December Swap Blocks

Box Kite Block

My Stitchin' Sister Cindy picked the Box Kite Block from Quilter's Cache for our Q&N December Swap Block.  I had looked at this block before but had never felt inspired to make it.  I am really happy to have made this block.  Since it is just squares and half-square-triangles, it is easy to make and has many layout possibilities.  Marcia Hohm has a nice quilt layout on the last page of her block instructions. I played with the blocks and found several different layouts that I liked.

As usual, I followed my own quilty muse and used my own method to piece the units.  I used my 8 HSTs at a Time Tutorial to make the HSTs for these blocks. I cut one 10" square per each color and two white background to make two blocks. This yielded 4.5 inch trimmed HST to sew with the 4.5 inch center squares to make the 12.5 unfinished blocks.

First the fabrics ... all pieces from my stash.  I did not have enough of the yellow print to make all the blocks so I made some with the light blue dot, too.  Since these only one each of these blocks is going home to one of my swap friends and we are making scrappy quilts with them, they did not all have to be alike.

Then I cut the 4.5" center squares and 10" squares to make the 4.5" HST.

Drew on two diagonals  with 1/4" seam lines on each 10" white square paired with a colored square.

Chain sewed four times through my machine.

Cut into 8 HSTs

 

Pressed to the white side. 

 

Trimmed and squared the HSTs to 4.5"

Laid out my blocks.

Chain sewed the units together into strips
 

Quilty Supervisor #1
 

Pinned and sewed strips together, removing pins as I sewed.

 

Note: when sewing the blocks together and into strips, I found there were two combinations that lay flatter by nesting the seams, so I pressed one these seams the other way on one of the HSTs.

Quilty Supervisor #2

 

Pressed and squared the blocks. These blocks worked up to perfect 12.5 inch unfinished blocks with little or no trimming.

Blocks are ready to mail!

Katniss says she can relax now and rest up for the next project.

Our next quilty project is quilting my Tumbling Blocks Table Topper.

But first ... a concert tonight!  My Girl is playing her piccolo at the local university where she is a grad student.  Always my favorite way to spend an evening.

Have a happy quilty day!

 

:-)

Making a Sewing Room Home, Part 2

The valance for the windows in my new sewing room is up.  For this valance I used the leftover pieces from the two Sisterhood of Quilters panels that I cut up a few years back for the quilt.  To this I added other extra fabrics from that quilt.  I had saved the fabric for just such a purpose. 

Also I re-oriented my sewing machine table now that the wall quilt is hung.  I like the new set-up.  My sewing machine now faces the open door to the dining room for easier visiting with family when they pass through.  My quilty kitties seem to like the new set-up, too.  I have a quilt down at sill level for each to claim a window seat.  So far they are still vying for the same window.

Butterfly  reacts to Katniss claiming her spot by jumping up out of reach and looking down on her. Butterfly has always been a climber.  No place in the house is too high for her to jump.  Katniss still has a bit of a problem with the use of her back legs which we think may have been from an old injury from her life as a stray.  Katniss cannot jump up to Butterfly's lofty perches. As you can see from this photo, this has created a bit of hero worship in Katniss.   I think Katniss is definitely wearing down Butterfly's resistance and making inroads to her feline heart.

I have gotten some sewing done in my new room.  Besides the valance, I made some window scarves that Jon requested for his wide sills in his loft. I also got a table topper ready for quilting.  I also made some block for a Quilt and Needle Quilt of Valor for a veteran ...

and some baby blocks for a Q and N Quilty Auntie Project ...

 

These are destined for a Dissapearing 9-Patch baby quilt which the piecer will be cutting and assembling.

Next up: some swap block for next month.

Have a happy quilty day!

 

:-)

I Am A Quilty Auntie

Hugs and Kisses Blocks

As a Quilty Auntie over the years, I have made many blocks, shared my stash fabrics and pieced and quilted many bright and happy little quilts to welcome these precious bundles of joy into our world.  I like to think it makes the world a much warmer and loving place.  I think most quilters are just trying to cover the world with love, one quilt at a time.  As Quilty Aunties, my quilty friends and I joined together to also make many group quilts for our extended families.

The blocks above, for a Hugs and Kisses Baby Quilt.  This is a free pattern from Quiltpox. I have blogged this pattern before Here. 

Quilty Auntie Hugs and Kisses Quilt

For this quilt was one I also quilted and sewed on the binding. This is one of the tried-and-true, go-to baby quilt patterns for the Quilt & Needle Quilty Aunties. 

We also make charity quilts and special Quilts Of Valor for service men and women who are nominated by forum members.

These Friendship Star blocks will be sewn into a quilt for a young man who has made a career of serving his country in the Coast Guard.  There is a center medallion that uses the Coast Guard Star from Quilter's Cache. The layout for this special quilt was designed by one of the very talented quilters on the Q&N forum and can be found here.

:) New members are always welcome at the Quilt and Needle  :)

 

Hope you will join us!

 

Have a happy quilty day!

 

:-)