Sweet baby sampler

October 12, 2016

I just finished a whirlwind weekend driving a few hours to help prepare for and throw my sister-in-law's baby shower. I finished this quilt in the knick of time! You've seen me working on this quilt block by block as it came together over the summer. It's so much fun when you get to work from your scrap bins..... and then it looks like this.

I couldn't be happier with this quilt. I wanted to make a gender neutral baby quilt. The mix of colors lets this happen without being totally just green and yellow. It's framed up by a sweet orange and white plaid from Wyndham by Another Point of View and bound with a Denyse Schmidt print. I hope baby and mom will love it.

The blocks are all 12" finished, and are a mix of the Summer Sampler 2016 (including the Ombre Cross block I designed) and The Quilt Block Cookbook. It was a nice small sampler compared to the giants I usually am working on.

I sure love samplers of all sizes!

Quilt Stats.

Name: Baby Sampler

Size: 44" x 4"

Fabric: Scraps from my stash, Orange Plaid from Another Point of View. Binding is Denyse Schmidt

Piecing: Me

Quilting: LAQ Beany of Quilty PleasuresMe - Cotton Candy

New 4 Block Sampler Setting PDF

October 7, 2016

If you're like me, you have a stack of orphan blocks in the corner of your sewing room.

They either came from bee blocks, samplers I started but never finished, samples I made to try out patterns, blocks I've made reviewing books, tutorials I tried to learn new skills...... and the list goes on and on.

If you've ever wondered how to use up some of those blocks, I have a simple beginner setting pattern for you! This pattern provides the setting instructions for the quilts I made for the Patchwork Auditions Workshop I teach. All you have to do is substitute in your own (4) 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" quilt blocks to feature in the center. The possibilities are endless...

The 3-page full color PDF pattern gives you fabric requirements, step-by-step instructions and color diagrams for the quilt.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Finished Size: 52" x 60"

See the listing for fabric requirements.

*NOTE* This pattern only includes setting instructions to make the quilt top. You will need to provide (4) 12 1/2” x 12 1/2" unfinished quilt blocks of your choice ready-made to feature in the center column of the quilt. I, of course, recommend any of the blocks in the book, Sister Sampler Quilts by AnneMarie Chany. ;) But really, any 4 blocks will do. Any (4) 12 1/2 unfinished / 12" finished blocks can be used to make the quilt top.

The Blocks shown in my versions of this quilt are from Sister Sampler Quilts. They are all color variations of either the Rising Star or Moon & Star blocks from the book.

Granny Square Big Finish - Holy Scrap!

September 20, 2016

Remember this guy from back in March? Oodles and oodles of granny squares, all made with the scrappiest intent? Well, after a long time sitting waiting to be bound, he's finally finished!

I was crazy when I took the large center bee block granny squares and decided it needed a border with smaller granny squares. I worked on all those 7" grannies for about a year. It takes forever when each block is cut individually...

After all the grunting I did during the process, I'm happy to say to it was worth it. I'm falling more and more in love with scrappy quilts each time i see one.

(Probably a good thing considering I have SO many scraps. This quilt didn't end up even making a dent in them.)

I went bold and chose the dark navy Add It Up print from Cotton + Steel for the main border. At first, I was really concerned it was too deep of a color with the Kona White, but I have to admit, the darkness makes the blocks really pop. The gamble paid off. It shows off the quilting nicely too.