Vintage Bows

Remember those sugar sack remnants from last week?

I couldn't wait to use them for this reproduction of one of my Granny Hill's quilts. The bow tie block is quick and easy in the 6” size. I added more feed sacks in yellow, red and green prints, including a scrap of Granny Rose's.    

Tan muslin squares alternated with the bow ties add to the traditional design. I framed it with two borders, a 2” navy and cream mini print and a 3” tan muslin on the outside. Vintage Bows finished at 53” square.

Vintage Bows

I quilted with cream thread using a straight stitch in a 3” grid. Backing and binding features the navy/cream print. Such a soft and cuddly Granny quilt! It looks and feels like an antique, even though I just finished it. Of course, most of the fabric IS vintage.

Accuquilt dies:
55000 6” Square
55772 6” Bow Tie
55818 Half Square Triangle (6” Bow Tie set)
55017 Strips 2½”
55032 Strip 3 ½”

Joy is

a day

spent

sewing

Sugar Sack Stars

Sugar Sack Stars - Katie Scarlett Designs

Well, here's the first quilt from the vintage sugar sacks I bought last month. Rose and blue prints suit this block perfectly. The only new fabric I used is natural muslin. The pink and blue solids and backing was from 36” wide yardage, not as old as the sacks but not new.

Sugar Sack Stars is made up of nine blocks cut with Blue Wren's Jackaroo Star die. I wanted a small 37” size to use as a wall hanging in my dining room, which is furnished with early 1900's tiger oak pieces. I decided to keep with tradition and quilt it with medium beige thread in a free motion meandering stitch.

I remember seeing similar designs in bed quilts made by my Granny Hill and also Jerold's Granny Rose. By the way, I added one of Granny Rose's sugar sacks to this one. There are many versions of the block, including Arkansas Traveler, Travel Star, and Cowboy's Star.

Women have used sugar sack material for years to make all kinds of useful items. Grain sacks were sewn into dishcloths, curtains, tablecloths, pillowcases, clothing, and of course, beautiful quilts.

I love reproducing antique quilts, so having authentic materials is a bonus. It was hard to cut into that first one, but I believe fabric is intended to be used. Don't worry, I've kept a few intact. And, I now have vintage scraps left over for my next project.

Blue Wren Dies used:
6369 Jackaroo Star 12”
6720 Magic Strips

Classic Elegance

Classic Elegance

You just can't go wrong pairing classic black and white, and this quilt is a fine example.

Simple monochrome prints along with a white on white floral fabric make this design so definitive. I absolutely love the 12” Spinning Star die by Blue Wren Dies in Australia.

The backing is an adorable cat print. I quilted with light gray thread on top and white in the bobbin, using the Creative Grids Elvira ruler. Those gray serpentine lines make the stars really look like they're moving air.

Classic Elegance finished out at 54” square after I added borders.

There's no time to waste around here, Between my fabulous fabric acquisition and three more new dies, my head is spinning with new ideas. Stay tuned.

Blue Wren Dies:
6358  Spinning Star 12"
6720 Magic Strips (border)

I'm never bored.

There are too many

interesting,

creative,

relaxing,

fun,

exciting,

and satisfying

things to do!

Smithereens

Smithereens

Today's quilt is the second one that I pieced at the campground. I love designs created with remnants. Four large colorful medallions are made up of triangles cut with the Morningstar die.

When we got home, I added corner triangles to the octagon shaped pieces. Since I added rows, I didn't have the perfect size, so I cut larger ones and trimmed down when I squared up the blocks.

Smithereens is 48” square. I quilted with beige thread, following the outline of each quarter section in a bullseye design, then diagonally across each block. I added a decorative stitch along the main seam lines.

Dies used:
Accuquilt 
55556 Morning Star 12”
55017 Strip 2 ½”

Blue Wren

6522 Half Square Triangle 8 ½” (trimmed to size)

FABRIC UPDATE: Well, I got a phone call from Mrs. Mary. She didn't sell all the fabric at her yard sale, so she offered me the opportunity to shop some more. You have to know that I couldn't resist! 

Nine bankers boxes came home with me this time, just over 400 yards of quilting cotton for $200.  There are baggies of precuts and remnants, plus fabric up to 15 yard lengths.  I worked on it all week.  It's neatly folded and stacked in the closet now, and I've already cut my next quilt.

I promise I won't be looking for fabric sales for a while. I may never leave the sewing room.

Easy Does It

Last week I finished the first of two quilts that I pieced while we were camping. This tumbler design is a cute one, quick and easy to sew! Bright blue and fresh green with white and gray make it perfect for baby or springtime décor.

For quilting, I used white thread to straight stitch around each color layer. Two serpentine lines of quilting on the borders finished it off nicely. I used the larger white and blue dot fabric for backing. Easy Does It finished out as a 37” x 50” rectangle.

Accuquilt dies used:
55015 Tumbler 3½”
55054 Strips 4½”
55017 Strips 2½” (binding)

Fabric Sale Follow Up: Well, I finished washing, measuring, folding, and sorting my latest fabric bonanza. Final count for this amazing purchase was 176 flour and sugar sacks and 170 yards of quilting fabric, plus 37 hand stitched vintage quilt blocks.

It's all entered into my inventory spreadsheet, with swatches on index cards filed by color in my master notebook. If I didn't have this system in place, I'd never be able to find anything! As it is, I'm running out of space and storage bins, so I need to get busy stitching.  I'm not sure what to sew first but I already have dozens of ideas.

Yes, I know I am

a fabric lunatic...

Lately I am compelled

to give unwanted fabric

a new home.