Always LEARNING!

Yep....it seems every time I make a quilt I learn something or at least relearn it AFTER making the same mistakes again and again. Here is the Red and Cream Snowball quilt made mostly from leaders and enders. First I learned to count the number of blocks "several" times before thinking I had enough for a pattern. Then I find that even after all my planning and placing and putting up on a design wall that I still ended up with like fabrics next to each other! I'm sure whomever gets this quilt when it is finished will not notice and be happy just to be the recipient of a warm quilt made with love by a friend. This Twister quilt was so fun to make and went together so quickly and easily even with all the bias edges! I learned, and probably should have noticed before I even cut the fabrics, that scattering the bold colored pinks around would have made for a more pleasing quilt. But I will make another one of these maybe using Christmas prints or other stash fabrics because it makes for a quick and simple gift for someone and really does look more complicated than it is.

I need to purchase a solid looking brown for the outside border yet and then it will be ready for the quilter too.

Happy Quilting! Lynda

Let's Twist Again like we did last Summer!

Before we all start twisting...I finished making the rest of the red Snowball blocks and even finished the whole quilt top. Sorry....no pictures of it. It really needs to be ironed before it is shown. * * * * * * * * * * * However....I bought a new pattern and template called Twister that is just such a fun project. Here are the instructions and the thick plastic template. Just take 36 - 10 inch squares and sew them together. I pulled pinks and browns from my stash and added a rather wild brown and cream border.

Then you lay out the top on a big cutting surface, lay the template on the first square making sure the lines on the template line up with the seam lines and cut it out. The instructions say to cut out all 7 blocks of the first row and sew them together before cutting out the next row and so on down the top.

This is what the top looks like after cutting the first 2 rows. I made sure not to cut more than 1/4 inch past the template all the way around so that it wouldn't cut into the next block. It leaves about a 4 inch square of fabric from each block. I'm sure I'll find a use for them later.

This is the first 2 rows up on the design wall. Isn't that just cool!!! It only took about a half an hour to cut out and sew them together. What a fun quilt. I'm sure my Lazy Bee will have to borrow the template and make one of their own because it is just such a fun pattern.

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Happy Quilting! Lynda

The RELAXATION of binding time

This black and white fabric is probably the 5th quilt my friend, Janine, and I have made from the same fabrics! I think it is now down to just scraps. I talked her into adding those cute little pinwheel stars in the sashing and she loves it. (Why is it we always think we CAN'T do something before we do it?) She used Minke on the back so it was so easy to do the binding since that fuzzy stuff hides any stitches.

This is my 2nd quilt from these bright pinks and greens. (Janine has made 3 I think from the same fabrics but different patterns.) I used up most of mine on the border. A soft pink polka dot flannel makes the back nice and cuddly too. I think this is one of my favorite patterns to make.....how many "favorites" am I allowed?

Now on to finishing the Snowball, the Kaliedoscope, the string heart.....and what ever else is lurking down in the sewing room.

Happy Quilting! Lynda

Giveaway by a fellow blogger!!

You must hurry on over to Vreni's blog called Oops-Lah. See my side bar and click on her blog. She is having an amazing giveaway that ends on May 9th. 3 different collections of beautiful fabric.....Hullabaloo 10 inch squares.....Bali Pops Strawberry Fields.....and a jelly roll called Modern Workshop by Moda. This is a very generous giveaway and you'll want a chance to win. Vreni also makes beautiful quilts and some gorgeous boxes. You'll want to check out her whole blog and become a follower for sure. Good Luck to all of us. Lynda

My Math teacher friend would be so disappointed!

My design wall is too small for this quilt so I only put half of it up on the wall before starting to sew. Then as I added each additional row I was so excited because the design was all coming together. HOWEVER....I have 3 rows to go and not enough red blocks. Now I know that I counted and planned and stacked into piles all those squares knowing that there were plenty to make the design I had decided on. This is why my math teacher friend would be so disappointed! Somehow I have plenty of the cream blocks but I'm short about 35 red blocks. How does that happen? So now I get to make more blocks before I can finish this quilt top. * * * * * * * * I have sewn on the bindings of 2 quilts and I'm ready to handstitch them down. I know plenty of you machine stitch your bindings down....and if I could master that process....I probably would too. But I do find it relaxing to sit with a nice warm quilt over my lap (since Utah Springs are snowy, cold and sunny all at the same time) and finish the quilt by hand. * * * * * * * * Happy Quilting! Lynda

Borders finally on!

Seems like I haven't been down in my sewing room for several days now. I have been on a quick trip to Illinois to visit my daughter and her family tho. It was a quick 4 day vacation but so much fun. I had made a white dress for my granddaughter's baptism and it looked so cute on her. After putting in the zipper tho I really remembered why I don't sew clothing much anymore. I didn't even get a picture of it. I'll stick with quilts! I finally got the border on my Pinwheel quilt. Never noticed how wrinkley the top was until I looked at the picture tho. Makes me want to pull and tug and iron until it is nice and smooth!

Border on the Disappearing 4 Patch too. I chose a nice bright pink. It is only about 38 inches square and will be perfect for a baby gift. Now to get them both quilted.

I am about half way done with my Snowball quilt too. Maybe next week I will have that done to share with you.

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I really admire those of you who can blog several times a week and have so many beautiful things to share. I really enjoy all the inspiration I get from reading your blogs. Keep it up!

Happy Quilting! Lynda