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”

Thrifty Fifties Flour Sacks

Here's a classic design that makes a pretty quilt. Unequal nine patch blocks are simple, quick and easy to sew.

I chose a variety of navy and green prints from my collection of flour and sugar sacks and paired them with natural muslin and a navy calico sashing. I finally splurged and bought a 10” Qube Mix & Match set on sale last month and used those dies to cut the pieces.

For quilting, I used cream thread for a serpentine stitch horizontally and vertically, then switched to straight stitch across the large squares of the blocks. 

Thrifty Fifties Flour Sacks is 50” square, and has a vintage look and feel.

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic this week...we are celebrating our 48^th wedding anniversary. Two kids born in the fifties fell in love after a blind date and are still happily married in 2021. Cheers to us!

Bed of Roses

This sweet little quilt brings the flower garden indoors. I chose a medium sized coral pink rose print with coordinating smaller print fabrics in light coral and green.

I decided to sew rows of winding ways blocks, separated by 2” strips of green. It reminds me of a well organized flower bed from a magazine. Not that I'd know much about those...currently mine are haphazard and full of weeds. You could say that I prefer a natural look instead of manicured perfection when it comes to landscaping. I'd much rather be sewing.

I quilted with cream thread, using a braid border ruler along the strips and the blocks. Bed of Roses is 40” x 47” size. The backing is a creamy fabric scattered with more roses.

Bed of Roses

Accuquilt dies used:
55069 Winding Ways 8” finished block
55017 Strip 2½”

Life's too short

and I'm too old

to spend time 

pulling weeds!

(Suggestions for yard workers appreciated)

Color Wheels

I raided the scrap basket again. A major benefit of sewing lots of quilts is oodles of leftovers to create bonus projects. 

Only bright colors would do to create these fun color wheels. Two white and black background fabrics create shadow and add interest to each block. The wheels appear to float, don't you think?

Sewing and cutting the sixteen blocks was quick and easy with Blue Wren's die. I added a backing of colorful stripes on white, and repeated the black wheel center material as binding. Color Wheels is 49” square.

I quilted with white thread, sewing a straight stitch diagonally both ways across the quilt, one inch either side of the center hub. This one makes me happy...it may be a while before I find it a new home.

Color Wheels

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6297 Wheel 12” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

C O L O R S

speak louder

than words.