Two new starts

 Good Day, and happy holidays!  I am back to my blog after a busy time at my day job.  I want to record 2 new starts, that will become 'official' UFO's after the first of the year.

These patterns are from the book Preserving History: Patchwork Patterns Inspired by Antique Quilts by Julie Hendricksen.  First, a snow ball type block, in fabric from around 1890 - 1900:

Blues, reds, wine fabrics, and shirtings.  Blocks finish at 4 inches so a bit of work is ahead of me.

Then, another pattern from the same book:

Same fabrics, with some earlier reds, and browns, and double pinks.  Each white square of shirting fabric is cut at 3 inches to finish at 2.5 inches.  Lots more cutting and sewing here too!  I'll need quite a bit of cutting to get to a reasonably sized quilt top.

Is anyone having a linky party this week?  I'll find out.

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 posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

Simple block makes interesting quilt pattern

 Good Day, and welcome to my blog.

Stolen hours in my sewing room has led to some block making of a new columns-type quilt.  I saw this pattern on a quilt list I am a member of - Stashbusters on Groups.io.  Its ultimate origin may be on Pinterest. 

In any case I gathered my array of 1930's reproduction fabric scraps, and cut them into 2 inch squares.  I also cut squares of Kona Snow and Kona Charcoal solids.  It starts with a simple block:

With a nice diagonal movement.  The solids are not quite stark white and black but they have a high contrast.  Now, set some blocks together, rotating some blocks:

More nice diagonal movement.  Even better:  Set the blocks on point:

This is the pattern and look that set our internet group talking.  This is working up slowly because with a finished square size of 1.5 inches the blocks are only 6 inches across, finished.  If I do this again I would pick a bigger starting square size, say 3 inches.  I don't know yet how big this will be, but not large as I am using up my precut squares at a fast speed.  I also don't know how I'll finish the edges, but I'll think on that later.

I am using many different fabrics that play well together, and I would recommend that if you want this kind of look.  It doesn't have to be reproduction fabrics - I think modern Tula Pink type fabrics would work well too.

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 posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

A finish - Happy Surprises quilt

 Good Day and welcome to my blog.  My day job has taken over my life and I've had precious little time to get into my quilting room.  I finally was able to this past weekend, and I finished a UFO!  One I started in 2020.

The start of this quilt project is described in this quilt post.  Pattern is from a 2020 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.

Now it's a top - in this quilt post.

This past weekend: time to get it done!  I had sent this top out to my local long arm lady (with backing), and I picked out a quilting design of hearts inside hearts.  It turned out very pretty!  She always does a great job.  (Boone's Quilting on Facebook).  I bound it with binding matching the background fabric.

Fabrics used were a variety of 1930's reproduction fabrics, and an unbleached muslin.

A close up:

In which you may or may not see the quilting pattern.  Trust me, it's pretty.

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 posts at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948?ref=hl

Viridian

9 patch project in 1930's repro fabrics

 Good day and welcome to my blog.  

Last week I wrote about my Cutting Party: going through lots of 1930's reproduction fabrics, cutting for 3 project to keep me going summer into fall:

1. 2.5 inch squares for nine patches.

2. 2 inch squares for a another columns-type quilt - a related but different pattern I have my eye on.

3. 5 1/4 inch squares and 2 7/8 inch squares (of lighter fabrics) for no-waste flying geese.

I am still pulling fabrics, but I started sewing the 9 patches together, to see if it matched the plan in my mind.  I am not sewing light/dark patches together, but all 9 are of one color.  Maybe set them side by side?

Or on point?

Well this does not match the picture in my mind.  Maybe some white or Nile green sashing fabric is needed.  I will make more 9 patches (I am having fun) and see how things develop.  Your opinions welcome.

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

A Cutting Party

 Hello and welcome to my blog.  It's a cooler, somewhat rainy day in the American Midwest.

I wrote previously about how I was piecing blocks like mad.  I am at a natural stopping point: a pile of blocks that need to be measured and trimmed.  I don't wish to do this right now, so I am starting to cut pieces for upcoming projects.

I have a set of fat quarters purchased earlier this year - all reproduction 1930's fabrics.  After this investment, I must use them!  

And if I am going to go through these and iron them, I might as well cut for several projects.  Since I like scrappy 1930's quilts with a wide variety of fabrics, I decided to go through my scraps and add them to the mix.

On the ironing board, ready to go.  And if I am going to cut, I might as well cut for several projects.

1. 2.5 inch squares for nine patches.

2. 2 inch squares for a another columns-type quilt - a related but different pattern I have my eye on.

3. 5 1/4 inch squares and 2 7/8 inch squares (of lighter fabrics) for no-waste flying geese.

The beginning of my cut patches:

And I'm off!  It might be time to change the blade in my rotary cutter.  I am having to press down a bit, and sometimes recut.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, Wednesday wait loss, (She featured my columns quilt!  Thank you!), 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

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

Dutchman's Puzzle finish and trees pattern start

 It's Wednesday and I almost forgot it's my blogging day!

A stormy rainy day, but we need the rain for the grass and the crops.

First, a finish:  I bound my big (74 inches by 92 inches) Dutchman's puzzle quilt.  If you use scraps and stash for the 'geese' and the 'sky' pieces, you will use up a lot of fabric:

Too big to get it all in, laying on my design floor.  A close up is below, showing some vintage fabric.

Sashing,  borders and binding are new solid batik fabric.  Quilted very nicely by a local long arm quilter.  I am glad this is done.   It might go to my son, whose quilt I made him is quite worn out.

And now on to something new.  I previously blogged about my Winter Solstice finish.  I rarely buy patterns but I did for this - a quilt pattern my mom fell in love with.  She loves the finished quilt too.

I thought, why not use the 'tree' pattern in this project, and combine it with the feedsack fabric I love so much?  Feedsack patterns that, when cut into smaller pieces, do not show the beauty of the pattern?  The Winter solstice pattern has larger trees  So let's try it.

Here is my first set of trees.  Below, 4 more I made today.

Using some favorite fabrics.  I plan on adding narrow white sashing between the blocks, and perhaps offsetting them a bit.

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

Starlight geese progress

 Good day and welcome to my blog.  It's a lovely summer day in the American Midwest.

I was fortunate to spend some time in my sewing area today to finish up the last of my planned 35 Starlight geese blocks.  I wrote about the beginnings of the project in this post, which has background info on the pattern.  I am using real feedsack fabrics and a constant background fabric of Kona Snow.  This pattern takes a lot of background fabric!

Anyhow, here are all my blocks, laid out on my design floor:

Sorry about the keystoning there.  The pattern is a variation of a wild goose chase.  But let's add some 2 inch wide (finished) sashing.

Getting ready to sew.  The block on the top is a little small on one side so it's pulled out for special treatment.

First set with sashing, laid out to see how it looks:

Yes, sometimes points get chopped off, no matter how careful you are with measuring and keeping a steady 1/4 inch seam. (look at blue triangle at lower right; triangle at uppermost right).

Blocks finish at 10 inches square.  Projected size is 60 by 84 inches, plus maybe borders, so a throw 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

Winter Solstice quilt is done

 Hot off the sewing machine, where I have been machining on the binding!

I described the start of this project in this post, and more about the progression of the project in this post.

I picked up the quilt this morning from my long-armer, who does such a wonderful job.  Well I couldn't wait to trim and bind - especially as we are leaving in two days to visit my dad and my mom, who is going to receive this quilt as an early birthday present.  ("Hello, it's one of the hottest days of the year - here is a quilt!")

An overall look:

The backing is a Stonehenge wide backing fabric.  And a closer look:

The pattern is Winter Solstice, designed and copyrighted by Patti Carey.  This version is about 56 by 69 inches, though the pattern also has instructions for a queen sized version.

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

Flying Geese Pattern: a start on Starlight Geese

 Good day and welcome to my blog!

It's a beautiful day in the American Midwest.  I'd like to share with you what I've been working on for the last few days.  

I think I'm on a roll with flying geese units.  I created some blocks in the Cups and Saucers pattern, from the Patchwork Square website.  I blogged about them previously.  Well the finished blocks are in a pile in my sewing room, as I continue forward making more flying geese units for this pattern:

A little out of focus, but you can find the Patchwork Square pattern here.  I am switching the values of the pieces:  Geese units are in feedsack fabrics, background is Kona Snow.

Here is what I have so far:

Laid out on my design floor, so that is my carpet in between the blocks.  I am using these instructions for no-waste flying geese, making 4 at a time:

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

This is fun, but as each block finishes at 10 inches square, it will take a while to get up to a reasonable quilt size.

Linking up with Midweek Makers, (She featured my last project this week - thank you!), 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

Winter Solstice top is done

Good day and welcome to my blog.  It's a warm day in the American Midwest, with a promise of thunderstorms later in the day. 

I detailed in a previous post how I had started a complex (for me) quilt pattern called Winter Solstice.  I am happy to report that the top is done:

Laid out on my design floor, as I don't have a design wall.  The top is about 56 by 69 inches, and I do not plan on adding a border. I followed the suggested fabric choices given by the pattern.  I think it turned out well.

It is off to the long arm quilter today, and I hope to get it back and bind it before June 16, when the family and I will be traveling east to visit my mom and dad.  Recall that this is a gift for my mom.

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

Winter Solstice start

 Good day and welcome to my blog!  I'd like to report on a project that has been simmering in the quilting room for a while.

Firstly:  My mom saw this pattern, and a sample, at a lovely quilt shop in Massachusetts:

She fell in love with it and we bought the range of fabrics (Stonehenge and related fabric lines) suggested by the pattern, with only a few substitutions.  I am making the throw size.

Here they are laid out on my "design floor", to check for value.  Put aside for a while, but I decided to work on this now, with a bit more time available to me.

To start: I made a guide so that I could quickly refer to fabric numbers mentioned in the instructions.

The pattern says it is for intermediate to advanced quilters and I would agree.  No inset seams, but somewhat complex instructions that you should read several times before cutting into your fabrics.

There are "tree" blocks and "mountain" blocks.  I have made the tree blocks, and am in the midst of making the mountain blocks (at top of quilt).  The quilt is assembled in columns and I have the columns partially sewn together.  Here's what I have for now:

I hope to get the rest done in a few weeks, and send it off to the long arm quilter that I use.  This will be a Christmas or Birthday present for mom.  I have in hand recently ordered Stonehenge wide backing fabric for the back.  This backing fabric came from Backside Fabrics.

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

Scrappy Mountain Majesties Finish

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

I blogged in 2020 about starting Scrappy Mountain Majesties by Bonnie Hunter. (see that post for some advice.)  I got this project to a top and there it sat.  Well time moves on and it's time for a finish.  I quilted this myself, in the ditch, on my trusty old Kenmore sewing machine.

Many vintage fabrics in here, including the border and binding, which is at least 30 years old.  Speaking of binding, I did not have enough and added in another Christmas fabric for the last few inches.

One starts with  2 large squares of fabric for each block, but following Bonnie's directions, you slice and rearrange the fabric.  Sometimes a striped fabric will be going in different directions:

Or a novelty fabric will be nearly unrecognizable, like these rainforest frogs:

But's it's a fun pattern, and looks more complicated than it really is.  Finished size is about 54 inches by 73 inches, a good lap quilt size.  No home for this one yet.

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

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

Blue and Brown log cabin quilt done

 Good day and welcome to a cool Spring day in the American Midwest.  I am busy with my day job but have a finish to report.  

Last year I was piecing and assembling a log cabin quilt in blues and brown.  I used all 1800's reproduction fabric, of which I have quite a bit.  I sent it out to the local long arm quilter, who does a great job.  I finally got around to trimming and binding it last weekend.

An overall view, in my messy sewing area:

The colors are close to the same value, but overall it reminds me of winter dusk - that deep blue sky and the brown of the ground and the trees.  I am calling this quilt Winter.

A close view of the fabrics used:

And a view of the back, showing the excellent quilting:

Well, sort of.  I prepared yards of blue binding for this project and had just enough.  Below is an image of my end join and the amount of binding I had left:  talk about playing chicken!

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