Featured Quilt of the Week - "Quintessential Buttercups"

What fun I had making this quilt! When I started making the eight inch blocks, I didn't know how many I would make, but ended up using twenty different traditional block patterns.


Believe it or not, I actually had trouble choosing just twenty patterns out of all I wanted to make. I'm pretty sure there's another sampler quilt coming up.


I think I used ten different fabrics in varied combinations in the blocks.


But if you count, you may come up with a different number!


For the backing fabric, I spent a long time trying to decide between one of the blues used in the front or the yellow I used for the sashing and outer front border. I thought about this for days before I made the decision to use them both in a pieced backing.


I experimented with a wavy grid pattern for the quilting and am very happy with the results. This particular quilting design adds a lot of interest to the back of the quilt.


You can read more about this quilt by going to my website and clicking on "Shop Now."

"Sampler Blocks" Baby Quilt Done

It's 6:40 Thursday morning and I just finished the last few stitches of the binding on my Sampler Blocks baby quilt.

I didn't end up getting into bed early on Tuesday night, but last night I was reading in bed by 8:30. (My husband maintains I don't "read in bed" but rather "sleep with the book on my chest." Books last a long time this way.) After my requisite eight hours (maybe a little more last night), I was awake at 5:15 this morning. As soon as my morning latte was brewed, I was sitting sipping and finishing up the binding. (Now that's the way to start a good day!)

I'm very pleased with the way this quilt turned out. My daughter saw the it "in person" for the first time yesterday and suggested I make more quilts using this multiple block pattern. Besides lending an old-fashioned feel to the quilt, including all the different blocks certainly does add eye-appeal. Using the same group of fabrics but switching them around in the various patterns held my interest with no problem throughout all twenty blocks. I really wouldn't hesitate to start in again today on another quilt of the same motif. I'd have to select twenty different blocks this time around, of course. There are so many lovely traditional blocks to choose from that I know I could happily make many, many quilts and never repeat a block.

Although the backing is pieced, it's still simple.

Okay, binding done. Check. Start new project. Check. But whoa a minute here! I think I'm going to be strict with myself and sandwich and quilt another (maybe two?) top(s) I have completed on my design wall. As much as I say piecing a quilt is my favorite part, there really is a lot of satisfaction to be had by holding the totally finished project in my hands.

Happy quilting!

The Home Stretch - Binding

Earlier today I promised myself I was going to get into bed early tonight with a good book. I didn't sleep well last night and was draggin' my wagon all day today.

But, of course, now when I'm so close to finishing my sampler block baby quilt, I can't resist putting in a couple of hours tonight hand sewing on the binding.

I once asked a friend who is an extremely talented quilter what her favorite part of the whole quilting process is. Without hesitation, she replied, "The binding. Because when that's done, I can start something new!"

Rescued from the Home for Wayward Quilts

Okay, this baby quilt top really didn't have to be rescued in any way . . . just sprung from the "To Finish" box that it's been trapped in until I could figure out how to quilt it.

I knew it was too busy for much else other than an all-over quilting motif, but the right inspiration just wouldn't come. I think I've got it figured out now.

Also I wasn't sure of the fabric I wanted to use for the backing. Now I think it's going to have to be a pieced backing made from the two fabrics I couldn't decide between, because it's so big that neither piece totals quite enough yardage! Solves that problem.

The design of this quilt came from my love of the old, traditional block patterns. I used about nine different fabrics, mixing and matching them in the twenty blocks. All the blocks (whew, took a long time to construct all of them!) are held together by the yellow dotted fabric of the sashing and outer border.

I had a great time learning how all the different blocks were made. While I gained a lot of piecing knowledge from the experience, I also now have some new "favorite" blocks that I know I'll use again in other quilts.

Here are close-ups of just three of the blocks picked randomly from the quilt.

This one is called the Improved Four Patch block.

The above block is called Tombstone Quilt. Terrible name, but attractive block!

Then we have the Cheyenne block. This one really appeals to me, and I know I'll use it again.

I hope to get started on the quilting soon and will post pictures when it's done.