#AtoZChallenge2021 ~ D is For Design

 

D is for Design

Here is my upper case "D" block for my future quilt.

I will be designing this quilt as I sew. 

Buying and following a pattern is one way to make a quilt.

If you want to get creative and design your own block or quilt,

it is easy to do.

All you really need is paper and a pencil and a straight edge.

Earlier this year, when I wanted to design my 

Curves 'n' Stripes Quilt ~ Posted Here

I started with an image in my head, some fabrics that I wanted to use up

... and I drew a rudimentary sketch.

The idea for the scalloped edge came later.

D is For Dresden.

Dresden is quilt pattern which typically has points 

and is appliqued to the block background

 as in this sun block I made for 

This Sun, Sea and & Sand Quilt Started Here

For my scrappy pink and white quilt, 

I knew I wanted to make a pieced, curved Dresden Fan Block.

I used my Easy Dresden Ruler to cut the fan blades for my block. 

I sewed the first block without an actual pattern.

Then I cut cardstock templates so all my blocks would be the same 

as my first block. 

My quilty kitty and I are very happy with our new quilt

and enjoyed to creative journey. 

If you are not ready to design your own blocks, 

you can start with any block.

There are many free quilt block sites online, such as ... 

 

Quilt Blocks Galore @ Quilter's Cache

... which has hundreds of free blocks to choose from

and even sample layouts to get you started.

For a video on the quilt design process, click on the link below from

How to Design a Quilt on Graph Paper You-Tube Video

Designing my own quilts makes my creative self sew happy! 

I hope you have enjoyed my post today for Day 5 of the

#AtoZChallenge @ Applique Patchwork Quilting'

and the 

A to Z Challenge

Thank you for visiting me! 

Happy Easter!

 

May you and yours have a safe, healthy, Happy Easter!

#AtoZChallenge2021 ~ C is For Color

 C is for Color

Color Theory is a very important element in the art of quilting.

Read Here for an interesting article:  "Quilts As Art"

@

International Quilt Museum

Here are some of my color tools.

The Quilter's Filed Guide to Color by Rachel Hauser

This colorful theory guide is from one of my favorite quilting blogs,

Stitched in Color

and

Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool from C&T Publishing

There are many free resources online to learn more about this.

Here are two:

Color Wheel Basics @ We All Sew

and

Color Theory in Fabric @ Quilting Daily

C is for Contrast and Color Value

Color Value is also an important element in quilting 

as enough contrast must exist to make the block pattern emerge.

Here is an article on Contrast and Value @ All People Quilt

I love bright colors and textural prints in my quilts.

~~~

C is for Charms

Charms are 5" squares of fabrics,

Traditionally, charms were cut from scraps and sewn into quilts

where no two pieces of fabric were the same.

Today fabric manufacturers cut 5" squares of fabric from new collections

 and sell them as "Charm Packs" 

Click Here for a Brief History of Charm Quilts

Today in the modern quilt world there are many patterns designed

specifically for these packs of 5" squares.

Many are available for free.

Click Here for Free Charm Pack Patterns

This is a Charm Pack quilt for a baby girl that I designed and made with scrap squares for a quilt made for the baby's big sister.

Click Here for this Quilt Story

Click Here my Easy Patchwork Lattice Quilt Tutorial

~~~

C is for Cat

I am a "Crazy Cat Lady Quilter"

These are my three quilty kitties, Katniss, Maestro and Nutmeg.

If you are new to my blog and are interested: 

Read Here To Meet My Quilty Kitties

My kitties love to pop up in my blog. 

~~~

I am Linking-up today with 

#AtoZChallenge @ Applique Patchwork Quilting

I am enjoying meeting new bloggers in the

A to Z Challenge

Thank you for visiting me! 

#AtoZChallenge ~ B is For Block

B is for Block.

Here is today's block for my A-Z Quilt.

I am going to try to come up with a quilt word or term for each day, too.

B is for Blue

This block is blue.

This blue block is for the I-Spy Alphabet Quilt 

that I am designing for this challenge.

It will be a twin size quilt for a child. 

 B is for Book

I love books.

So I have a very large collection of quilt books.

These are my Lori Holt books.

The upper case letter blocks I am making are from her Spelling Bee book. 

I love the way these books are spiral bound on the inside

so that I can fold the pages over so they lay flat when I am cutting and piecing.

B is for "Bee in my Bonnet" Blog

Click Here to visit Lori Holt's Blog

where you will find a multitude of ideas, some from her books and some free.

I am really enjoying this

#AtoZChallenge @ Applique Patchwork Quilting

where today

B is for Button 

I love my colorful little jars of buttons.

I like to add them to projects, such as these pincushions. 

"Button. Button. Who's got the button?"

How to Play The Button Game ~ Click Here

I used to play this game as a child in the 1950s, here in the U.S.A.

Did you used to play this game?

I am wondering if it is still played here or anywhere.

I will be posting everyday in April, except Sundays for the

A to Z Challenge

Are you joining in the fun?

Happy Blogging! 

I Like Thursday #91 ~ A is For April

 

"A" is for April ~ I like April

I like the showers and the flowers of April.

Today is rainy and will below freezing again tonight.

This photo was taken in the warm sun on Monday.

The colors are amazing ... blue to deep purple to almost pink ...

with yellow to orange to red in the centers ...

and those tiny green shoots.

Such a little flower ~ So beautiful!

Like a rainbow.

A is for an A-Z Quilt.

Making an alphabet quilt has been on my list.

Right now I do not have a plan.

This will be a design as I sew adventure.

I will be using this Spelling Bee book by Lori Holt to cut and sew my letters.

My quilty muse right now is thinking to add some of my novelty fabric scraps

and make an "I Spy" rainbow, alphabet quilt.

Block A is done.

The quilt block is a new start for April.

These fabrics and this book has been in stash for some time 

and it is time to sew something with them.

I have decided to unroll this rainbow jelly roll 

and sew one alphabet block a day in 26 different colors.

for the

#AtoZchallengeQuilt

I like a new blog challenge.

I am joining in this April fun: 

#AtoZChallenge2021Quilt 

hosted by 

Frederique @ Applique Patchwork Quilting

where I learned today that

"A is for abat-jour which means lampshade in French."

There are also several links showing how to make a DIY Fabric Lampshade cover.

I once covered an old lampshade with some scrap fabric.

Just for fun ... 

... here is my lampshade ... :) 

It was made in 2011 with extra fabric from making this favorite bed quilt.

Sadly, this lampshade was accidentally ruined when it was bent beyond repair the time one of my kitties knocked the lamp to the floor.

The quilts are worn but still quite lovely.

This small quilted A-Z Challenge is part of a much larger 

A to Z Challenge

It is my first year following an participating in the challenge.

I am hoping to find a few new blogs to visit.

I like visiting new places and making new online friends.

For more letter "A" quilty fun, I am linking to my 

"A" is for Appli-play Tutorial

 I added improv applique details to my 

Blazing Star Quilt Block Cushion Cover

I am loving all these spring-like colors today.

"A" is for always finding things to like during the week

 and sharing them on Thursday with my friends... 

I Like Thursday Bloggers @ Not Afraid of Color

Thanks for visiting with me.