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!