A Couple of Recent Finishes

 December was a month when I got little done but, I'm trying to make up for it.

Here are two quilts I finished so far this month.

The first is Rolling Waves (82" x 82"). The pattern is from a free, downloadable ebook available HERE. I used only two fabrics for the top (a difficult thing for this scrappy quilter!). The back is a patchwork cheater's cloth.

Rolling Waves (82" x 82")

Rolling Waves (backing and binding detail)

The quilt is hanging straight down from the fence, but the use of different sizes and shapes of blocks gives it the illusion of rolling waves. It is an easy pattern--all nine patches. The effect is achieved by their arrangement.

The second quilt is Hourglass Wreath (58" x 72") from MSQC. The tutorial is available HERE.

I used a Kaffe Fassett layer cake to make this one. I rarely buy precuts (other than fat quarters), but KF is an exception for me. I like getting lots of his different prints without having to buy yardage.

KF Hourglass Wreath (58" x 72")

KF Hourglass Wreath (backing and binding detail)

This is another beautiful, but easy pattern to make.

I'm not thrilled with mine--I think the black I chose for the background does not have enough contrast with some of the KF fabrics. I'll pay closer attention to that next time. I used every inch of the black, so I went with a paisley black for the binding. 

Right now, I'm working on a log cabin quilt. I've never made one before, and I'm enjoying it very much. I'd like to explore the pattern and variations more this year. Maybe I'll think of 2023 as my Log Cabin Year.

I'm afraid I have stalled on the BH mystery quilt--as I said earlier, December was quite the month! I'll get back to it later. I have the first clue completed.

Happy Quilting! 😸

Tom's Big-Boy Quilt

 I like to make a flannel baby quilt for additions to the family.

Here is my grand-nephew's baby quilt.

Safari Baby

Once kids get big enough for a bed (rather than a crib), I like to make them a big-boy or big-girl quilt.

This big-boy quilt started with the backing--I wanted to use this Thomas (as in Tank Engine) fabric since my grand-nephew's name is Thomas.

 

I didn't know how I wanted to do the front, but the RR crossing sign gave me the idea to use Xs.

Tom's Big-Boy Quilt   64" x 84"

I used some novelty fabrics in it for a bit of I-Spy fun.

Tom's Big-Boy Quilt (detail)

Tom's Big-Boy Quilt (detail)

Tom's Big-Boy Quilt (detail)

Tom's Big-Boy Quilt (detail)

I finished it with a striped binding which I love (though it made me dizzy to cut it out!).

Tom's Big-Boy Quilt (backing and binding detail)

This was a fun project, and I enjoyed making it.

Happy Quilting!

Grassy Creek--Part 5

I finished the units for clue 5!  Here are a few of them.

 

Grassy Creek--Clue 5

Included my buddy, Waldo, this week.

 

Waldo is easy to find here, but when the quilt is together, he will be a challenge! 🔎

 

Kaffe Fassett Nine-Patch

 I know someone who loves lavender!

Kaffe Fassett Nine-Patch 98" x 98"

Kaffe Fassett Nine-Patch (detail)

Kaffe Fassett Nine-Patch (back and binding detail)

I combined lavender and purple with a Kaffe Fassett jelly roll (and a little extra from a KF layer cake) to make this quilt. Setting the blocks on point with sashings and cornerstones gives it a look different than the standard nine-patch.

I had never used a jelly roll (2.5" x WoF) before. I liked the variety of fabrics; the roll was cut accurately (without pinking!); and the fabric was excellent quality and very soft. That being said, I didn't particularly like the jelly roll format and will likely not buy another one. In a quilt like this one, I think it would have been easier to piece if the fabrics had been starched a bit, and I was afraid that I would warp the precut strips by starching and pressing. Charm packs (5" squares), layer cakes (10" squares), and fat quarters (18" x 20") are fairly easy to starch when a firmer hand is needed.

I do like the way this turned out, though. I think the lavender and purple work well with the KF fabric which, typical for the designer, is wildly colored with big, bold prints! :)

Thanks for stopping by! 😸

Expecting a Baby

No, not I!

My son and his wife will be parents in November. What is an Abuela to do in that situation? Make a quilt, of course!

I was going to try to make a calm, sedate baby quilt, but my style choices are usually about as peaceful as a riot. Once I saw the Laurel Burch flannel--I was a goner. No more plans for pale green and grey--I wanted her wild animals.

Wild Baby 42" x 54"

Wild Baby (backing)

Wild Baby (backing and binding detail)

I went with a simple pattern to show off the fabrics. Also, since today's babies lie ON quilts more than UNDER them, I wanted something without too many seams to create uncomfortable lumps.

I made sure that I didn't make the top too wide--I wanted to showcase the backing fabric without having to interrupt the pattern to widen it.

I had such fun working with these prints. I would find myself staring into the animals' eyes, just enjoying Burch's artistry. I hope my granddaughter enjoys it, too.

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.
 

 

Flannel Donation Quilts

In an earlier post, I showed how I cut up a bunch of my flannel scraps and kitted them into quilts. You can see that post HERE.


Here are my first two completed quilts. They are 48" x 60". (They really aren't as wonky in shape as the picture would indicate--I've got vines on the fence behind them!.)

Flannel Donation Quilts

Backing and Binding (detail)

Lots of Different Fabrics! (detail)

Flannel Donation Quilt (detail)

These are made of leftovers from other quilts, nightgowns, and anything else I could find. 😀


I've got more of these to make--stay tuned.

Flannel Baby Quilts

I made a couple of flannel baby quilts--I love flannel--so soft and warm.

Wildlife Baby

Wildlife Baby (back and binding detail)

Jungle Baby

Jungle Baby (focus fabric detail)

Both are combinations of 6" squares and 6" nine-patches--very simple, but still interesting. This is a good use for a focus fabric in combination with smaller pieces of coordinating colors. They are 44" square, with flannel front and back.

Happy quilting.

Flannel Scraps

About a month ago, I organized my fabric. I pulled out all the leftover flannel scraps from other projects and started cutting them into usable sizes.


I cut 2.5", 3.5", and 6.5" squares. I put the 2.5" squares together in nine-patches and the 3.5" into four-patches. Now everything measured 6.5", and I kitted them up for throw-size quilts.


I kitted kids' flannel into 80 units per bag. The quilts are/will be 8x10 blocks (48" x 60" finished). The other fabrics, I planned for adult quilts at 10x12 blocks (60" x 72" finished). In the end, I had enough for 4 kids' and 6 adults' quilts.

One kit

Blocks in a kit

I've sewn the kids' quilt tops together and have started on those for adults. The layout is random, so I can just sit down and sew these. I plan to use flannel backing to make these really snuggly and warm.

Kids' quilts

Working on adult quilt

There is a lot of sandwiching and quilting in my future, but I'm glad to have a plan for these flannel leftovers.

On Ringo Lake--Part 1

I am participating in Bonnie Hunter's annual Quiltville mystery again this year. The quilt is called On Ringo Lake in honor of a trip Bonnie took to Minnesota this year.

The suggested colors are chocolate brown, aqua, coral, and neutral. I'm switching the aqua for green since I'm not a big fan of blue.


Here are some of the fabrics I will be using. (I didn't photograph the neutrals.) I'm likely to find more fabrics to throw in as I go along.

The first clue had us making 9-patches.

Just a sampling--there are many more!

I took "chocolate brown" quite literally in some of the blocks.

These chocolate chips won't melt on the quilt!

I enjoy mystery quilts and am looking forward to the next clue of this one. The clues are given once a week on Friday until the mystery is completed. Happy Quilting!

I'm linking with Mystery Monday at Quiltville and Fiber Tuesday 136 at The Quilting Room with Mel.