Crossways

Crossways

More remnants? 
Oh yeah!

I'm still using my dies to cut scraps into the shapes and sizes I use most often. This 48” quilt features rectangles with half square triangles on one end, and flying geese.

Light peach solid combines nicely with lots of bright colored prints in a lattice or trellis pattern.  For the backing, I stacked a row of rectangles in peach colored prints on the edge of a length of gingham. I quilted with peach thread in a serpentine stitch.

Crossways went together quickly with the medium sized pieces sewed into 12” blocks. I finished it just after Christmas. 

It's very cold and snowing here in Tennessee and should continue until tomorrow. I love snow and we don't get it as often as when I was a kid. I can't wait to see if it gets deep enough to make snow cream! 

Accuquilt dies used:
55436 Flying Geese 3” x 6” finished
55411 Rectangles 3” x 6” finished
55017 Strips 2½” for binding

Snuggle up in a quilt

and watch it snow

Tranquility

I normally use a wide variety of fabrics in my quilts. This one is an exception: I only used two. A navy mini-floral print serves as background for a lovely muted red and medium blue batik.

I used Blue Wren's Pine Bark block, which is also called Japanese Jigsaw or Japanese Puzzle. Easy cutting is a happy benefit of two color quilts.

My design wall came in handy for laying out this puzzle. After sewing all the blocks, I combined them in diagonal rows, adding the corner and border pieces as I went along.

I repeated the navy print on the back, with a single row of alternating batik/navy 6” squares. I quilted along the main diagonal seam lines using a triple serpentine stitch with silver gray thread. Tranquility finished at 49” square.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6815 Pine Bark

Accuquilt
55017 Strip 2½” for binding
55000 Square 6” finished

Triangulation

Triangulation

Geometric shapes are traditional in quilts. These large 8” equilateral triangles made easy work of cutting and sewing. It's a nice change after last week's tiny pieces.

Medium and light shades of blue, aqua, and cream create a soft peaceful vibe. Adding an extra strip of triangles across the natural muslin backing makes this one reversible.

I quilted along all seam lines using a straight stitch with dark cream thread. I finished off the binding with a decorative blanket stitch. Triangulation is 44” x 49” size.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6568 8” finished equilateral triangle
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

Sand, Sea, & Stars

While wishing for a beach vacation, I designed this calm and peaceful quilt.

The two sea green fabrics came from an antique mall near Foley, Alabama. I chose light and medium gray for contrast, with a white on natural print background. Alternating two blocks, Blazing Star and Hourglass in Square, adds to the vintage look.  I framed it up with a sea green border. 

Sand, Sea, & Stars finished out at 55” square. I used dark cream thread for quilting scallop stitches 2” apart in one direction. Backing is a simple natural muslin.

Picture this sweet quilt in a beachfront cottage. I would love to be there right now!

Accuquilt dies used:
55051 Blazing Star BOB 12” finished
55002 Quarter Square Triangles, 6 ½”
55006 Half Square Triangles 3 ½”
55032 Strip 3 ½”
55017 Strip 2 ½”

Let's go to a place

where the stars

kiss the ocean

Peppermint Snowballs

Merry Christmas y'all...here's a sweet and easy small project that should make Santa happy.

Medium red fabric with tiny white dots, plus a red/white diagonal stripe and a black and white weave pattern contrast sharply with crisp solid white broadcloth. I alternated nine-patch and snowball blocks. Designed in EQ8 and cut with Accuquilt, Peppermint Snowballs is 30” square.

For quilting I used a wide decorative stitch with white thread diagonally across the nine-patch blocks. Then I changed to a straight stitch, sewing twice across each snowball. Binding with the striped fabric frames it perfectly.

Peppermint Snowballs

I've sewed this simple block combination before, and each quilt looks different due to color changes and placement. That's one of the things I enjoy about quilting!


Accuquilt Dies used:
55017 2½” Strip
55330 Snowball 6” finished
55059 2½” Square multiples

Here's wishing everyone

a peaceful and relaxing holiday!

Starfish Key

I found this beautiful starfish batik fabric last fall in Pensacola. The soft muted colors of lavender and blue on a sandy background make me wish for the beach!

Starfish Key is 40” square. It was very quick to sew with the large pieces. I quilted in an overall clamshell design using the Squiggy ruler by Angela Walters. Cream thread shows up just enough to emphasize the pattern.

This one's hanging on the wall in my spare bedroom, which is currently decorated in shades of purple, lavender, and lilac. It's a sweet retreat where I can read and relax.

Dies used:

Accuquilt 55058 8” square

Accuquilt 55399 8” quarter square triangle

Blue Wren 6522 8” half square triangle

On this Memorial Day,

I salute the brave Americans

who fought and died

for our freedom

Merry Trees

This small Christmas quilt is so cute! Diamond shapes and triangles are arranged to form rows of little trees.

I used Hattie's Choice Accuquilt die again to cut the red and green shapes, then added half square rectangles on each side. A bright border of red with green dots just sets it off. 

Backing is a holiday print of nested squares. Using green thread, I quilted in serpentine stitch horizontally and vertically.  Nice for a wall hanging or table mat, Merry Trees is 23” x 35” in size.

Accuquilt dies used:  

Hattie's Choice 55220

3 ½” x 6 ½” half rectangle triangle 55411 

I'm enjoying a simple, quiet Christmas season. No parties, no nonsense, no drama. We haven't wanted to shop (except a bit online), so we avoided the pressure to buy just for the sake of a sale. It's empowering to ignore others' expectations and satisfying to do what you like.

Remember, it's your Christmas,

so march to the beat

of your own little drummer boy

Crossroads

Crossroads

Simple quilt blocks are quick, fun to sew, and easy on the eyes. This one uses 2 ½” strips with 4 ½” squares to make a peaceful snuggle quilt in a classic style.

Cool blue and white prints in medium and light shades from my stash coordinate well with the grey and white border and backing. I quilted with white thread along each seam.

Crossroads finished size of 43” x 51” is just right for a comfortable recliner nap.

By the way, my lovely fabric from the beach is inventoried and filed away in baskets and cabinets, just waiting to be chosen for the next quilt. So many ideas!