Skinny Churn Dash

Skinny Churn Dash

What a fun quilt to sew! The classic churn dash pattern got a makeover with a taller center section, creating a rectangular block.

I returned to the remnant boxes to find fabric in green, aqua, coral, gray and brown. Natural muslin makes a great neutral to focus on the prints. There are no repeat blocks and all were stitched on Laney (Singer 301).  

The 7” x 10” finished rectangles are set together, adding a 3” muslin border for a 49” x 57” final size. I'm calling it Skinny Churn Dash.

Quilting with a medium taupe thread lightly emphasizes the stitching. I used a braided border ruler to quilt vertical rows that look like an allover design.  

There's not much change in my overall scrap total using a bit of this and a bit of that, but I still love getting bonus quilts out of leftovers. On to the next one!

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6047 Rectangles 2” x 6” and 2” x 3” finished

Accuquilt
55005 Rectangle 3½” x 6½”
55032 Strips 3½”
55018 Value Die Half Square Triangle 2½”
55017 Strips 2½”

 

Third Chance Triangles

Third Chance Triangles

Some of these fabrics may look familiar if you've been following my blog for a while. I dipped way down into my scrap baskets for these adorable triangles and stitched them up on Annie, my sweet little Singer Featherweight 221.

Those bright colors really shine on a natural muslin background. The Pine Island die from Blue Wren normally has the triangles tilted in a square. For this project I turned the finished blocks on point, flipping every other one. EQ8 helped me preview the layout. Sides and corners are filled in with 6" half square triangles. I added borders and binding in black and cream dots.

I quilted diagonally across the quilt, using natural thread and a scallop stitch on my Janome MC9450. Third Chance Triangles finished out at 50” x 54” size. I love the modern look! 

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6555 Pine Island 6” finished
6720 Magic Strips (borders & binding)

Accuquilt 55001 Half Square Triangle 6” finished

Born To Be Wild

Born To Be Wild

It's been said that scraps multiply when you're not looking. That might actually be true. I sew many quilts every year, so the leftover bits add up quickly.

Managing these can be a challenge. I try to cut remnants as I go, sort into my most used sizes and store in stackable plastic boxes. This doesn't always happen, so I just toss the fabric into larger tubs for later. I have a major cutting session to empty the tubs when I'm in between projects or when I run out of space.

Today's quilt is made up of scraps in my favorite sizes: 2½” squares, 2½” half square triangles, and 2½” strips. I started out sewing quarter log cabin blocks, then added the HST for a bear claw look.

Born To Be Wild is 49” square. The backing is a colorful quilt block print, binding is a light navy check. I finished it off with simple channel quilting 2” apart using light gray thread.

Sewing these is so much fun! No plan, no rules, just choose what looks pretty together and stitch. Pop them on the design wall, move them around to get the most pleasing layout, and another quilt is done. I considered using a solid color sashing between blocks, but decided on this wild version.

Going through leftover fabric is like seeing old friends. It reminds me of where I got it and what I made with it. That's why I adore scrap quilts!

Just one shelf of remnants...that's definitely not all

Accuquilt dies used:

55017 Strips 2½”
55018 Small Value die: 2½” square, 2½” HST

Hilltop Chain

Remnants, scraps, leftovers...whatever you call them, these pieces of material have been saved in most sewing rooms for decades.

Today's quilt is the result of a cutting session with the Accuquilt Weathervane die and a big basket of scraps. I used shape B (pentagon) to cut colorful prints. Shapes A and D were cut from natural muslin. The block I sewed is a variation of a vintage one called Old Italian Block or Mountain Peak.

What a fun quilt to make! I used Rockette, my 1962 Singer 500A for piecing. This one reminds me of the simple bed quilts that Granny Hill and Granny Rose sewed. Hilltop Chain is snuggle size, at 51” square. I quilted across the muslin squares using bright variegated thread, using a multi-stitch zig zag pattern.

I am happiest when I'm creating something new out of remnants, and when I'm experimenting with quilt designs. I promise you it's been a happy, scrappy summer at my house.

Accuquilt dies used:
55544 Weathervane 8” finished Shapes A, B, and D
55017 Strip 2½”