My Fabric Box & GGA Quilt Finish

Hi Everyone!

I'm excited to share my finished Great Granny Quilt but, first I thought I'd share a tip with you and a new green block that I decided to re-do before I show you the quilt. Of course, I can't prevent you from being as excited as I am and scrolling down to have a look but, that's okay. Scroll away, just make sure and come back to read about my great fabric tip.

So, here's my collection of 2.5 inch squares that I started 5 or 6 years ago. I can never remember the exact day but, it's been a long time now since I made my box of fabric squares.

Anyway, when I first saw the Great Granny Along I immediately pulled out my box of squares. It was a great resource of already cut 2.5 x 2.5 inch squares and while I was working on the Great Granny Along I actually added more squares to my box every time I cut new fabric for my blocks.

Supplies for Fabric Box Collection of 2.5" Squares"

• 12.5 inch Plastic Scrapbook Box
• Cereal Box Cardboard (fabric dividers)
• Variety of 2.5 x 2.5 inch square of fabric
• 
  

Start Collecting 2.5 x 2.5 inch squares:

• Whenever you buy fabric cut a 2.5 inch strip off and then subcut it into 16 squares.
• Whenever you're cutting fabric for a quilt project just cut an extra 2.5 inch strip and then subcut it into 16 squares.
• Whenever you have any leftover scraps just cut them into 2.5x 2.5 inch squares.
• Whenever you have a minute add squares to your box and before you know it you will have quite a few 2.5 inch square ready to use for any project you're working on.

Here's the re-do on one of my Great Granny Blocks.

Here are a few pictures of my finished quilt!

I used Lori's instructions on cutting the sashings and the border. Go HERE for the tutorial.

Notice the squares in the sashings?

Well, I decided to add my own flare by hand appliqueing squares where the blocks intersect.

The applique squares are set on point to compliment the pattern.

Here's How I Made the Squares:

• I used 16 squares measuring 2.5 x2.5 inches.
• Starch one fabric square at a time.
• Turn the fabric 1/4 inch on one side then press.
• Turn the fabric 1/4 inch on the opposite side then press.
• Repeat for the remaining two sides of the square.
• I used Applique glue to secure the squares in place.
• I then used matching threads to applique each square in place.

My husband helped me out by holding the quilt but the wind wasn't cooperating.

He's been on conference calls all morning so I had to make it quick.

The wind finally died down and I was able to catch a few pictures before his next meeting.

I'm really happy with how it turned out and can hardly wait for, my friend, Kaylene to quilt it!!!

If this quilt has inspired you, it's not too late to join the Great Granny Along. Go HERE to read more about it and her links will direct you where to go to sign up.

The Primitive Thimble

After the Fabric World debacle in Portland (I will post about the experience soon) we headed toward Vancouver, Washington to spend the night with a promise that in the morning we could visit another quilt shop before we drove to Seattle to visit the University at Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

Since we had a few computers with us I made sure to investigate a few quilt shops online before we got in the car. Lesson learned...

We stopped at a lovely quilt shop called The Primitive Thimble in Vancouver, Washington.

Notice the front door. . .


Come to find out that their shop was broken into on the weekend. The thieves stole the cash register and a few other random things but the QUILTS were not touched. They must not have known the REAL VALUE of the quilts in the store. Just the hand appliqued quilts behind the counter are worth over a $1000 dollars not to mention several antiques that they had around the shop. Luckily they were clueless!!

Moving on. . . Let me introduce you to Lynn.


What a wonderful lady. I felt like a dear friend that she hadn't seen in a while. She made us feel right at home. Lynn is one of the staff there at The Primitive Thimble. We had such a fun time visiting and learning and talking quilts.

I looked over while we were talking and noticed this curved looking box sitting on the counter and it was covered with a white cloth. I asked her what it was and she revealed this really wonderful lace making pillow. Can you see it? Click on the pictures to have a good look. It's marvelous.

Click on the pictures to look at the detail on the heart lace and the 3 other pieces of lace on the right side of the pillow bed. The lace pattern is on the blue paper and it's attached to the drum in the middle of the lace pillow.

I've done a bit of research on lacemaking and here is a great website to visit. It's a beginner's guide to Bobbin Lacemaking.

Here's a look at the quilt shop. . .

Look at the yummy over dyed wool on the table next to the doll. I wish I could have bought some of it and I'm probably going to regret it but I do have the phone number so, I'm good.








I really fell in love with one of the quilts in the store but, I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of it, I guess I was really excited about it. You can see the store's version of the quilt here on their website. This is the book and the fabric I bought to add to the collection of Civil War Prints that I have in my stash.

Here's a picture of the quilt in the book.

Now this was my kind of Quilt Shop. I Loved it!!!

Red & Aqua

Red & Aqua. . .
Aren't they such happy colors?

Ever since I joined Jane's 2009 Disappearing Nine-Patch Swap I've been buying more fabric to add to my meager collection of AQUA Fabric. Of course, I couldn't help buying more RED fabric while I was at it!!! LOL! It's been so much fun looking, shopping, and buying fabric. I think I've been to at least seven different quilt shops. It's interesting but there really isn't as much Aqua fabric in the stores as I thought there would be.

I have all of my fabric cut and now I'm working on sewing them back together again.




I have six blocks done and 19 more to go. I should be able to make the November 2nd deadline. Easy Peasy!!! Come join the fun if you're so inclined. I think my DD Kenna's going to want this quilt when she sees it done.

A Little Change!

I've been ready for a little change lately as you can see from my new header and background. My new background is thanks to Aqua Poppy Designs. Isn't it simply darling? She has some really fun and free backgrounds if you're looking for something fresh and new.

I haven't jumped in totally and done a major overall but that's definitely in the horizon as I continue to make my blog look more professional and all matchie matchie (can you spell matchie matchie that way? lol).



I had so much fun taking pictures of the fabric that it became my inspiration for some change. The majority of the fabric in the pictures are from my collection of Aunt Gracie prints, I'm definitely a fan of Judie Rothermel. I did want you to know that Aunt Gracie's are my biggest collection of fabric and I've been collecting it for 10 years now. You must know that it takes many years to acquire a collection. I remember when it cost $6.39 a yard and now you pay over $2.00 more per yard. I have to admit though that I've been hitting a few fabric stores recently doing a little bit of fabric therapy, okay a lot of therapy but I need therapy so that's okay (smiles). I've been buying some of the newer Aunt Gracie prints along with some other stuff. I'll do more posts about that later.

When I was at Broadbents the other day, Laurel showed me a new scrappy quilt book that I just had to buy. One of my requirements for buying a book is that I have to like more than 3-4 quilts in the book for me to buy it.

This is the book. You can see it here.

This is one of the quilts I'm making. The feedsack quilt pattern inspired me and since I have sooo many Aunt Gracie fabrics I knew it would be the perfect quilt for me to make.

This is the block.

Just so you know, I did make a few changes...

First, I wanted to have red polka dots for the center of the blocks. As you can see I already put together one block. Isn't it so fun? I LOVE it!

Second, The block in the book is 12" x 12" and the strips are cut 2 1/2" and my block will finish at 9" x 9" because my strips are cut at 2". You are probably asking WHY! Well, it's because the stacks of strips that you see in the pictures above and below were cut from my stash over two years ago and I wanted to use them. So, I modified the measurements to fit the 2" strips I cut two years ago. I also threw in some of the newer fabrics I've been buying too!

I actually like the smaller block better and the red center gives me quiltbumps. I'm all giddy inside! I can't wait to make more of these blocks.

Must be GOLD!!!

Well, it's official. . .

I actually paid $10 dollars and $.40 cents a yard for a PIECE of FABRIC!!!
I can't BELIEVE it!!!

I don't want to BELIEVE it!!!

I just never thought it would happen so quickly!

It seems like yesterday you could buy Aunt Gracie Fabrics for around $6.00 a yard and now it's in the $8's and other fabric was around $8.00 a yard and now it's quickly approaching $10.00 a yard. YIKES! My pocketbook hurts!

Have any of you paid over $10 a yard for fabric from a quilt store, yet?

I'd love to see pictures of the fabric you were willing to pay that much for. Just leave me a link in comments if you're interested in playing along.

Thanks!

I just thought it'd be fun to see the fabrics that talk us into taking them home with us!

Here's the fabric GOLD I HAD to have.
It's a great background print and besides it has RED in it, too!!

Dresden Plate Tutorial

This is my new favorite quilt block. It's called a Dresden Plate. Don't you just love the SCRAPPINESS of it? It just makes me HAPPY to look at it and touch all of those wonderful fabrics. My friend Rae Ann and I are making a lot more than one block but, we haven't decided how many quite yet, but maybe 100 blocks for a king-size quilt. We'll see how ambitious we are as we start cutting fabric. Between the both of us we could probably do it with not too many repeats.

Some of my friends and I are taking a Block of the Month Class at American Quilting and each year for the past 5 years Amy (the owner and resident designer) has designed and taught her Block of the Month Quilt. In past years we have done a Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall Quilt and this year it's a Patriotic theme. The patterns for Amy's (past years) BOM Quilts can be purchased on her website "Under the Garden Moon" she also has more great patterns that she and her daughter have created. Make sure to check them out, you won't be sorry that you took the time to visit.

I'll keep you updated on our progress but, in the mean time I thought I'd get you all started with where to buy your ruler and a little tutorial to show you how to make the block. . . just in case you want to make a Dresden Plate Quilt along with us.

The ruler can be purchased from Connecting Threads or you can go into American Quilting and buy one if you live in or near Orem, Utah. The Dresden plate block as seen below was the BOM for January.

This is the Dresden Plate Block.
The block will finish at 9 inches square when sewn into a quilt.

This is the 18 degree fan ruler that also comes with a pattern.


Tutorial for Making a Dresden Plate Block

Begin by looking through your fabric. You will need a variety of fabrics in an assortment of colors and patterns. One thing you'll want to remember is the fabric you pick for the Dresden Plate wedges should be a good contrast to what you pick for the background fabric. In other words, you can use any variety of light to dark fabrics just remember you don't want your light fabric to blend in with the background or it will look like you have missing wedges. What a great way to use up what you have laying around the house.

Next, you'll want to decide on a background fabric and purchase what you might need. You will get four 10"x10" squares out of every 10 inch cut of fabric (a generous 1/4 yd. cut).

You'll need 20 rectangles for each Dresden Plate.
Each rectangle measures 2 1/4" x 3 3/4"

Line up the ruler as shown above.

Trim off both sides to create a wedge or spoke in a wheel. Take a single wedge, fold the wider edges with right sides together, and sew using a 1/4" seam making sure to leave a long tail in between the wedges (that way your stitches won't unravel). Now pick up another wedge repeating the process, continue chain-stitching until you've completed 20 wedges. Cut your chain apart. Trim the seam at the tip, press seam open and fold to the back (wrong sides to wrong sides). Center the seam and press.

Here are all the spokes ready to be sewn into a Dresden Plate block.

You can arrange the spokes in a pleasing manner or randomly pick them up. You can sew them into sets of pairs or sew them one by one like I did.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to leave long tails so they can be tucked under the seams in the back of the block. Continue sewing until you've sewn all 20 spokes together. Then sew the last seam to connect the wedges into a circle.

Please note: If you sew narrow (scant 1/4") seams you will end up with a bigger Dresden Plate. If you sew larger (fat 1/4") seams you will end up with a much smaller Dresden Plate. Which ever way you sew will determine how big of a center circle you will need to cover the opening and finish the block. Big or small be consistent!!

The seams between each spoke can be pressed open or pressed in one direction. I personally liked the spokes pressed in one direction it gave it a sense of movement and dimension. The seams pressed open will make it lay very flat but it creates a depression in between the seams. Both will work it's just a matter of preference.

Here's a look at the pressed seams in the back.

My handy dandy pressing tool was very useful. It saved me a lot of trips to the ironing board and is very effective in pressing the seams open without any distortion.

Here's the back of the completed Dresden Plate.

Here's the front of the Dresden Plate.

I cut my background fabric at 10 inches square which will allow for any trimming up after you applique your Dresden Plate. I like a nice clean edge when I sew my blocks together. Fold your background fabric in half and then in half again. Pinch and finger press the fold. This will give a centering mark to align your Dresden Plate.

Align your Dresden Plate with 5 spokes in each quarter section of your 10" background square.

Attach to the 10" background square with applique pins and baste the center hole.

This is one of six blocks I'm making for a Valentine Table Runner for next year. I had good intentions but this month has gone by so quickly. After Christmas this holiday just sneaks up on you. I'm going to call it "Love Makes the World Go Round." The blocks with be surrounded with a checkerboard pattern using 1" (finished) blocks. It looks really cute in my head and when I get it done I will try to remember to blog about it.

Here are some of the fabrics we bought at American Quilting on Valentine's Day. We are going to use civil war fabrics and fabrics that compliment them. The background fabrics are also shown. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to use just one background fabric or a variety of background fabrics. If you know me, you know I love all things scrappy so, I'll probably end up using several different background fabrics.

Here's some of my civil war & shirting fabrics that I'm going to use in my big quilt. Maybe I'll make a king-size for my bed. We'll see if I get discouraged and just make a smaller one to hang over my couch or lay on my table.