The Quilt That's Creating Itself

I'm afraid that I have no say at all about what this quilt will look like. It's the ultimate mystery quilt. I get bits and pieces of it from one day to the next, but not the whole design. It's the elves, you know. There's just a bit of magic about them.

The original plan was to make a North Pole quilt with houses and workshops and such. As you know, I can't resist sketching houses. Two buildings were ready to go onto a background fabric, but then, the elves started talking to me.

Elf #1 started it all. He just jumped in and started talking. What a shock! I almost fainted! We had an actual back and forth conversation. In fact, we talked so much, that at lunch my husband asked who I had been talking to on the phone all morning.

Elf #1: You don't want to make houses for this quilt. You need to show us. Elves are much more interesting than houses.
Me: But, I like houses.
#1: You were the little girl who loved paper dolls. I remember. Making us is even more fun than playing paper dolls.
Me: You don't look old enough to remember that far back, but you're right. I used to make lots of new clothes for my paper dolls.
#1: Yes, you did. Now you can make clothes for us.
Me: That might be fun. I can put in tons of detail, too.
 #1: Be careful, Karen. You tend to put in too much detail.
Me: I know. Sigh...
 #1: We both need to get to work. There is so much to do and so little time. It's almost Christmas Eve, you know.
Me: Of course. But, I don't know what you look like. Can you help me out?
#1: Well, let's see. I have dark hair, and I've starting counting calories. Mrs. Claus's cookies are the absolute best. 
Me: And, what are you doing to help Santa?
#1: Today, I'm carrying packages from the wrapping room to the packing area.
Me: What else in on this quilt?
#1: We'll let you know later.  It's Christmas. It's magical, and you are supposed to be surprised. Now, start drawing!

Elf #2 didn't want to talk at first.  #1 told me that she's still young and quite shy. She had ag Christmas ornament in her hand. I had to be careful not to frighten her.

Me: Oh, you're carrying an ornament. How pretty.
#2: It's red.
Me: Are you going to put in on the tree?
#2: (Shakes her head, no.)
Me: Is it going in a package?
#2: (Shakes her head, no.)
Me: Are you hanging it with mistletoe?
#2: (Shakes her head, no.)
Me: What will you do with it, then?
#2: (Comes close and whispers to me.) I'm giving a pretty ornament to Vixen, 'cause she's my favorite. I'll show her to you.
Me: Oh, my goodness! Vixen is lovely! I'm glad you're giving her your ornament. It looks so pretty on her antler.

Today, I'm looking for Elf #3. I don't know where he is or what he's doing. I think we're playing hide and seek.

I'll keep you posted on the rest of the story as it unfolds.

Exactly six months until Christmas!

Red, White, and Blue Table Topper- a Tutorial

Once again, I'm racing to get my little quilts and patterns out in time for the seasons. It's mid June already, so I whipped up a table topper for the Fourth of July, one that can be quickly made with time to spare. The patches are all made from squares, half square triangles and 1" strips. The finished size is 17" square.

"Red, White, and Blue", 17" x 17"

This takes only a few small pieces of fabrics. You need five main fabrics for the star and a few red and white pieces for the center square. 

Fabrics

• two blues, one dark, one a lighter print
• two reds, one dark, one a lighter print
• one white
• scraps of reds and whites for center square
• 1/8 yard white print for border
• 1/8 yard dark blue for binding
• one fat quarter for backing

Cutting

• From dark blue, cut eight squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".
• From lighter blue, cut four squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".
• From dark red, cut four squares, 3" x 3".
• From light red, cut four squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".
• From white, cut four squares 3" x 3" and eight squares 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".
• From red and white scraps, cut six strips, 1 1/2" x 8". 
• From white border print, cut two strips 1 1/2" x 15 1/2" and two strips 1 1/2" x 17 1/2".

Note: All seams are 1/4". For best results with this pattern, press seams open.

Make the Center Square:

1.  Sew the red and white strips of fabric together, side by side alternating darker fabrics with lighter fabrics. Press.

2. From this set, cut five strips, each 1 1/2" wide. 

 Note: I made a mistake in choosing fabrics. O thought the bottom row would present as a white, but he two fabrics on the ends were much too similar. As a result my finished center square has one edge that doesn't match up the way I'd like.

3. Turn every other strip 180 º. Align the strips in a checkerboard pattern. Remove an extra square from one end of each strip leaving five squares in each.

 4. Sew the five strips together to make one square, 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".

Even with more rearranging, I couldn't avoid having one end of the square with too little contrast.

Make the Half Square Triangle Patches

1. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 3 1/2" white square and each square of the lighter blue print.

2. With right sides together:
- Lay a 3 1/2" white square on each the four 3 1/2" lighter red squares.
- Lay a 3 1/2" white square on each of four 3 1/2" dark blue squares.
- Lay a lighter bue square on each of the remaining four dark blue squares.

 3. Sew 1/4" from either side of the lines drawn. Cut on the drawn line, open each half and press open to make half square triangle patches. You will have four patches of each combination. Trim each patch to 3 1/2" x 3 1/2".

Unit A
Make two

Unit A

1. Assemble top row as shown below. Sew all patches right sides together.
From left to right: white square, red and white half square triangle patch, blue and white half square triangle patch, blue and white half square triangle patch, red and white half square triangle patch, white square. Press.

Top row: make two

2. Assemble bottom row with patches right sides together as shown below.
From left to right: red and white patch, red square, dark blue and light blue patch, dark blue and light blue patch, red square, red and white patch.Press.

Bottom row: make two.

3. Sew the two rows right sides together, matching seams. Press.

Unit B
Make 2

1. For each unit, with right sides together, sew two dark blue and light blue patches together with the dark blue triangles together as shown. Then sew two dark blue and white patches together with the white triangles together as shown.

2. For each unit, sew a dark blue and light blue section and a blue and white section together with dark blue triangles together.

Assemble

1. Sew a unit B to each of two opposite sides of the center square.

2. Sew a unit A to the top and bottom of the center square and unit B strip.

3. Sew a 1 1/2" x 15 1/2" strip of white border fabric to each of two opposite sides of the completed star. Press to the border.

4. Sew a 1 1/2" x 17 1/2" strip of border fabric to the remaining two sides of the star. Press to the border.

 

 Add batting and backing. Quilt as desired. Attach binding.

Enjoy!!

 

From Ants to Picnics

"Summer Picnic" 20" x 24" Pattern Link

Ideas can come from the oddest places.  The new summer picnic wall hanging was inspired by the ants who woke up and discovered my kitchen this spring. Every year we have the battle over who owns the counter top and the area under the sink. Eventually, I won, but I still check my kitchen thoroughly every morning.

With ants on my mind and a need for a fun summer pattern, the picnic wall hanging was born. Who ever heard of a picnic without ants?

I started with the basket and the food, then I pondered the ants. How big should they be? I didn't want the ants to be the main focus, so I kept them tiny and unobtrusive, a surprise to be discovered by the close observer.

I embroidered them, but it would probably be much easier to draw them in with a permanent marker - a very fine tipped marker.

I think the little pests would look better with thinner legs and antennae. It's a bit late now, but if I were to do them over, I'd use medium gray sewing thread instead of the single strand of black embroidery floss.

In case you were wondering, I discovered a super weapon in my battle with the ants. I normally use vinegar for cleaning, and if it's used regularly, it does help to keep the ants at bay. One day, I ran out of vinegar, so I cleaned the counter top with leftover Formula 409.  I also sprayed a bit into the under the sink and into the dishwasher, which was their main point of entry. The little pests are totally gone. I don't blame them. I don't like the fumes of chemical cleaners either.

Wishing you a lovely week!

"F" is for Fish

The pattern on Craftsy.

 

Last week it was "G" is for Giraffe, and this week "F" is for Fish. What am I doing with the sudden onslaught of alphabet mug rugs? I have no clue how this all came about, and I don't know if this is the end or just the beginning of something altogether new.

I knew that I would surprise myself with the next project, and I surely did. I had no intention of making a mug rug with whimsical, imaginary fish, but it rained and rained last week. Everything was drenched, as water was poured off the roof, the trees, the plants, and everything else. It must have been all the water that filled my head with visions of fish.

It took more than two weeks of constant struggle to design the giraffe, but this one was sketched in just over an hour.  It's such an easy pattern that I stitched it together the same afternoon. The fabrics came entirely from my stash, too, so I didn't even have to go out in the rain to get supplies. So much fun!

 

Bubbles are insubstantial, so I simple outlined bubble shapes with white thread and my handy dandy, favorite machine blanket stitch. My stash of 1/4" buttons was raided for eyes, and I quilted a wavy pattern to give the water a sense movement.

My pattern is finished and, today, the sun came out! The sky is bright and blue, flowers are perking up, and, my goodness, but those birds are singing! It's definitely May.

I'm going to go for a walk in the sunshine, now. I can work on other things later.

Wishing you a fantastic week!

Sara Quilt, Block 5

This is the last of the patterns for the blocks I made for Sara's Quilt. It's taken forever, and it feel so good to have this done. 

Block 5, Double Dresden

 

 I'm waiting now for Sara to find time to come over and help me design the border. She's in no rush to have her quilt, and I would much rather go slowly and have it turn out perfectly for her.

I'm really pleased with how this has turned out.

This afternoon, I'll be sewing up more schoolhouse blocks. Never a dull moment.

"G" is for Giraffe

After so many trials and errors, the giraffe mug rug finally came together. It reminds me of the pictures in a child's alphabet book, so I had no choice but to name it, "G" is for Giraffe.

 

There were so many missteps along the journey to finding the right design for this mug rug. I made a short list of some things that I need to keep in mind. 

• I have the greatest success when I stick to designs that are lighthearted and fun. When I try to expand into something more artistic, I often run into trouble. 
• Working too hard on an idea often backfires. 
• It often takes several attempts to get things right. 
• When I'm stuck, I need to take breaks and do things that are entirely different. Eventually ideas gel, but only when I'm relaxed and not overthinking the design. 
• Fabric choices are everything! Fabrics that look perfect laid out on the cutting board may not look good at all when sewn together. 
• Trial and error is part of the process.

I'm trying to plan ahead, but I'm not getting very far. In the meantime, I do have some short term project plans, so that's a start.

1. If the world will slow down, I'll make the last block pattern for Sara's quilt.
2. I'm waiting for Sara to find time to come over and help me choose a border plan for her quilt.
3. I still want an old-fashioned schoolhouse quilt, but I'm planning to use more modern fabrics.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day! 

I wish you were here, Mom. Miss you!

 

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Sara Quilt, Block 7, Tutorial

We've had a of hectic couple of weeks with emergency rooms and doctor appointments for my sweet hubby. Getting older in combination with poor health isn't the least bit fun. I'm hoping it all slows down for a bit now.

Today, I have finally found a few minutes to hastily write up this pattern.

Sara Quilt, Block 7. 10 1/2" x 10 1/2"

This is a very basic variation on a star block, and so quick to stitch together.

You will need four fabrics, two creams, one main red, and one contrast red.

From the main red, cut:

• Five squares 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"
• Four squares 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

From the contrast red, cut:

• Four squares 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

From Cream 1, cut:

• Four squares 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"

From Cream 2, cut:

• Four squares 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Make eight half square triangles.

1. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side each of the 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" Cream 2 squares.

2. Align one of these squares on top of each of the 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" red squares, right sides together.

3. Stitch 1/4" from either side of the drawn line.

4. Cut on the line and open the half square triangles.

5. Press to the red. The patches will be slightly larger than needed. 

I made two versions of this block. The fabrics shown here are used in the second version.

6. Trim each half square triangle to 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

Assemble the block.

1. Make rows 1 and 5, the top and bottom rows of the block. From left to right: Cream 1 square, half square triangle, contrast red square, half square triangle, Cream 1 square.

 2. Make rows 2 and 4. From left to right: half square triangle, red square, Cream 1 square, red square, half square triangle.

3. Make the middle row. From left to right: contrast red square, Cream 1 square, red square, Cream 1 square, contrast red square.

 4. Assemble as show above. Be very careful to place the half square triangles in the right position or ...

.... you just might wind up with an undesirable block!

I did take it apart and fix it. This quilt is for my granddaughter, and I really didn't like the accidentally invented block.

Now, on to writing up the pattern for Block 5, the final block pattern for Sara's quilt.

First, though, I'm going for a walk. It's such a beautiful day.

Sunshine in our little neighborhood park.

Wishing you a beautiful day!

Sara's Quilt, Block 9, Tutorial

All of the blocks for Sara's Quilt are finished!! The patterns and tutorials are all mixed up in order, I know. It's just another example of how my brain bounces around from this to that at random.

Block 9, 10 1/2" x 10 1/2"

This was the final block that I made for Sara's Quilt, but there will be one more tutorial on my blog for block 7. The Dresden blocks will need a template, so that will be on Craftsy as a free pattern. Just more confusion, I know.

I can't believe that I forgot to take enough photos for this block! As a result, writing this blog took ten times as long as it would have if I hadn't had to make all of the diagrams. Sometimes I am such a scatterbrain! Sigh...

The diagram will be a useful guide to fabrics and their placement.

Eight different fabrics are used.

Cutting Instructions:

1. From each of the reds in the top row, cut one 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square and one 3 1/4" square. Cut the 3 1/4" squares in half diagonally. 

2. From the Medium Red, cut four 3 1/4" squares. Cut each in half diagonally.

3. From Cream 1, cut four 2 1/2" squares and four 3 1/4" squares. Cut the 3 1/4" squares in half diagonally. 

4. From Cream 2, cut four 2 1/2" squares.

5. From the Center Cream, cut on 2 1/2" square.

Make half square triangle patches: 

1. From each of the main red fabrics you will have two triangles. Sew the triangles into half square triangle patches as shown. 

Sew one triangle of each with a Cream 1 triangle. Sew the other triangle with a Medium red triangle. 

2. The patches will be slightly larger than needed. Trim each to a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square.

 3. Four Medium red triangles and four Cream 1 triangles will remain. Sew each Medium Red triangle to a Cream 1 triangle to make four half square triangle patches. Trim each patch to 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" as before. 

Assemble the block.

Arrange the patches into rows and sew together.  

 

Next up, Block 7.

We are nearing the end.