Simplicity II quilt top in Christmas fabrics

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  It's a cool day in the American Midwest, but lots of sunshine.

I'll tell you today about a project I have that has a deadline.  It is for the departing minister of our church, who is leaving at the end of January.

Dec. 20, 2025:  I decide to make a quilt using the Simplicity II pattern, available at Jordan Fabrics.

An older Hoffman jingle pop would be nice.

I opened and admired the fabrics.

On to making the blocks.  There is a tutorial video on the Jordan fabrics web page.

After a break for family and Christmas visiting, I was back at it this past weekend.  Center complete:

And with borders attached.  Alas, they are a little wavy.

I had only the package of Hoffman fabrics in my stash, and a trip to a local quilt store was necessary to find border fabric.  I found the Hoffman green inner border fabric (yeah) but the outer border is a Moda fabric.  It is black with gold stars and fits in well, as you can see.

Now it must go to the long arm quilter I use, and I hope she can get it done rather quickly.  I need to then trim, bind, and wash it with color catchers.  Before the end of January.

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

Pie Birds Pattern now a top

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  I have progress to report.

A few weeks ago I started a pattern by Kim Diehl called Pie Birds.  The start of the project is described in this Blog Post.  Continuing the project is described in this Blog Post.

I persevered and sewed 30 blocks, for a set of 5 blocks by 6 blocks.  I added an inner border (making the most of a narrow piece of fabric) and a wider outer border, using the black fabric in the flying geese part of the blocks.  Here it is, finally:

About 70" by 60" now.  And a closer view of one corner:

It's almost too busy and bright to look at.  I used 1800's reproduction fabrics, in browns but also the bright colors that have been reproduced.

Careful piecing is needed for this block.  If all is well, the points of the flying geese pattern (made from 2 half square triangles) meet nicely. 

In other cases. my points are chopped off.

And there may be misalignment.

But in the overall view of the quilt top, you can't see these 'mistakes'.

I am pleased with the result.  I will take this top to my long arm quilter in the new year.

Next week:  A new project with an interesting pattern.

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

Diamond Pops in different colors; other updates

 Good day, and welcome to my blog, on a very cold day in the American Midwest.

As mentioned in a previous post, the quilt guild I belong to has smaller interest groups, including one group interested in working with pre-cuts.  2 months ago we were issued a challenge: work with a jelly roll of fabric, and the pattern Diamond Pops by Jordan fabrics.

Three of us had finished tops or quilts, and one lady had some blocks done (out of an initial group of 23).  It was interesting to see how the pattern looked so different done up in different fabrics.  Here is mine, in greens:

How about in pastels?

PS. the green thingy in the photo is a small sculpture on our hostess's coffee table.

And another, in batiks:

The group concluded the meeting with another jelly roll pattern to try, and we will meet again in February 2026.

Other updates:

The pie birds blocks (30) are done, and I am trimming them to 10.5 inches unfinished.  They are slightly too large and some points will be cut off I am sorry to say.  My later blocks are better than my early blocks.

I shared in a previous post that my sewing machine was chewing points of fabric as I was sewing squares on a fabric rectangle for flipped corners.

I received lots of advice but the best came from Roberta, who suggested I start sewing not at the corner, but from the other end of the seam.

How I was sewing, and having trouble with about 10% of the seams:

The beginning would get pulled down into the machine, some of the time.  Roberta's suggestion:  start this way:

And I had no problems at all!  Thank you Roberta!

Rest of this week plans:  Bring Pie Birds blocks to a top.  Maybe start new jelly roll project.

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

Some progress this week

 Helo, and welcome to my blog.

I have a little bit of progress to report, mostly to keep account to myself.

I bound a quilt destined to a ministry of our church.  But I forgot to take a picture of it!  And I made more pie birds blocks, but I have blogged about this project twice already.  I have 20 blocks now (up from my original thought of nine).  I could stop now and make a quilt that is 40 by 50 inches plus borders, but this is pretty small.  I have more cut fabric strips, so I am going to keep on going.

No link ups this week, and all I have to show is a pile of blocks that I have shown before.

Viridian