"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."
Sunday, April 17, 2022
Happy Easter
Friday, April 8, 2022
Springtime Blues
Speaking of blue . . . I took some time to play in my scraps. Last time I blogged I wrote about some of the Small & Simple projects we were making in my Facebook group. Here's one I made for the group that was sort of just what I needed to perk me up -
This one truly is small & simple. And a fun one if you love antique-looking doll quilts. I used 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangles and set them in rows, alternating blues and lights.
The fun part was picking through my old blue scraps and sewing them together into rows. I couldn't stop and so kept sewing rows until I realized I had enough for 3 quilts, LOL. I'll finish the other ones someday. . . .
I quilted it with simple stitches across each row. I typically pin baste my small quilts, do not use a hoop, start the quilting in the middle and work my way outward. Low-loft, all cotton batting (Quilters Dream Request is my favorite). I use YLI hand quilting thread in light brown. For this one I also used a Richard Hemming Large Eye quilting needle in size 9.
However, because the backing fabric I picked out was a little too stiff or starched, I had a heck of a time pushing my needle through the layers. So I switched to a sharper needle (John James Gold 'n Glide sharp) in order to get it done without stressing my fingers and hands. I probably should have washed the backing first or chosen one that was softer. What was I thinking?? I usually know better.
If you're having a difficult time with hand quilting, check that your batting is light (but not polyester, please!), your backing soft and your needle comfortable. You may have to try a sharper needle. We're told by the experts that we need to use "between" needles for quilting. Everyone is different and there is no rule that says we have to use a certain type of needle. Try a few and see how they feel in your fingers. Sometimes a longer, sharper needle will feel more comfortable in your hand than a sort, small between. Do what works for you! Needles are pretty cheap so don't hesitate to use a nice, new sharp one instead of an old one that's seen better days. The Gold 'n Glides are easy to work with and take the strain off your hands. They can be a little difficult to thread with waxed quilting thread, however, so I use them more for applique or sewing bindings when I use finer thread (like my favorite Aurifil 50 wt.).
You can find the full pattern in the Files section of my Facebook group.
Have a good weekend!
Saturday, March 5, 2022
Small & Simple Does the Trick
Quilters - do you at times get bogged down and lose your motivation for quilting? I think this happens to all of us at one time or another. Sometimes it happens to me if I spend a lot of time working on one certain thing (like a large project or trying to complete many projects for a book). I get burned out easily and then find I don't even want to quilt for awhile. What gets me going again is NOT looking at millions of photos of quilts on Pinterest, thinking it will get me motivated. This just makes me feel overwhelmed and now I've got a million projects I want to make but know I never will. Believe me, this just adds to your stress. And, people, who among us doesn't have enough stress as it is right now??
For years, I've noticed that I feel calmer, happier and just plain better when I'm creating something. When life gets stressful, it's even more important to do things that make yourself feel good.
I know from experience that if I stop creating for a time, it's that much harder to be creative when I get back to it. But sometimes all you have to do is jump in and make a little something and see if you can't get it back. What helps me the most is to slowly start playing around with fabric and make a few easy blocks. Then put them together to make something small. Sometimes I'll just buy a little bit of fabric while I'm at it. You'd be amazed at how quickly you'll perk up with some new fabric, LOL.
Last year in my Facebook group, we made a few easy little projects I called Small & Simple quilts. The patterns for these are in the group files.
Four-patch blocks are fun and easy -
Small & Simple quilt #1 below was inspired by an antique quilt block I turned into a doll quilt.
Nine patches and reproduction fabrics - Ahhh, what more can I say?? Another one inspired by an antique doll quilt.
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Small Quilt Exhibit
A few months ago, the Quilters Hall of Fame contacted me to ask if I would send them some of my quilts for an upcoming exhibit on small quilts! The museum is located in Marion, Indiana.
Little Beauties: The Art of Miniature Quilts opens on February 22 and continues through May 7. Check out the Hall of Fame website for more info. Click on Exhibits for hours and details.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Valentine Mystery Quilt - Step 3
If you go to my website and click on the Valentine Mystery at the top of the page, you'll find Step 3 of my Valentine Mystery quilt. This is the last step in this little spontaneous sew along. The file will show you how the block is made and the rest of the quilt put together. You should be able to make it in time for the holiday.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Valentine Mystery - Step 2
Instead of writing everything here on my blog and trying to get all the pictures to fit, I decided that it's a little easier for me to upload the directions for the 2022 Valentine's Day Mini Mystery Quilt as a .pdf onto my website. Also easier for you to print out. So, for the remaining steps, click here to go to my website and then go to the Valentine's Day Mystery page and download the file.
You're going to take the 3 1/4" squares of light fabric and 3 1/4" squares of red fabric that you cut last week and make some hourglass units. The directions in Step 2 will give you a couple of options for making them.
Saturday, January 15, 2022
Valentine Mini Mystery Quilt
To combat all the gray days and winter doldrums here in northern Illinois, I decided to whip up a simple little Valentine's Day project just for fun - and as a Mystery sew along for my Facebook group. If you'd like to join in, here's Step 1 for the 2022 Valentine's Day Mini Mystery Quilt. Look through your pinks, reds and shirtings or light prints and pull out some scraps of fabric to make the blocks. You don't need much.
Cutting instructions:
From a pink print, cut
4 squares, 2 ½" x 2
½"
From
a red print, cut
4 squares, 3 ¼" x 3
¼"
1 square, 1 ½" x 1 ½"
From
a light print (or 2 different light prints), cut
4 squares, 2 ½" x 2
½"
4 squares 3 ¼" x 3
¼"
4 rectangles, 1 ½" x 4 ½"
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Dear Jane Progress
Seems like I'm off to a great start this year. Considering I started my Dear Jane journey in 2010, that's only 11 years to get the center completed LOL . . . .
If you are thinking about making a Dear Jane quilt but can't find the book . . . . Did you know that Brenda Papadakis, who wrote the Dear Jane book, has come out with a second edition of Dear Jane? It's the 25th Anniversary edition. The original one with the yellow cover has been out of print for quite a few years and is really hard to find. My own copy is all dog eared and marked up after ten years and so I treated myself to a brand new one (with a blue cover LOL). Hopefully, this will renew interest in The Quilt and some of us will get inspired to finish the ones we've started when others begin theirs for the first time.