Singer 301A Unveiled

Here she is -- meet Laney

Born in 1954 like me, this pretty 301 long bed was purchased on Ebay by my sweet husband as a project for us. 

He chose the Maui Blue and White colors, influenced by a 1956 Ford Fairlane.

Laney ran pretty well from the start and sewed a beautiful seam. We took her completely apart, since she needed a good cleaning...lots of old grease and lint inside. He replaced a motor bearing; polished, plated, and blacked some of the screws.

We set up a makeshift paint booth in our garage. After several coats, I applied all new gold decals before layers of clear coat made Laney shine! Not bad for our first sewing machine refinish.

I polished the badges and waxed her after he put everything back together. She sews so smoothly with perfect stitches. We both enjoyed this project and learned a lot. I guess we have a new hobby since I've already picked up a couple more Singers from Goodwill.  

Wishing everyone a happy and safe New Year!

Christmas Past

This quilt has a story, although I don't know much of it. I found a box of beautiful hand stitched quilt blocks at an estate sale earlier this year. The fabrics are soft and look old, probably feed sacks and repurposed clothing. Each 9” block contains four 4½” LeMoyne Stars around a center square.  I can't imagine hand stitching all those tiny points with such precision!

Interestingly, these lovely blocks had once been in a quilt, then taken apart. There is cotton batting fuzz on the backs and tiny holes around the edges from picked out stitching. I'm guessing that the red material bled onto the original sashing, since a few look slightly faded. I don't know happened to it, but someone took that quilt apart to salvage those blocks, and meant to finish it. I guess now that someone is me.

There were 37 blocks total. I chose sixteen that had some green coloring to make a Christmas wall hanging. I added narrow green sashing after doing a couple of repairs and squaring up blocks. Considering they were hand cut and hand stitched, most were nearly perfect.

Christmas Past vintage quilt rescue, 2021

To keep the vintage look, the backing is natural muslin and binding is a green mini check. I used a machine stitch that looks like handwork for quilting with cream thread. My hand stitches are not that pretty. Christmas Past finished out at 42” square.

I'm so pleased that I rescued vintage blocks that someone felt were important enough to carefully pick a whole quilt apart. Now they'll live on in at least two projects. And that's a happy ending in my book.

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night!

Starry Snowmen

Today I'm unveiling my second Christmas quilt project. The cute snowman print and wine/cream fabric came from this year's estate sale bonanza.

The block, Shooting Star, is a vintage 1934 Nancy Cabot design. Using Blue Wren's Sliced Square die made quick work for cutting and stitching.

Starry Snowmen

Natural muslin sashing frames the blocks. I quilted with cream thread using serpentine stitch. Starry Snowmen is 54“ square.

The backing is a large wine and cream snowflake and feathered star fabric that my mama gave me years ago. Nice memory...today would have been her birthday and I miss her.

Note: Thanks to those who asked if we were affected by Saturday's awful tornadoes and storms. We are fine, only had one small tree down. There was lots of damage in nearby towns, and unbelievable devastation in Kentucky. Please keep those folks in your thoughts.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6600 Sliced Square 6”
6015 1½” Strips

Accuquilt 
55017 Strip 2½”

Festive Flair

I can't believe it's December! I've just finished decorating for Christmas with simple touches in each room. Nothing fancy, mostly quilts mixed in with our favorite holiday items.

This new quilt is a modern design using red, teal and pale gray colors. The alternating 8” blocks, four-patch and mill wheel, have been around for a long time. I think the same layout done with scraps and white would look more traditional, so I may try that later.

Quick and easy to sew, Festive Flair is 48” square. I quilted in rows 2” apart with light gray thread. Backing is a red on red print. I used the teal squiggle print for binding.

More Christmas quilting is underway, so check back next Monday for additional bits of holiday cheer.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6865 Mill Wheel 8” finished
Accuquilt
55018 Value die Square 4” finished
55059 Square 2½” multiple
55017 Strip 2½”

Relish every moment

 

Triangulation

Triangulation

Geometric shapes are traditional in quilts. These large 8” equilateral triangles made easy work of cutting and sewing. It's a nice change after last week's tiny pieces.

Medium and light shades of blue, aqua, and cream create a soft peaceful vibe. Adding an extra strip of triangles across the natural muslin backing makes this one reversible.

I quilted along all seam lines using a straight stitch with dark cream thread. I finished off the binding with a decorative blanket stitch. Triangulation is 44” x 49” size.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6568 8” finished equilateral triangle
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

Between The Lines

I cut lots more scraps last month, especially small ones. I just can't bear to toss away pretty fabric! I can't resist the challenge to make something from nearly nothing. 

This sweet baby quilt makes me glad that I kept those trimmings from other projects.

These colorful blocks are made from a traditional vintage pattern called Indian Hatchets. I cut them using the stem section of the Accuquilt Maple Leaf die. The four patch blocks measure 5½” finished.  I love these skinny little lines!

Between The Lines

I quilted with white thread between the diagonal lines using a serpentine stitch. Backing and binding is an aqua and white mini floral print. Final size for Between The Lines is 45” x 50".  

Accuquilt dies used:

55195 Maple Leaf 8” finished
55017 Strip 2½”

Wishing y'all a happy Thanksgiving!

 

Whirling Stars

I'm back to stitching together remnants, this time dark and medium prints on a creamy muslin background. I used five different dies to recreate this beauty.

Granny Rose made several of these quilts with random scraps of old clothes, flour sacks, and curtains. The vintage block is called double star, and a more recent version is whirlygig pinwheel*. It's relatively easy to sew, with a partial seam for that center square.

I quilted with a medium tan thread, sewing diagonally and straight to accentuate motion in the block. Backing is a white on natural print. Whirling Stars is 45” square. 

I designed the 10" block in EQ8, did all the piecing on Annie (Singer Featherweight 221), and quilted on Janelle (Janome 9400).

Accuquilt dies used:
55031 Half Square Triangle 4” finished
55047 Quarter Square Triangle 4” finished
55159 Rectangle 2” x 4” finished
55059 Square 2½” multiple
55017 Strip 2½”

*Blue Wren has two dies for Whirlygig Pinwheel:  6220 & 6558

For more Granny Rose and Granny Hill quilt posts, click the labels below.  

Savannah Jane

Savannah Jane

Now that I've delivered this adorable baby gift, I can share it with you. I finished back in August but waited to embroider her name and birth date. 

Her mom chose a mermaid nursery theme in pinks and gray, so I coordinated soft pink, white, and gray fabrics to match.

The clamshell design imitates fish scales and will be perfect in her room. I quilted 1/2” from the seams to accent the shapes on this 41” square quilt. Backing is a pink and cream clamshell print. It was a joy to sew for a sweet baby girl called Savannah Jane.

Accuquilt dies:
55436 Clamshell 8”
55017 Strip 2½”

Pumpkin Harvest

Fall wouldn't be the same without pumpkins. Even before pumpkin spice flavoring, they were a staple for autumn decor. I detest pumpkin spice in anything edible; I never liked pumpkin pie. But I do love seeing them as jack-o-lanterns and for decoration.

This year I whipped up a couple of pillow covers for the couch. These are quick and easy envelope style. I found the perfect burnt orange and brown prints from my stash. I quilted curved detail lines in a decorative stitch with medium taupe thread.

See y'all later, I'm off to do fall household chores before the frost gets on those pumpkins.  Yeah, I do other things besides quilting when I have to...but I'd consider hiring someone to take care of those distractions so I can concentrate on sewing.   

Accuquilt dies used:
55330 Snowball 6” finished
55017 Strip 2½”

 

Falling Leaves

Our leaves are finally getting some color. I love fall, the crisp air, and the beauty across the rolling hills of Tennessee.

This little quilt features another vintage block pattern called Silver Maple. It was also published as Maple Leaf or Broad Arrow. Granny Rose made several of these quilts. I chose fall prints of rust, taupe, green, and gold for the nine inch blocks.

Falling Leaves is 45” square after adding an outside border of half rectangles. I quilted in dark taupe thread with free motion loops. It's hanging on the wall in our dining room for the season.

Accuquilt dies used:
55731 Signature 4½” finished
55147 Half Square Triangle 2¼” finished
55395 Square 2¼” finished
55107 Rectangle 2¼” x 4½” finished
55409 Triangle in Square (sides only)

Sitting on the porch

Drinking morning coffee

= relaxing bliss

Purple Passion

I had several other quilts finished and ready to write about, but I moved this one to the head of the line. This new die from Blue Wren is gorgeous!

The die is called Oopsy Daisy. It is very similar to a vintage design published as America's Pride in the Laura Wheeler syndicated newspaper column, which started in 1933.

As I waited for my order to arrive from Australia, I used EQ8 to design so that when it arrived I would be ready to go. The postman delivered my package of dies on Thursday around lunchtime and I started making test blocks immediately. I cut this one and started sewing Friday morning.  I finished quilting and added the binding on Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, there was no cooking or cleaning done at my house since Thursday.

Luscious purple batik and prints show off the elements of the block. The curves sew easily and quickly. I used medium lavender thread to outline stitch part of the design, then filled in with free motion quilting on the solid color. Purple Passion is 37” square and fits nicely between the windows in my sewing room.

Purple Passion

I absolutely love this one! Thanks to Norma and Edward Grimmer at Blue Wren for all their pretty dies and great customer service. Three more of their dies are waiting for me to cut and sew, and I can't wait to get started. Stay tuned!

Dies used:

Blue Wren
6816 Oopsy Daisy 6” finished quarter block, 12” finished block

Accuquilt
55017 Strip 2½”

 

Scrap Basket

Since I'm on a roll, here's another quilt made in my ongoing quest to save tiny pieces of fabric from untimely disposal.

My favorite sizes to cut are 2½” squares and half square triangles. This time I combined them with white muslin for a very colorful cane weave design. Piecing was super easy and quick on Annie, my Featherweight. I didn't pay much attention to color placement while sewing four-patches and strips.

Scrap Basket Block

I moved the blocks around on my design wall to balance out the colors, then sewed them together. Even with all these pieces, I have many more scraps left. I guess as long as I cut fabric I will have small remnants to rescue. Some of these are decades old but still lovely.

I used a 60” piece of plaid shirting material for backing. Quilting with white thread, I sewed serpentine lines 2” apart. This is a lightweight quilt with flannel as batting.  

Accuquilt dies used:
55059 Square, multiples, 2½”
55018 Small Value die: Half Square Triangle 2½” & 4½” square
55017 Strip 2½”
55160 Rectangle 4½” x 8½”

I learned from my mama and my grannies

to be a collector of useful things.

Test 1-2-3

Like most quilters, I have a box of extra quilt blocks. Some are orphans, left over from a project; others are samples made when testing a new die or idea. I always make a test cut on new dies to make sure they cut and sew up correctly.

Today's quilt is a sampler quilt made from nine different designs. Since they weren't the same size, I added various colorful borders to make them all 12” square. The gray sewing needle print was a fun way to sash the blocks together.

I decided to quilt in rows, using many of the decorative stitches on my Janome MC9400 machine. This one's a true sampler! Test 1-2-3 finished out at 45” square. I like this useful solution to showcase extra blocks of similar colors.

Nothing's wasted around my sewing room!

Fowl Play

It's officially fall in Tennessee, and boy do I love the matching weather. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, and lower humidity make the days just right for open windows.

In keeping with the autumn theme, here's my latest quilt. I took elements from Blue Wren's Turkey Tracks die to play with an old block design. The main print is a cream with orange, gold, terra cotta, and navy flowers. I pulled various fabric in those colors to make up the 8” blocks and used terra cotta for sashing.

Fowl Play seemed like a fun name for this 42” x 52” quilt. I quilted vertically with dark melon thread using a serpentine stitch 2” apart. I used the same terra cotta fabric for backing and binding.

Fowl Play

Over the past two weeks, I've had three quilts going at the same time. Having Annie, my Featherweight, set up for piecing allows me to keep Janelle (Janome) free for quilting. I really prefer to work on one at a time to keep my room neater. But the ideas kept coming and I just had to get started.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6664 Turkey Tracks
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

You can't go wrong with colors from nature 

It's Magical

Nine patch blocks are quick, easy, and versatile. So many different looks can be achieved by varying color placement and layout. I chose purple, amethyst, and teal colors from the beautiful star print fabric, adding natural muslin for contrast.

Layout was done in EQ8 for this 44” square quilt called It's Magical. I used the Creative Grids Elvira ruler to quilt a curvy allover design with cream thread. I really love the result!

Accuquilt dies used:
55018 Small Value die (4½” square)
55047 Quarter Square Triangle 4½”
55031 Half Square Triangle 4½”
55054 Strips 4½”
55017 Strip 2½”

Life is full of
magical moments

Breezy Evening

The last few nights around here were refreshingly cool and less humid. We had windows open with a fan circulating a breeze. Lovely weather!

For this quilt, I cut black, blue and cream batik into parallelograms, paired with light blue triangles and rectangles, and arranged them into mosaic blocks. I laid out the simple but striking design in EQ8, using the batik again for rotary cut 5” borders. Breezy Evening is 51” square.

I quilted free motion with dark gray thread in an overall meandering pattern. I switched to a satin stitch to make a square in each block center.

Now our weather is changing back to hot and humid...it is Tennessee, you know...so windows are closed and the AC is running. That's ok, my plan is to sew and clean all week.

Accuquilt dies used:

55797 Qube Mix & Match 10” Block

55017 Strip 2½”

Take time to delight in cool fall evenings 

Hearth & Home

I've been sewing up a storm the past few weeks. Annie is running smoothly and stitching perfectly. This quilt is the first that I've pieced on her and I don't know why I didn't get a Featherweight before now.

The vintage look of chimney sweep blocks in these rich colors says autumn is near. Green, coral, wine and teal prints are lovely with tan and black accents. 

Hearth & Home is 42” x 52” size. I added the strip border and quilted a 2” straight stitch grid in light gold thread. I did the quilting with my Janome since she has a larger sewing area.

I'm happy to have choices of several machines to do my sewing. Annie (Singer 221) is my new favorite for piecing, with Rockette (Singer 500A) close behind. Janelle (Janome MC9450) has the electronics and wide bed for quilting, with automatic threading and cutting a huge bonus. I try to use them often enough so that they stay in good shape. After all, I sew nearly every day.

Accuquilt dies used:
55222 Chimney Sweep BOB 10” finished
55017 Strip 2½”

Under The Influence

Another scrap quilt and it's quite unique. Why? Because I cut and sewed most of it while taking pain meds after a dental procedure. So some of the seams don't quite match up. Oh well, it's so busy with color and patterns that it's hard to find the errors.

I used several dies and made multiple cuts to get the final shapes for this crazy block. First, I cut scraps on the 6½” square die. I used the wedge die to trim these into the center sections. For the side pieces, I cut lighter colors into 5½” half square triangles. I sewed them on each side of the wedges. After pressing, I trimmed them to size on the 6½” square die, lining up the corners of the wedge section.

Under The Influence - 2021 Useful Remnants

Then I sewed a 12” four-patch block, being careful not to stretch the sides. If I hadn't been taking the meds, they would have matched up pretty well. Under The Influence finished out at 61” square. I quilted in a simple serpentine stitch along the squares and across the wedges, using cream thread.

I had fun working out how to achieve the modified kite block I wanted with the dies and fabric that I had on hand. (I did that BEFORE seeing the dentist.) It is so satisfying to use those saved remnants, just like the grannies used to do. I created even more leftovers from trimming the wedge pieces that I can use later for another bonus quilt project. I don't think I'll ever get to the bottom of these scrap bins!

Accuquilt dies used:
55439 Wedge 9” finished
55000 Square 6” finished
55805 Half Square Triangle 5” finished (10” Qube)
55017 Strip 2½”

 

Sunset Flight, and a Surprise!

Red, gold, pink and orange are the colors of a hot summer sunset. I combined these prints in bright hues with a neutral gray and white pin dot fabric to create a striking little quilt.

Four patch squares alternating with kite blocks are set together in 8" blocks.   I rotated them and separated with gray sashing, making a secondary design almost like propellers. For quilting, I started with a small circle in the center and stitched continuously around in a spiral with dark gray thread, using a walking foot. Sunset Flight is 38½” square.  

( I saw this block in a vintage sampler quilt owned by a friend.  Another name for a very similar block is Twinkle, designed by Terri Vanden Bosch for Accuquilt. )

Sunset Flight, designed in EQ8

THE SURPRISE: My amazing husband executed quite a surprise for our 48^th anniversary last week: a 1948 Singer 221 Featherweight, with original accessories and case. He worked some magic to buy and get her delivered without me knowing, since we're together nearly all the time. I married a sweet, thoughtful, and generous man!

Annie, my 221 Featherweight

The little machine looks adorable and sews a pretty stitch, but needs a clean and polish. I named her Annie. We'll work together to shine her up and restore the case. I'll keep y'all posted on our progress.

Accuquilt dies used:
55254 Kite 4” finished
55059 Squares 2½” multi
55017 Strip 2½”