“Lieutenant” Re-published

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Have you seen the Spring 2020 special edition of Fons and Porter’s Easy Quilts? It contains eleven favorite quilting projects. The editors selected reader favorites from the past couple of years. I was happy to see that “Lieutenant” was included in the issue!

“Lieutenant” is the perfect sofa quilt for patriotic decorating, Memorial Day and Independence Day alike. It is also a great size for a Quilt of Valor. The patchwork blocks are easy to construct, and the machine appliqued gold stars add sparkle.

Take a look at the table of contents page to see the other favorites included in this magazine. I’m in love with “Village Villas,” the little houses alternated with yellow Nine Patches. If I make this quilt, it would be a tangible reminder of sheltering at home during COVID-19.

I have an extra magazine to give away to a blog reader. If you would like the chance to win, leave a comment below stating which technique, listed in the table of contents, is of particular interest to you. The drawing will be May 31, 2020.

Keith’s Graduation Quilt

About five years ago my grandson began working on a Crosses and X’es quilt. But then, he grew more interested in fishing, football, and girlfriends, in that order. So the ten completed blocks and the rest of the earth tone batiks have languished in a project box in my sewing room for some time. Keith graduates from high school this week, so it was high time to finish his quilt.

Back Story:  I was inspired by a similar quilt hanging in a vendor’s booth at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival. I was attracted by the masculine color palette and thought the slash and insert “improv” technique would appeal to my grandson. At the same quilt show, I purchased a fat quarter bundle, some coordinating yardage, and extra wide backing. We did enjoy working on the blocks together; Keith was very careful with the rotary cutter and sewed with a consistent seam allowance.

Each fat quarter yielded four 8″ squares and several 1 1/2″ wide strips. Keith slashed a block and inserted a 1 1/2″ wide strip of another color. After sewing and pressing, he slashed the block again and inserted another 1 1/2″ wide strip. Half the blocks are “wonky” Crosses, and half are “wonky” X’es. Once all forty-eight blocks were sewn, I trimmed them all to the same size and arranged them in a 6 x 8 grid, alternating Crosses and X’es. Fortunately, the extra-wide backing generously yielded border strips and binding as well.

For quilting, I chose a variegated Fantastico thread and the Bauhaus pantograph designed by Patricia E. Ritter and distributed by Urban Elementz. This modern, boxy design complements the minimalist vibe of the quilt.

Congratulations, Keith! I hope your graduation quilt communicates my love and the memories of good times we shared as we worked together on it.

 

Valentine Exchange Blocks

I am currently visiting my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, helping with housekeeping during their medical situations. Anticipating downtime from their personal care, I brought along several quilting projects.

Valentine Exchange Blocks

The Sew ‘n’ Sews, a church craft group, will exchange 6” Valentine themed blocks at their upcoming fall retreat. I enjoy making exchange blocks well in advance, not waiting until the last minute. Before leaving home, I cut white background squares and heart templates from freezer paper. Pins, a needle, thimble, and red and white thread completed my project kit. Happily, I found I could chat with my MIL and SIL as I hand appliquéd the hearts. When I give the heart blocks to my friends, I will include a red ribbon bow that can be added to the print heart after the quilt is assembled and quilted.

Are you currently stitching quilt blocks to exchange?

“Unity” QAL Progress

For the past five weeks you have seen me building this quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter (quiltville.blogspot.com). The clue for this past week involved making red and white half square triangles. Since I am running low on bright red scraps, and since I have intended all along to add Shoo Fly blocks to my quilt, I decided that this was the week to do it.

I made the colorful Shoo Fly blocks as leaders and enders, participating in another of Bonnie’s scrappy challenges. Hubby and I both love how this quilt is turning out. It is nearly queen size at this point, so a few more borders should do the trick. Perhaps I will add another aqua border followed by the red and white half square triangles, but I will wait until Monday to see what Bonnie’s original design entails.

Sports Baby Quilt Finished

What to do with the 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ rectangles I’ve been hoarding . . . choose the bright or juvenile prints and tone-on-tones and make a baby quilt!

Last year I won sport related fat quarters at my guild meeting. Two were of the same football print, so I pieced them together for the border. There are 16 blocks which use 4 “bricks” each, and I used 1/2 yard of tan “grunge” as light background. I pieced the blocks together as leaders and enders between making face masks. Each block uses 4 colorful rectangles and 2 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ strips of “grunge” sewn to both sides of the pieced bricks.

Finding appropriate backing fabric in my stash was a challenge. Nothing seemed the right size or color. After rummaging extensively, I came up with pieces of a green print leftover from backing another quilt; it is similar in hue to the green football print. I pieced more bricks together to expand the quilt’s width and added some scrap red strips to lengthen it.

For quilting, I chose the “Sports” pantograph designed by Dave Hudson (patternman.com). It features basketballs, baseballs, and footballs. Yellow binding makes a cheerful finish. Won’t some little guy love this quilt?

McCall’s QQ Magazine Winners

We have two lucky winners for the best of McCall’s Quick Quilts:  Luann and Lola. Congratulations, ladies! I know you will find a quilt that you “must” make in this magazine.

If you didn’t win this time and would like a magazine, click here to link to the Quilting Daily store. A digital copy is only $5.99.

 

“Unity” QAL Progress

Are you quilting along with Bonnie Hunter (quiltville.blogspot.com)? She has designed a twin size medallion for our quilt-making enjoyment while we shelter at home. Although Bonnie’s quilt features red, blue, aqua, and white, I’ve added more colors for variety’s sake.

I have kept up with the clues 1-5, and the 6th is revealed tomorrow. What a cheerful and fun quilt to work on, week by week! If you would like to make a “Unity” quilt, link to Bonnie’s blog and click on the “Unity” tab beneath her header picture.