New Start: Autumn Braids

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.

A new start is always refreshing, isn't it?  And this one is a form of "Homework".

In my local quilt guild, there is a spin off group that concentrates on projects using pre-cuts: jelly rolls, charm packs and so on.  The project chosen for this summer is the pattern Autumn Braids.  Google "Autumn Braids quilt pattern" and you'll see it for sale in various shops or on etsy.

Start with a jelly roll of 40 strips, in this case the fabric line Middleboro Road:

I admit I purchased this jelly roll to add to an online order so that I would get free shipping.  

Cut strips into sections and make 4 braids.  When the braids get long and unwieldy, roll up and pin them.

Cut into sections and border with an accent fabric.

Make a long column, following directions.

The blue fabric in between sections will also be used to separate the columns and for the borders.  So buy enough for this, and don't use a directional fabric (no stripes).

This is as far as I have gotten in the last week.  I will continue on this, and possibly trim and bind a UFO.  I have a quilt back from the long arm quilter I use, and it is ready for finishing.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Design Wall Monday, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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

Top done and "leftovers" project started

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.

I am reporting that my This and That (pattern by Quilted Twins) top in warm colors is done, except for a 2 inch white border:

It is 8 blocks by 9 blocks for a total of 72, plus black/white sashings.

Start of project is reported HERE.

Progress reported HERE.

But I reported that I had cut strips and squares with abandon and had many left over.  So I started another project, called "Leftovers".  More 16 patches, set a different way:

I have enough leftovers for 42 16 patches, to be set 6 by 7.  Above is how many I have done so far.  This will keep me busy in the hot weather we are having this week.

PS. Last week I asked if readers liked the cool or warm colorway of this pattern.  A number of respondents said Both! but the warm colorway had a slight edge.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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

Progress and: which one do you like best?

 Good day, and thanks for stopping by my blog.

I record my quilty progress here, as I don't have a notebook in my sewing room (I would lose it in the mess).  I can look back to see what I have done.  Now that I am retired, I try to blog weekly.

So this week:  progress and a question.  First the progress:

I have moved forward with my This and That project (pattern by Quilted Twins).

Five out of nine rows assembled, so I am halfway there.  The pattern calls for 72 blocks set 8 by 9.

I had a pile of leftover 2-inch strips because I cut too many.  I am going to use them up in a simple 16 patch block pattern, with black sashing and cornerstones.  Like this:

But now I have a question for my readers.  I have done the This and That pattern twice, in cool green/teal/blue fabrics, and now in warm red/orange/yellow fabrics.

Which do you like better?  The cool colorway?

Or the warm colorway?

Let me know in the comments.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Design Wall Monday, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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

Progress: This and That in warm colors

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  Thanks for stopping by.

Last week I wrote about starting a quilt project (This and That, from Quilted Twins) in warm colors.  This week I progressed on that project.

I sewed 72 16-patch blocks in assorted colors.  I measured, trimmed, and squared them up.

Luckily, they were the right size or only slightly larger than 6.5 inches, unfinished.  I then started making 'snowball' blocks on 36 of these blocks:

I am using Kona Snow fabric.  I wish I had a pale pale yellow but I am not going to buy more fabric for this project.

As mentioned before, I cut into my scraps and fat quarters with wild abandon, not counting.  This habit backfired on this project as I have lots of strips and squares left over:

Yes that's the leftovers after making 72 blocks.  I must think of another pattern to use them up.  There is quite a bit left.

To do:  Finish the snowball blocks.  Cut sashing and cornerstones, and start assembly of the quilt top.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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

Start: This and That pattern in warm red/orange/yellow colors

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.

I wrote last week about my progress on the pattern This and That, from Quilted Twins Free patterns page.

I worked with scraps and yardage in green/teal/blue colors.

It took a lot of sewing of 2 inch squares into 16 patches, then bordering them.  But the result is very pretty.

I speculated about doing the same pattern in warm colors.  Today I report that yes, I did pull out my yellow/orange/red fabrics and started cutting strips and squares. Some fabrics I bought once upon a time for a color wheel study,

like this orange-yellow fabric.

Strips and pieces, ready to go: 

My sewing table looked like this, while in progress:

Twosies are sewn into a row of four, then assembled 2 rows by 2 rows.

16 patch blocks now look like this:

And even more!

Orange is not a color I normally work with, and I ordered a set of 10 fat quarters to beef up my orange fabric variety.  Bright and cheerful colors!

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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

Progress on This and That in blues and greens

 Good day and welcome to my blog.  We are having wonderful Spring weather in the American Midwest.

Last week I wrote about my New Start:  a pattern called This and That, from the Free patterns page of Quilted Twins.

I am happy to report that I have made a lot of progress this past week!  I am rereading the directions to be sure I have the sashing sewn together correctly.  Then I add it to the 16 patch blocks I have prepared.  The top currently looks like this:

And a close up, so you see the sashing:

Each 16 patch block finishes at 6 inches square.  I really like the framing of each block, and how this is turning out.  So much so, that I am looking at my yellow-orange-red scraps, fat quarters, and left over jelly roll strips, and thinking of doing this pattern again in those colors.

*******

In other news: I went to a quilt show with vendors and didn't buy any fabric!  But I did buy a vintage sewing box that is missing a handle but still works very well.  Closed:

And open:

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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

New start: This and That in blues and greens

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  It is raining in the American Midwest, so it's a good day to sew and quilt.

I have a new start: one of the Free Patterns from Quilted Twins.  They have a great array of free patterns, especially good if you have lots of 2 inch squares or strips.

I collected my blue, green, and teal scraps and fat quarters for This and That, cut squares, then I started assembling 16 patches.  My sewing table looked like this:

I cut strips and squares with wild abandon.  I do not count, even if the pattern says you need 365 (or 1288) squares.  So I always have leftovers.  Not with this project though.  I was able to make the 72 16 patch blocks with only a few rejected yellow-green fabrics left behind.  I tried to use colors from grass green to teal to blue-green to blue, to slightly purplish-blue.

Here are my piles of blocks.  If I have counted correctly I have 72.

The next step:  Add snowball corners to 32 of these blocks.

That's as far as I have gotten by Wed. morning.  I plan to continue on the 32 blocks, then start cutting sashing strips and hopefully start assembly.  I plan on less borders than in the pattern.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, (she featured my pie birds finish - thank you!), Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery (she shared my Pie Birds finish too, thank you!), 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 UFO now Complete!

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.  I am back after an extended trip to Europe which was wonderful.  

I was able to get back in my sewing room after getting over jet lag and I have a finish to report.  It is Pie Birds, a pattern by Kim Diehl.

I was looking at a pattern book that I got out of the library.  I tried a sample block of her Pie Birds block from her Simple Charm book.  It was not simple.

Start of project - one sample block is HERE.

Continuing, to 9 blocks, is blogged about HERE.

Still not big enough:  going to 30 blocks for a 5 by 6 setting, is blogged about HERE.

Now:  A beige background and cotton batting, quilted by a local long arm quilter that I use.  I bound it in the same black fabric as the outer border this morning.

And a close-up:

I used 1800's reproduction fabrics in browns but also bright colors.  The 'flying goose' unit is actually two half square triangles sewn onto the 'logs' of fabric, increasing the piece count per block and the difficulty. 

Next up: 16 patch blocks in blue, aqua, and green scraps and strips.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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 UFO finish: Jelly roll race quilt done

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.

Happy Spring if you are in the Northern Hemisphere.

I have a finish to report.  I could not find this project reported on my blog, but I must have started it in 2017 sometime.  This is a Jelly Roll Race quilt, using a batik jelly roll (40 strips, width of fabric).

I followed the instructions given by Wee Folk Art.

I know the borders were added more recently, in 2024 or 2025.

 I layered the back, batting and top on my bed, and put my rotary cutting mat underneath, and pinned the quilt sandwich.  I then machine quilted using my trusty old Kenmore.  Alas, when I turned the quilt over, I found this:

How mortifying!  But I am not making this quilt for show.  So, dear reader, I left it in.

I sewed the binding (same fabric as the border fabric) onto the back of the quilt sandwich, then folded it over and top-stitched to the front.  I found a great thread in my stash, to match:

It's a King Tut thread.  And finally, a close up of a corner, showing the fabrics used:

I marked those outer quilting lines in white chalk, and some remains on the top.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Put your Foot Down at the Quiltery (she featured my quilt top - thank you!), 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

"Anything goes" log cabin project now a top

 Good day and welcome to my blog of quilty things.

This past week I picked up a project I started in Feb. 2025 - a set of log cabin blocks.  I used what I had available: mostly civil war reproduction fabrics but also leftovers from other projects.  Therefore, the title, Anything Goes.  

Start of project is described HERE.

The blocks finish at 10 inches square and my top now looks like this:

About 50 by 70 inches in size, plus a narrow border.

A close up:

And I am getting smarter:  I cut, pressed, and rolled the binding for this quilt.

It will have a label in that baggie too.  What project, size of project, length of binding, and date.

P.S. I saw this in a local used bookstore, in the quilting and crafts section:

Quilting is not for the weak!

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, 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

Doll quilt ready for swapping

 Every Spring, Lori de Jarnatt runs a Doll quilt swap on her blog, Humble Quilts.  I have participated for several years, and I signed up again.  I haven't yet been assigned an exchange partner, but I was excited to get going.

I have in my mini quilt collection this older doll quilt.

14 by 22 inches, a range of fabrics, the youngest being perhaps from the 1930's.

The back:

Ties hold the front and the back together.  Patches are sewn by hand, but the binding was sewn by machine onto the front, then hand sewn on the back.  In a small hole on the front I can see that there is no batting, except for what looks like a layer of coarse woven fabric, like cheesecloth.

You may have to expand the photo to see this.

I decided to reproduce this quilt, but in reproduction navy blue and shirting fabric, imitating fabrics from the mid 1800's.  I measured the size of the fabric rectangles and got going.

I quilted in the ditch and bound in a light shirting fabric.  A close-up:

I will send this out early, before our big trip to Europe.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday (the last link up😢), 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

Contessa Blocks in '30's fabrics: Now 2 tops

Good day, and welcome to my blog.

I am reporting the progress I made this week on my Contessa project.  This pattern is free from Moda's website.  It was the Sew a Jelly Roll pattern for 2024. 

I picked 1930's reproduction fabric and a Kona snow background, and cut and sewed with wild abandon, no counting of blocks.

Beginning of the project is described HERE.

I had a pile of blocks:

Each block finishes at 10 inches square.  I made two tops 6 by 6 blocks in size, and counted how many blocks were left.  I had enough to make two tops 60" by 80" or 6 blocks by 8 blocks, and I had 2 blocks left over!

Top #1:

And top #2:

Yes, they are different, in the placement of the fabric strips.

I hope to quilt these myself on my trusty Kenmore.  They are at a good size for charity giving.

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

Brick work quilt done

 Good day and welcome to my blog.

I have an older top, from 2019, that is now quilted by the long arm lady I use, bound by me, and finished.

It is a simple brick work pattern, and the fabric pieces are 3 by 9 inches finished.

Start of the project is described in this Blog Post.

Leftovers and well, lots of fabric I wanted to use up are in this quilt.

-- leftovers from Halloween and Christmas quilts

-- really old stash (from the 1990's) for borders and binding

-- ugly, 'what was I thinking?' fabric

-- fabric bought online that was not the color I was expecting

-- fat quarters bought in a bundle that are a bit ugly, that I need to use up

-- fabric for watercolor quilts (remember those?)

-- some yellow fabrics to brighten up the top.

It is 72 by 89 inches and has a plain back and thin cotton batting.  Binding is the same fabric that I used for the outer border.  Thank goodness I saved that green fabric.

A close-up:

No home for this one, but it is done.

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

Broken Dishes block, in 1800's repro fabric

 Good day and welcome to my blog.  Only light snow flurries here in the American Midwest.

After sewing some Broken Dishes blocks in 30's reproduction fabrics, described in a previous blog post, I decided to sew some blocks in mid-1800's reproduction fabrics, in a larger size.  Instead of starting with 3 inch squares of focus fabric and background fabric, I started with 5 inch squares.  Here is a finished block.

It will finish at approximately 8 and 1/4 inches square.  I continued on:

9 blocks, and then a few more:

I have about 30 blocks done.  I am aiming for 40 to 42 blocks total.  With added borders, I want this to be a throw-sized quilt, that I can hopefully quilt myself on my trusty old Kenmore.  No rush here, I am meandering along.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle and Thread Thursday (she featured my finish - thank you!), 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

Broken Dishes block, in 30's repro fabric

 Good day, and welcome to my blog.

I am away from home on a business trip, but I brought my computer with me, so that I can blog on my usual Monday morning. (and do business work)

When I am in between large projects, I often pull out a small ongoing project of Broken Dishes blocks (also called the Envelope pattern).  

I have pre-cut fabric squares (3 inches) and unbleached muslin squares. Two of each to start.

(OK I had sewn my green squares together by the time I thought of showing my process in a blog post.)

Draw a diagonal line as you see here on the back of the light fabric.  Sew a scant 1/4 inch away from the drawn line, first on one side, then the other.  Cut along the drawn line.

Press open, seams towards the darker fabric.  Arrange half square triangles as in the photo above.  Sewn top and bottom pieces into twosies.

Press again towards darker fabric.  Now pin and sew these two pieces together.  Pins will help keep that center intersection in the right place, but seams should nest nicely.

Because I started with 3 inch fabric squares (not 2 and 7/8, not 3 and 7/8) my final blocks are ending up at an odd size.  This doesn't matter, as long as I keep a steady seam allowance width and all blocks end up the same size.

Note I haven't cut off the dog ears.  If this becomes important later, I will do so.

  

I have a pile of these blocks now.  But they are small (less than 5 inches square) so it will take quite a few to make a reasonably sized quilt.

Linking up with Monday Musings, Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps, Wednesday Wait Loss (she featured my Shadowpoint quilt, 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