ZZ Top

ZZ Top, August 2026

Sometimes the simplest shapes can be combined to create unique designs. I started this quilt by cutting up medium sized scraps into half square triangles and rectangles. I had no particular layout in mind.

By the time I had added some natural muslin and sewed a few blocks, an idea popped into my head and this quilt was the result. By flipping two sections together, the Z began to take shape when I added 1” muslin sashing.

After I finished the blocks, I remembered a colorful guitar print for a border and backing, so naming it ZZ Top made perfect sense to me. I pieced everything on my Singer 99 called Bogart. I chose a utility zig-zag stitch for quilting on the Janome.

ZZ Top finished at 46” x 54” and yes, I definitely played their music and even danced a little bit while working on this one. Such a fun and happy quilt!

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55031 Half Square Triangle 4” finished
55159 Rectangle 2” x 4” finished
Blue Wren 6015 Strips 1” finished

 

Eureka!

Eureka! August 2026

I finally solved the puzzle to make this block with dies. It’s my variation of the Wensleydale by Jen Kingwell. I love her work and admire all her beautiful designs.

There’s a back story here. First, I do NOT enjoy paper piecing—too much cutting and trimming and tearing. I’m spoiled by my Accuquilt cutter, dies, and Blue Wren dies. With them I rarely have to trim or square up blocks after sewing.

I wanted to find an easy way to reproduce the Wensleydale look using the dies I have but just couldn’t figure it out. After several attempts and adjusting my design more than once, I finally have a similar version that I like. Here’s a few photos to show how it goes together.

The center is Blue Wren’s 3” x 6” Diamond in Rectangle, then I added Accuquilt’s 3” Triangle in Square sections and finished off with 3” x 6” Half Rectangle Triangles around the block. It is not a perfect copy of her design but my interpretation of that style.

It felt so great to finish this quilt. I used blue, green, tan, cream and white scraps. After joining the blocks, I added 3” borders. Quilting with light blue thread, I outlined the large diamonds in straight stitches. Eureka! finished at 53” square.

If you like paper piecing, please buy Jen Kingwell’s books and templates to make her Wensleydale design. You may reproduce my die cut version for your own use, but, as with all my quilts, please do not publish or sell the pattern.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6381 Diamond in a Rectangle 3” x 6” finished

Accuquilt
55027 Triangle in a Square 3” finished
55411 Half Rectangle Triangle 3” x 6” finished
55032 Strips 3” borders
55017 Strips 2” binding

Yacht Club

Yacht Club, June 2026

It’s Labor Day so a lot of folks are probably out on the lake. We don’t have a boat, but I enjoy watching from shore.

A friend gave me this large nautical flag print and a couple of coordinating fabrics a few years ago. (Thanks, Mary!) The red, white, navy and aqua colors seemed like a good fit for this quilt. 

I used elements from the Galaxy of Stars die by Blue Wren to cut my shapes, adding 1” sashing between the blocks. I added 6” wide borders of the flag print. 

I did all the piecing with Midnight, a beautifully painted Singer 404. For quilting I switched to the Janome, using white thread and a scallop stitch diagonally 2” apart across the quilt.

I used the rest of the flag print for backing, framing it with red polka dot borders. This is a bright quilt! Yacht Club is 54” square.

Stay safe and enjoy the day!

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6969 Galaxy of Stars 9” finished
6015 Strips 1½” sashing

Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding