Avaland's Quilts and other Creative Projects for 2021

Hi, I'm Lois. I live in New Hampshire but am a Mainer by birth. I am retired and have three grown children and three grandchildren.

I used to be a much more adventurous creative person, but I've pulled in quite a bit over the few years. And there are competing hobbies (like reading!), grandchildren, gardenwork, Ancestry.com...and so on.

Best laid plans for 2021 ....(I'm come back and write something here, but then I will probably ignore my own "plans").

Nice Lupines. I've always wanted to get up there to see them. I never have much luck growing them.

>3 dudes22: This was taken the day before the Lupine Festival was to start. It's about an hour and half north of me and I'm about 8? miles north of the MA border.

For some reason I think I may need more structure or "plans" for what I imagine will be a long winter. So I made a list. It's always a very ambitious list. You can try to talk me out of it.

Baking: Explore all the pies I seldom make because my adult kiddos always stick to their four favorites. One a week. Or just bake 'something' once a week.

Friends: Making sure I keep up on friends.

Clean out and sorting: Ongoing project with detritus of having lived more than six decades

Reading: Continue free range reading and continue to review. There are some books I'd like to get to but I'm going to keep it loose.

Ancestry.com. I've thought that I might put together a collection of stories/vignettes about the ancestors on my tree (and not just the famous ones). I think others would respond better to this than lists of Rev War soldiers, or the 1000+ list of 'boat people' I have (90+ came between 1620-1650 which is why there is so many. There would be more but for intermarriage.

Gardens: Ambitiously order flower seeds in February

And finally, Quilting/Sewing:
--Finish assembly of the solids quilt from the end of 2020.
--Begin another paper-pieced wild goose chase scrap quilt because I love the one I have here in the house.
--Finish the ancient UFO "batik circle" quilt (originally meant to be a wall hanging)
--Or make a Victorian Crazy Quilt Christmas Tree skirt
--OR but a back on my great grandmother's Victorian crazy quilt so it can be hung and viewed on occasion.
--or alternate between multiple projects.

How many weeks in winter? Maybe I should have listed this for the whole year instead.

That's a great list of projects. I have a few of them myself.

If you have trouble finding people to try your pies, I volunteer.

>6 dudes22: It's a bit terrifying. I forgot to add making Snapfish albums of 1. all my quilts 2. all the antique family photos 3. And our best travel pics from England/Belgium/Netherlands/Iceland/Italy trips.

I did start uploading the quilt photos to Snapfish.

i could probably mail a sawdust pie to RI ;-)

I was wondering - the crazy quilt you're thinking of making - are you planning to use velvets, brocades, satins, etc? I have some I was collecting for the same thing, but I realize that I'm never going to make one. So if you'd like some of what I have, I can send some. You don't have to decide right away, just in case. They're mostly small pieces I bought at Fabric Place when they were having sales. I saw a thing on a craft show one time on using velvet and rubber stamps to make leaves for a wreath, but I never did that either.

>8 dudes22: Yes, that's the idea; however, it requires me to unearth the bin of specialty fabrics and the various needles, threads, ornamentation. It means a different mindset, also, so that might deter me. There used to be a store in Pepperell, MA (when I was living in Westford) that specialized in crazy quilting stuff. It was so cool. Hand sewing is a lot of sitting and I already do more of that than I should. Thanks for the offer, Betty, I may take you up on that if it comes to pass. The same offer I extend to you (there also is/was a store in Brattleboro, VT that MaggieO told me about, that also seemed to cater to Victorian Crazy Quilters, but I haven't been so take that with a grain of salt.

>5 avaland: Which are the four repeating pies? I love pie making, sweet and savoury. Then there are pie plates and rolling pins.

>9 avaland: If the border ever reopens and it things improve, I will have to check that out in Brattleboro the next time I get to Vermont - always my first destination.

Keep on keeping up with friends - the best resolution of all - it is so important

Your project list is more intimidating than mine! I applaud you for not just backing away and pretend like nothing needs doing.

>10 SassyLassy: Chocolate (from scratch), Standard New England 2-crust Apple, Lemon Meringue and the latest in the cannon, Sawdust pie. I don't make the Lemon much as I tend to screw up the meringue when I'm making a bunch of pies. Tomorrow's baking adventure will be a quick bread but I will have to decide between lemon blueberry, double chocolate zucchini or possible an iced strawberry rhubarb loaf.... I used a marble rolling pin (my son made me one, but the marble works so much better. I use mostly the average pyrex plates but have a few nice ceramic ones (but they seem so much bigger).

>11 PawsforThought: It sounds good but Ha! I'm not one to follow a list for very long before I am distracted by other ideas.....

The solids quilt is together but I am not happy with it. This should teach me not to think I can treat a diagonal pattern like the others. I've had to trim the edges, and I'm a bit concerned with the way it hangs here but I hope that's just because of the two-piece design board. And when it came together I freaked out because it seemed all the darker squares were on one side, and the lighter on the other side (after relatively careful planning), but it looks okay to me in grayscale, and I'm not going to pull it apart. I'll put the last few corners on, fold it all up and set it aside for another time. (as usual, the colors are somewhat off in this photo)

My next project may be to finish ...or make a quilt out of a rectangular wall hanging. The blocks look like this:



These were originally put together, as noted, in a long rectangle for a wall hanging over a couch. My daughter was a teacher at a private school in Lake Placid back in 2006 or 7? She lived with students in one of the houses and I thought it might be cool for their common area. I think she decided to move on to another job and that's why it wasn't finished. However, some years back, at least 7 or 8 I made more blocks and tried to expand it to a usable lap quilt size and well, I wasn't very satisfied with the whole thing. Time to try again. I still do NOT wish to take apart the original rectangle.... will post the piece as it is now when I dig it out. Otherwise, I may do some wild goose chase paper piecing (to be quite honest I haven't been bitten by any inspiration yet.

Found it in my large pizza box storage pile (great way to store unfinished projects!)

Here is what was meant to be the long rectangle wall hanging (hung the other way). I'm not entirely happy with that yellow....



I have another 30 or 40 more of the quarter circle blocks, more unassembled, also some batik squares, and a couple of those small circles with a block. I did save some of the original fabric in the pizza box too, but not much.

The best I can come up with at the moment is to enlarge on both sides following the pattern there...or do the mirror images. The trick with this, to me, is to try to have the colors flow from one piece to another as much as possible (which is why the yellow bugs me, but then the quilting might also help it fit in better). Or, I suppose I might use what is shown there as a center piece, make a small border, and then add another framing over the circles on all four sides..... Anyone have any other ideas?

>15 avaland: I have no ideas; but I was immediately drawn to that yellow since there is so little of it -- and I love yellow. lol

>16 lesmel: the yellow really pops in a good way.
And yet it reminded a bit of Pac-man or Ms Pac-man gobbling their way around. 😀

Now I saw the yellow as the sun or moon peeking through the trees. I like the idea of a border and then more circle blocks on the outside. I guess it depends on what size you want to end up with.

The colors are a bit saturated in the posted pic, there is a light pattern in that yellow. I also see it the way Betty does, as a moon among planets.

>18 dudes22: I have no idea what size, but I have a ton of blocks and pieces. Maybe an oversized lap quilt.

>19 avaland: - BTW - I looked up sawdust pie and I'm going to give it a try, although hubby is not a big fan of coconut. I always have egg whites left over when I make ice cream. I'll have to see how many I have in the freezer.

I kind of like the yellow, too, but if you don't, well, you don't.

Also, I *love* the solid colors quilt! And I don't think the dark/light colors are unbalanced at all.

>20 dudes22: I sometimes by the "Just Whites" at the grocery store and put them in the freezer.
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I've played around with this a bit. I might tweak it a bit more, but I. Just. Want. To. Get. It. Done. You know? Again, colors are very dark in the photo. The darkest color -- is in the upper right area and it's a forest green.



ETA: There is a solid strip there about three-quarters across to the right. I was checking to see if putting a border between the center part (the original wall hanging) looked better with the extensions. It does not. It will probably end up a beach, picnic, car or 'play on' quilt anyways.

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On a good note, my collection of 8 or 9 large pizza boxes which store my UFOs are now nearly empty. Seems there is a bucket with a couple of not yet quilted table runners from years and years ago.

>21 scaifea: I'm glad you like it. I trimmed it heavily. Send me your new address, Amber, and I'll send you my solids "overstock." (I forgot that I had put together another solids quilt at the very beginning of 2020 or late 2019. The quilter still has it (she hasn't been quilting). But, the whole solid thing is out of my system now.

>22 avaland: I like that version. There's a balance with the added bit of yellow on the left.

>22 avaland: That's a great version. I'm in the yellow camp and I love the way that bit at the bottom is the bit nibbled from the moon. It could go back on the wall it's so striking.

Wow, great eye candy. I, too, like the yellow. Quilting them in a darker thread would tone them down. I might have been tempted to add a thin or translucent layer over the "moon" piece.

>24 PawsforThought:, >25 SassyLassy:, >26 sallypursell: Thanks. I'll look at it tomorrow and see if I want to play with it more. Funny, you all like the yellow. I don't think it was originally intended to be so prominent. There is a pattern in the fabric of one part of it, the other part is just batik yellow :-)

>26 sallypursell: I'm not sure I want to tone them down....

You already knew I was in the yellow camp. I like that the yellows are more to one side also.

Why didn't I think of the cartons of egg whites. I'm going to try one of those pies.

>22 avaland: I like it!

>27 avaland: That's what I took your original post to mean! I wouldn't tone it down. It looks like lemon meringue.

>30 sallypursell: That center piece of 5 blocks that has the yellow circle was the original walling (here hanging vertically rather than horizontally). I fiddled some more with the extensions on either side with what I have for leftover pieces, and yesterday spent time assembling the blocks. I hope to finish the top today (and then move on!)

Okay, have spent some times in the last two days to put together the batik quilt top and it's done. I took it outside to see what it looks like in natural light, and I think it's okay. I'm not going to be fussy about it. It will go in the TBQ pile. Whether I quilt it simply or I have someone else to do it, remains to be decided.



It seems to me that I don't see many of those those multi-colored batiks (clouds of varying colors which look like nebulas) like I used to.

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Not sure what I will do next. I do have some paper piecing blocks copied if I want to do some Wild Goose Chase blocks.

I checked the UFOs and I've now done all of the quilts, but there are some UFO table runners in a bin (maybe they'll get cut up and added to a scrap quilt). I do have over 300 of those scrappy blocks I make quilts out of .... (that's the quilt equivalent of doodling).

I like it. I like that brownie/yellow next to the yellow. To me it looks like the moon moving behind trees.

Is that sitting in the snow?

>32 avaland: It's lovely!

Your remarks about the pies you make sent me on a search for sawdust pie. I found a few recipes, got the ingredients and it's in the oven now. My step-daughter and her SO are coming by later and he's from the south so we'll see what he says.

>33 dudes22: It's interesting how everyone sees something different in it.

Re: Snow. Yes, but it's semi-hard snow. I wouldn't put it in soft snow ;-)

>34 lesmel: Thanks!

>35 dudes22: Didn't I give you the recipe? Hmm. If it's a variation I will be very interested in the recipe (if it's a hit).

Actually, my step-daughter and SO didn't end up coming. I misunderstood my husband - they were going to call if they were coming. We just had a slice of the pie. I think from what I read, I may have baked it a little to long. I did like it - but it's very sweet (and I used unsweetened coconut). I was thinking I'd like it if it had a little pineapple in it.

2021 baking thus far has involved a apple coconut pound cake, and today's offiering is cherry bread (not something I'm terribly keen on but I gave the 5 year old the choice between 5 or 6 breads and that was his pick).

I've been piddling around the studio. Moving things around, neatening things up, taking stock, rearranging a bit. The batik quilt top remains on the wall for now. I noted I have only one batting (and perhaps 1/2 of a king size one) on hand, so I bought some from BacksideFabrics.com (their stock seemed awfully low, but she had enough of what I wanted) but then I saw she had the most gorgeous floral backing fabric and bought some of that (will need to make a quilt for the front, ha ha).

>38 avaland: - Oh that is beautiful! I have a batik that's similar to that. I might look at it next time I go to my sewing room. It might be the same one. I have a batik project planned although I don't know when I'll get to it. Maybe I should order some of this for the back.

ETA: You are a bad, bad influence. (ok - it doesn't take much)

>39 dudes22: re: bad influence. Just another service I provide :-)

>40 avaland: - Do you ever use wide-back fabric for piecing? I found a white-on-white that I really liked, but I find it hard to figure out how to fold it to make sure my cutting is straight.

>38 avaland: That is absolutely beautiful. It would make you feel whatever you needed to feel on any given day.

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I make a cherry loaf pound cake sort of thing and it was always a huge hit where I used to live. When I moved back here and took it places it wouldn't be touched. I couldn't figure out why, until one day someone made a reference to gummy cake and birthday parties. It turns out everyone had assumed the cherry pieces in my loaf were gummies from the candy store and left it alone. Once properly identified, I went back to bringing home an empty plate. Confidence restored!

>12 avaland: Had never heard of sawdust pie before. I love pie plates and have them in many sizes, but am always afraid to put the fancy ceramic ones in the oven. My current favourite is a 5" pyrex from Brandon VT, which is the right size as it's hard to overindulge with that diameter. Somehow though I still wind up making enough pastry for a standard double crust, so then have to use it again the next day, somewhat defeating myself.

>41 dudes22: I use the leftovers of backing fabric fairly often in pieces other quilts. And I try to keep that in mind when I choose backings. Is it one of the really wide ones? That is a bugbear.

>42 SassyLassy: That combo of colors always slay me. I am powerless to resist!

I've not even heard about gummy cakes. We sent the rest of the cherry loaf home with Oliver. My next baking project will be a chocolate zucchini bread, if I find the recipe. If not, perhaps a one crust apple pie.

The ceramic ones are lovely but they are soooo big! I have two very nice ones but seldom use them. I use a beautiful handmade pottery one as a fruit basket (I'm not sure I'd dare to put it in the oven, but I suppose it was once fired in one)

I have been busy setting starting the Wild Goose Chase paper-piecing quilt. It requires me to pull out from the existing small-piece scrap bins pieces for the small triangles, cutting white & off-white triangles from the white/off-white bin, and finally, the messiest, pulling out fat quarters and other large pieces to cut the larger triangles (I take only one triangle from each). I have a very large pile of those larger pieces to refold now that I've cut what I've wanted (I cut 5-6 fabrics at a time). Those larger triangles are in file folders according to color (this insures a good mix of colors).

Pictured here is the first six blocks. I have not pulled the paper off the backs yet, and they are by no means in their final position. These are 7" blocks finished; the previous ones made were 6" finished. I scanned and enlarged the original pattern. This time around I'm finding working with the paper-piecing somewhat ...what...calming? meditative?

Many Wild Goose Chase patterns use white/off-white triangles for the larger triangles. That's too much white/off-white for me :-)

Oh, since some of you responded to the fabric in #39 above...it arrived. The print is on a huge scale!

>44 avaland: I love the block; but I'm not sure I'd have the patience. Maybe, though. I want to try paper piecing.

>47 lesmel: I saw that! Start with something simple and work your way up. I wouldn't want to do it all the time but it adds variety if you need some.

>44 avaland: - I like the way you manage your scrap quilts. I have such a horrible time just putting things together that I freeze. I'm much more of a matchy-matchy kind of person.

>46 avaland: - I bought some of this too because of your influence. It will make a great back though.

I love the wild goose blocks, Lois. It will be fun watching your design process and seeing how it all comes together.

I love those wild goose blocks! The color choices work really well.

>49 dudes22: Thanks, but I do this for only some scrap quilts; others I just pick somewhat randomly from the various bins (which are sorted roughly by: small pieces, triangles, strips, larger pieces...etc.)

How boring we would be if we all were the same!?

>50 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura!

>51 melannen: Thanks, there is a bit of a plan in my choices. For example, I stay away from prints with a lot of white or black content, and try not to use too many all-one-color print, but otherwise I aim to use a variety of colors in each block. I want the eye to move over the quilt (and the quilting also helps with that). The darker colors in the photo above are not as dark as they show there.
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I'm off to the beach this morning! A cure for cabin fever, I hope.

Ran away from home today, took the hubby along. The ocean is only an hour east and the trip, while short, was immensely restorative.

>53 avaland: Good for you (both)! I always love getting out into nature, and the openness of the sea is so great now that the world is feeling a bit claustrophobic.

Sounds like a nice day.

>44 avaland: Wow! Snazzy! I really like the variety.

I think it's a shame that some are not as dark as pictured. I think you could use more dark for contrast. My best quilts are those with the greatest over-all contrast.

>56 sallypursell: Thanks. Oh, there is plenty of contrast but I think the iphone picks up more of the black in a fabric generally and makes some of the prints harder to see in the photo. (and I've not found much satisfaction in their touch-up options either).

Progress!



I don't know how big I will make this. I've thought about making it for my still new granddaughter (3 mos old) to be given to her at age 16 or 18 but not sure how I will do that. And if so, would it be better to be a twin size or a large lap quilt like the one I use? Or is that just a crazy idea?

I'm trying to make at least two blocks a day. It's fairly methodical and I don't worry much about colors and prints, except to chose a mix for each block. You may not be able to tell but the small "white" triangles are a mix of mostly natural muslin, white or off-white cotton, some white on write prints.

And I thought you might find it interesting to see it in black and white. It makes me want to make one in black and white (I have quite a few B&W prints but certainly not enough to have each piece unique!)

Hmmm. I now notice that I haven' t been reaching for the vintage fabric (the calicos) that's been cut for those larger triangles. Got to curb my inclinations to more intense color. One of these quilts could be interesting in all plaids or men's shirting...and a batik one might be cool....well, the ideas are endless, aren't they?

>58 avaland: Wow, that looks great, both in colour and in black and white.

I think doing these kinds of quilt in black and white, plaids or batiks would be really cool.

I really like seeing the progress on this quilt! It's the flying geese, I think. Something about flying geese call to me.

>58 avaland: A hand-made quilt for your granddaughter to take with her just as she's reaching adulthood - to college or a first apartment - would be wonderful, I think. I was given one to take to college with me that had been pieced by my late grandmother and then quilted by my mother and I loved having it in my dorm room. People that age really need blankets of love to wrap up in sometimes!

The black and white photo looks amazing. The contrast in the prints and colors is looking really good.

I made our granddaughter a quilt to go to college but it was for her bed so I made an extra-long twin size. Keeping it for 16-18 years is a looong time to hold a quilt. Are you had drawing your patterns? Or using the copy machine? If you decide to do a black/white one, I have a lot that I could send pieces to you.

Your mention of paper piecing reminds me that I took a paper piecing project to FLa last year and never got around to making it. It was only a small quilt for my display wall. I came across it when I was cleaning and thought that maybe I'd try to fit it in sometime this year.

>60 PawsforThought: Thanks. I would have to use multiple pieces of the same fabric if I made a B&W but it still could work.

>61 lesmel: Honk! Honk! (that me saying thanks in goose talk)

>62 melannen: Thanks, that's a great story, thanks. I suspect I would have to store it in an acid-free box for a few years ;-)

>63 dudes22: I bought a photocopier/scanner with a bigger "bed" some years ago, so I use this to scan/copy/enlarge/print. I print on scrap paper mostly; and printing usualiy 10 at a time.

That's right, everything in twin x-long now, isn't it? Thanks for the offer, I may take you up 0on that if I decide to do it (I may have had enough paper piecing by the time I finished this one)

>64 avaland: Well, the unfinished top for mine had been in a cupboard in the laundry room for (nobody knows how long). But it wasn't earmarked for anyone in particular!

>58 avaland: Oh, wow, I love that so far! All those colors!

>66 scaifea: Hey, I don't hoard fabric pieces for nuthin' (thanks!)

I noticed on an email I got from Backside Fabrics that they really recommend washing the backing because there's a bit of shrinkage. (They say 8%) I'll admit that I hardly ever pre-wash my fabric (sometimes the reds). But it must be a pain to iron after.

ETA: Oh - and I got a new piece of black/white with an order I got yesterday...

>68 dudes22: I can't imagine washing the backing batting.* I do pre-wash my fabric, except really small pieces. I don't mind shrinkage as I like the antiquey look it gives a quilt.

*I don't buy 100% cotton batting for most of the charity kid quilts, or any that go to the grandkids, but do use it for other quilts.

I have nothing of note to report The finished blocks for the above quilt are accumulating slowly as I have the usual distractions (including a rambunctious five year old bouncing around the house when he is not doing zoom kindergarten), plus I have been doing a family tree on Ancestry.com for an old school friend. Turns out—and I've always suspected this—we share several sets of ancestors (all in the 8th & 9th cousin range (7th and 8th grandparents).

>69 avaland: - I'm a little confused. You say you don't wash your backing but then you say you wash your fabric. And then you're talking about batting. You're making my head spin, Lois. 😜

While I wait for some thread to arrive, I've been cutting more scraps for the "I-spy" quilts I want to make. I have 3 different styles depending on the block size. I "found" a bunch of fabrics I thought were full fat quarters, but they ended up being pieces left over from other projects so into the mix they go.

>71 dudes22: Sorry, that was a typo now corrected. It will be interesting to follow the progress on those quilts!

I continue on. I'm trying to at least make one or two blocks a day, but I don't think I'm accomplishing that. Still haven't decided what size it will be.

One block was sized badly so had to be scrapped; and these are finished but not in their final resting places (gee, that's not a very clear photo...)

{Old photo removed, updated below)

>72 avaland: I love watching this take shape. Thanks for the pic!

I love the riot of color and patterns there so much!

>ok - That makes more sense. I don't wash my batting either. Those blocks are really coming along.

>72 avaland: Nice work! I wish I had the dedication needed for that kind of work.

Is the second square on the left in the bottom row the wrong way around? It doesn't follow the same patterns as the others.

>76 PawsforThought: - good eyes. I think it might be.

>76 PawsforThought: Yes, it is! Good eye! It's probably not in that spot anymore; I keep moving everything around (just playing). But I'll check.

>73 lauralkeet: Thanks!

>74 scaifea: Thanks, that's exactly why I like this quilt pattern and its possibilities.

>75 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

Gorgeous!

>79 melannen: Thanks. The process is kind of mechanical but I'm okay with that right now.

If anyone else wants to make one, I'd be happy to share fabric scraps (for example, I have bins of 4" & 5" squares I've been collecting for years)

Up to 37 blocks. Not sure what size I'm making. This photo was taken with my 35mm camera rather than the I phone (deleting the old photo above). A few of the blocks still have the paper on the back (I like to rip it off in batches)

That's looking really great. I never feel really comfortable mixing and matching fabric like that. And you do such a good job of it.

>81 avaland: That is so lovely. Just enough movement to not make one crazy. Enough variation to be very appealing.

I love it - and I love watching the progression!

>82 dudes22: Thanks, but there isn't a lot of science in it. I'm not actually doing any matching. I just try to vary it visually to keep the eye moving. (oy, it's snowing again!) You probably can't tell in these photos but the little "white" triangles are also scrappy: white, natural muslin, white on write prints, other very light colors

>83 lesmel: Thanks! Being under one is like frolicking in a scrap pile!

>84 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. I do wonder how I could do the same blocks in black and white, or in batiks, or ....

>85 avaland: Oh, B&W would be very cool, I think.

Nothing much to report. I have 43 of 64 blocks done. 64 blocks will make it 60 x 60", a decent-sized lap quilt. I may just continue making the blocks through the end of the winter or until I get my 2nd Covid shot (have an appt for the first on the 24th). But then, maybe I'll move on to something else (like cleaning out the gardens?).

Now, eight days from my last post, I now report that I have completed 53 of the 64 needed (obviously, it's been a slow week...plus we bought ourselves a bread machine so we have been playing with that). I will probably make an extra block or two, just in case. Will post when all are done, but before I start sewing them together (I keep arranging them!) My youngest daughter likes the idea of me packing this quilt away for when her 4 mos old daughter is graduating from high school. I made one block using small pieces of fabrics from her mother, me, my mother and my grandmother.

Oooo- homemade bread.

Well - I'm looking forward to seeing it. What a great idea to use fabrics from your clothes. Smart to have kept them all this time.

>89 dudes22: I've been baking it from scratch, several loaves at a time and well, I'm not fond of the mess. And the bread machine eliminates all of that. Plus, I can train the husband to use it. We've made "basic white", oatmeal and French breads. Next, I will convert my regular recipe for shredded wheat bread so it can be done in the machine.

The 64 blocks are DONE! (now I have to sew them all together).



I didn't make any extra blocks, although there is plenty of leftover components should I need to make another one or two (should I have a problem with any of these blocks).

I'm tempted to keep going through March. Or perhaps do something similar.

That's really nice, Lois. If you wanted to keep going you could rearrange them in a different setting or maybe use a different color as the background for the geese.

>91 avaland: I love this so much!

Lois, that is awesome. So lively, and with so much movement!

>92 dudes22: I have thought about doing another of the smaller blocks (6" rather than 8") but I also should make one or two simple charity quilts now to get ahead (if I hope to donate another 10 at the end of the year) but having the grandson here on weekdays does cut into my sewing time, as soon will the garden cleanup and planting.

And then there is the problem that family and close friends all have multiple quilts from me (which is why this quilt will go to a granddaughter for when she graduates from high school—in 17 1/2 years!)

>95 avaland: - You might not like me for saying this - but - instead of putting this away for your granddaughter, what if you started another but waited to do some of the blocks and incorporated some of her clothes over the next 17 years? I know you've included fabric from family clothes before. If it's 64 blocks, you could do 28 or 30 blocks now and then 2 blocks each year.

ETA: or keep 30 blocks from this one.

ETA2: Or you could make all the geese and wait to use her clothing for the triangles.

Oh, that gorgeous! I love all the colors and patterns!

>96 dudes22: That sounds good. . . but I am not entirely confident that I will live for another 17 or 18 years. I would hate to leave things unfinished. . . .

>97 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. Me, too! I have the first one I made here with me in the recliner where I am sitting :-)

>98 avaland: - Goodness. I never thought of that. I guess I should get going and finish some of the quilts I want to make.

>99 dudes22: Sorry to be the grim reaper. I guess one gets to the point where you realize you are looking backward a bit more than you are looking forward, and truth is, we don't know the time we have left (and still able to do what we are doing). So, no more putting something aside for 'later', if I can help it.

Been thinking about what I might do after I put this quilt together. I jotted down some notes. My days are not entirely my own, and come mid-March

--Spring will be getting closer and there is a long list of stuff to do when it's warm enough (and hopefully before black fly season!)

--Today I was rummaging through drawers (I love drawers, shelves and other storage! Gosh, they are so fun to rummage through!) and I wondered if I needed to keep the stuff from every art project, needle or other craft that I have done in the past. I have released some of it into wild but perhaps more is needed (but, but, what if I want to do....)

--I want to put a backing on my great grandmother's Victorian Crazy Quilt so it can be hung during the Christmas holiday. I've also wanted to make a tree skirt in Victorian crazy quilting. I did a bit back in the early otts, but life back then moved too fast to sit and embroider. Perhaps it might be nice to have at least one project going for lazy days out on the porch or deck.

--I used to make a lot of clothing beginning in my early teens and until about 2005. The last decade of that was all special occasion sewing (graduations, proms, costumes (one daughter was in SCA), weddings...etc. I miss that a bit, but I was thinking more of designing and making myself some patchwork tunics with what's in my stash....(I don't even think garment sewing is using a 5/8th seam anymore -- I might have had this conversation in the past with Amber).

Anywho, this is the kind of stuff floating around in my head.

I don't even think garment sewing is using a 5/8th seam anymore
Whoa! Mind blown. When did this happen and why?

I got rid of a lot of crafty stuff when we moved 4 years ago, but I could probably do a bit more in that department. I noticed a tote (or two) with upholstery fabrics that I thought I'd use for pillows when I was doing my cleanup and I'm thinking I should go through that again. How many pillows do I really need?

>100 avaland: As far as I know, 5/8th is still the norm for garment sewing, but then I haven't used a brand-new pattern in a couple of years...

>101 lauralkeet:, >103 scaifea: Ok, that might be my misunderstanding. I got a pattern off the internet a for a nice sunhat a few years ago and apparently it called for 1/4" (I made a mess of it before I figured that out). The last garment I made (that I can remember) was in late 2008, a black crushed velvet hooded cloak with fur around the hood (I used an old fur collar from yesteryear for that).

>102 dudes22: I know what you mean about pillows!

I figure as a grandparent I should have lots of weird stuff squirreled away to fascinate the grandchildren with.

After I do my great grandmother's backing, I thought it might be nice to have a Victorian crazy quilt project ongoing (perhaps done as large blocks) so I can embroider while watching TV, sitting on the new glider on the porch...etc.

But I could also have regular quilting piecework also in the works, right? :-)

>104 avaland: Oh, weird. I think some of the online 'patterns' I've followed call for 1/2 inch seams, but never 1/4 inch that I remember. But standard patterns still seem to be 5/8, I think.

>106 scaifea: Thanks the Gods!

I have sewn the eight rows together. The points are not all going to fit perfectly as it seems some of the pattern patterns were a slightly longer on one dimension. I'm not a perfectionist, but it bugs me....

The apron pattern I just used is 5/8" seam. Was beyond weird to use 5/8" for everything.

>108 lesmel: After a lot of quilting it is an adjustment for sure!

After carefully assembling the rows of the above quilt and carefully labeling the rows numerically, I began to sew the rows together, first in pairs. All was going well until rows 5 & 6 which I managed somehow to turn over and sew them upside down (thus five was on bottom of the pair).

The prospect of picking out that long seam out was not appealing so I put the 5/6 combo up on the wall and it turned out I could sew the remaining row 7 to the top of 5, and 8 to the bottom of six. And while that matched up a few prints that I wouldn't intentionally put side by side, it seemed very acceptable so that's what I'm going for!

To add to my list of things I might like to do is to spend time leafing through Jinny Beyer's big encyclopedia of block patterns and see if there is one I think suitable for another scrap quilt.

I should also find something to do with a lot of fabrics that I have which are tone on tone, and others who read as more like solids. I find I don't use these much because of that. Perhaps I could use them in the charity quilts.

SO glad you could recover. I had that happen once and ended up taking a few rows out, but at least I didn't have as many seams to worry about.

Oh yay for not having to use ye olde seam ripper! Whew.

>111 dudes22: It was just the one long seam, but still....

>112 scaifea: Yes! ("ye olde seam ripper" ha ha ha ha!)

>110 avaland: This reminds me of my double star saga. I should have my seam ripper surgically attached, some projects.

>114 lesmel: "...surgically attached" too funny!

So, the other day, while browsing the heavily traveled The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns by Jinny Beyer, I found this called "North Wind". page 126 #10. In this you see the pattern colored in and below as a grid (bottom row, fourth over). I saw with this for a while, first imagining what the blocks together might look like, then I set about figuring out if I could do it with paper piecing. This is what I came up with.



If I make the block via two halves (cut diagonally) it should work. Here I've drawn each half and numbered the sequence of piece placement of light and dark prints (and I do have some extra lines in my drawing).

More likely I will do it as I have done others with prints as the darks and whites/off whites as the lights. Although I have to think about it some. When put together this way the corner triangles will result in squares being two triangles colored prints and two light pieces....

I think I will have to make some blocks to play with before I decide.

Meanwhile, the previous project has been assembled and just needs ironing. Then, I suppose, it goes in the stack of quilts waiting to be quilted.

That's interesting. Are you thinking of paper piecing because you're using scraps? Seems like it lends itself to half square triangles if you're not.

Just curious - did you take your paper out before you put the rows together or after?

>117 dudes22: Yes, it would indeed lend itself to HSTs. Oh, I suppose, it's the brain exercise of figuring out how to do the paper piecing and it reduces my responsibility around accuracy (especially if I'm using scraps*). Instead of cutting ahead, pieces get trimmed as I work. (it occurs to me that I'm already departing from my ideas of directions I might take back in message#100, ha!)

I take the paper off before sewing the blocks together. I match the points and seams using a pin tip, and then pin it before sewing. I don't mind if it's not perfect, it reminds me (and everyone else) that I'm human.

*I have those bins of scraps separated by shape (small square/rectangles, triangles, long pieces...etc) and other bins of 4 and 5" squares that I have cut up in past years

My daughter sent me this 'artful' photo, which made me laugh. That's the small quilt with very small triangles that I made from the leftovers from the quilt I made, by request, for her wedding, back around 2016? (the one made with strips of long chevrons)



And here is June face forward at 4 1/2 months. They are in the DC area but moving up here in May. Her husband has permission to work remotely permanentlly from NH. And we will finally get to meet her in person.

>199 sallypursell: awww.

Here is me twiddling around with only one block sewn together. The left lower corner of the block is the light blue with white flowers, and the opposite corner is an off-white triangle.

If I arranged similar blocks the pattern would show a row of large squares of "dark" (a print without the majority background being white) where the blocks meet and anther row of white/off white squares.

Not excited by the resulting 'white' squares. And not excited about having alternating rows of large colored and large white-ish squares

What if:

--the large white-ish triangle in each block was a light print, thus making that white square, a coming together of 4 light prints.
--Or what if I alternate triangles -- darker print, lighter print. The resulting squares would be mix of prints.
---What if I use light prints for the small solid white/off white triangles (tried it, too busy, me thinks. Plus, using just dark and light prints leaves out a lot of lovely scraps!)
---I could use black where the white is....would I be happy with a row of black triangles (answer: no)

And on it goes. I think I will have to make some more actual blocks to play with it further. Maybe I'll leave it there for a few weeks and do other things.

>121 avaland: But in a few weeks it will be full time garden weather!

>119 avaland: - Cute baby.

>121 avaland: - so many decisions

>119 avaland: How sweet!

>122 SassyLassy: Very good point! I have ordered my seeds (but still I browse seed/plant catalogs). And there is a small mountain—three yards of still frozen, good garden soil in my side yard waiting for my attention (there is also an almost 6 year old boy who hopes to "help" excavate it). I have an arborist coming next week to look at some things (well, obviously, it's trees). And we bought a lovely wooden glider late last fall (on sale) and it's been calling me from the screened porch all winter.... None of this is particularly conducive to quilting...but there are rainy days (I hope) and the limits of my very creaky and titanium-augmented body....

The paper-piecing can be something I can pick up at will and do a block or two when I have a stray time. But, I should also see about the Victorian crazy quilting and dust off the embroidery needles and take stock of the floss because that is something I can do sitting on a glider....

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>120 lauralkeet:, >123 dudes22:, >124 PawsforThought: Thanks. I get to meet her in person in late May!

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Since >121 avaland: I've made two blocks doing them like the original block except replacing the white/natural large triangle with a print. Will post when I make some more.

I don't really have anything to say about your current project because my brain isn't working well enough this morning to grasp what you're doing, really. It does look very cool, though.

I *will* say, however, that your grandbaby is the sweetest! You must me so excited about the move! (And the 'artsy' photo is very cool.)

>119 avaland: She looks like a pistol! The best kind.

Do you remember, Lois, that we once made the same quilt from a book? I took a couple of pictures of parts of it over me, so you can't see a lot. It was mistreated by my son and daughter-in-law (out of ignorance--I should have given them washing directions) and is coming apart in places. I am sleeping under it these nights.

>126 scaifea: Thank you. I think I have the mess in >121 avaland: sorted, but I was off daydreaming about another project recently....

>127 sallypursell: I think she just might be. Might give her older brother some trouble.

>128 sallypursell: At the moment, Sally, I can't remember what it was (quite honestly, my brain in sieve these days), would you be so kind as to remind me? Was the photos on last year's threads?

Okay, left is technically four blocks (these are made paper-pieced in two triangle 'halves'). The two top blocks still have the paper attached and the triangle halves are not sewn together yet (I'm thinking I might possibly want to switch those around, so I'm holding off). What do you think? Maybe this quilt will be a small one.... (pieces are not as dark as they appear)

Meanwhile, on the right side of the photo is another project I started eons ago. I thought I might make something from my son's abandoned Hawaiian shirts that he wore about 20 years ago (the uniform of the young computer geeks at the time). So, whenever I had this brainstorm I created these quarter circle pieces to make some kind of small quilt; however, I did think of a pillow, too. There are no more shirts, btw. If anyone has any wild ideas, I want to hear them :-) Note: some of the shirt fabric that was not cotton was fused with interfacing to give it some structure.

>130 avaland: re: the quilt: I will have a better idea of things when I do more blocks.

Lois, I posted two pictures on my needlework thread. It's not important if you don't remember.

For some reason those photos came out upside-down. That has happened to me twice. I don't do anything different when it happens. And I tried turning it with photoshop and they still posted upside-down. I don't understand.

>130 avaland: - I do like the blocks with prints in the triangles instead of white/cream/off-white much better.

Now - the Hawaiian shirt project. I suppose you could try and find some fabric with similar prints and put this circle in the middle. Or what about some batiks? I wonder if you could find any shirts like this at a thrift store - assuming you were willing to go to one. Or ebay?

>133 dudes22: I love the idea of using thrift store finds! Batiks are another good suggestion.

>130 avaland: Are the left blocks Ocean Waves?

>132 sallypursell: Sally, I import my iphone photos to my MacBook and rotate 360º (whether they look like they need it or not) before uploading to LT

>133 dudes22:, >134 lauralkeet: I thought perhaps I would remove that quarter circle of denim and perhaps make the rest of the pillow denim (the uniform of choice those years were Hawaiian shirts and jeans...every day). Not sure the batiks would work with the synthetic fabrics.... I'm in a mood to finish things that have been hanging around for years....

>135 lesmel: It's possible the whole pattern made by the four blocks could be called ocean waves. The Jinny Beyer encyclopedia call the block (just a quarter of what is show above) "North Wind" and the source is "Nancy Page, unidentified newspaper clipping, date unknown." However, I checked the index and looked up what she has under "Ocean Waves" and most variations have center squares with dark and light triangles (the ones in this book are a bit more elaborate). But, I think it could be considered one.

Still messing around in the studio, not terribly focused. I did go through most of the fabric piles on the shelves and pulled out 90% of the batiks I found...and then remembered I had a pile of batiks in another place, plus I found a cache of cut pieces in blocks meant to become future masks or leftovers from that batik circle quilt top I finished last year. Yowzers! Batiks can be quite lovely, but they don't always play well with others, especially ones with a lot of white or black content.

I'm really done with batiks, I think. So, I'm trying to come up with an off-the-cuff easy square block pattern, easily varied, and using a full range of light to dark batiks (and no small pieces!) in order to put together some lap quilts for charity before the year is up.

I do use some batiks in the scrap quilts, but they are a certain color range and have pleasing overall patterns that work with other scraps.

(I could be wrong about "being done with" batiks, but I need to reduce the pile anyway).

>137 avaland: I love batiks and just went off on an online search for a pattern that works really well for them, but naturally couldn't find it. I will keep looking. I agree that they don't play well with others usually, but when they do, it's marvellous.

Edited to ask you based on your CR thread of where you are, have you ever been to Badger Brook Farm in Gilmanton? They have amazing thread collections, including my favourite, Valdani, which is hard to find here. Don't be turned off by their Facebook page, which I don't think is representative of the range of things they carry. When borders open up again, I would love to make another trip there.

>137 avaland: - And I'm just getting into batiks. It started with that quilt I made for my grandson which you sent me some scraps for. It's fairly easy. I think it was called bento box.



Or this one i did last year? -



Gotta go walk - I'll be back later with another idea.

Changed my mind on the other idea. I think there's too much background fabric for you in it.

>138 SassyLassy: I am SW of Gilmanton, a little over an hour driving, I think. I probably would not have stopped at the wool store, but I certainly can see you doing so!

>139 dudes22: Thanks for the suggestions. I do like that first quilt, it a very modern design. I think I'd like to go for a large square block, maybe 12" ....something like those quilts made with the rectangular blocks....

OMG! look what I found in my junk drawer from 2018 when I went looking for an example of the quilts with the rectangular blocks!



I'd forgotten about this! I avoided a lot of the lights and darks and tried to keep towards the middle with this one. Seems I should be able to simplify these blocks and scale them up so they can be a square 12" block. Perhaps, instead of mixing the lights and darks, make a dark quilt and a light quilt?

That's a great quilt. You could upsize the blocks to 12" or something that doesn't require weird cutting dimensions.

The pattern for that rectangular quilt was for it to be made with a jelly roll. the idea was alternating blocks, one with a light center and dark borders and one with a dark center and light border. I don't remember exactly what the cutting sizes were. I have a bunch of 2.5" strips that I could probably do a scrap quilt in that design. Add it to the list.

You keep your junk drawers by year? ;)

>142 dudes22: You keep your junk drawers by year? ;)

I found the photo scrolling back through my junk drawer, brought it up and in the left hand column where it says "additional information" it said Picture uploaded by avaland on Oct 9, 2018.

I also had this one in there:



The pieces for that quilt are 6.5", 4.5" and 2.5" squares, and 2.5 x 4.5" rectangles. I played around with it yesterday and can upscale those to: 9.5", 6.5", 3.5" squares and 6.5x3.5 rectangles. Blocks would be 12 x 15 finished and a quilt of the size pictured would take only 20 blocks (they can be pieced slightly differently).

Too many things in my head at once these days what with the wild grandson here now four days. And it takes us two days to start to feel relaxed again. We are all showing the effects of a difficult year....

I realized what you meant but couldn't resist the nudge.

You do a great job with figuring out different sizes of blocks that work together.

>144 dudes22: I don't do anything fancy, basic math. I refused further math classes after Algebra II, but I ran out of art classes in high school and took a drafting class (while quilts are not the same as pipe vices and rocker arms, some of the lessons learned are helpful in other areas).

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The librarian at the New England Quilt Museum sent this out to the volunteer list. Thought some of you might be interested.

"While spending hours on hand quilting, I've used a laptop to play YouTube programs. Here's a link to a list of Textile Talks I recommend."

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXsBpWjk3xVCTzucHkrU3ly5NlLa7mW3f

Textile Talks features weekly presentations and panel discussions from the International Quilt Museum, the Modern Quilt Guild, Quilt Alliance, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and Surface Design Association. There are 43 videos. Traditional quilters will like #4 with Barbara Brackman. Contemporary quilters will love those by SAQA members. This is a great resource.

I'll have to check that out.

I've done two blocks, scaled up from the original pattern seen in #147 above. They sew up pretty quickly. I only need 20 blocks to make a 60x60" lap quilt.

Now, I have to decide whether to include the very light batiks, and the ones with a lot of black. I had turn the highlights all the way up to be able to make that great black and purple fabric show up in the photo. Geesh. After studying it, I think the very lights and the darks might have their own quilts?

Yes, I have two projects going on at the same time. I sit and do a half or whole block for the paper-pieced quilt. This is fairly mechanical at this point. I figure by the end of April I will have enough done to put together a quilt.

We are having some temperate weather that feels quilte spring-ish. Six deer wandered into our yard this morning. I will soon have to take down the bird feeders so a bear doesn't walk off with it. I sat out on the deck and/or the screened porch and read for a few hours in the early afternoon. It was lovely.

I agree that the light and dark don't really fit with how the quilt feels to me from those two blocks.

I sat outside for a little while today too and read for a while.

I roughly separated the batiks into piles of lights, darks and moderates. I have cut up the large pile of moderates into 9.5 and or 6.5 squares, and the 3.5 squares and 3.5x6.5 rectangles. I calculate I can get at least 4 lap quilts out of those.

I estimate the remaining piles of dark and lights can make two each, and with the leftovers of the moderates I might be able to squeeze in another.

So, that's all I've been doing, cutting, cutting, cutting.

>149 avaland: How are your wrists holding up?

>149 avaland: I admire your ability to just cut everything and have those projects on tap for whenever!

If you should run short (ha, ha, ha) - let me know and I can send you some. Or if you think you need a particular color.

ETA: I love looking at those lupines every time I stop here.

>150 SassyLassy: The cutting hand (left) did protest some.

>151 lesmel: Thanks, I think. You might be admiring plain nuttiness on my part. Maybe it's a side effect from the two Covid shots....LOL

>152 dudes22: Oh, Betty, thanks for the offer but I've already shushed that voice in my head that is telling me I should go out and get some more this or that....

Managed some time at the sewing machine yesterday sewing the smaller batik components together so I could put a sampling up on on the flannel boards. Photo of what would be 15 1/2 blocks of a 20 block quilt. I didn't adjust the colors from the iphone...for more accurate colors refer to #147 The colors look better in RL. Those violets are not as dark...etc

{photo removed}

The leftovers from these middle colors can be worked in with the quilts made from the lights or darks. Not sure if I will just keep sewing the smaller pieces together and just stow it all for putting together for another time OR ...

*I took my paper piecing project off the board but I continue to do a block or 1/2 block when in the mood. I already have too many quilts waiting to be quilted by the pros... and spring has officially arrived and the gardens are already whispering in my ear.

I went by a garden center that was open and stopped and bought some pansies to put out. Not today but maybe early next week. I'm debating whether to pot them up for the front steps or put them in the garden.

>155 dudes22: That will be lovely, Betty. I saw some crocus in one of the gardens and there is one daffodil near the house foundation that is up and seems will soon bloom. I have a horrendous amount of raking to do, and a huge pile of augmented garden soil to get out to the gardens in the very near future.

>154 avaland: I love the pops of orange in your blocks!

So, here is the first of the charity quilts, not quite all sewn together yet (and seemly slightly out of focus). This is one made with the "moderate" colors. I have all the components for at least two more of the quilts and odds & ends for one or two more (I would need to cut and or put together the sub-blocks). I will finish putting this one together; the others are in a bucket ready to go when I want to do them. I'm trying not to fuss much with them. I've also had trouble sewing them in proper order (my brain is generally mush these days), luckily if I screw the order up it tends to still be acceptable



>157 lesmel: Thanks!

That's great.

Meanwhile, I occasionally take a break from the endless cutting, ironing...etc of the above project by doing a few paper-pieced half blocks for that project (last seen #130 above). I try to do one or every time I'm in the room.

The question is...will I make myself iron and cut up all the dark and light batiks soon....

>147 avaland: As usual, I vote for including the widest range of fabric values in one quilt--so including the darkest and lightest in the same quilt. I've noticed before that we don't agree about this, though.

>161 sallypursell: It depends on the quilt for me. These batiks are all charity quilts and by grouping colors (with crossover), it can appeal to different-aged children/teens.

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I have been cutting the darks up of late, and have gone through the whole pile. Of course, I feel the need to buy more to round out the colors. I can get 3, possibly 4 lap quilts out of what I've cut, maybe a 5th with the added yardage I've ordered.

I don't think I'll cut the lights until what I ordered arrives and is processed.

I set aside the cutting and did a few more paper-pieced half blocks. Here's what it looks like pinned up (and I haven't taken the paper off the backs yet....)



Placement of the half-blocks (which are triangles) will be fussed with when I have all them all done. Point to point, it's roughly 32 inches as shown.

(!! A male bluebird, a male goldfinch and a male purple finch are on the feeder at the same time, all in their bright full spring splendor! I like to think they came together just for me!!)

Another "Best Use of a Quilt" photo....



I will get to see my 5 month old granddaughter for the first time late next week. The whole family is moving from the DC area to NH!

>158 avaland: I love the really bright colours for that quilt.

>163 avaland: - Is this the one for your granddaughter? I was starting to twitch until you said it was 32".
>164 avaland: - What a cutie!!

>163 avaland: Gorgeous!

>164 avaland: Super cute baby on a lovely quilt! Glad to hear you'll get to meet her in person soon. And you'll have her so close by!

>163 avaland: Oh, I love that so much!

>164 avaland: But I love this more, I think. So sweet! And congrats on the family moving closer! You must be over the moon.

>164 avaland: What better introduction to the world of colour and pattern, and to the quilting world for a beautiful little girl than Kaffe. I see some of his work sprinkled here and there.

Your granddaughter has lovely focus, so thoughtful. I'm sure the two of you will have lots to discuss!

>165 SandDune: Thanks! The colors are better in person:-)

>166 dudes22: Oh no, the one for the granddaughter is in the pile awaiting quilting. The patterns are similar....
Thanks, she will be here next week!

>167 sallypursell: Thanks, Sally.

>168 PawsforThought: Yes, it will be great to have them nearby.

>169 scaifea: I like it, too. We'll see what happens when I have to sew the whole thing together! Thanks re the family move.

>170 SassyLassy: Yes! I sprinkle him in every quilt, if I can. I added Laurel Burch to that quilt also. That quilt was the last? one make last year, I think.

Thanks, I think she very much has a mind of her own. Already.

>164 avaland: Definitely a best use of quilt!

>172 thornton37814: Thanks.

>164 avaland: I didn't mean to leave this out. Also gorgeous!

>174 sallypursell: No worries, Sally!

Hadn't been near the studio for well over a week before yesterday, and that was just to do a few more paper-pieced half blocks.

My younger daughter and family arrived in NH a week and a half ago, to live here permanently. We finally got to see and hold our nearly 6 month old granddaughter (!!!) and her older brother. But they came over here for most of the weekdays because their "stuff" has not arrived (they packed and shipped their household furnishings themselves via freight). We already have my 6 year old grandson here (by the older daughter) four days a week doing his remote schooling, so it was a bit of a zoo. No sewing (or much of anything) got done last week. We were fairly exhausted. To add to this, I came down with a COLD! I haven't had a cold in over a year!!! (I blame the newcomers because nothing else changed)

Theoretically, I have two projects going, a batik quilt for a friend, and the paper-pieced quilt seen above in #163. I have about 30 blocks done. Can't decide whether to make it a 49 block center with borders OR a 64 (8 x 8) block quilt with no borders. I have done other scrap quilts both ways. Will post in the near future to see what you all might suggest.

I am also going to make a simple batik quilt like #158 for my best buddy. She and I, both vaccinated, got together recently and I showed her what I was working on. She got all nostalgic for the late 60s when she saw the batiks so I told her I'd make her one. I'm making another for her daughter in London, who is pregnant (she seemed to think her daughter would very much like the colors in the batik quilt for a baby quilt). I'm not sure how well these batiks hold up to frequent washing...anyone have experience with this?

The paper-piecing is rather mechanical, but it's something that sort of calms and centers me, if you know what I mean.

How great that you got to see your granddaughter but I think you're right about where that cold came from.

I have no experience with washing batiks. I've only used them for that quilt for my grandson but didn't wash it before I gave it to him. I like the colors and - look - it's already made.

Yeah, your grandkids are very likely the culprits when it comes to your cold. Having worked for years with kids 1-10 years old I can confirm that kids are living petri dishes.

Must be really great to get to see them though. I'm counting the days until I get to see my nephew again.

>177 dudes22: Batiks wash fine before assembly; though I do them in warm or cold water, just in case. I've the one big batik quilt here but it just sits on the back of the couch and I've not washed it since finishing it.

>178 PawsforThought: My daughter apologized for giving me the virus. She says they seldom distinguish between their allergies and colds.... It was truly wonderful to see them in person again after such a long time (last summer, I think).

re: the cold. I carry on, today has been better although I did have a coughing fit this afternoon (but I've used no meds today!)

Progress. I try to do two half squares at minimum each day, sometimes I can make a few more, and sometimes less or none. I am trying to resist over engineering the placements of colors and patterns.

I had decided I would do 7 X 7 blocks with two borders, but the pattern (of on point squares) would better with an even number of blocks. So, it will be 8 x 8 blocks....

That's looking so nice. So many pieces!

>181 dudes22: Thanks, Betty.

As always, I love your riot of colors!

>183 scaifea: Thanks, Amber. Obviously, I like it, too!

>180 avaland: I really like that. Is it a certain pattern? I think I missed that, if you explained.

>185 sallypursell: Hi Sally, I probably posted it ages ago, but I don't mind posting it again.

It's a block pattern from Jinny Beyer's The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns c. 2009 a big ol' hardcover reference book that replaced my ancient 101 pattern book (this book says it has "more than" 4050 pieced blocks). I love this book.



Pg 110, a pattern called "North Wind". I chose to split the block diagonally into two half blocks so I could paper piece them.

Hmm. Makes me think of other books I've made multiple quilts from...maybe I'll put that on the question thread...

>186 avaland: I have that book, and I love it, too! It has greatly increased my feelings about the possibilities in quilting. I've never made a quilt from it, specifically, but I really like yours a lot.

>186 avaland: There's a great quilt here on Pinterest. It is a Tennessee Waltz quilt with Corn and Beans at the corners of each. I LOVE this. I know this seems like a non-seqitur, but after I saw North Wind I wanted to compare it to Corn and Beans, and I found this quilt on the way.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/29906785002821159/

edited to add: The maker of the quilt says one block is "Bird of Paradise". I don't know that one.

>188 sallypursell: Sally, thanks for posting that link. I like that quilt a lot and it's right up my alley. Not sure I like the borders. I've saved the photo for future reference.

As has been true for quite a while, I haven't been able to get into the studio as much; HOWEVER, I did sneak in there yesterday (a rainy day) late afternoon while my husband and the grandson were enthralled with "Peppa Pig" (my husband was probably reading Twitter) and I managed 5 or 6 half blocks, cut up some more triangles and calculated what I need to finish (something around 30 more half blocks now that I've decided it should be 8 x 8 blocks).

Here is the pattern Sally posted a link to in >188 sallypursell: above. I will find the two? in the Beyer book, if I can.... it looks as if it is made from two different blocks where the pointed tips of the "cross" are in the alternating block...

>190 avaland: This seems to be a combo of:

a "Broken Window" square (6x6 grid, pg 130 in Beyer's book) and some "star" pattern (also a 6x6 grid. Beyer has several similar stars, pg 133, but not one where the center square have those corner pieces). 53 pieces in the "window" block, 33 in the "star" block. I do love patterns that play with one's eyes! Thanks again, Sally.

I don't have that book, so can't say if those are the blocks or not, but what I see is a small block where those diagonal squares are and a large sashing strips that are where the points are. (flying geese, a square-in-a-square, and a 60 deg triangle block?)

I just sent you an email with a pattern that I had downloaded (it was free) that's very similar to the one in #190. I think the only thing that's different is the points that go into the border.

>193 dudes22: Got it, Betty, thanks. I think the two different blocks are the same size. I may do a mock-up when I have some time (won't be this weekend).

I think the difference is the 60deg triangles that seem to make the points and I think that angle is what gives it the curved look.

>191 avaland: There is a "how-to" post for that quilt, in which the quilter says it is composed of "Memory Block" and "Bird of Paradise". She says she got the pattern from a particular place, and here is where you can find this post:

https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/pattern-my-scrappy-quilt-t222563.html

I couldn't make her link work, (the above one does) but her comments are worth going there, I think.

She says the Memory Block is from Quilter's Cache, but that she put a square in the middle instead of a triangle.

>196 sallypursell: That may be the next quilt I make, but I have several to finish first.

I found this pattern, too.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/85216617930171104/

I think it is the same. It has the same title.

Here's a cute quilt.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/LeMoyne-Trails-Quilt-Pattern-by-Pam-Goggans-Studio-80...

>196 sallypursell: I don’t doubt there are various names for probably the same blocks.

>198 sallypursell: It does seem to be so.

>199 sallypursell: Hmmm. I don’t think I’m draw to this one. ... Thanks for posting the link though.

Was unable to get into the studio all weekend and Monday I was keeping an eye on the tree people as they took down some trees and pruned the ornamentals. And today was a wash because I had outside work to catch up on. 😕.

Five days have gone by and I only had one short stint in the studio. Family comings and goings, remote schooling for one grandson, and the other two with their mom escaping to here allow their dad some quiet for his remote work...if I get a bit of spare time, I'm outside working battling the black flies and keeping an eye out for ticks.

Every now and again, I put together a few more half blocks. At least I have all the triangles sorted and ready.

>13 avaland: I LOVE this. It is so lively, and since I never use solids, so very unexpected to me!

>15 avaland: I like the yellow, but it may be a bit strong. You could cover it with a translucent fabric, or lace, or something to tone it down. But, you know, it looks like the nearly full moon in a mackerel sky.

>18 dudes22: you could make a border of smaller circles of moons of various sizes, from full to dark of the moon. That would be fun.

>203 sallypursell:, >204 sallypursell: Thanks, Sally. Those tops seem to be projects from so long ago! I have more than a year's worth of quilts waiting to be quilted. You remind me that I should call one of the quilters I use and see if she is taking quilts yet.

Not much going on. I have 8 blocks (16 half blocks, actually) left to piece for the quilt in #180 above. Essentially, it the 8 blocks of the last row of an 8 block by 8 block quilt.

Seems everyone has gone quiet here, busy with other things, I suspect.

I have the gardens all cleared, but still have several outdoor projects to finish. I'm hoping to get a lot down this week and the next and then coast through the summer, just weeding and watering.

>206 avaland: I have the gardens all cleared, but still have several outdoor projects to finish. I'm hoping to get a lot down this week and the next and then coast through the summer, just weeding and watering. Love the idea of coasting through summer! Are your beds well established then?

Completely off the topic of Needlearts, are the ticks bad this year where you are? There seems to be an explosion of them here.

>206 avaland: Good on you for getting the gardens all cleared. I've been in the veggie patch both today and yesterday, pulling upp weed roots and trying to get it all ready for planting.

>207 SassyLassy: The beds all around the house are*; and down along the front yard including near the road. The other beds are a grouping of boxes I made from our old decking, where I have some asparagus and rhubarb in two, and I throw seeds into the other five boxes. I'll post some pics at some point...

*most of 3 sides of the house/ garage.

>208 PawsforThought: I don't do veggies at this house. The town I lived in for the last seven years has a lot of farm land and there are two big farm stands in the town center that has fresh fruit & veggies (and other yummy stuff).

>103 scaifea: I bought some patterns for the granddaughter dresses this year, and they still have a 5/8" seam.

>105 avaland: You know, you could make pillow shams with remaining geese blocks if the sizes would work. That would be neat.

>210 sallypursell: Good to know.

>211 sallypursell: I don't think I have that many left...(seems so long ago) but thanks for the suggestion.

I'm closer to the 'finish line' for having all my paper-pieced half blocks for the quilt pictured in #180 done. Progress has been slower due an immense amount of outdoor work, and family coming and goings. And hot weather makes me lazy.

When I get the half blocks done, I'll post a picture on a new thread as this one is over 200 posts and clumsy to navigate.

I hear you about the weather making you lazy. I have some masks to make and I'd like to do some quilting, but the weather has been so nice that I just want to sit on the deck and read. I do have a hand quilting project that I could work on out there, I suppose.

>213 dudes22: Hot and muggy is what makes me lazy (I'm a Northerner through and through). Today it's allegedly going up to 89º with storms this afternoon. I've done the watering and now I'm inside.

I do have an inside list of things-to-do so I'll knock a few of those off the list before I head for the studio....

You remind me that I am expected to make masks for the grandson who will be going to summer camp.

It was warm here today also so I took the book for our next book club to the deck under the awning and spent the day reading. We might get some storms later but most of the time, they fizzle out before they actually get here. Tomorrow is supposed to be much cooler and I will do my sewing then. I found a fabric in my stash that looks sort-of like the Olympic rings which I will use for my sister (the children's librarian). I like to make her ones that the kids will find cute.

(I'm heading over to my thread to mention the book I read today)