Seam Great!

Ever since I learned how to make pillowcases using the "30 Minute Pillowcase" pattern (where you stitch the trim and main pillowcase fabric inside the tube formed by wrapping the cuff fabric around all of it), I have enjoyed finding unique fabric from which to make pillowcases for the grandkids.  

On the give-away table at a fall quilt retreat, I spotted some fabric that "celebrated" Lionel trains.  My youngest grandson loves trains, so I claimed it.  There were 4 pieces, two of which were just the right size for the main pillowcase fabric; the other two were smaller and could be used for the cuff.  The trim fabric would come from my stash.  

The "tube" process of constructing the pillowcases goes quite quickly.  Once the fabric is pulled out of the tube, it is pressed and squared up.  Then it's time to finish the side and bottom seams. 

I do not have a serger, so I have used a couple of different techniques for finishing these seams.  In the past I have stitched a 5/8" seam allowance, then either made flat-felled seams or turned the seam allowances in on each other and top stitched the edge.  Flat-felled seams are a bit tricky, trying to stitch all areas without a free-arm sewing machine.   Turning the seam allowances in on each other works okay.  But with each of those techniques, I always run into trouble in the area of the trim--lots of bulk there that doesn't want to turn under nicely.  

Another idea came to me when thinking about finishing my grandson's pillowcases:  with wrong sides together, I stitched a 1/8" seam allowance down the side edge.  I then turned the pillowcase inside out so right sides were together.  After the seam was pressed, I sewed 1/4" away from the seamed edge, enclosing the raw edge of the pillowcase.  The bulkiness of the trim area was not a big problem when the seams were stitched this way.

The bottom seam of the pillowcase was finished using the same technique.

In just a couple of hours, I made two pillowcases that will be part of my grandson's Xmas gift.  

My daughter can let me know if these pillowcases wash up and hold together as well as others I've made for him.  So far, they seam great!  :)

 

 

 

 

 

From the Heart

The prayer quilt ministry at my church was begun last Sunday with 3 quilts.  The congregation was very receptive to this new ministry and willingly participated in the tying of them and praying over them.  After the service, I received requests for prayer quilts for other congregation members.  So I am busy making more. 

I have several fat quarter packs that have been waiting to be made into quilts so I chose to use the Yellow Brick Road pattern.  The pattern's 4 block x 5 block quilt requires 6 fat quarters--perfect, for that's what my fat quarter packs contain!

The pattern is quite simple...one is directed to cut the fat quarters into strips of 2 different sizes.  These strips are then sewn together "in a variety of combinations", cut apart and then sewn again "in a variety of combinations".  With only 6 fabrics, there is a limit to the "variety of combinations" one can make.  :)

When the blocks are all created (3 different designs), one is told to "arrange the blocks in a random order, turning the blocks as needed so that color placement is pleasing and seams are offset (if possible)."  The main thing I try to accomplish when laying out the blocks is to avoid having the same fabric next to itself--not always possible!  And after trying several different layouts with this first group of blocks, I found that it was impossible to have all of the seams offset, so I stopped worrying about that, too!  

Many of my quilting friends make quilts for charity.  I've heard some of them comment that one doesn't really have to be so fussy with charity quilts--the recipients will love them no matter the size, design, etc.  I, for one, certainly hope so.  And I hope that they can feel that these quilts are made from the ❤.  :) 

Windmills to the Rescue

What fun to find these blocks and coordinated fabrics among all of the leftovers from other quilters that I collected this summer. 

There were 14 of the strip-pieced blocks which measured approximately 6" x 6".  I challenged myself to use these blocks and coordinated fabrics to make a lap quilt that was at least 36" square.  

The blocks were not all exactly the same width, but were 6" long.  Because of this, I cut the blocks in half across the strips.  White rectangles, measuring 4" x 6" were pieced to each of the half blocks.  The resulting blocks were trimmed so that there was 2 1/2" of strip piecing remaining--I now had 6" blocks.  

Four of these, set together, created a Windmill block.  This design seemed to camouflage the irregularity of the "leftover" blocks.

 

Once I had my design figured out for these leftovers, I was excited to keep going.  I needed to make more blocks for a 9-block lap quilt.  The strips in the original blocks measured ~ 1 5/8" wide.  So strips were cut from the coordinating fabric, then pieced in the same order as the original blocks.  The new strip-pieced sections were cut in half and pieced to white rectangles, then trimmed into the units necessary for the Windmill blocks.  

Sashings  and cornerstones were cut from the remaining coordinating fabric (2 1/2" wide).  The quilt top went together very quickly!

 

When layered, tied and bound, this little quilt will be the first one in our church's new prayer quilt ministry. 
 

Road Construction

Some chunks and strips of fabrics featuring roads, road signs, and vehicles were in a bag of scraps that I brought home from a retreat that I attended a year ago.  These were leftovers from a fellow quilter who was making a quilt for her grandson.

 

Since a number of the pieces were fairly long strips, I planned that this lap quilt would be made from horizontal "stripes".  I began by piecing together chunks or adding chunks to strips to make stripes approaching the width needed for a lap quilt.  In my stash, I found coordinating fabrics from which I cut more long strips.  Now I needed to map out the details of how all of these stripes would go together.

At one of this year's summer retreats, I took advantage of a large work space to lay out the stripes.  (While doing so, a retreat friend contributed some "truck" fabric leftovers to add to my quilt!)  I was able to determine the best order of the stripes, then cut them all to the size of the shortest one. 

 

When pieced together, the quilt top measured ~31" x 34".  I wanted to add a 3" border to make it bigger.  I did not have enough of any of the fabrics that I had used to construct the basic quilt top, so had to go shopping. 

 

I purchased a gray fabric that blended with the gray in the fabrics of the quilt top.  But when I laid that out next to the quilt top, it just seemed kind of "blah".  I went "shopping" in my stash and found a black fabric with a subtle gray print.  This did a better job of framing the quilt top. 

 

 

Corner squares were cut from some of the leftover vehicle fabrics. 

 

Construction complete with no major road blocks!  When it is tied up and bound, this lap quilt will be ready to be used and enjoyed.

Just Ducky

In the past, when working with fabric leftovers, I was not really concerned about the size of the final project--it would be whatever it turned out to be.

But now that I am using leftovers to make lap quilts, I am finding that having a "target" finished size helps me to develop a plan.  

So, how could I turn four 6 1/2 " squares (plus a few smaller pieces) of a duck print fabric into a usable lap quilt? 

This fabric is very colorful.  So, looking at the colors in the print, I searched my stash for possible fabrics to use in making a lap quilt.

First, I bordered out the print squares so that they would be 12" finished.  The 1 1/2" blue strips that "came with" the print squares were used as the inner border.  Fort the outer border, I chose lime green.  Those strips were cut 2 1/2".  

Now that I had these four squares, what could I do with them?  If I made the quilt top basically a 9-patch, I would need 5 more blocks.  

I had plenty of white fabric and more of a similar shade of dark blue fabric.  An orange fabric would be fun to use, too.   

I sketched out a plan for 9 patch blocks to surround the print blocks.  The squares would be cut 4 1/2".  I decided to position dark blue squares to create an X design across the quilt top.  A bright orange print was placed in the 9-patch corners.  Smaller pieces of the duck print fabric were sewn together so that a 4 1/2" square could be cut from them.  This square was used in the center of the middle 9 patch block for continuity.  

 

 

 The finished quilt top measures 36 1/2" square.  It's bright and cheery, and Just Ducky!  :)

Sailing Away

Lap quilts are the perfect size with which to experiment with leftovers...both mine and those that I "inherit" from others.  

I was given 15 squares, plus several scraps, of a colorful "boat" print. The squares measured 6".

Since 15 was an odd number to work with, I was able to piece an additional 6" square from the scraps (just like our quilting fore-mothers did when they didn't have a big enough piece for their design!) . Now I would be able to set the blocks 4 x 4.

Something had to be done to the 6" squares to make them GROW into a decent size lap quilt.

Using the colors found in the print, I searched my stash to see what fabrics I could use to border out the squares, making them bigger.  I found a dark turquoise "blender" fabric that would be perfect!  However, there wasn't enough of that fabric to add borders to all sides of each square, so the dark turquoise became the top and bottom borders of each square.  A solid red fabric was used to border the sides, with solid white used for the corners of the blocks. Because all of these border strips were cut 2", the blocks now finished at 8 1/2".

 

To help the quilt grow a bit more, the blocks were set with solid turquoise sashing, cut 2" wide.  To mimic the smoke coming out of several of the boats in the print, a grey "blender" fabric was used for the cornerstones. :)  The finished lap quilt top measures ~38" square.  

After the quilt is tied, it will be bound with the solid turquoise fabric, and will be ready to sail away to a new home.  :)

 

Hurrah for Red, White and Blue!

Every once in a while I like to work with my stash of red, white and blue fabrics--especially since most of my lap quilts are donated to the local VA hospital.  

A pack of red/white/blue charm squares was saying "use me".  One fast and easy way to use charm squares is to make half square triangle squares which then become pinwheel blocks.  I decided that my design would alternate red pinwheels with blue ones. For 16 pinwheel blocks I needed 32 light charm squares and 32 dark ones (16 red; 16 blue).  Since there weren't that many of each type in the charm pack, other 5" squares were cut from my stash fabrics.  

The sixteen pinwheel blocks, when set together, measured 32" square, finished.  To make the lap quilt bigger, a 4" border was added. 

My stash also included many red/white/blue scraps and leftover blocks/block parts.  These were scrappy pieced together for a second lap quilt.  The chunks were pieced so that, when sewn together, I could cut 8 1/2" squares.  I planned to use 2" (finished) sashing between these blocks in order to make the lap quilt to finish 38"square.  I also thought that forming stars at the cornerstones would be interesting!  But what colors to use for both?  

There was not much, if any, gold in the fabrics that make up the blocks, so I decided on gold sashing.  With that color sashing, I chose white for the cornerstone stars.  But the more I studied the blocks as I was arranging them, I noticed white fabrics at many of the block corners.  White stars would not really show up at those intersections; plus many stars would make the quilt much too busy.  One star in the center seems perfect! 

 

While working on this lap quilt, I realized that it takes much more time to create scrappy pieced blocks than it does to make pinwheels!!!  :)

Both lap quilts will be tied.  I like to use 6 strands of embroidery floss for tying...for these I will use 2 strands white, 2 strands red and 2 strands blue.  Patriotic all the way!

 

Buried Treasure--Strip Sets

It's a good idea to sort one's sewing room every so often.  It's amazing what can be found stashed away!

These strip sets were buried in a box in my sewing room closet.  They were leftovers from a quilt that my daughter made many years ago.

 

It was definitely time to do something with them.  They would be perfect for a lap quilt.  

The strip sets measured 6 1/2" long.  I decided to put them inside cream-colored squares.

The cream squares were cut 4 1/4", then cut in half diagonally.  The center of the long edge of the half square triangle was marked, as was the center of the strip set.  The center marks were matched up to stitch the strips inside the squares.  Once both sides were stitched, the block was pressed and squared up to 4 1/4".

I had seven sets of 6 blocks of the same print combination.  But not all of the strip sets were the same width.  I experimented a bit with the best way to set the blocks together--even tried a pinwheel design.  In the end, to my eye, diagonal rows looked the best. 

The blocks were set 6 across and 7 down.  With six of each strip-pair block, the order of the rows worked out just right!  :)

More buried treasure was found in my closet--enough fabric in my stash for the borders.  The gold fabric was cut 2" wide; the green fabric was cut 4 1/2" wide. 

 

The finished size of the quilt top is ~34" x 38".   It will be a cozy little lap quilt!

 

Not Quite Log Cabin

 As you may know by now, I am always on the lookout for quilt designs that will work to make lap quilts and use up my fabric scraps.

At a retreat that I attended last year, there was a basket of $1 patterns.  Looking through it, I found "Garden Window" by Bits 'n Pieces.  The description said "a pieced quilt with applique flowers--make it with quilters quarters".  The background on which the flowers were placed appeared to be a kind of Log Cabin design.

One of my scrap bins contained a stack of "somewhat" coordinated larger pieces of fabric, several of which were wide strips.  These fabrics were perfect for this pattern!

The instructions said to make strip sets of two different sizes and cut those into chunks for the block centers.  The centers were then surrounded by four strips, all cut to the same size.

As I was making the various block parts, I made sure to mix up the placement of the fabrics.  Piecing the blocks was quick and fun.  

When the blocks were set together, no matter which way they were turned, there were no seams to match up!  Easy!!  

 

The "somewhat" coordinated fabrics are repeated enough so that the resulting quilt top is scrappy, but not too busy (at least to my eye).  Twenty blocks, set 4 x 5, finishes to ~32"x 40". 

Hopefully this colorful quilt will bring joy to its new owner.  :)

 

A Detour Along the Yellow Brick Road

Whenever I have a set of six coordinated fat quarters, I like to make small quilts from the Yellow Brick Road pattern, by Atkinson Designs.  According to the pattern, six fat quarters will make either a 48" x 48" quilt or one that measures 48" x 57" when borders are added to the pieced blocks.  

For a recent charity lap quilt, I worked with a collection of fat quarters in fall colors.  Following the instructions in the pattern, 20 blocks were made.  When set together, 4 blocks wide x 5 blocks long, the quilt top measured ~36" wide x ~45" long.  

The other lap quilts that I have been making are square, measuring around 36".  None have been larger than 45".  Since I used most of the fabrics in this collection, I did not have enough fabric to make more blocks.  So I removed the last row and finished off one lap quilt.   

I now had 4 leftover blocks.  What could I do with them?  From my stash of leftover fabric scraps, I gathered fabric pieces in similar fall colors.  I scrappy pieced 12 more blocks, trying to use mostly fairly large "chunks" of fabric (so the blocks would look much like the YBR blocks), 

Scrappy piecing the blocks was much more time consuming than making the YBR blocks!  But it was a good use of scraps that I'd collected, and a new lap quilt was "born".  

I've studied the pattern to see how to use it to make only 16 blocks.  It might work to use only 5 fat quarters--the blocks will be pieced the same, just fewer of them and less variety of fabrics.  This is something that I will try in the coming weeks as I continue to make lap quilts for the local VA hospital.  :)  :)  

Trial and Error

Thirty years ago I was making miniature quilts, thinking that by making small quilts, I could try out all kinds of designs faster than making them in standard size.  

Today I am making lap quilts with the same rationale--trying out new ideas while using up fabric scraps, leftovers and stash fabrics.

Several months ago I met a lady who asked if I would help her to make her first quilt.  Happy to start someone on her way to being hooked on quilting, I said "sure".  

During our first meeting, I learned that she does have a sewing background and already owns some of the basic tools.  She showed me the pattern that she wants to make:  "New Shoos" by Jenny Kae Parks, found in the Mar/April 2021 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine.  I could see why she was attracted to it...the model in the magazine was made from Kaffe Fassett fabrics and was bright and cheery. 

I congratulated her for choosing a fairly simple-to-piece design and a quilt that will turn out not too large.  This quilt will be a great one for her to learn some of the basic techniques--rotary cutting in general, construction of half-square triangles, precise piecing, etc.

Her first "job" was to get the necessary fabrics.  The pattern called for a layer cake for the main fabrics in the blocks and I showed her some ideas on Missouri Star's website.

It would take her a few weeks to gather up her fabrics so I decided to try out the pattern with some fabrics I had on hand--beginning with some 10" squares, charm squares and yardage from a friend, plus pieces from my stash.  The pattern makes 9" finished blocks, so 16 of them will make a lap quilt measuring ~36" square.  

Each block requires two pairs of the same 5" squares to make four identical Half Square Triangle squares.  These are trimmed to 4 1/2" square. The center rectangles are cut 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" and the center square is cut 1 1/2" square. 

After my 5" squares were cut, I marked the diagonal on ALL of them...hadn't yet paired them up. Then I paired them up, stitched both sides of the diagonal line, and cut them apart on the line.  Because I'd marked the line on both squares, I had to be careful about the line on which I was cutting--had to make sure it was between my lines of stitching.  My head must have been somewhere else in cutting one of them--I cut on the line, but this line crossed the lines of stitching!  Now what?  

I still had some of that particular fabric, so after taking the "oops" apart, I pieced together enough fabric to make two 5" squares.  (Just like our quilting foremothers did with their scraps!!!)  I then used those to make more HST squares.  That fabric is a busy enough print that it isn't that noticeable.

 

This lap quilt was easy to make and mine turned out bright and cheery too!  After making this, I now know exactly how to guide my new quilting friend in making hers.  :)

 

  

On Safari in Kenya

My trip to Kenya was called "The Ultimate Safari".  It seemed that every day was some kind of adventure with animals!

On the first day we visited the Giraffe Center, outside Nairobi, where the Rothschild giraffe species is being conserved.  We were able to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures and feed them special treats. 

 

On the second day we headed north to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy where we spent the next 3 days.  We stayed in tents and went on safari drives 2 times each day. 

We had to stay in our jeep during the safari drives, but our guide took us as close to the animals as he could. ( And the zoom feature on my camera helped a bit, too!)

Each day we saw a variety of birds, on the drives and also around the campground.  (Deer and baboons roamed the campground, too! )

One morning we were able to pet a black rhino...Barak is 27 years old and blind.  He's in his own protected environment and doesn't mind the attention.  

Back to Nairobi, a visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.  Endangered baby elephants are rescued from the wild and brought back to health until they are able to be on their own again.  

And a day trip from Nairobi took us to Lake Naivasha.  We boated near the hippos then walked the grounds to be close to giraffes (Yes, giraffes are my favorites!!!)  :)

This trip had been rescheduled 3 times.  It was definitely worth waiting for, and was truly an amazing adventure!