Category: Quilts

Kaffe Quilt Finish

I had a lot of Kaffe scraps (along with some solids) and wanted to make a very cheering quilt for a coworker.

It came together quickly. During production I tried storing the strips on a hanger, which I had not tried before, but certainly will again.

The finished size is 60×80 and uses all 2-1/2″ squares–1200 in all. Colored: 600. Background: 600 (That equals about 2-3/4 yards of each.)

This idea is easily adapted to any color scheme and is good for using all those small-but-not-too-small scraps that result from everyday quilting.

Another Cow Quilt

This is the third cow baby quilt I have made. They are so darn cute, you can’t make just one!

I make just three blocks and round the rest out with squares. A lot of visual impact without too much time. It finishes at about 36″ x 36″.

Another warm baby!

Another happy quilter!

Leftovers: First Quilt Top of the New Year

When THIS QUILT was sized down I was left with 32 extra 16-patch blocks. What to do with them?

There are plenty of 2″ squares at my place, so I made an additional eight blocks. Then, 40 4-patches with 2″ background all around.

Well, that was a quick top. Only 48″x60″, but a nice lap quilt size. And, no leftovers.

Second Chance Quilt: Whoops? to Wow!

Sometimes you have a good idea that doesn’t quite work out. But, it did require effort and fabric and time…you hate to throw it away.

I was fortunate enough to inherit some such items. It appears the original maker was working towards a wonky coin quilt of some kind. Foundation pieced. But a little odd…

First I squared them up and trimmed to a standard size: 5-1/2″ x 46″.

It felt like a border would both make them more stable and give definition. Added 1-1/2″ strip all the way around. Now they are 7-1/2″ x 48″.

Then, because the piecing was already a little wonky, I added strips top and bottom to give that movement to the entire quilt. I started with background fabric cut into pieces 7-1/2″ x 13″. I then cut those into pairs: 3″ and 10″, 5″ and 8″, 7″ and 6″, 9″ and 4″, 11″ and 2″. These were added to the top and bottom of each coin strip. (Only four strips shown in this picture, sorry) That brought the total length of each strip to 60″. Finally, I added pieces 3″x60″ to the sides and between each coin strip. The size was selected by using half the width of the coin section finished (5″ finished /2 = 2-1/2″. Then add the seam allowance of 1/2″.) TIP: When adding components, consider using fractions or multiples of a chosen “base” component. The final result tends to be more balanced and finished feeling.

Total finished size 50″ x 60″.

Quilt and bind.

And a surprise backing–that panel that I didn’t know what else to do with.

Consider how this might work for you on a future quilt. It is fun to take great-ideas-that-didn’t-quite-work and treat them as raw materials. They can be the start (foundation) of a successful quilt.

Scrappy Star Quilt–the FINAL QUILT of 2021

I started this quilt about a year ago with the intention of making a queen size quilt. The pattern came from American Patchwork and Quilting, October 2020, and is called To Give and To Receive.

First, I made all the 16 patches I thought I would need as leader enders.

Then I started the star blocks and got to a certain point and was ready to be done with it. It is 66″ x 78″, after all.

So, I stopped and finished it. Sometimes it is important to be flexible in our plans. After all, the original pattern was only 66″ x 66″. I am really pleased with it and will deliver it to its new home next week.

In the meantime, I have 32 extra blocks to put into a new project. We’ll call that a good start on the new year.

Matching Mini

A friend recently made a quilt with her mother out of fabric that the mother had brought back from the Far East several years ago.

The quilt with stay with the mother, but there were a few small scraps. I suggested she give them to me.

Using the picture of the top as a guide, I made a matching mini.

Yes, a few solids were added, but hopefully the spirit of the quilt has been maintained. The mini will probably hang on the wall of her sewing room and remind her of a wonderful weekend with family.

TUTORIAL: Discovery Baby Quilt

What I thought was a disappointment has turned into a lovely quilt. I call it Discovery.

DISCOVERY BABY QUILT

39-1/2″ x 39-1/2″

MATERIALS

A good sized pile of color coordinated scraps

1/2 yard background fabric

1/3 yard binding

1-1/4 yard for backing

CUTTING DIRECTIONS

from the colored scraps cut a total of…

400 2″x 2″ squares (NOTE: These need to be in multiples of at least 4, 5, or 8 of each color in order to build the block pattern)

after your blocks are built, cut the background fabric as follows…

24 2″x8″ rectangles

9 2″x2″ squares

2 2-3/4″ x 35″ strips

2 2-3/4″ x 39-1/2″ strips

ASSEMBLY

  1. Arrange scrap squares to create a block as follows: 5 squares of Color A (here RED print), 8 squares of Color B (here light print), 8 squares of Color C (here GREEN print), and 4 squares of Color D (here BLUE print).

2. Assemble to create one block. UNFINISHED size should measure 8″ x 8″.

3. Repeat to create a total of 16 blocks. TIP: I made little piles of my squares sorted into blocks first so the colors would be fairly evenly distributed and each block would be unique.

4. Lay out blocks in a 4×4 pattern, balancing colors

5. Add 2″x8″ sashing between the blocks to create rows.

5. Create sashing strips for between the rows by alternating 4 2″x8″ rectangles with 2″ squares.

6. Attach strips 2-3/4″ x 35″ to sides of quilt. Attach strips 2-3/4″ x 39-1/2″ to top and bottom of quilt.

7. Ta-dah!  A Discovery Baby Quilt top.

DISCOVERY BABY QUILT Gallery

your beautiful creations here…

Discovery Complete

This little quilt is finally complete and I like it more and more.

Just simple squares, of course, but striking and versatile.

This one starts with 2″ squares, but I am thinking of doing a quiltalong making a throw size quilt using a jelly roll or layer cake (or, of course, scrappy squares). Would you be interested?

In the meantime, I need to get the tutorial written for this one. Watch for it next week.