Emerald Braid

Are you ready for St. Patrick's Day? I pretty much have to celebrate this holiday, because of my name and my naturally curly red (well, previously red) hair.

Our new home has several rooms painted in different shades of green, so I've been stitching more green quilts for decorating. I made this table runner last November and it's still on the oak buffet in our foyer.

I used a couple of fat quarters and a white on natural print for this quick and easy project. Simple 5” squares with half-square triangles were laid out in a braid pattern. I pieced it on Annie, my sweet little Featherweight and quilted in a straight stitch with green thread. Emerald Braid is 52” x 13½” finished.

Wishing you a happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, and don't forget to wear green or the leprechauns will pinch you!

Accuquilt dies used:

55010 Square 5”
55397 Half-square triangle 4½”
55017 Strips 2½” binding 

Braided Blue

Oh, I love this adorable quilted mat! I've been on a roll with curves lately.

A classic color combination of clear navy blue and crisp white fabric is perfect here. The design is created with a new die from Blue Wren, called Wave Peak.

The small 4” blocks fit together like a puzzle to form a lovely wave or braid. I set them on point, then filled in the outside with white setting triangles.

For quilting, I used a straight stitch and white thread with a walking foot, following around the curves. On the outside edges I added two rows of echo curves.

Braided Blue is only 23” square, since I wanted table mat or small wall hanging size. A larger quilt can be made by adding another round of the braids.

So cute and so much fun to make! I'll be experimenting with this die to create borders or combine with other blocks.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6633 Wave Peak 4” finished

Easter Lilies

This little quilt started out as a sample block. I always cut and stitch an example of every die immediately after purchase. This is to check that it cuts and sews together properly, in case I had to return it. The truth is, I just can't wait to play with my new toys.

Purple (one of my favorite colors) contrasts nicely with avocado green and natural muslin. I changed the original layout, trimmed to a square, and added borders. I quilted with an applique stitch around the curves in cream thread.

Easter Lilies finished at 18” square. Right now it's hanging on my front door but later may be used as a table mat.

I've bought several brand new dies lately at super low prices, thanks to my ever supportive husband. He found the sale and told me to stock up! Love that man! Most of the ones I bought, like this one, had been on my wish list for a while.

As usual, I have so many ideas and not nearly enough time to stitch them. Laundry, cleaning, yard work, and cooking have sunk to the bottom of my to do list. Again.


Accuquilt dies used:
55597 Alabama Beauty BOB 12” finished
55017 Strips 2½”

Times Past

I nearly forgot about this little remnant quilt! I sewed it back in October, then put it away without sharing it on the blog.

The fabric in this reversible table mat reminds me of vintage brocade. The muted brown, tan, green, and rose colors work beautifully with black accents. 

I used isosceles triangles plus half square triangles to make kaleidoscope blocks for one side. The reverse is half-square triangles of the brocade print with black gingham, plus two borders.

I did all the piecing on Violet, our restored and painted Singer 99. She's a joy to sew with. Quilting was fun with free motion meandering stitches in tan thread using the Janome.

Times Past is 24½” square, an old fashioned classic look for a change of pace.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6396 Isosceles Triangles

Accuquilt
55009 Half Square Triangles 3" finished
55031 Half Square Triangles 4” finished
55017 Strips 2½”

Pineapple Tidbits

In my spare time I've been sorting and cutting remnants left from all those quilts I finished last year. These little narrow bits were perfect for the Pineapple block.

Using natural muslin made the colorful prints seem even brighter. The nine blocks went pretty quickly considering there are lots of pieces in there. I added a 4” border of aqua to finish this wall hanging at 40” square.

Natural thread was used to channel quilt in straight stitch 1” apart. Pineapple Tidbits is so pretty hanging in my hallway. I can see using this die often for scrap busting those pieces I just can't seem to toss. I'm already working on it!

Accuquilt dies used:
55485 Pineapple BOB 10” finished
55054 Strips 4” finished
55017 Strips 2” finished

BE YOURSELF.

People don't have to like you,

and you don't have to care.

Puzzle For Santa

Puzzle For Santa

Here's another quickie Christmas table mat, made up with red, green, and gray prints.

After arranging and sewing the blocks, I added a 2” border. I quilted a straight stitch with red thread down the center of each ribbon.  The backing is a modern coordinating print. Final size is 21" square. 

This 4” Washington's Puzzle die has little pieces, but I really like it. I want to use them in a border, then try a scrappy version lap quilt. It should be fun.

Oh, and I must confess: I took advantage of the Black Friday sale and bought a few new dies. They are meant to be part of my Christmas, but I had to open and test them out, right? Just to make sure they cut properly and all. I guess I got carried away and cut a few extra sets of this one. Does that count as naughty? 

Accuquilt dies used:
55602 Washington's Puzzle 4” finished
55017 Strips 2½”

Wild Triangles

Wild Triangles

I absolutely love this quilt!

It is a new Blue Wren die, actually one that I requested. The design is based on two vintage blocks, Pine Burr and Lost Children.

While I was waiting for it to arrive from Australia, I pulled all the bright colors I could find from my scrap bins. Once it was delivered, I got to cutting. I used Bogart, our recently restored Wrinkle finish Singer 99, for piecing. A navy mini dot frames the blocks nicely.

Quilting with medium tan thread, I used the Which Way ruler template for an allover motif. Wild Triangles finished out at 48” square.

The story behind the die: I was trying to create this block using shapes from my current die inventory, but had to hand cut one of the angled sections. I wasn't happy with my result, so I sent the idea to Norma and Edward at Blue Wren. Thanks for a perfect die! I already have three more layouts done in EQ8.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6555 Pine Island (Pine Burr) 6” quarter square
Accuquilt 55054 Strip 4½” border
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½” sashing/binding

Not Perfect

Oh, yeah, here's the table mat made from my original experiment. The blocks are turned for a different appearance. Just don't look too closely at those points! 

For the back, I cut 4” x 8” half rectangles (Blue Wren 6038) to make it reversible. I quilted this one with white thread using a serpentine stitch. The mat is called Not Perfect, and measures 28” square.

Mixed Links

I truly love experimenting with quilt blocks. Switching around pieces to create a different look is right up my alley. And I've been playing again.

I sketched out this block last year after seeing a similar vintage quilt online. I used some elements of the Star Links die and added a 2” square. I had to trim off triangles after sewing to get that odd shaped piece.

Lilac, aqua, and pink scrap prints are sweet for this table mat. I quilted using a scallop stitch and white thread. Mixed Links is 35” x 15” size.

Not all my test ideas make it into quilts, but they can be used for pot holders, cat rugs, or trying out quilt stitches. It's all good!

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6967 Star Link
6015 Strips 1½”
Accuquilt
55018 Value die (2” square)
55017 Strip 2½”

Gin Blossoms

I've been playing again. Some of my best ideas come when I'm cutting scraps or straightening up the sewing room. Today's project is one of them.

I like to mix elements from seemingly unrelated dies to form new blocks. Chalk that up to creative curiosity and a love of puzzles. I've never been afraid to change a pattern or design to suit me.

This medallion table mat combines three dies: kite, triangle in square and drunkard's path. I've seen a similar design somewhere before but of course I changed the layout. Shades of rusty red, salmon pink, and stone make a pleasing palette. After adding a 3” border and a chevron binding, Gin Blossoms final size is 23” square.

I free motion quilted with ecru thread using a medium wave ruler in rows 3” apart, then rotated and straight stitched across the curves.

Winter is a natural time to rest and recharge. I highly recommend letting go of expectations, responsibility, and self imposed restrictions. Play a little and see where it takes you.

Accuquilt dies used:
55254 Kite 4” finished
55409 Triangle in Square 4” finished
55739/55743 Drunkard's Path 4½” (trimmed to 4”)
55032 Strip 3½”
55017 Strip 2½” 

Golden Galaxy

Yesterday I finished a lovely autumn table mat for our dining room. Shades of gold batik along with brown and black prints show up nicely on a background of toasty taupe.

I used the Star Links die from Blue Wren, which looks complicated but is really very easy to sew. I previewed color placement in EQ8 before cutting.  

A simple quilting pattern emphasizes the block design. I used taupe thread in a straight stitch, making a 1½” grid. Golden Galaxy finished at 36” square.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6967 Star Links 12” finished

Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

 

Two For One

I just finished this reversible mat for my living room coffee table. While playing around with placement of the segments in Maple Leaf die, I discovered a southwest style that looks great for fall.

Sedona Maple uses terra cotta and cream prints, with a bit of navy added using 3” half square triangles. Final size is 35” x 24” and fits perfectly on the table.

For the reverse side, I stitched up Crossed Canoe blocks in blue batik with cream, adding rotary cut navy borders to fill out the size. This side is called Moonlight Canoes. 

I quilted in cream thread with a wave ruler, then sewed on navy binding with a serpentine stitch. 

Fun, quick, and simple...two little quilt tops made into one using Accuquilt.

Sedona Maple:
55195 Maple Leaf BOB 8” finished
55001 Half Square Triangle 6½”
55009 Half Square Triangle 3½”

Moonlight Canoes:
55181 Crossed Canoes BOB 9” finished

binding: 55017 Strip 2½”

 

Irish Wishes

When your last name is Ireland, well, you can't let St. Patrick's Day go by without sharing a green quilt!

I'm sewing a different one now, but made this little table mat a few weeks ago. It's actually multinational, since I used dies from Australia. Green batik and a lime green print contrast nicely with dark green polka dots on a pale green background.

I separated the four sections with 1” sashing, then bordered the outside with 2” strips. The reverse side features the two green prints. I quilted with variegated green thread, using a ruler template to make stylized circles.

Irish Wishes is 18” square. Now I need to wish for a pot of gold, but I'll settle for a pot of shamrocks.

Blue Wren Dies used:
6369 Jackaroo Star 12” finished
6015 1 1/2” strip
6720 Magic Strips (2 1/2”)

Don't forget to wear green on Thursday,

or the leprechauns will pinch you!

Just Playin'

Sometimes I like experimenting with designs and trying new color combinations. Other days I practice free motion and ruler quilting techniques on sample blocks. Little projects like these mats are perfect for that, and useful to boot.

The table mat is made using Hattie's Choice blocks, but I substituted two triangles for in place of the diamond shape to give it more interest. After framing them with strips, I used Creative Grids Slim ruler by Angela Walters to quilt over the whole piece. It looks like rows of picket fences or roof tiles, don't you think?

Project #2--I haven't made many quilts with the wedge die so I cut a few pieces to play with. I added white 1” strips on either side of the center wedges for an outline. 

Free motion quilting is kind of like doodling. I started with swoops inside the print fabrics.  I wanted to fill in the peach outside sections densely. I think I did pretty good for my first attempt at cobblestones. Callie won't notice any mistakes anyway; this is a cat mat for her.

 

Playin' around in the sewing room is relaxing and fun, and keeps me distracted from doing housework. I use up scraps, learn new techniques, practice skills, and create new ideas for future quilts. It's quite satisfying to work on small pieces that finish in a snap.


Dies used:
Accuquilt
55220 Hattie's Choice 8” block
55439 Wedge 9” finished
55017 2 ½” strip

Blue Wren
6015 1 ½” strip 

Play is the highest form of research.

Albert Einstein