Category: quilting

Weekend Treasures

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date August 21, 2022
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I found many goodies this weekend. Let me share a few of them with you:

This book is interesting for a variety of reasons. I always look at all of the pictures first. Then I start to read patterns, like they are a story. I know this is weird, but true. The measurements are written in inches and centimeters….hmmm. Wadding? What? That must be batting. Sometimes the fabrics aren’t cotton…Use silk for the yellow blocks? Then I looked for the copyright…London, Australia, New Zealand in 2002. Ah, ha! That explains it! I have many quilt books, but none from so far away.

49 cents at local thrift store…from 2008

This has a couple of nice star quilts that will make great patriotic themed quilts. Much better price than the original one!

All this for a dollar! A yard and a half of Nightmare Before Christmas fabric, seven uncut fat quarters, four uncut handkerchiefs, and some other scraps. Score!

On Saturday we found organizers and kitchen treasures. Nothing that I can share…Some of them are surprises for other people who love treasure, too!

What treasures have you found recently?

Later,

Lorrie

quilting scraps sewing

Coxey’s Camp blocks

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date August 16, 2022
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I started these six inch blocks last summer. It takes a little while to make 256 blocks…just a little while. They are made from scraps, scraps, and more scraps. Each block has 17 pieces. That is a lot of little scraps. You can do the math.

Here is the heap of completed blocks, just waiting to be assembled:

I was inspired by several blocks in this book: Sampler Spree by Susan Ache. You will see more blocks in the future. (I retired from 32 years as an elementary teacher. I will have lots of time to sew…finally!) Directions are well written and easy to follow. Sometimes simple sewing is just what is needed. All the blocks in this book finish at 6 inches. I made 256 Coxey’s Camp blocks out of scraps to make a 96″ square quilt, if I don’t add any borders.

Here is a sample of a completed block:

As I worked, I stored my finished blocks in a large storage bag from the Dollar Tree. The bags come in various sizes. (L…3 to a box, XL…2 to a box, and XXL…1 to a box…it is the size of a pillow). They are heavy ply. They also have a convenient handle. They are a bargain at $1.25.

I usually assembled 20 or so blocks at a time to maintain my own sanity. I parially assemble them and press them. Small steps that can be completed in about an hour are my best work sessions. Sometimes I get called away and let all the pieces on the ironing board. (The sections for an individual block are attached so there will be no problems picking up right where I left off.)

Time for dinner…or I’ve just had enough fun for the moment!

I love little trays for blocks that are waiting for the last 2 seams to complete the them…

I am taking this block set to Quilt Camp to assemble the top in September. I have lots of other projects to work on in my retirement. What will be next?

What big project have you been working on…even if it is taking a year or so? Leave a comment.

Later,

Lorrie

Tags 6 inch quilt blocks, quilt blocks, quilting, Sampler Spree, scrap quilts

quilting rainbow scrap challenge

RSC yellow update

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date April 10, 2022
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The color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for March was yellow/ gold. Sadly, I was not as productive this month.

I only need one more of these scraptastic blocks to make a quilt.

This was an experiment with hollow cubes…my measurements were a bit off. Notice the crooked bottom right corner. I know where I went wrong and need to fix it next time.

I did not get a feathered star block made this month. I picked out fabrics, but it didn’t get cut out. Such is life!

April is pink. Time to dig into the scraps and get busy.

What projects are you working on month by month?

Later, Lorrie

quilting

Spring Flowers

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date April 2, 2022
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I just received the May/ June issue of McCall’s Quilting. Several of the quilts are appealing to me.

I am not crazy about paper piecing, but…I love this little flower table topper.

I spent a short while digging around in my block bins to find some flower petals and centers.

The original pattern uses a blue batik background. I found this small print in my scrap hap. I think it will work wonderfully with my flowers.

What project are you working on?

Later, Lorrie

quilting rainbow scrap challenge sewing

Basted and Ready

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date March 20, 2022
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I meant to post this yesterday, but my motivation got lost along the way. Oh, well, it gave me something to do today!

This is block 11 of 12 for my dresden crumb block quilt.

Also works as part of this month’s rainbow scrap challenge…

I pieced this block last week. It was not a total success, but it was not an epic failure either! I thought I could piece this using shapes cut with an accuquilt die. You will notice that it is no quite square. I wish I could blame it on something…drunk quilting, maybe…but I can’t.

This is what I have learned about basting. Sometimes the prep work is well worth the time it takes to get it done. Thread basting is much less painful than pinning with applique pins. It is also quicker and easier than glue basting…no glue to wash out later.

Have you basted or appliqued anything recently?

Later, Lorrie

quilting

Big Block Update

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date March 10, 2022
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I wrote a blog about my big block quilt pattern rewrite here...over a year ago.

This quilt only takes nine big blocks…only nine! This weekend, I pieced block number 8…wahoo! ONLY one more to go!

Needless to say, these blocks take about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours each to assemble.

I was running low on some of the fabrics, so I did what my pioneer ancestors would have done. I pieces the scraps to make the blocks that I needed.

This quilt is going to be big!

What project have you “restarted” recently?

Later,

Lorrie

quilting rainbow scrap challenge sewing

Monthly Goals: February

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date March 2, 2022
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I am revisiting my resolutions that I made in January…for better or worse.

Finish a quilt top every month…didn’t happen this month.
Post to blog twice a week…almost…I posted three times one week and 1 time the week before. I am counting that as on track, because it averages out to twice a week.
Sew 80% of the year…still on track for this.
Read to self…one book a month…more like half a book this month.
Read aloud twice a week…we are crushing this goal. This is much better than the crap that is on TV. We just finished an Agatha Christy mystery. Now we are reading John Jakes.

February is teal/aqua for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month I made several blocks.

Remember, I said that I was not the only maker. My DH made this for one of my sister’s co-workers, who just lost her 30 something son unexpectedly. Tragic. He graphed out a poem that she had written and added butterflies from another pattern. He is amazing.

How are your resolutions shaping up this month? or for the year so far?

Later,

Lorrie

quilting weather

Ice & Update

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date February 26, 2022
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We woke to ice in the trees and bushes on Friday. Thank goodness the temperatures were in the 60’s on Thursday, so the roads were still warm enough to not be super slick. The trees looked like they were encased in glass. Thank goodness it was a still day and the sun appeared to melt the ice with only a little damage to trees and branches…no power outages in our area.

Not enough to get school delayed or cancelled…beautiful!

We did have quite a bit of fog. The mountain was beautiful shrouded in ice and fog, but I did not get a picture of that.

I am working on block number 9 of my paper foundation dresden blocks. I need 12 to make the size quilt that I want. I have not decided what setting I will use for these blocks yet. They are approximately 14 1/2 unfinished.

I also have a couple of other teal/aqua blocks to make for the RSC. They are cut and ready to be sewn. February is quickly becoming history. I need to buckle down tomorrow and get blocks made.

What are you working on this weekend?

Later,

Lorrie

quilting

Quilt picture

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date February 20, 2022
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Yesterday was when this should have been posted, but I was enjoying my time off line just a little too much.

I love taking pictures of things that would make great quilt blocks. You never know where inspiration will come from…like a vinyl table cloth.

This is a close up of the table cloth at my sister’s beach house in Delaware. This would be great in applique.

What are you designing today? What inspires you?

Later,

Lorrie

quilting sewing

Teal crumbs for RSC

Post author By Lorrie Shore
Post date February 17, 2022
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Over the weekend, I made 10 teal foundation crumb blocks to share with you. A little eye candy is better than no eye candy!

I always make these in sets of 10…watching Monk while I sew.

Hey! I think I saw Elvis!

Years ago, back in the days of Hancock Fabric, I bought several yards of this Elvis fabric in teal, pink, gray. I love having him show up in scrap quilts and blocks in random places.

I made it to the second month! Wahoo! Are you working on RSC blocks?