Quilted

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Star Blossom Quilt

The first time I saw this Reverse Sawtooth Star Block I knew I needed to make a quilt with this block. But I wanted to make it scrappy. And after much searching I found this Scrappy Sawtooth Star block and added it to my Quilts to Make list.

Time passed and after spending a few weeks organizing the fabric in my sewing loft I decided I had enough scraps to make a scrappy star quilt.

Working from tutorials I came up with a block design using 3.5" squares.

So after cutting a lot of scraps and fat quarters, I sat down at my sewing machine and started chain piecing blocks together.

It took a little longer than some of my other quilts but it never felt like a daunting task. I don't know about you but revisiting long forgotten fabric is like reconnecting with an old friend. Picking up a scrap and remembering the quilt that it was used in was very rewarding.

The blocks finished at 12" and I made a total of 30 blocks.

I label and name all of my quilts and the name of this quilt is Star Blossom.

And here it is ...

Star Blossom - Front

Star Blossom - Back

The back of the quilt is from a duvet cover that I bought at Ikea on clearance. I paid $10.00 and I have enough left over to make another lap size quilt and a baby quilt plus more for scraps.

Unlike your children, I think you can have a favorite quilt and I think this is my favorite quilt so far.

Friday, August 3, 2018

Quilting on a Dime

When I first thought about quilting I felt intimidated when I went into the fabric store. I was overwhelmed by the number of fabric choices and the prices. Quilting is my hobby not my livlihood. I didn't want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a hobby but every where I read I was being told that you had to buy quality cotton quilting fabric which did not include the local chain store fabric shops. So I went back to my local quilting shops and online stores and brought quality cotton quilting fabrics that were on sale. I was happy with my purchases but I was still spending more money than I wanted to, especially on the fabric for the quilt backings.

And then I read a blog that said to buy the fabric that you can afford. And it was a revelation. Since then I have brought fabric any where I find it.

Now I buy fabric that I love and that I can afford.

I've brought fabric from my local quilt shop, chain store fabric shops, online quilting shops, and thrift stores. And so far, I'm the only one who knows the difference.

Small sample of my fabric collection from online quilting shops and chain store fabric shops.

For quilt backs I discovered Habitat for Humanity ReStore. If you have one in your area I recommend checking it out the next time you need fabric for your quilt back. They sell single sheets (queen, king and twin sizes) as drop clothes and in my local store they cost $1.00.

Quilt back fabric from thrift stores.

If you have tips on quilting on a dime I would love to hear them.

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time.....

Thursday, July 26, 2018

How my quilting journey began

My quilting journey started in 2015. Well that's not actually true. It all started in 2008 when I decided to buy a new sewing machine because I was going to start quilting. And then I went to the fabric store and was so overwhelmed that I walked out without purchasing anything and my sewing machine sat in its box.

In 2015, two years into my "retirement", I needed something to occupy my time and remembered the sewing machine waiting in my basement and decided to give quilting another try. I soon discovered Craftsy.com and found a free online class Piece, Patch, Quilt: Basic Quiltmaking Skills and I have never looked back.

Since then I have made 47 quilts. Some I've given away as baby shower gifts, and some as 'just because' gifts. And just recently I sold my first quilt. (WooHoo!!!).

I've been wanting to do a blog for awhile now. Not to teach anyone how to quilt or to sell patterns but just so I can have a place to post pictures of my finished quilts and talk about quilting.

If you find yourself on my blog and see something you like please leave me a comment. I would greatly appreciate your feedback and your thoughts.

Here are just a few of my quilts.

Home Sweet Home - finished June 2018

Every year my son asks me to make a Fourth of July quilt. This quilt was based on a quilt I found on Pinterest called Ten Inch Surprise. I was unable to find the pattern to purchase so I designed it myself using 10" squares I cut from fat quarters I had purchased from Joann's and Walmart.

These two quilts (Sweet and Little One) are baby quilts that I made when my best friend was invited to a baby shower and needed a gift. I offered to make a quilt for her to give and found a pattern from H appyquiltingmelissa called Disappearing 16 Patch. I cut too many 5" squares so I made two quilts and let her pick the one she liked best. They are more or less the same except for the sashing and cornerstones.