Small Quilt Sew Along - Patriotic Stars Quilt

Today we kicked off the Small Quilt Sew Along for the six small quilts in my book Schoolgirl Sampler. We'll be starting with this one, the Patriotic Stars quilt on page 26 of the book.

Patriotic Stars quilt made by Sue Bennett

Each month we'll have a theme. The theme for the first month is:  Make a quilt with patriotic blocks or fabrics or make a row quilt using different blocks in red, white and blue fabrics. I thought this would be a great quilt to start with so it could be ready to display on or around the Fourth of July. 

The Schoolgirl Sampler Sew Along Facebook group will be making all six of the small quilts from the book.  One per month. I hope some of you will join us.  The directions for the blocks to make the small quilts are in the book.

                                 

I know this is going to be a lot of fun. If you want to purchase a book, check your local quilt shop, Amazon, Martingale or other online shops for copies.  Check my website or Etsy shop for signed copies. 

Click the link to see more info and join the Sew Along Facebook group.   I'll also list the quilt we're working on each month on the Sampler Sew Along page of my website so those of you who don't do FB can follow along too. Enjoy sewing some cute little quilts!

Small Quilts Sew Along

I hope you've had fun following along and making the Schoolgirl Sampler quilt. I've seen some gorgeous finished quilts! And such a variety of colors and other small touches to make them all unique. 

Beginning in June, the Schoolgirl Sampler Sew Along Facebook group will be making the small quilts from the book.  You're welcome to join us as we choose one quilt to sew each month through December 2020. 

Which one will be first??

Since January, quilters in the group have been sewing alongside each other, making all of the 4" blocks and then assembling the large schoolgirl sampler quilt. The book also contains six small quilts made with some of the blocks used in that quilt.

You'll need the book to participate since the patterns and block instructions are in the book. I was out of books for awhile as more were being reprinted but copies are back in stock if anyone is interested in a signed book. Check my website or Etsy shop. Or, check your local quilt shop, Amazon or Martingale to find a copy.

Click the link to see more info and join the Sew Along Facebook group   I'll also list the quilt we're working on each month on the Sampler Sew Along page of my website so those of you who don't do FB can follow along. 

Doll Quilts in the Spring Garden

I love making small quilts and if you're reading this and following my blog, you probably do too.  Simple little doll quilts made with reproduction fabrics really tug at my heartstrings. I know some of you love these same kinds of quilts as much as I do. So I'm sharing some of my favorite ones and a few newer ones that I made or finished last year just for those of you who are new to the kinds of quilts I like to make. (You can find the patterns for some these on my website and in my Etsy shop. Or ask and I'll tell you which book it's from.) 

So simple, yet gloriously fun. You can crank these out in between working on larger quilts. They're that quick. The most fun was probably sorting through my reproduction scraps looking for just the right combination of muted colors, finding some I hadn't seen in awhile. 

There's something calming about creating something pretty with simple little pieces . . . . 

One of the nice things about making small quilts is that they're easy to display around the house in many different ways. Quilts really add something to a room whether they're dressing up a bed, draped over a sofa or hanging on a wall in an entryway. 

                                 

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I really wanted to thank so many of you for participating in the Schoolgirl Sampler Sew Along this year. It was a nice diversion for awhile, don't you think? Thanks also for purchasing the book. Your support means a lot. The FB group will stay open for the rest of the year and we may do sew alongs for some of the smaller quilts in the book beginning this summer. 

I also wanted to thank you so much for following me all these years. It's been so nice meeting and connecting with many of you who share my love of all things small and made with reproduction fabrics. I sincerely hope that my books and quilts, my groups and this blog have inspired you a little bit and brought some joy into your lives. I know you have enriched mine with your kindness. 

                                                                                My best to all of you,

                                                                                                     - Kathy

Add Sashing to Your Sampler Blocks

Well, people, we're coming to a close on this Sampler Sew Along. Last week was Applique, this week you'll add sashing to your blocks and begin to put them together. We'll talk about the borders next week. If you have the Schoolgirl Sampler book and are following along, read the instructions on pages 14 - 15 in the book and see the tips in the file for Week 14.  

I recommend sashing the blocks individually instead of sewing long strips of sashing between the rows of blocks. I learned how to do this while making my Dear Jane quilt - 

Make sure your blocks measure EXACTLY 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" before you add the sashing.  (In putting my Dear Jane blocks together, I used to hold my breath and was always amazed when they came out exactly as they should. Will you look at that . . . . )  Add the sashing to each block on your sampler quilt the same way. Sew one strip to the side of the block and sew the strip with the cornerstone to the bottom of the block. But please read the instructions in the book as well. 

My Schoolgirl Sampler books were sold out for awhile but they've been reprinted and are now back in stock. So if you would like to purchase a signed copy, they're available on my website and my Etsy shop again.   

                                      

Those of you who are following along with me on the 2021 Mystery Quilt - all of the block units from previous months have now come together to make this cute scrappy quilt - 

Directions for this Mystery are in the files in the Facebook group and on my website. 

                                 

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

~Anne Bradstreet, 17th century poet

                           

                             Easter, the season of rebirth and renewal. The message is all about Hope, Love and Joyful living.      

Thinking of making a carrot cake this weekend. Haven't made one in years. If I can find a good recipe for cream cheese frosting.

   Carrot Cake

3 eggs

1 1/4 cups oil

1 1/3 cups brown sugar

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups flour

1 8-oz. can crushed pineapple

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

                     4 carrots, grated                     

                          

Hoping you have a Happy Easter!

It's Applique Week!

If you've been following along and making the Schoolgirl Sampler quilt with me since January, you should be finished with all the blocks or pretty close to being finished by now. This week is Week 13 -  Applique Week! I'll show you how to do the center section in the file in the Facebook Sampler group. The same file is on my website under the Schoolgirl Sampler Sew Along page.  But please also read pages 12 -13 and 76 -77 in the book. The file contains other suggestions for making this section if you're not fond of applique. 

Applique is fun and if you haven't tried it, you're missing out. Sure, it takes a bit of practice but everything does. I designed this quilt with simple shapes so it wouldn't be that difficult if you're a first timer. 

Make sure you study the directions for starch and template applique in this week's file and practice making some leaves or peels. See if this is something you can do. If not, watch some videos on YouTube or experiment with a few different applique methods to find one that perhaps suits you better. All I can say is I dreaded the "A" word a few years ago. Could never do it well. A friend taught me how to applique this way and I never looked back. It's so easy and it sure saved me in making my Dear Jane quilt. 

Here are few extra Peony blocks from the Peony Star quilt in my book Remembering Adelia -

Easy prep

Toothpicks are your friends . . . .

Some other simple applique quilts from my books and patterns. It doesn't HAVE to be difficult to be cute. 

There are so many applique projects I want to make. Hoping to get to do more of them soon.

Here are a few of my favorite resources for learning applique -

 You can find the Applique Made Easy book on the left on Amazon ridiculously cheap. It's an older book, but still great. Kim Diehl's book has some good freezer paper and wool applique directions. The DVD on the bottom by Karen Kay Buckley is excellent. A bit pricey but definitely a game changer for me. It's like taking a private class. That you can revisit again and again. While you're at it, pick up some of her Perfect Circles -

Have a good weekend! If I got you thinking about maybe learning to do some applique, practice making some peels, leaves or hearts. Once you conquer a few basic shapes, you can do just about anything . . . .