are HERE.


This time, I went with an uneven Rail Fence block to better show off the colors in the batiks I used. I did one in a stairstep layout and the other in a windmill layout.

#7 Batik and Black Rail Fence (stairstep layout)--66" x 74"

#7 Batik and Black Rail Fence (detail)

#7 Batik and Black Rail Fence (backing and binding detail)

#8 Batik and Black Rail Fence (windmill layout)--64" x 64"

#8 Batik and Black Rail Fence (detail)

#8 Batik and Black Rail Fence (backing and binding detail)

I'm not a big batik fan, and some of these fabrics are truly ugly! However, when you put them together, the overall effect is good.

I'm still putting together Rail Fence blocks as leaders and enders--more quilts to come!

I'm linking with Fiber Tuesday 148 at the Quilting Room with Mel.