Effie's Challenge

A few weeks ago I received a surprise package from my cousin Lola. I opened it and found a quilt top and a few blocks made by our grandmother, Effie Evitts Hill.

The top was partially hand stitched with some seams sewn on machine using several different colors of thread. We don't know when she made it; it's a mixture of cotton and poly-cotton fabric in red, white, and blue. If I had to guess, I'd say mid to late 1980's or early 90's.

It had been washed at some point, which caused quite a few seams to unravel, as you can see in the photo below. I wanted to keep as much of her work intact as possible, even though many of the blocks were not square and corners didn't all line up. It's a big 84” x 90”quilt, and quite a project to tackle.

I mended all those torn seams and straightened the blocks as much as I could without taking the whole thing apart. The inner border is puckered some because that fabric didn't shrink as much as the cotton next to it. I had to trim off about 2” around the outer border.

I added flannel batting and plain muslin backing. Fittingly, I used Rockette, my trusty 1960's Singer Rocketeer, for all the stitching. White thread in a triple zig-zag stitch for quilting helped camouflage the uneven seams.

I only owned one of her quilts, so it's nice to complete another that she started. It's not perfect, but I don't think she intended it to be. It was likely a simple bed quilt for personal use, not one to enter at the county fair.

I was sewing clothes but not quilting at all when she died in 1992. I wonder, what would Granny Hill think about me finishing this one? Thanks Lola, for sharing...it was definitely a challenge!

Sometimes,

good enough

is

good enough

Just Playin'

Sometimes I like experimenting with designs and trying new color combinations. Other days I practice free motion and ruler quilting techniques on sample blocks. Little projects like these mats are perfect for that, and useful to boot.

The table mat is made using Hattie's Choice blocks, but I substituted two triangles for in place of the diamond shape to give it more interest. After framing them with strips, I used Creative Grids Slim ruler by Angela Walters to quilt over the whole piece. It looks like rows of picket fences or roof tiles, don't you think?

Project #2--I haven't made many quilts with the wedge die so I cut a few pieces to play with. I added white 1” strips on either side of the center wedges for an outline. 

Free motion quilting is kind of like doodling. I started with swoops inside the print fabrics.  I wanted to fill in the peach outside sections densely. I think I did pretty good for my first attempt at cobblestones. Callie won't notice any mistakes anyway; this is a cat mat for her.

 

Playin' around in the sewing room is relaxing and fun, and keeps me distracted from doing housework. I use up scraps, learn new techniques, practice skills, and create new ideas for future quilts. It's quite satisfying to work on small pieces that finish in a snap.


Dies used:
Accuquilt
55220 Hattie's Choice 8” block
55439 Wedge 9” finished
55017 2 ½” strip

Blue Wren
6015 1 ½” strip 

Play is the highest form of research.

Albert Einstein

Flying Circus

 

Color. Stars. Action. 

This quilt has it all.  It started with two 5” charm packs of Tula Pink prints and solids that I bought last year. I've pulled them out several times but never found the right project.

This time, I hit on the perfect design and layout to showcase these bright dots and stripes. Depending on how you look at it, either the navy stars or the bright squares appear to float over the gray background. And sometimes I see the stars as latticework behind the squares. This one's open to interpretation.

Flying Circus is 45” x 52” size. I cut gray print rectangles and added small navy triangles to each corner to form the star sashing. I don't have a narrow signature die that size, so lots of trimming was involved but it was so worth the time. I always try to use what I have to make what's needed.

And it's cat approved.  During quilting I stepped away from the machine for a moment.  Callie likes to take my chair or the quilt I'm working on for her nap.  

Using gray thread, I quilted ¼” away from each side of the sashing. I didn't quilt inside the squares in order to feature those fabrics. Backing is a navy and gray tiny print with a solid border of navy added along one side for width.

Accuquilt dies used:
55059 2 ½” squares
55159 2 ½”x 4 ½” finished rectangle
55769 1 ⅛” finished half square triangle
55017 2 ½” strip (binding)
and if you don't have precut charm squares
55010 5” square

Sometimes

all you need

is a

SPLASH of COLOR

Labor Day Relaxation

Hey y'all, I'm on a break this beautiful Labor Day weekend. 
Slightly cooler weather here was just in time to enjoy a long weekend at home. 

We did a little yard work, then spent some much needed relaxing on our screened porch.  Just the two of us, reading and kicking back.  No big trip, no stress, no plans.  Simple food, easy living. Love it! 

See ya next week with another quilt!