Points of View

My remnant baskets are overflowing, again. To keep my sewing room neat and use up some fabric, I designed a scrap quilt in EQ8 software. It's similar to the Christmas tree quilt from last December.

Points of View

Using the Hattie's Choice die, I cut only the diamonds and triangles from a wide variety of colors. I sewed them together into large triangles, combining rows of similar and contrasting colors. Then I cut light gray fabric into half rectangle triangles, and added one on each side to form a 5½” x 6” triangle in a rectangle block.

The result is Points of View, a 38” x 48” lap quilt. The points turned out very precise because of the die cuts and my Janome 1/4” professional piecing foot. Backing is white and light gray chevron fabric. I quilted using white thread, diagonally along the diamond rows with a straight stitch.

The binding is made from scraps as well, multicolored 2 ½” strips of varying lengths sewn together.

It's a such a happy quilt with all those colors, don't you think?  It reminds me of vintage feed sack quilts from the 1930's.  At least I am happy because (for the time being) my fabric isn't tumbling out of the remnant baskets.

Accuquilt dies used:

55220 Hattie's Choice

55411 Half Rectangle Triangle

I am grateful for 

my fabric stash!

Cabin Fever

I haven't made a log cabin quilt in a while, and I was ready for a quick project with straight seams. Cabin Fever features navy, cream and watermelon prints from my scrap boxes, cut into 1 ½” strips.

The six large 14” blocks are framed with 2 ½” sashing, then I added a 3 ½” navy paisley border. Starting in the center of each block, I quilted down the center of the strip with a straight stitch, turning at each corner. For the sashing and borders, I used a small serpentine stitch in the same thread.  It's 42" x 57" lap quilt size.  

Cabin Fever

I really don't have cabin fever yet, but it seemed like a perfect name since I am staying at home. I've only been out twice (grocery, oh goody) in five weeks. 

We should be at the campground right now, but I am enjoying nature by taking walks around our property and reading on the porch on warm days.  

I thought I'd be cleaning out closets, washing windows, and doing other spring cleaning chores from my list.  I'll get to it...maybe next week...right now I'm happy to be in I-SEW-lation.

Dies used:

Accuquilt

55032 3 ½” strip

55017 2 ½” strip

Blue Wren

1 ½” strip 6015

Sunflower Morning

Sunflower Morning

Here's a cheerful quilt for a rainy spring Monday.

Bright yellow fabric complements this beautiful orange and yellow sunflower batik print. I used an isosceles triangle die from Blue Wren to create one large Morningstar block.  Corners are 6 ½” HST and it's framed with 3 ½” strips. Sunflower Morning finished out at 26 ½” square.

I am still practicing my ruler quilting skills, this time with the Elvira ruler from Angela Walters. Smaller projects are easy to maneuver, so I outlined each triangle with scallops in bright yellow thread. Borders feature parallel serpentine lines.

I really enjoyed the creative process with this quilt that I finished in late March. Being isolated at home isn't so bad when you have a wonderful hobby like sewing and a huge stash of fabric.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6396 Isosceles Triangle 5” x 6”

Accuquilt 55001 6 ½” Half Square Triangle

Accuquilt 55032 3 ½” strip

"Home should be an anchor, 

a port in a storm, a refuge, 

a happy place in which to dwell, 

a place where we are loved 

and where we can love." 

Marvin J. Ashton

Spring Sewing Ideas

I love spring sunshine, and despite this crazy pandemic, I am enjoying myself at home. With windows open and a glass of sweet tea at hand, sewing is right at the top of my daily to do list.

I've finished up several small projects. The first is a dust cover for Rockette, my Singer 500 Rocketeer machine. I found an embroidery sample of sewing notions that I had set aside several years ago. With it as a focal point, I pulled out coordinating fabrics in grape and white, and whipped up a quickie tie-on cover. No pattern, I just used what I had to make it fit the machine.

The flower block on the back is a test block for a quilt currently under construction. I played with several decorative stitches to quilt in purple thread. After adding binding and ties, Rockette is now dust free.

Another day I stitched this wildly colorful Boho style bag called Feelin' Sassy. It's made from a test piece that I used to practice free motion quilting with the Squiggy ruler. 

No pattern, just fold in half, seam up the sides, add a band at the top, and a strap. The hot pink tab is the same fabric as the lining. I can't go anywhere yet to use it; maybe by summer it will be safe to go out! 

Now you see why I named my blog Useful Remnants. I love fabric so much I just can't let any of it go to waste unless it is too tiny to sew.