Spanish Tiles

Spanish Tiles, Useful Remnants 2023

What can I say about this lovely quilt?

First, my color choices fit right in for this tile-like design. Muted reds with cream and a touch of caramel blend together nicely. I laid it out in EQ8, trying different placement and making sure I had enough fabric.

Second, while the 9” Cross Roads die is beautiful, these pieces are SMALL. Those tiny triangles are 1½” cut, 1” finished. I would NEVER cut so many by hand or rotary cutter. It took long enough with the die, plus I kept losing count or dropping them. I applaud all the women over the years who cut with scissors and stitched these blocks completely by hand.

Lastly, after I got into a rhythm, piecing was fairly easy. I was happy to see that 25th block done and get to quilting. I used cream thread and the Which Way ruler to do an allover pattern across the quilt. After borders and binding, Spanish Tiles finished out at 52” square.

I am pleased with the results, but probably won't make a queen sized version. I do have a few other ideas for more designs using this die.

An interesting side note: These fabrics are not a coordinated collection, but actually from different decades. The light red chambray was a vintage 36” wide piece found at an estate sale. I used it all except for a 4” x 10” scrap. The cream swirl is new, a 108” wide bolt of backing recently purchased from Marshall Dry Goods. The other two prints (1990 and 2019) were chosen from my stash.


Accuquilt dies used:
55533 Cross Roads 9” BOB
55032 Strip 3½”
55017 Strip 2½” 

Flowing Waters

Flowing Waters by Useful Remnants

What an amazing design this turned out to be!

When I saw the new Curve in a Square die from Blue Wren, I immediately pictured a blue quilt in my mind. I had it laid out in EQ8 before my order arrived. I chose the vintage 36” cotton paisley print first (found at a 2021 estate sale), then added other fabric from my stash to coordinate.

Piecing curves can be tricky, but this die made it smooth and easy. I didn't even have to use pins! All those perfect quarter inch seams and the block arrangement give this quilt such fluid motion.

I quilted in variegated blue thread using a straight stitch and walking foot, following the waves. Flowing Waters is 48” square. I had just enough of that pretty paisley for backing and binding, with only a few small scraps left.

I love this quilt! Not every project turns out exactly how you pictured it. This one did: it's my favorite of the year.  So far. 

But I have at least two new dies on my wish list at Blue Wren right now, so those may give this one a little competition. In addition to the other three in my last order.  Thanks Norma and Edward Grimmer for helping to make our dreams come true!

Blue Wren dies used:
6602 Curve in a Square 6” finished
6720 Magic Strips (binding)

Valentine Snowballs

Here's a sweet treat for Valentine's Day. These adorable red and pink heart prints and coordinating fabrics were all in my stash of goodies collected over the years.

Four snowballs in each color make up 12” blocks. For quilting, I used a walking foot and a ruler to straight stitch with white thread in rows of three.

Valentine Snowballs is 48” square, perfect for snuggling with your honey. I sewed this one with Laney, our Maui Blue and white painted Singer 301.

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

I hope your day 
is FULL 
of LOVE

Diamond Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed making this lap quilt. Scraps in a multitude of colors and styles combine beautifully with a white vine print on cream.

The diamond shapes appear once the blocks are sewn together, and float over the background four point stars. The Gem Star die makes quick work of cutting small narrow scraps. This is one of those clever blocks that has different looks depending on fabric color and placement. 

Diamond Stars finished out at 51” square. For quilting, I used white thread to stitch free motion ribbon loop patterns across the stars. Once I get into a rhythm, it goes pretty quickly and is relaxing to do.  

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6817 Gem Star 5” quarter block
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

Do something you love every day!