Wine Country

Here's another lap quilt made with a busy print fabric in grape, tan, and green. The overall design is almost modern, even though the material has a vintage country vibe with little star blocks.

Solid olive green makes the triangles stand out next to the signature shapes. I normally don't sew two fabric quilts, so I forgot how relaxing they can be. No worries about color placement, just merrily stitching along.

I sewed the blocks on Black Betty, our restored Singer 201. She's a sweet quiet machine that makes such pretty seams. 

For quilting, I switched to the Janome for her walking foot accuracy. I sewed straight stitches in green thread, following the zig-zag lines. Wine Country finished at 48" square. Quick, easy, and done! I celebrated with a glass of sangria. 

By the way, leap day is this Thursday. What will you do with your extra day? Here's a link to a previous blog post for some fun ideas to celebrate!  

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6656 X-Quisite 6” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding

Sewing and wine

make me happy

Fabulous Triangle Stars

This quilt design! I just had to make this as soon as I saw it.

The original quilt pattern was created by Barbara H. Cline, who featured it in her book, Amazingly Simple Triangle Stars. Blue Wren Notions got her approval to make a die to cut the shapes. Information and links below.

I used a bold herringbone print in aqua/navy, with a tiny aqua/white floral plus crisp white. I pieced it on my little Featherweight, Annie. Exact die cuts made sewing easy and everything fit together perfectly.

I quilted on my Janome 9450 with aqua thread in diagonal rows of 4, using a straight stitch. Fabulous Stars is 49½” x 57” in size.

Barbara's book has many different versions with beautiful secondary designs. I started out simply, but I will definitely be sewing this again soon in other colorways. I love it when designers and manufacturers work together to share ideas and create partnerships.


Blue Wren dies used:
6909 Triangle Stars 7” finished triangle block
www.a1craftandquilting.com.au

Barbara H. Cline design
www.delightfulpiecing.com

 

Sweethearts Dance

Purple and white scraps plus a new die and a classic block equals a happy little quilt for Valentine's Day.

The Interwoven Star is pretty when alternated with a simple heart block. I framed them with 2” solid lavender sashing strips. Backing and binding is a lavender mini gingham. My little Singer Featherweight (Annie) always stitches perfectly.

I quilted in narrow channels using light purple thread and a straight stitch. I finished this one very quickly, starting on Friday afternoon and finishing up Sunday morning. Sweethearts Dance is 32” square, small and adorable.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6364a Interwoven Star 8½”
Accuquilt
55018 Value die 2½” square & half-square triangles  
55017 Strips 2½” sashing & binding

Happy Valentine's Week!

 

Primavera

I've been thinking about spring since the ground hog predicted an early one.

I finished this pretty quilt late last month after getting the Windmill die from Blue Wren. Such a fun, quick and easy one to sew. The layout takes a bit of thought, much like some of the jigsaw puzzles I work. My design wall came in handy.

Lovely pink, green, and cream print remnants create windmills scattered across the front and framed with natural muslin. For quilting I used a spiral ruler and pale pink thread to stitch in the centers of each windmill, then down to the next one. It's just right to emphasize the breezy movement of the blocks.

Primavera finished up at 48” square. I can't wait to try another version of this one. It will make a cute baby or donation quilt. But that will have to wait until I finish the quilts I've already cut from my other two new dies. 

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6554 Windmill 8” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½”