Imperfectly Teal

Scrap quilts are the reason that I save small bits of fabric from every quilt I make. Seems crazy, I know. But there's such a high level of satisfaction in using leftover pieces to create an entire quilt.  Plus, you get several extra bonus quilts without spending any more money. I do love a bargain! 

My inspiration for this project was a group of quilts designed by Jo Anne Merrill-Duckworth. Her beautiful creations are scrappy, colorful, and amazing! Her method makes it easy since you don't have to worry about perfect cuts or uniform pieces. The wonkier the better--just choose a focus color and use what you have that fits.

I took a shoe box full of aqua and teal fabric strips to the campground in October to begin these crazy log cabin style blocks. I used leftover black gingham to begin each one, adding random width strips until it was roughly 7” square. Once I got home and finished all the blocks, I trimmed them with a 6½” die before stitching them together.

Imperfectly Teal finished at 48” square after I added 3” borders. I quilted with white thread, using a rolling wave ruler in diagonal rows about 3” apart.

Scrappy imperfect quilts aren't for everyone. Lots of people just can't stand so many prints, or crooked blocks that don't align perfectly. My brain had to reset a bit before I could resist the urge to straighten out those seams. I had fun, though, and gave myself permission to play. And I'll happily do it again.

So thanks, Jo Anne, for sharing your ideas, inspiring us to abandon perfection, and to save and use our scraps!

Accuquilt dies used:
55000 Square 6½”
55032 Strips 3½”
55017 Strips 2½”

Mowing Leaves

Here's another autumn quilt that's super quick and easy to sew, inspired by nature.

I used only two contrasting fabrics on this one, a gorgeous green and rust fall leaf print with green and cream crosshatch design. Each 8” block is constructed with 2½” x 4½” rectangles.

I chain stitched them all before assembling the blocks. After sewing them all together, I added three borders using 1½”, 2½”, and 3½” strips. Final size for Mowing Leaves is 53” square.

I quilted with light green thread, using a scallop stitch in rows 2” apart. This one didn't take long at all, mainly because of the two color palette. 

You can probably guess the name came to me while we were mowing our leaves. It seems like they're staying around longer this year, as we still have them falling. I'm hoping the wind might blow some of them away but we'll be out there again this week unless we wait till they're all down.

Accuquilt dies used:
55159 Rectangles 2½” x 4½”
55017 Strips 2½”
55032 Strips 3½”
Blue Wren 6015 Strips 1½”

 

Calico Dreams

I'm on a roll with scrappy quilts! Colorful prints alternate with crisp white for a pretty lap quilt.

Most of the prints were cut in a previous remnant rescue marathon. You might remember the first version, Thrifty Threads, posted in September. Cutting the white fabric and sewing went quickly...I finished this one in four days. 

I used white thread to quilt a scallop stitch along the center of each row, 2” apart. Calico Dreams is 48” x 50” size. 

I love sewing simple and fast projects, especially this time of year. It feels good to move on to the next design on my list. I have enough lined up to flow well over into 2023.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6047 2” x 3” and 2” x 6” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

Great Granny

Great Granny

If you want a quick and easy quilt, try this large granny square design. The 6” finished squares are set on point with 6” half square triangles around the edges.

Bright lime and turquoise blenders alternate with coordinating stripes and dots for a modern look to a vintage style.  I laid them out on my design wall before sewing them together in diagonal rows. 

For quilting, I decided to experiment with an allover pattern using a new circle ruler. White thread shows off the loopy circles aligned diagonally.

Great Granny finished at 43” square, but it would be simple to add more rows for a larger throw or bed quilt. 

Accuquilt dies used:
55000 Square 6½”
55001 Half Square Triangle 6½”
55017 Strip 2½”

 

Scrap Basket

Since I'm on a roll, here's another quilt made in my ongoing quest to save tiny pieces of fabric from untimely disposal.

My favorite sizes to cut are 2½” squares and half square triangles. This time I combined them with white muslin for a very colorful cane weave design. Piecing was super easy and quick on Annie, my Featherweight. I didn't pay much attention to color placement while sewing four-patches and strips.

Scrap Basket Block

I moved the blocks around on my design wall to balance out the colors, then sewed them together. Even with all these pieces, I have many more scraps left. I guess as long as I cut fabric I will have small remnants to rescue. Some of these are decades old but still lovely.

I used a 60” piece of plaid shirting material for backing. Quilting with white thread, I sewed serpentine lines 2” apart. This is a lightweight quilt with flannel as batting.  

Accuquilt dies used:
55059 Square, multiples, 2½”
55018 Small Value die: Half Square Triangle 2½” & 4½” square
55017 Strip 2½”
55160 Rectangle 4½” x 8½”

I learned from my mama and my grannies

to be a collector of useful things.

Effie's Challenge

A few weeks ago I received a surprise package from my cousin Lola. I opened it and found a quilt top and a few blocks made by our grandmother, Effie Evitts Hill.

The top was partially hand stitched with some seams sewn on machine using several different colors of thread. We don't know when she made it; it's a mixture of cotton and poly-cotton fabric in red, white, and blue. If I had to guess, I'd say mid to late 1980's or early 90's.

It had been washed at some point, which caused quite a few seams to unravel, as you can see in the photo below. I wanted to keep as much of her work intact as possible, even though many of the blocks were not square and corners didn't all line up. It's a big 84” x 90”quilt, and quite a project to tackle.

I mended all those torn seams and straightened the blocks as much as I could without taking the whole thing apart. The inner border is puckered some because that fabric didn't shrink as much as the cotton next to it. I had to trim off about 2” around the outer border.

I added flannel batting and plain muslin backing. Fittingly, I used Rockette, my trusty 1960's Singer Rocketeer, for all the stitching. White thread in a triple zig-zag stitch for quilting helped camouflage the uneven seams.

I only owned one of her quilts, so it's nice to complete another that she started. It's not perfect, but I don't think she intended it to be. It was likely a simple bed quilt for personal use, not one to enter at the county fair.

I was sewing clothes but not quilting at all when she died in 1992. I wonder, what would Granny Hill think about me finishing this one? Thanks Lola, for sharing...it was definitely a challenge!

Sometimes,

good enough

is

good enough

Greenway

In this hot August weather, I've been staying inside working on something cool, green, and fresh. I saw a photo of this design online, done up in different colors, so I sewed my version of the pattern.

My Greenway quilt was fairly quick to stitch up. The ten inch blocks are set on point, alternating each block design. The simple cross is made of squares and rectangles in neutral tans, aqua, and white on cream vine print. For the green blocks, I added a small cream half-square triangle across the corner of finished HST squares.

I sewed partial blocks to fill in the corners and sides for this 43” x 57” snuggle quilt. Quilting is a straight stitch in cream thread along both sides of the seams. For backing, I used a large scale stripe in green, aqua and cream with an off center ten inch wide strip of a green tiny print. Green binding frames it up nicely.

Accuquilt dies used:

55031 Half Square 4” finished
55159 Rectangle 2 ½” x 4 ½”
55018 Small Value die 4 ½” square and 2 ½” HST
55017 2½” strip for binding

Side note: This week's our 47^th anniversary, a low key celebration for sure. No elegant restaurant meal or trip to the beach; still too much COVID around for us to venture out. That's ok, all we need is each other. We're not fancy people anyhow. We'll be happy to enjoy a simple grilled steak, salad, and baked potato dinner, a bottle of wine, and a movie. Sounds like a perfect night in the home we've created together.

Little Boy Blue

Baby quilts are so much fun to sew. I made this sweet bow tie design with fabric purchased at the $1 sale a few weeks ago.

A simple traditional block sewed with four blue and white small prints gives it a vintage vibe. Little Boy Blue is 42” square. I quilted with light blue thread in free motion double loops, going diagonally across the squares. Backing is a creamy white with medium blue swirling designs.

This size could also be used for a wall hanging or table topper. It's a quick and easy layout that sews up in a flash.

Accuquilt dies used:

55772 Bowtie 6” finished square
55818 Half square 1 ½” finished square
55006 Square 3 ½”
55017 2½” strip

Do more things
that make you forget
to check your phone

Easy Pieces

Here's another multicolored scrap quilt made from my stash box of 2½” squares. Quick work, since all I had to cut were the cream/white pieces. I designed the basic layout in EQ8.

Sewing straight seams in batches was a breeze. I tried to keep the colors balanced but didn't fuss too much. Perfection can be stressful and I only wanted to play.

I quilted with white thread in straight lines on the strip sections and in a crosshatch pattern on the eight and sixteen patch blocks. Easy Pieces is 42” square.

I really enjoyed those three mornings stitching away in the sewing room with smooth jazz playing in the background. The thing is, I hardly made a dent in that scrap box, plus I have more remnants to cut. Don't worry, I've already designed another fun project for those.

Accuquilt dies used:
55017 2½” strip
55059 2½” square multiple

Some days 

are simply meant 

for playing 

Seaside Carnival

As soon as I got my latest Accuquilt die (on sale!) I grabbed some scraps and started cutting. Bright turquoise and sunny yellow colors with crisp white are perfect for contrast to show off this pretty design. They remind me so much of my favorite place, the beach.

I sewed four Hattie's Choice (55220) 9" blocks together and added a coordinating striped border to make a cute table mat. These pieces are small, but easy to sew. Backing is bright yellow with white dots. I quilted with white thread 3/4” apart from the center out, in quarter sections, creating a nice geometric pattern. Seaside Carnival is 21” square.

I already have several more ideas sketched out that use this die but they may have to wait...this one made me hear the beach calling. I'm headed there 'cause I need sea therapy and toes in the sand.  There will be plenty of inspiration for new quilts, a couple of fabric stores to visit, and lots of fresh seafood.

This Thanksgiving week I am grateful for being able to live the simple life that I love, surrounded by those who genuinely care for me. I'm glad I learned to let go of things, people, and situations that don't bring me peace and happiness.

🌟  Count your blessings! 🌟 

Dazzler

Dazzler

I love purple...from grape to lilac, amethyst to lavender. I recently added touches of royal purple to my guest bathroom. This small 18” x 22” wall quilt, Dazzler, is made up of drunkard's path blocks. I quilted around the curves in dark purple thread. This one only took a day to complete. It's satisfying to work on small projects because they finish up quickly.

Now I am on the hunt for a couple of matching hand towels and perhaps a colorful rug. It's the little things, you know, that bring me joy. 

This month I've been making a daily note of gratitude. Looking back, most of them are simple pleasures, and I like that. 

  

Sometimes we get so caught up
in trying to accomplish
something big,
that we fail to notice
the little things
that give life its magic

Simple Spools

What better wall art for a sewing room than this bright, inspiring quilt?

I love to display my quilts so I rotate them often. This one has sixteen 8” blocks, made with four-patch squares and half square triangles. The background fabric is a cream and black Moda print scattered with positive words. I chose a different bright color for each spool. On two corners, I set squares of grape with white dots, creating a secondary design.

Simple Spools is 32” square and bound with a black swirl print. The backing is a colorful crazy quilt print in purple, black and yellow. Cutting and piecing was quick and easy with the Accuquilt value die. With this one, It's important to stack the fabric so that the words face the same way in each block. I quilted in cream thread, swirling across the center of each spool, about a half inch apart. 

Putting together a quilt is kind of like working a puzzle...all the pieces have their place and have to fit together in the end. Of course, puzzles have a set design and you have to have all the pieces to finish it. Quilts give you more leeway because pieces can go together many different ways to make unique designs. If one doesn't fit or doesn't look right, you can just make another or rotate the block. That's why I like designing in EQ8 software or manually on my design wall. It is fun and challenging to create new arrangements with the same basic pieces.

If you don't like 

the rules,

make new ones