Columns quilt is now a top

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  It's been cold in the American Midwest, and our snow has not melted!  I should have spent more time in my sewing nook but the past week just sped away.

I did get my Columns quilt in feedsack fabrics finished into a flimsy or top though.

Last week I described my progress.

Now I have added the setting triangles and sewn the rows together.  This pattern looks so much better with the blocks set on point.

And a close up of a corner:

The top is 56 inches by about 85 inches in size.  Kona navy blue is the fabric in the dark squares, and Kona Snow is the fabric in the white squares and setting triangles.  Plans are to have a white backing, and my local long arm quilter do some sort of swirling quilting pattern.  Not yet though.  I enjoyed making this top.

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, Frederique at Quilting, Patchwork, Applique, 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

A columns quilt project in feedsack fabrics

 Good day and welcome to my blog.

We are shoveled out in the great American Midwest (20+ inches of snow) but not going anywhere.  I am baking bread and updating my blog.

I have been working on a columns quilt pattern.  One starts with a simple block with a diagonal pattern:

The 'black' squares are actually a deep navy blue, but they look black against the Kona Snow white squares.  I cut 3 inch squares of feedsacks and vintage fabrics for this.  They finish at 2.5 inches.  Note the printed patterns on the vintage fabrics are larger and different from the 1930's reproduction fabrics that are available now.

Set out the blocks, finishing at 10 inches, and rotate some to get the overall pattern:

Keep going.  I laid the initial blocks on point out on my floor (I don't have a design wall).

No, not enough blocks.  Sew some more blocks.

That's better.  The sides and top and bottom will be filled in with Kona snow setting squares.  I had hoped to get that done yesterday but ran out of time.

Leave piles of feedsacks collected over time on the worktable.  I'll put them away later.

As mentioned, I have made this pattern before.  The start of the old project is described in this Blog Post, and the finish in this Blog Post.

Using repro fabrics and a finished square size of 1.5 inches, the previous quilt looks like this:

Today: cut those setting squares and start assembling.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss (she featured my last blog post, thank you!), Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie, Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, From Bolt to Beauty, Frederique at Quilting, Patchwork, Applique, 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

Cups and Saucers project advances to a top

Good day, and welcome to my blog.  It's a warm morning in the American Midwest.

I am reporting today on progress on my Cups and Saucers project.   The pattern is found HERE on Patchworksquare.  Great instructions, usually instructions for several sizes given.

The overall top (minus borders) looks like this:

And some closer views of the blocks, in feedsack fabrics and vintage fabrics:

Each block here finishes at 12 inches square.  A constant background fabric of Kona Snow was used.  Do I need a border?  I will think about that.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie, Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, 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

Starlight geese now a top

 Good Day, and welcome to my blog on quilts and quilty happenings.

I have a project that I have moved forward from blocks to a top minus a border.  I described the beginning of this Starry Geese project in This Post from June 2022,  using This Pattern from Patchwork Pieces.

I used these instructions for no-waste flying geese, making 4 at a time:

https://www.patchpieces.com/files/flyinggeese.pdf

Here are the blocks, sashed and laid out on the floor.

In the midst of assembly.  I am using Kona snow as a constant background, and the "geese" are vintage fabrics and feedsack fabrics.

A close up, with a feedsack laid out as a possible border fabric:

Except this feedsack has a big rip in it, as many do.  I'll find something suitable in my collection.  This top is folded up for now, awaiting further inspiration.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Nina-Marie, Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, 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

A finish: Criss Cross Stars

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  I had a finish a few weeks ago, but no time to write about it.  It's Wednesday, and time to share.

This is a pattern I am calling Criss Cross Stars, though there may be another name for it (Air Castles?).  The 9 inch blocks are made of real feedsack material and vintage cottons from the 1930's and 1940's.  The off white fabric is new.

Wide sashing, no border.  A throw sized quilt, though it is on my bed now.  I had it quilted by a local long arm quilter who always does a wonderful job.  The next photo is a close up showing the vintage fabric but also the quilting:

A thin cotton batting was used.  I am glad to have this bound and labeled.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, 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

A finish: Flower Garden quilt

 Hello, and welcome to my blog!  It's been raining in the American Midwest but today we will be slowly drying out.

I have a finish to report.  I started this project in August of 2022 and blogged about it in this post.

Well its time has come.  It was sent out to a local long armer and came back recently.

This pattern is called Flower Garden from the book Scrap Therapy: Scraps Plus One, by Joan Ford, which I found in my local library.  The colorful scraps here are all feedsack fabrics, or vintage fabrics from the 1930's and 40's.  If they have been stored properly, older fabrics are still sturdy and can be used in today's projects.  I have picked up these fabrics at antique fairs or ebay.

A closer look:

I machine stitched the binding to the back, folded it over, and top stitched the binding down, which needs a steady hand and your full attention, as noted previously.

A close up of some pretty feedsacks.  It finished at 58 by 72.5 inches, and is now on my bed.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery, Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, 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

Tops to the long arm quilter

 As mentioned in my previous post, I have been working flat out in my day job.  But I have gotten a little stolen time in my quilting nook in the basement.

My cookie tin has more blocks in it.

These are block parts for two different projects.

And, I assembled a top and put borders on it.

All 30's reproduction fabric.  A close up:

Pretty electric I would say!  Next, a top of Criss cross stars (what is the correct name for this block?) done in real vintage fabric and feedsacks:

And a close up:

Both quilt tops (and backing) have been dropped off at the long arm quilter.  I use Boone's Quilting - you can find her on Facebook.  She does a great job.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, 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

Back with a finish: Feedsack trees

 Good Day and welcome to my blog!

I have been working flat out at my day job, no real time to sew until recently.  Oh, I sewed a few cut pieces together as stress relief, but no time to finish anything major.  And there wasn't much to do, so no excuses!

I had a quilt back from the local long-armer who did a lovely pattern of hearts and leaves, using thin cotton batting.  All I had to do was trim it square, prepare binding, and attach said binding.  This I did last weekend.

It is a pattern adapted from Winter Solstice - the tree part of that pattern.  I did the trees in various real feedsack fabrics, acquired from ebay or antique fairs.  It ended up an odd size, about 61 ? (I think) by 75 inches or so.

Laid out on the brown carpeted floor - sorry about the keystoning.  And a closer look:

I attached the binding to the back by machine, folded it over to the front, and top stitched it down.  It's faster this way.

I am happy with how this turned out, and how the feedsack fabrics are featured.

Other sewing?  Some flying geese blocks, assembled into Dutchman's Puzzle blocks:

These are done in reproduction 1930's and 1940's fabrics.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, 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

Columns quilt finish and some new blocks

 Hello and welcome to a very warm day in the American Midwest.  I have a finish to report.  According to past blog entries, I finished this top in 2016, and it languished for a while.  I had thought to hand quilt cables in the white parts of the top, but this year I knew this just wasn't going to happen.  So off to the long arm quilter (Boone's Quilting).

I am calling it my Columns quilt, and it is based on a vintage quilt I saw on ebay and could not afford.  I studied the ebay pictures and came up with a pattern for myself.  I used actual feedsacks and vintage fabrics that I have collected for a real vintage look.  A closer look:

Fabric squares were cut at 2 inches, to finish at 1.5 inches - postage stamp size.  

A close up of some of the fabric used.  The quilt came out square (76 inches) and I wish now I had added a white border at the top and bottom of the quilt, but it's too late now!

I have also been piecing madly in my sewing space.  I have been using my feedsack fabrics to make the flower garden pattern from the book Scrap Therapy: Scraps Plus One by Joan Ford.  I found this book in my local library.  You make two different blocks:

And set them alternately to make the whole pattern.  Here are nine blocks:

Feedsack fabric is more loosely woven than quilting or garment cotton and stretches easily.  You may need to trim:

Final project size will by 4 blocks by 5 blocks.  The blocks finished at 15 inches square, so this will be a reasonable quilt size.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday wait loss, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian

Feedsack Trees project: now a top

Good day, and welcome to my blog.  I have a top to report on, but first:

Did I really use 6 yards of Kona Snow solid fabric in July?  I think I did.  I ordered this fabric from Fabric Shack (better prices than a certain chain store) and it arrived in early July.  I've been busy with other things for two weeks, and I looked in my sewing area for what's left, and found 45"  of the yardage left.  I have been cutting lots of sashing for my Starlight Geese project, and more pieces for my Feedsack Trees project.  I guess that's where it went.

Anyhow.  The beginnings of my Trees project is described in this post.  I have been using authentic feedsacks I have collected over time.  I had a number of blocks, and set them with 1 inch (finished) sashing.  Here is what the top looks like now:

A lovely grove of trees. It will be  throw size.  Recall that I am using part of a published pattern, Winter Solstice, for this.  One inch white borders and I think I will stop here.  I had to carefully cut into my 45 inches of fabric left for the outside borders.   A close up view:

Oh yes, I played thread chicken with the top thread on my machine, in sewing this together:

Only about one foot left at the end of a seam.  What's that in the background you ask?  My husband's model train set up (HO scale) and landscaping styrofoam.  He has a long way to go on getting this landscaped.  We share the hobby room.

I will audition feedsacks and vintage fabric for a border for this project, but honestly I think I will stay with the current form, and send this off to the long-armer I use.  She is Boone's Quilting and you can find her business page on Facebook, if you search her name.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday wait loss, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian

Cups and Saucers is moving along

 Hello and welcome to my blog, where I keep track of quilt project progress and finished projects.

I have been immersed this week in a new project - the Cups and Saucers pattern, done up in vintage fabric and feedsacks, and Kona Snow fabric for the background.  I now have about 15 blocks done.  Here they are laid out on the floor of my sewing room:

I know I want to put sashing between the blocks.  I am still undecided on whether it will be 1 inch or 2 inches wide, finished.

The blocks finish at 12 inches square.  I am aiming for a 5 by 6 block setting so I am about halfway done.

A close up of two blocks:

I am using this pattern:

https://www.patchworksquare.com/mf/cups-and-saucers-quilt-block.pdf

And this link for the flying geese units: 

https://www.patchpieces.com/files/flyinggeese.pdf

Remember a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance, or the geese blocks will be a touch too small. 

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian

New Start: Cups and Saucers pattern

 Good day, and thanks for visiting my blog!

Don't we all like a new start, now and again?

I pulled out my vintage fabric and feedsacks and had a cutting part last week and during this week. I have purchased items off ebay when I can get them at a good price, or at antique fairs, or antique malls, even at thrift stores.  I cut squares of feedsacks and backing fabric (Kona Snow) for no waste flying geese:

https://www.patchpieces.com/files/flyinggeese.pdf

Remember a scant 1/4 inch seam allowance, or the geese blocks will be a touch too small.  

And put together 12 inch blocks using this pattern:

https://www.patchworksquare.com/mf/cups-and-saucers-quilt-block.pdf

It's fun to see the blocks come together. 

These are the first two blocks to be made.  Since I had all my vintage feedsacks out, I also cut squares for two other projects.  I'll get to them later this spring or summer.  I am having fun with these blocks.  I now have 6 blocks made.  More on these next week!

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian

Air Castles is now a top

 Good day and welcome to my blog.  

When I last posted, I was playing around with some Air Castle blocks.  This was part of a challenge from a mailing list I am on.  I decided I really liked the feedsack fabrics with off-white, and continued making blocks.  Until I ran very low on different feedsack fabrics.  I have stopped at the size of  4 blocks by 5 blocks.  Each block finishes at 9 inches square, and the sashing and border is 3 inches wide, so a size of about 51 by 63 inches:

1930's and 1940's fabrics look better I think with a bit of off white fabric around them.  A close-up:

These vintage fabrics and feedsacks were acquired from antique fairs, antique malls, and ebay.  The final quilt will be a lap quilt or throw.  Still thinking about whether I will quilt this myself on my trusty Kenmore or send out to a long arm quilter.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday,  Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian

Playing with Air Castle blocks

 I am part of a mailing list of quilters, and recently, a challenge was issued by a member: work with one pieced block, and play with it, try variations, different fabrics, etc.

She used the Air Castle block and I decided to follow - I had never worked with this block before.  The pattern source is:

https://www.patchworksquare.com/index.php?function=DisplaySheet&sheet=air-castle-quilt-block&id=&links=1&link1=

I made my blocks 9 inches square (when finished).  My first two:  playing with fabric types: real feedsack fabric (top) and late 1800's reproduction fabric (bottom).

Note I also simplified the corner treatment in the top block.  I kept trying different fabrics:

No, I don't like that yellow for the star points.  I like a stronger, darker color in that position.

And I quite like the feedsack blocks.  I have concentrated on making more of those this week.  Here is what I have so far:

Such fun playing around!  Let yourself go and play too.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Needle and Thread Thursday,  Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Alycia Quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian

16 patch quilt done done

Done done:  quilted, bound, and labeled.

This post is similar to last week's, only now the 50 by 50 inch quilt  is done done.  I did not have enough of the border feedsack fabric left, so I bound the quilt with a blue feedsack fabric.  Luckily the joins  in the binding did not fall at the corners!

The quilt:

And a closeup:

Thanks to this website for teaching me how to smoothly join my binding ends.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Put your foot down at For the love of geese, Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Busy Hands quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian

16 patch top

Post # 698!  Heading to 700!  I have been blogging here since 2004.

Today I am going to share with you a top that I pieced (except for borders) back in 2018 I think.  That year I was really into making quilts with real feedsack fabric.  I finally chose a border fabric and have the top ready for basting then quilting.

A simple 16 patch block, set on point.  A close-up of the fabric used:

(The muslin is new).  All vintage feedsack or vintage cotton fabric from antique fairs, antique malls, or ebay.
This quilt will finish at about 50 by 50 inches.  Now to cobble together some batting scraps and get to basting and quilting.  I'll do this one on my own sewing machine, as it's smaller.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers, Can I get a Whoop Whoop, Nina-Marie,  Finished or Not at Busy Hands quilts, Oh Scrap at Quilting is more Fun than Housework.

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

Viridian