My Wedding Quilt

Last night I was going through my closet pulling Christmas presents out that had been hidden there over the past few months.  There was one present I just couldn’t find, so this morning I tore apart my closet trying to find the missing gift.  I still haven’t found it, but I did come across my wedding quilt up on the highest shelf.  I’ve never used it, because I’ve always been worried that somehow it would get ruined.  My grandmother made it out of her scraps and my mom put on the border and hand quilted it.  Every year or so, I pull it out of the closet and ooohh and ahhh over it, then I think of the five sets of grubby little paws in my house and put my quilt back up on the top shelf.  One day I’ll feel comfortable enough to pull it out and display it.

I am using some of the same scraps in my star quilt found here.  My grandmother used these fabrics in projects and for clothing for me, my siblings and cousins when we were kids. 

I should really call it my reminiscing quilt.

Stormy

Decadent Victorian

I’m super busy working on all kinds of projects right now.  But, none of them are finished.  So, I thought I’d feature one of my old quilts today.  It was made from the Moda line “Decadent Victorian” and the pattern is Jellystone Park from Legacy Patterns.

All four of my daughters love purple, but it’s never been a favorite of mine.  I loved the prints on this fabric, but couldn’t bring myself to buy it because of all the purple!  But, in every fabric store I went into, my eye was drawn to it.  So, I decided to buy a jelly roll. 

I’m glad I did.  This was a fun pattern to make.  Surprisingly easy too.

Of course I had to add a striped binding…

Stormy

Finished Shawl

Well, it took a little longer than I expected. (October was busy!)  But, I finally finished my shawl.  It’s so warm and cozy.

I woke up this morning and the house was a little cool, so I wrapped it around my shoulders as I was getting the kids out the door.  I think everyone should have a soft cuddly shawl.

I followed this pattern from redheart.com.  But, I wanted mine longer, so I added 24 more rows. I had to add twelve rows on each end because when I went back to buy another skein of yarn it was slightly darker.  (Yes, that does mean that on one side the twelve rows are upside down.  But, it’s not noticeable unless you look hard and it now has a pretty scallop on both sides.) I love how it turned out though.  It looks like I planned it all along! 

Stats: 2 1/2 skeins of medium weight yarn (7 ounces per skein).  I used the brand “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby.  It’s a favorite of mine because the yarn is super soft.  Color: light gray.

Next, on to the fingerless gloves! 

Stormy

Happy Halloween!

I hope everybody had a fun and happy Halloween!  We sure did.

Stormy

Finishing the Star Sampler Quilt!!

Okay, I’m super excited.  This is the big reveal of my first quilt along.  The Star Sampler Quilt we have been working on for the last twelve weeks.  Are your blocks done?  If not, maybe the finished quilt pictures will inspire  you to get going and finish your last few blocks.

I love all the bright colors in this quilt.  I decided to keep the borders super simple so they wouldn’t distract from the blocks themselves, but it needed a little pop.  Hence, the bright blue polka dot border and striped binding. 

I loved the blue polka dot so much, I even chose it for the backing…

You can finish yours anyway you want, but just in case you wanted a few details on how I finished mine, here they are:

The sashing strips, inner cream border, and dotted border are all 2 1/2 inches.

The outer border is 4 1/2 inches.

The finished quilt size is 56 x 70.

If you want more specific instructions, please let me know.  And, send my your pictures!  I would love to see other versions of the Star Sampler Quilt.  Thanks so much for doing this with me!

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 12

It’s the last block!  I’m super excited to show you this one.  As I was searching through my archives of star blocks, I just couldn’t find what I wanted.  So, I decided to design my own.  I know that somewhere out there, somebody has probably made this block (it’s not that complicated), but I sure couldn’t find it.  So, I’m introducing it as Stormy’s Star!  Let me know if you know it by another name.

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (8) 2 7/8 in squares and (4) 2 1/2 in squares and (2) 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 in rectangles and (2) 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 in rectangles.

Fabric 2 – Yellow Floral – (8) 2 7/8 in squares

Fabric 3 – 11 – Center – (1) 2 1/2 in square of each fabric

STEP 1

Draw a diagonal line along the back of all the Fabric 2 – 2 7/8 in square blocks.

STEP 2

Stack the Fabric 2 squares RST with the background 2 7/8 in squares.  Sew 1/4 in seam along both sides of the drawn line.

STEP 3

Cut the squares along the drawn line.

STEP 4

Press open and trim squares to 2 1/2 inches.

STEP 5

Lay out quilt block as shown.

STEP 6

Sew together top and bottom row, then sew the side blocks together.  Sew the center 9 patch together and add the side 1 1/2 x 6 1/2 strips.  Then sew on the top and bottom 1 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch strip.

STEP 7

Sew the side half square triangle strips on.  Press, then sew the top and bottom strips on.  Your finished!  Yeah!  All the blocks are done.  Now for the finishing…..

Stormy

Star Sampler Quilt Along–Block 11

I know, I’m a few days late posting block 11.  We had family in town for four days and I think I have spent about five minutes in front of my computer.  So, here it is Squares and Stars (just a little late).

CUTTING AND FABRIC

Fabric 1 – Background – (4) 2 1/2 in. squares and (8) 2 7/8 in. squares

Fabric 2 – Floral on white – (1) 4 1/2 in. square and (4) 2 7/8 in. squares

Fabric 3 – Small Floral – (4) 2 1/2 in. squares and (4) 3 in. squares

Fabric 4 – Blue Dot – (8) 2 7/8 in squares

STEP 1

Draw a line on all the background squares and Fabric 2 (not shown)  2 7/8 in squares.

STEP 2

Now we are going to stack all of our 2 7/8 in. squares together to form all of the Half Square Triangles.  I hope I can make some sense of this….  Stack:

Four – Background and Fabric 3

Four – Background and Fabric 4

Four – Fabric 2 and Fabric 4

Then sew a 1/4 in seam along each side of your drawn lines.  Cut each square along the drawn line to form two half square triangles.  Are you still with me?

STEP 3

Now, you get to press and trim all the half square triangles you just made to 2 1/2 inches.

STEP 4

Lay out all your pieces to form your block.

STEP 5

Instead of sewing this block row by row (which I think would be much harder to match the corners).  I made four patches from the smaller 2 1/2 inch blocks, then sewed the four patches together by rows.

One more block to go!!

Stormy