Detours

Red, white, and blue always look good together, especially in a quilt. This one has lots of small pieces! I didn't have a pattern in mind when I started, but it all came together in the end.

The center section of each block is the adorable Blue Wren 4” periwinkle die (from Australia). I had intended to use them as a border, so I started cutting scraps in May, right after I got the die. I worked on sewing and cutting between other projects whenever I had spare time, keeping my Featherweight set up just for piecing.

As I stitched, I decided to feature the little periwinkles all across the quilt instead. I added half square triangles in light blue and red prints to frame them. I set the blocks on point, adding blue/white stripe sashing with navy and white mini dot square accents.

Detours

Detours finished out at 49” square. I quilted in pale blue-gray thread, using a walking foot and small serpentine stitch along seam lines in both directions. I used the navy and white mini dot as backing/binding.

My original plan was diverted, and took longer to complete than I planned. I had fabric, scraps, and dies scattered all over the sewing room, but I love the results. 

Sometimes you just have to follow where the fabric leads you!

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6377 Periwinkle 4” finished
6047 Rectangles 2” x 6” finished

Accuquilt
55009 3½” Half Square Triangle
55017 Strip 2½”
55001 Half Square Triangle 6½”
55018 Small value die (squares & half square triangles)

 

Sidetracked

Sidetracked

How do you like my newest quilt design? It's called Sidetracked, and there's a story behind the name. I finished piecing the front yesterday, after a day of cutting and sewing leftovers from my scrap basket. It was a spur of the moment design inspired by moving furniture in my sewing room. But I'll start at the beginning.

Last Tuesday I had planned to sew a vest for my mama. Amazingly, I didn't have the right color fabric. That's right, with hundreds of yards of material in my stash, I didn't have anything to match her camo print cargo pants. Yeah, I realize she's 79 years old, but those of you who know Sam understand the feisty redhead who is my mama. 

 

Anyway, after putting away the fabrics I had pulled out, I couldn't get interested in sewing anything else. As I was sitting there, a new layout for my furniture just popped into my head. I love to rearrange furniture, so I had to do it right then. I put the sewing table and desk back to back by the windows, and moved the cutting table on the other wall. This may work better when I sew quilts, so they won't fall over the edge of the table as I sew.

During the upheaval, I found a scrap bin that had been tucked under the sewing table, behind my thread cabinet. Aha! Inspiration can come when you least expect it. After I had put the finishing touches on my room, I sorted through the fabric pieces and started laying out a design.

I have to admit that I've been a little sidetracked lately. But I did order some fabric to match the cargo pants, got a fresh new sewing room, and pieced a quilt from forgotten scraps. So it must be a good thing to divert onto another path every now and then.  

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. --Ralph Waldo Emerson