Distraction

Distraction, January 2026

It's no secret that purple is my favorite color, even though there aren't too many hues that I don't like. I'm definitely a color lovin' woman. For this simple design, I wanted to use some large and medium florals that have been in my stash for a while.

I added pink, purple, and green scraps in coordinating colors along with a white-on-white print and black & white mini gingham. These half and quarter square triangles are easy to stitch, especially on Annie, my Singer 221 Featherweight.

A sweet paisley print in purple, green & cream was perfect for backing and binding this 50” square quilt called Distraction. I quilted on the Janome with pale gray thread, using a utility zig-zag stitch in diagonal rows, plus straight stitching along horizontal and vertical seams.

I'm off to do some more rain dancing, since we are so very dry. April showers are needed for May flowers, and we have only had 0.65” so far this whole month. Not your usual rainy April in Tennessee, despite several storms passing us by.

Accuquilt dies used:

55001 HST 6½”

55002 QST 6½”

55017 Strips 2½”

Forest Path

Things are beginning to green up around here, as my mama used to say. Springtime brings nature's mix of colors and hues to inspire me. I used a variety of those dark and medium green shades in this modern style hexagon quilt.

It went together easily using half-hexagon and equilateral triangle dies. I laid the sections out on my design wall before sewing them together in rows.

Quilting was done with a straight stitch 1” away from each seam, using variegated green thread and a walking foot. The even stitching really emphasizes the hexagon and triangle shapes.  

Forest Path finished out at 52” x 56” throw size, and is folded nicely on my hallway quilt rack. This one is definitely a keeper!

Accuquilt dies used:

55437 Half-hexagon 4¼” finished
55429 Equilateral Triangle 4¼” finished
55017 Strips 2½” binding

New Beginnings

This was the first quilt designed and completed in my new sewing space during October 2025. It was wonderful to get back to sewing, especially in my freshly organized room.

A variety of navy, blue, rust and orange prints were pulled from current inventory and scrap boxes to make triangles in a square. Medium blue blender fabric was used for sashing; a vintage blue checked sheet provided plenty of yardage for borders and the backing.

Quilting was done in serpentine stitch rectangles with blue thread. Appropriately named New Beginnings, this one's 55” square, stitched completely on my Janome Horizon MC 9450.

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55820 and 55821 Triangle in Square 5” finished
55017 Strips 2½” sashing
55032 Strips 3½” borders

Mixed Nuts

I went on a cutting spree several weeks ago with my hexagon die set and a big pile of scraps. This colorful quilt is the final result.

The brighter the better, I say. I used a cream and beige swirl print for the hexagons and equilateral triangles making up the background. No real planning for color placement, other than trying not to get the same prints too close together as I slapped them up on the wall.

Quilting was done with medium beige thread in a straight stitch, criss-crossing the quilt along the design lines using a ruler to keep everything neat. Mixed Nuts finished out at 49” x 53” in size, good for snuggling.

Sewing is my stress relieving relaxation activity. We're still doing home improvements and I miss not being at the sewing machine every day. Although I've found that other power tools can be just as satisfying to use when all goes right. Drills, staple guns, hammers, mini chain saws, jig saws, and sanders have been in action here.

My man and I make a great team. No matter what project we're working on, there's a nice sense of accomplishment when we get things done.

Blue Wren dies used:

6808 Hexagon Set 3” sides

6566 Equilateral Triangles 6” sides

Wave The Flag

Wave The Flag

I started this quilt in April during our spring camping trip, then set it aside. Fast forward to September, when we headed to Dale Hollow again. I took along more scrappy red, white, and blue half-square triangles and finished the blocks.

Ocean Wave is a vintage design that was published in several women's magazines around the 1930's. I've seen this classic quilt many times and always wanted to sew one. It's a bonus that I pieced it on Annie, my Singer Featherweight. 

Once home, I added the light blue corners and completed the quilt. Wave The Flag is 48” square, quilted with light blue thread in a simple 2” grid pattern. I finished it off in a red and white striped binding.

Accuquilt dies used:
55039 Half Square Triangles 2½” multiple
55031 Half Square Triangles 4½”
55017 Strips 2½”

 

Waste Not, Want Not

Waste Not, Want Not

Here's the third quilt I worked on during our two weeks at the campground. I brought along a storage bin full of 2½” half-square triangles cut from scraps left over from other quilts. I've been collecting these for quite a while; the top wouldn't close on the box.

They were sorted by color, so finding coordinating fabrics was easy. I chain pieced the triangles, then pressed before sewing into four patch blocks. My Singer Featherweight, Annie, breezed right through this project.

After we got home, I arranged them on my design wall to balance out the colors before sewing them into rows. To fill in the sides, I used 4” triangles from another of my remnant boxes. Neutral striped borders made a nice frame.

I quilted with white thread and a walking foot, using a zig-zag utility stitch. Waste Not, Want Not is the perfect name for this bonus quilt. It finished at 52” square.

I didn't even use half of that storage bin, can you believe it? There's probably enough left in that one for two more quilts. I just can't keep myself from saving little bits of material, especially my favorite fabrics.

I try to schedule a day every few months to cut scraps into most used shapes and sizes: triangles, squares, strips, and rectangles. It pays off because I sort them by size and color, which saves time and reduces storage space. I always have something ready to sew for borders, blocks, or whole quilts.

Accuquilt dies used:
55018 Value Die Half Square Triangle 2½”
55031 Half Square Triangle 4½”
55032 Strips 3½”
55017 Strips 2½” 

Fabulous Triangle Stars

This quilt design! I just had to make this as soon as I saw it.

The original quilt pattern was created by Barbara H. Cline, who featured it in her book, Amazingly Simple Triangle Stars. Blue Wren Notions got her approval to make a die to cut the shapes. Information and links below.

I used a bold herringbone print in aqua/navy, with a tiny aqua/white floral plus crisp white. I pieced it on my little Featherweight, Annie. Exact die cuts made sewing easy and everything fit together perfectly.

I quilted on my Janome 9450 with aqua thread in diagonal rows of 4, using a straight stitch. Fabulous Stars is 49½” x 57” in size.

Barbara's book has many different versions with beautiful secondary designs. I started out simply, but I will definitely be sewing this again soon in other colorways. I love it when designers and manufacturers work together to share ideas and create partnerships.


Blue Wren dies used:
6909 Triangle Stars 7” finished triangle block
www.a1craftandquilting.com.au

Barbara H. Cline design
www.delightfulpiecing.com

 

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

Blockbuster

Blockbuster

Another scrap quilt this week! I had fun choosing bright colored prints to combine with light gray pin dots for this standard vintage block. I didn't have to cut much after searching through my boxes of 2½” and 4½” triangles.

The 8” blocks sewed up quickly, then I framed with 4" borders. I quilted with white thread in a straight stitch, following the block seams. For the borders, I switched to a zig-zag utility stitch and quilted two parallel lines. Blockbuster finished out at 48” square.

After this was finished, I straightened up the sewing room, then had a marathon cutting session because there are plenty more remnants to dispatch. I like having my most used sizes cut and ready to go. It helps me finish projects faster! Look for more scrappy fun in later blog posts.

It's Halloween week, so we'll be watching our favorite scary movies with popcorn and trail mix for snacks. And there could be an adult beverage or two. Trick or treat, y'all 

Accuquilt dies used:
55763 Trapezoid 4” finished
55031 Half Square Triangle 4” finished
55018 Half Square Triangle 2” finished
55054 Strips 4” finished


 

Whatnots

Whatnots

I love this colorful scrap quilt!

Hexagon, triangle and diamond shapes were easy to cut using Blue Wren's 3” Hexagon set. My remnant bins are a little lighter now but I'm reasonably sure that I will never run out of scraps.

I didn't use a pattern: I laid out pieces on my design wall and started sewing them into sections, then into rows. Finally I joined the rows and trimmed the sides. I added borders in the same white on white as the hexagons. Lots of pieces, but accurate seams on my Singer Featherweight made matching them a breeze.

I used white thread to quilt an allover diamond pattern in a straight stitch. Whatnots is 48” square.

Bonus quilts made from leftover bits are so delightfully satisfying to finish.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6808 Hexagon Set 3” sides
Accuquilt
55017 Strip 2½” binding
55032 Strip 3½” borders

Spanish Tiles

Spanish Tiles, Useful Remnants 2023

What can I say about this lovely quilt?

First, my color choices fit right in for this tile-like design. Muted reds with cream and a touch of caramel blend together nicely. I laid it out in EQ8, trying different placement and making sure I had enough fabric.

Second, while the 9” Cross Roads die is beautiful, these pieces are SMALL. Those tiny triangles are 1½” cut, 1” finished. I would NEVER cut so many by hand or rotary cutter. It took long enough with the die, plus I kept losing count or dropping them. I applaud all the women over the years who cut with scissors and stitched these blocks completely by hand.

Lastly, after I got into a rhythm, piecing was fairly easy. I was happy to see that 25th block done and get to quilting. I used cream thread and the Which Way ruler to do an allover pattern across the quilt. After borders and binding, Spanish Tiles finished out at 52” square.

I am pleased with the results, but probably won't make a queen sized version. I do have a few other ideas for more designs using this die.

An interesting side note: These fabrics are not a coordinated collection, but actually from different decades. The light red chambray was a vintage 36” wide piece found at an estate sale. I used it all except for a 4” x 10” scrap. The cream swirl is new, a 108” wide bolt of backing recently purchased from Marshall Dry Goods. The other two prints (1990 and 2019) were chosen from my stash.


Accuquilt dies used:
55533 Cross Roads 9” BOB
55032 Strip 3½”
55017 Strip 2½” 

Life Is A Highway

Life Is A Highway

Yep, I've been cutting up remnants again!

I already had a bin of random 3½” half square triangles, so I decided to cut signature shapes to coordinate for a colorful and busy lap quilt. 

I played with several layouts and ended up with the blocks on point in double rows, adding white on cream print squares in between. I finished with setting triangles around the sides and corners.

Life Is A Highway measures 53” x 58” in size. For quilting, I used medium cream thread to free motion ribbon candy patterns across each block. It's really relaxing and fun to get in the rhythm of stitching.

Apparently I love color, because there aren't many shades missing from my stash. These scrappy designs allow me to use odd bits and even ugly fabric that wouldn't work as a primary choice.

Every quilt I finish gives me scraps to make others, even though I toss anything that's less than two inches. Another bonus quilt complete, with more to come. 

Accuquilt dies used:
55356 Signature 4½” finished
55010 Square 5"
55019 Half Square Triangle 3½”
55805 Half Square Triangle 5” finished
55017 Strip 2½”

Thankful 

for the time 

I spend quilting! 

Kokopelli

Tribal and southwest fabrics combined with neutral prints make a striking modern quilt. 

Large 9” triangles were created in black, brown, gray, tan, and cream colors using half hexagons and equilateral triangles.

I added a narrow black border, then framed with 4” strips. Quilting in dark gray thread in a straight stitch, I made two rows along each seam of the triangle side edges. I changed to a scallop stitch along the outer borders.

Backing and binding are a dark gray and cream swirl print. Kokopelli is 62” square. It's been on my list for a while, and was so fun to create.

Accuquilt dies:
55429 Equilateral Triangle 4¼”
55437 Half Hexagon 4½”
55054 Strips 4½”
55017 Strips 2½”

Blue Wren 6015 Strips 1½” 

Corner Bar

Modern and colorful, today's quilt features bright scraps paired with crisp white muslin. This classic nine-patch was fun and easy to make.

I used the square and stem sections of the Maple Leaf die to construct 8” blocks. They are arranged on point with 1” sashing between, and setting triangles for sides and corners. I used EQ8 to preview color placement, then laid out the blocks on my design wall as I sewed them.

Corner Bar is 54” square. I quilted with white polyester embroidery thread to add some shine to the stitching. I used a walking foot to create random square and rectangular patterns across the whole quilt. Gray and white stripes for the binding finish it off nicely.

I'll make this one again, perhaps in pastels or a monochrome scheme. Oh, the possibilities!

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55195 Maple Leaf BOB 8” finished
55553 Setting Triangles 10”
55017 Strip 2½”
Blue Wren
6015 1½” strips (sashing)

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”

Transitions

This week's quilt is simple, although it looks complicated. I started with a postage stamp print purchased last year in Pensacola. I cut half square triangles in two sizes using navy and sea green fabrics that match the print.

I added cream muslin 3” squares, then sashing of slim strips with orange squares between each 6” square. A navy border frames it up nicely. Transitions is 48” x 56” in size.

The blocks were quick easy to cut and sew. I laid it out in EQ8 before finalizing the quilt fabrics. I used the same cream muslin for backing, and channel quilted with cream thread in a straight stitch one inch apart.

I saw a photo of this design in different colors online, but I don't know the original pattern name. Transitions seemed like the right description of this quilt with interesting lines and borders.

I love the whole creative process: being inspired, choosing colors, adding my personal touches, cutting, stitching, and quilting.

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55006 square 3½”
55009 HST 3½”
55001 HST 6½”
55032 3½” strip
55017 2½” strip

Blue Wren
6015 1½” strip
(sashing and squares)

Interesting things happen
along borders - transitions -
not in the middle
where everything is the same.
Neal Stephenson
 

A Little Tipsy

A Little Tipsy

How about a glass of sangria? Drunkard's Path block made this table mat just the right accessory for serving up a pitcher on Cinco de Mayo. I found two remnants of purple and stone batik fabric in my stash.

This 19” square mat whipped up so quickly using Accuquilt dies to cut the pieces and binding. I added 2½” triangles in the corners for a different look. Precise straight stitch quilting with light stone colored thread outlines each piece. (I didn't drink the sangria until after I finished.)

I used my brand new Janome HP2 Acufeed foot on this project.  Perfect quarter inch seams and no stretching on curves or bias edges.  Love it!

Here's a hint about my next quilt: hundreds and hundreds of 2½” half square triangles. This should keep me busy for sure. Check back next week for an update.

Points Of Blue

Blue is one of my favorite colors. This busy little 44” square quilt was cut with the Accuquilt half rectangle triangle die. Blue prints were combined in pairs with black, white and cream.

I added a 2” border of solid black to frame my work, and used blue paisley print backing. Quilting was sewn in a serpentine stitch 3” apart horizontally and vertically with gray and white variegated thread.

Points Of Blue

I had originally thought to keep all the blocks pointed in the same direction. While those neat rows looked nice, rotating the squares created a jumbled effect that I like better. You just never know how a design will play out.

Don't be fooled today!  

Equilateral

Colorful and modern describes today's quilt. Splashy prints of pink, aqua, and orange are accented with touches of lime and yellow. Constructed entirely of equilateral triangles, their arrangement creates larger triangular shapes in alternating directions. It's busy, bright and fun to sew.

Perfect points were possible thanks to precision cuts with the Accuquilt die. I cut extra triangles and stitched a row of them to set between two pieces of paisley fabric for an interesting backing. Coordinating striped binding adds flair. I quilted double rows on the horizontal seams in bright pink thread. Equilateral's final 44” x 46” size is good for display or snuggling.

As I worked on balancing the color layout on my design wall, several alternate ideas and combinations came to mind, so you may see more triangles in the future.

Useful Notion:  Scrap pieces from this project came in handy last week.  This little quilted zipper bag didn't take long to sew and made a cute birthday gift for J's sister.  

Another Angle

Another Angle

Here's a quilt of many colors that I worked on back in February.  

Using lots of scraps, I cut triangles and set them in rows alternated with a medium turquoise small print. 

Experimenting with placement on my design wall was fun but it took a while to decide on the final layout. Diagonal quilting in a dark turquoise thread accentuates the triangle pattern. The final 40” x 49” size is good for a wall hanging or picnic blanket.

It's a good thing I have been using up scraps, because I got fabric gift certificates, coupons and discounts for my birthday. Let the shopping and ordering begin!

In life, we all come with baggage.

Mine's just full of fabric!