New project: Shadowpoint pattern

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  I am visiting my Mom, and she has beautiful iris in her front flower beds.

My project this week:  I have a set of 50+ 25 patch blocks, made when I was sewing down my pile of 2 inch strips of fabric.

I looked at the Quilted Twins website, and found the pattern for Shadowpoint - a setting for 25 patch blocks - just what I had!

I sewed black strips to two sides of my blocks, following directions:

Then added background fabric:

OK, maybe I see the optical illusion.  Maybe not.  More blocks, set in a straight set:

Imagine a light source coming from the upper right, shining on the 25 patches and casting shadows.  But the Quilted Twins pattern showed a diagonal set:

Now imagine the light source coming from the top, and casting shadows.  This I like, and this is how I will sew these together.  If you like this pattern, be sure to buy enough background fabric!  Follow the instructions.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Viridian's Chain quilt pattern: a tutorial

After asking a quilt list and my followers here about a pattern I came up with, no one seems to recognize it as a published pattern.  What follows is a tutorial for Viridian's Chain, a 10 inch block:

With sashing and cornerstones that connect the chains.  Here is what the quilt top looks like on my 'design floor', 5 by 6 blocks, without borders:

Here we go.

Pick two colors, color A and color B, to be your chain fabrics.  It can be scrappy, but the fabrics should be quite similar.  I used 1800's reproduction fabrics (a favorite) and red and navy blue as my color A and color B.  Different choices will make the chain 'pop' more.

For each block, you need: 2 3.5 inch squares of color A, 2 3.5 inch squares of color B, 2 2.5 inch squares of color A, 2 2.5 inch squares of color B, and 12 2.5 inch squares of coordinating scrap fabrics.

Sew the central 4 patch squares together.  Press to one side to help nest those central seams.  I pressed towards the blue fabrics.

Sew the coordinating scrap fabrics together in groups of three.  Press seams to either side or open, your choice.  Lay out your patches as in the photo below.

Important:  The direction of the chain of color A and color B fabrics is going to be the same in each block.  In my case, navy blue fabrics run from lower left to upper right in EACH block.

Sew a group of three scrap fabrics to the top and bottom of the block.  Sew color A and color B 2.5 inch squares to the ends of the other group of three 2.5 inch squares.

Sew the sides pieces onto the center piece.  Press the seams inward or outward.  I pressed out to the strip of 5 square pieces.

You now have one block.

Setting with sashing and cornerstones:

Cut sashing pieces 2.5 inches wide by 10.5 inches long.  For 5 by 6 blocks, I calculate 71 sashing pieces, and you will need at least a yard of sashing fabric, maybe 1.5 yards.

Cornerstones:  From color A and color B cut 1.5 inch strips of fabric, sew one of color A to one of color B.  Press to one side (in my case to the navy blue).  Cut off pairs at 1.5 inches wide.  Or you could cut individual squares at 1.5 inches square.

You need to have cornerstone blocks that finish at 2 inches square, and by my calculations, for a set of 5 by 6 blocks you will need 42 cornerstone blocks.

Set the sashing strips and the cornerstone blocks in the proper orientation.

Note the orientation of the cornerstone block, how it continues the chain of color A and color B.  I sewed a sashing strip to the right side of each block first. Press towards the sashing fabric. Then I sewed a cornerstone block to a sashing strip, and added it to the top of the block.  Press seams towards the sashing here too.  All cornerstone blocks are in the same orientation (no rotations!).  When you set the blocks together, keep the same orientation - that is, the same color runs from lower left to upper right.

When you set the blocks together in rows and columns all sashing will be in place, except for the bottom and left-hand side of the quilt.  You will have to add these - watching for the orientation of that cornerstone block.

Here are two blocks together:

And four blocks together:

This group of four blocks became the lower left corner of my quilt top. Note how the cornerstone blocks are all in the same orientation. And how the chains of color A and color B are oriented.

The whole quilt top, again:

The size of the top now is 62 inches by 74 inches.  I am adding borders of the red fabric first, 1.5 inches wide, finished.  Then borders of a blue fabric, 3 inches wide, finished.  I wish it could be a little wider but I am limited by what I have in my stash - I didn't want to buy any more fabric.

I will update this blog entry with a photo of the border, once I get there!

Edited Monday evening:  Here is a corner of the finished top. with red and blue borders:

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie, Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Do you know this block pattern?

 I was messing around in my reproduction fabrics and came up with this pattern.  Two featured colors, in this case red and blue, make a chain across the block.

The off-white fabric is the border, with the cornerstones, and is sewn on all four sides.

Have you seen this pattern before?  Surely I haven't designed a new quilt block.  Please let me know the block name and source in the comments, or send to me at viridian61 at yahoo dot com.

The block size is 10 inches squares, finished, and the sashing is 2 inches wide, finished.

And a postscript:  I am making more blocks, to make a twin sized quilt.  I ordered more red fabrics with a white design on it to add to my reds, as I was getting low.  Three fabrics were described as "red" and looked red on my computer monitor.  This is what arrived:

The fabric on the left is just what I wanted.  The other two fabrics?  More of a cranberry color.  Let me emphasize this is NOT the online quilt store's problem.  It is a warning about your computer monitor: colors may vary!

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie, Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

June UFO Finish

 Good day, and welcome to my quilty blog.

I have a UFO finish to report.  About 53 by 67 inches, so a lap quilt size.

Start of the project is described HERE.

I alternated squares of sage green fabric (from backing leftovers) with scraps of all sorts of old stash.  I quilted it myself in straight diagonal lines on my own sewing machine, a trusty old Kenmore.

And a close up picture:

It is bound with a very dark navy blue binding.  There are a few tucks in the quilting, and my stitch length varied in the quilting.  Hopefully only I will notice.  No home for this one yet.

Linking up with Monday Musings, (she noted my Hamilton Gardens project - thank you!) Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss (who featured my Hamilton Gardens project, thank you!), Needle and Thread Thursday (who also featured my Hamilton Gardens progress), Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie, Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Hamilton Gardens: More quilty progress

 Hello and welcome to my quilting blog.

Today I am reporting on progress on my current project, Bonnie Hunter's pattern Hamilton Gardens.  You know it's true what they say, after retirement things fill your days, and you don't have as much time for hobbies as you think you would have.

So I have been blogging on this project for a few weeks.  It's a way for me to keep track of my progress.

Start of the project discussed HERE.

Some progress discussed HERE.

And where we are today:

Blocks are set on point, so you assemble diagonal rows of blocks.  Note white background fabric triangles at top and sides.

A close up:

I have used 30's reproduction fabrics for this quilt project.

And you know what happened?  I counted and recounted my blocks, and still ended up short one!  I am piecing it, then continuing with my assembly.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie, Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

I am Retired! And sewing progress

Hello, and welcome to my blog! 

I am happy to report that I am retired from my full time career job; over 30 years in this position.  No details here, 'cause I like to maintain my privacy.  Sleeping late!  Reading books and magazines! And more sewing and quilting!  That's what I hope to do.

I am also happy to report a little more progress on my Hamilton Gardens project.  This is a Bonnie Hunter pattern.  The start of the project is described HERE.  Many small pieces need to come together and this is what I have now, set on point:

You have to imagine white or light sashing between the blocks, and cornerstones helping to connect the blocks, instead of the brown carpet in my sewing area.

Many more blocks to go, but I have the time now.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Hamilton Gardens: new project start

 Good Day, and welcome to my blog!

I was perusing Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Blog, and noted she had a group of retreaters working on her pattern, Hamilton Gardens.  I was struck by the pattern and purchased it right away.

In my sewing room, I pulled various 1930's - 1940's reproduction patterns in pastels for this, with sashings of white fabric.  But I needed more variety.  On my shelves of my overstuffed sewing nook I spotted two more boxes of these fabrics.  Inside were cut strips of the reproduction fabrics.  I couldn't remember the project I cut them for!  Or maybe they were leftovers?  

In any case, they are now part of this Hamilton Gardens project.

I sewed some blocks together, to see how they look:

I like this!  They are laid out on my sewing room floor, and will have white sashing between them.  They look even better on point, as shown in the front page of the pattern.

Back to my day job today, but I hope to get more done in the evenings this week and next.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Mini 9 patches assembled, partially quilted

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.

I am reporting on some progress in my sewing area last weekend.

In my last blog post, I showed some mini 9 patches I had assembled.  And they are miniature - each little patch finishes at 1/2 inch.

I now have a little top:

I thought about sending this as my contribution to the doll quilt swap I am part of.  But the borders are wavy - I must have stretched them when sewing them on.  I am too lazy to take them off and redo them.  The center lays flat at least.

A close up:

And partially quilted, by machine:

About 17 inches square.  Not instant gratification, but pretty quick gratification!  And easy to manage on a domestic sewing machine.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Over and Down Under in pastels is done

 Hello, and welcome to my blog!  I have a finish to report.

In August 2024 I blogged about my project using the pattern Over and Down Under, and the Georgia fabric line, specifically a jelly roll and a purple background fabric.

The pattern:

The soft pastel fabrics of the Georgia line did not lead to such a woven look.  But I decided this Spring to have the top machine quilted by a local long arm lady that I use - she does great work.  I picked a pink wide backing fabric.

Now to trim and bind.  I sew the double fold binding onto the back of the quilt, fold over to the front, and top stitch down.  I have gotten better at this, but my stitch length varies.  What thread to use to disguise my stitches in the purple fabric?

Purple thread on the left, but probably not enough to go around the perimeter.  King Tut variegated thread in the middle, but will it show up too much?  Medium blue thread on the right.  I ended up using this, and it blends in well!

The overall quilt, 56 by 56 inches:

And a close up of one corner, showing the quilting and the binding and how the blue threads blends in:

And it is done!  No home for this quilt throw yet.

Linking up with Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

New project: Mini 9 patches

 In my last blog post, I wrote of making mini courthouse steps blocks for a doll quilt exchange.  That meant that I had a box of 1 inch strips of fabric out on my work table.

Yes they finish at 0.5 inches wide!  And I had recently read this blog entry from Repro Quilt Lover on making tiny 9 patch blocks.  So I shortened the stitch length on my trusty old Kenmore and started sewing.

Small, cute, adorable.  I limited myself to 25 of them and I am now setting them together on point:

This is as far as I have progressed, as of this morning.  No plans for this project, just fun.

Linking up with Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Doll quilt top

 Good day, and welcome to my somewhat neglected blog.  I have been busy in my day job and haven't had time to do much sewing or quilting.  But i have a little top to share today.

I have signed up for the doll quilt exchange on Lori's Humble Quilts blog (The sign ups are closed now.)  In this you make a doll quilt that looks as though it has time traveled from the past, and send it out.  Another person makes a doll quilt for you.  So reproduction fabrics it is, and I have plenty of those.

I had in mind using leftovers from one of my recent projects, and I searched my disorganized sewing area.  I found only a few squares - much less leftovers than I thought.  But I did find a box of one inch strips left over from a Courthouse Steps quilt I made a long time ago:

Yes, one inch strips, finishing at 0.5 inches.  I also found 2 leftover blocks from that project, and the beginnings of two more blocks.  So I finished the two partial blocks, and now have a little top:

That will finish at about 15.5 inches square.  My hand quilting skills are not what they used to be, so I think machine quilting and machine binding for this little top.  I am ahead of the game - deadline for sending is early May.

Linking up with Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

New start: "Anything goes" log cabin blocks

 Good Day and welcome to my blog.  It is a warmish February day in the American Midwest.

In Fall of 2024 I had a cutting party.  I pulled out my reproduction fabrics, and what I had handy, and cut strips and blocks for several projects.  This past weekend I decided to do something with my 1.5 inch strips, hanging out in two shoeboxes - light and dark strips.

There they are: a variety of dark fabrics, light shirting prints (reproduction fabrics), and the red fabric I am using for the center block.  I have a lot of reproduction fabrics.

This past weekend I started on this project.  The lights are pretty light, and the dark fabrics are "anything goes".  I started a set of 28 blocks, and this is as far as I got:

Several more rounds to go.  Then I'll see how these turn out, then start another set.

Linking up with Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Cups and Saucers quilt - a UFO finish

 Hello, and welcome to a cold bright day in the American Midwest.

Thanks for the kind words in the comments to my last post.  Grandma loved the quilt Sea Breeze.

Now to update you on a finish.  Cups and Saucers was started in 2022.  I finally pulled it out, found a backing, and sent it to the long arm quilter that I use - she does a great job.  74 by 88 inches, cotton batting, a curlicue quilting pattern.  Real feedsacks and vintage fabrics used in the blocks, Kona Snow for the background.

The overall view, above, and two close ups of blocks below, showing the vintage fabrics.

And a look at the quilting in the white areas.

No home for this one, yet.  Maybe I'll keep it!

Linking up with Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Sea breeze: A quilt for Grandma

 Good Day and welcome to my blog.

My mother in law, grandmother to my children, has been feeling poorly lately.  So I decided to make her a quilt (of course, as that is what we quilters do).  She hasn't been able to go to her favorite beach in Florida for a few years.  So when I saw a jelly roll and fabric with watery fabrics, and shell fabrics, I knew that would work for her gift.

I wanted to make log cabin blocks, with more subtle value contrast between the dark and light logs.  And the jelly roll had a good number of medium value strips.

Darks in the middle but more medium fabrics to the top and bottom.  I started the log cabin blocks with a very light center, very light fabrics on one side, and medium fabrics for the 'dark' side.  And the lights moved towards medium values, and the darks moved to darker values.

I arranged the blocks this way at first:

No, I didn't like that.  So try a streak of lightning set:

Yes that is what I did, and the picture above shows the top with borders attached.

Now it is back from the long arm quilter I use.  Trimmed but not bound yet:

The binding will be the same fabric as the outer border.  No, can't see the quilting, which is a pattern of shells and sand dollars.  The fabrics are quite busy.

A peek of the back, shells on a beach wide back fabric from Backside Fabrics:

I hope to bind this tomorrow or the next day, and get this to Grandma soon.

Linking up with Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

I have a page on Facebook: keep up with my infrequent quilt and stamp posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian