Free Patterns!!! We all like free patterns. I was looking at some patterns today some free and some you have to purchase. It is the free ones that I want to suggest.
Most fabric manufacturers have patterns on their website. Some of the patterns are free for you to download. There are all kind of ideas available because the manufacturer wants you to be inspired, then purchased their fabrics. Check out the fabric manufacturers websites. Get Inspired!!! For the names of manufacturers, look at the salvage on your fabric.
Today's block is Strawberry Basket. I pieced the rectangles to the triangles, then trim to create a large triangle.
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| Strawberry Basket |
Cutting
Light fabric
nine 1 1/2" sq.
Medium fabric
two 2 1/2" x 4 7/8" rect.
Dark Medium fabric
one 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once you will use only 1 of the triangles
Dark fabric
one 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
three 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
six 1 1/2" sq.
Keep quilting,
Terry
As the cleaning continues, I came across a picture of a quilt. As I looked at it, I recognized it as Crosses & Losses. That is when I knew that I needed to create the pattern for it. Today, I put the pattern together and decided to share it with you.
Some changes from the 6 1/2" blocks is that they are 10 1/2" blocks and very scrappy. The quilt is 90" x 100", a 7 blocks by 8 rows layout with a 10" border. The sequence of the dark fabric verses light fabric alternates in each block. You can change the border to what ever you would like. Also, if you made the 6 1/2" block in the same layout and add border or borders, you will have a nice lap size quilt. So, dig out those scraps and start quilting.
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| Crosses & Losses Quilt |
Yardage
1/2 yd. of 20 fabrics or lots of scraps
Border 2 3/4 yd.
Binding 3/4 yd.
Cutting per block
Fabric 1
one 5 7/8" sq. for large HST
two 3 3/8" sq. for small HST
Fabric 2
one 5 7/8" sq. for large HST
two 3 3/8" sq. for small HST
four 3" sq.
HST means Half Square Triangle
Keep quilting and enjoy,
Terry
The goal when I started blogging was to post sixty 6 1/2" blocks. We are slowly approaching that goal. This does not mean that I will stop. It does mean that it is time for new ideas. I have a few in mind so we will see what will happen.
As for the 6 1/2" blocks, I have been piecing them but I have just over half of them made. I hope to have it finished this year, not in 20 years. haha We will continue to tape the blocks for youtube. That helps me in getting the blocks sewn. Thank goodness.
Today's block is Braced Star. Sew the center first, then the star points. Sew the block together at an angle.
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| Braced Star |
Cutting
Light fabric
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
two 2 1/2" sq. cut diagonally once
one 1 7/8" sq. for center
Medium fabric
two 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice star points
Four Medium to Dark fabrics
cut one 1 1/4" x 2 5/8" rectangle from each of the four fabrics
Keep quilting,
Terry
I don't know about you but I have enjoyed going through all of these blocks. Some, I would have never picked to make and others I may have liked but would not have ever tried. Even though the YouTube tutorials are all potholders, I have several ideas that I hope to pursue.
Today's block is one of those that I liked but may not have tried. It is Gretchen. Here is a couple of hints. Look at the block as 4 identical sections. The center strips of each section is made similar to flying geese but it is longer then what you needed. Center the triangle and sew to the side. Then sew the two part to each other. Square up to a 3 1/2" sq.
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| Gretchen |
Cutting
Medium fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
eight 1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect.
four 1 1/4" x 3 1/2" rect.
Dark fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
eight 1 1/4" x 2 1/2" rect.
four 1 1/4" x 3 1/2" rect.
Keep quilting,
Terry
The last few weeks I have been telling you about cleaning my sewing space and the UFO's that I have found. Over the weekend I tackled another area. I found 2 quilts that my mother had started (those I remember I had). It was the 2 quilts that I found that I started that surprised me. They were all cut but never sewn. Thank goodness that the patterns were with them. Instead of 2 quilts to finish, now I have 4.
Today's block is New Album. Yes, it is similar to Album but with small differences.
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| New Album |
Cutting
Light fabric
one 2 1/2" sq. for the center
four 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Light Medium fabric
four 2 1/2" sq.
Dark Medium fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Dark fabric
six 1 1/2" sq. 2 are used in the corner of the center sq.
Keep quilting,
Terry
If you live in cold country like I do, mother nature reminded us that it is still winter. We did not need a groundhog to tell us. The good thing is that you don't have to go outside to quilt. Quilting is what I have been doing, mainly getting the UFOs finished. Over the weekend a couple of small UFOs were completed. One was a pillow top that my sister brought back from Panama a couple of years ago. It is reverse applique with a man holding a pair of scissors. Now, it is a usable pillow on one of my chairs.
Today's block is Shoofly. This is an oldie but goody.
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| Shoofly |
Cutting
Light fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. for HST
four 2 1/2" sq.
Medium/ Dark fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. for HST
one 2 1/2" sq.
Keep quilting,
Terry
Do you have trouble with time? I do. I seem to get the commissioned quilts made on time but I am generally 5 minutes late for my nail appointment or years later on my own quilts. It seems that I need to do a better job of allocating the use of my time. This could be the reason that I have been working on so many UFOs. It was time to get them finished. Well, complete this blog and back to the UFOs.
Today's block is Corn & Beans. Lots of triangles.
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| Corn & Beans |
Cutting
Light fabric
three 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
ten 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Medium fabric
six 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Dark fabric
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
one 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Keep quilting,
Terry
Well, I did it. I finished my son, Ryan's quilt after 15 plus years. Or rather it is in the rotation to be quilted. My quilts are always quilted in the store. There are 4 of us that do all the quilting on store's long arm quilting machines. The turn-around time is quick so I will be binding it shortly.
Today's block is--Storm Signal. Think of this block as four sections. Sew the triangles to the square first to make a larger triangle. Then sew the larger triangle to the dark fabric triangle. Hope this helps.
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| Storm Signal |
Cutting
Light fabric
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
three 1 7/8" sq. cut only one diagonally once for the center
Medium fabric
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
three 1 7/8" sq. cut only one diagonally once for the center
Dark fabric
two 3 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for the outer corners
Keep quilting,
Terry
It is embarrassing to admit but as I have been cleaning and organizing my work space, I have come across some unfinished projects. Some have been quickly finished but I found one that I started for my oldest son, Ryan, about 15 maybe 20 years ago. I had made 61 log cabin blocks from his old high school slacks. He didn't know that I was making it. Why it wasn't finished, I am not sure. It just was placed out of sight. Today was spend working on it and should be ready for quilting tomorrow. Then it will be on to the next UFO.
Today's block is--Waterwheel.
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| Waterwheel |
Cutting
Light fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST
eight 1 1/2" sq. for 4-patch
Medium Light fabric
one 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST
four 1 1/2" sq. for 4-patch
Medium fabric
one 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST
four 1 1/2" sq. for 4-patch
Dark fabric
four 1 1/2" sq. for 4-patch
Time to finish an UFO.
Terry
There is nothing like going to a Middle school band concert. The middle schoolers are not ready for Carnegie Hall but it is better. It is better because they are kids from the neighborhood, kids of friends or the best, grandkids. Of course, my grandson was the best sax player there.
Today's block is--Hither & Yon. It looks like a spool with pinwheels.
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| Hither & Yon |
Cutting
Light fabric
six 2 3/8" sq. cut diagonally once
two 2 3/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for the pinwheels
Medium fabric
two 2 3/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for the pinwheels
Dark fabric
two 2 3/8" sq. cut diagonally once
one 3 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Hope you get the chance to attend a school concert.
Terry
Nadia, my granddaughter, is learning to crochet. I have been helping her and decided that it is time for her to learn to read patterns. That way she can pick any project to make on her own. Over the years, I have crocheted just about anything. Crocheted socks was something new. That might be fun for a young gal but I thought I better make them before giving her the book. Well, that is just what I did and finished them the other day. I even have had a chance to wear them. Definitely, different. She now has the book so we will see what happens.
Today's block is--Handy Andy. It has a similar look of Gentleman's Fancy but the center is different and more fabrics.
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| Handy Andy |
Cutting
Light fabric
two 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
two 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Light Medium fabric
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Medium fabric
one 1 7/8" sq. for the center
Dark Medium fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Dark fabric
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice
Have fun piecing,
Terry
As I sit here thinking, another soup night with the grandchildren is over. I have forgotten how much work it took raising 4 kids. The grandchildren keep me busy and we have fun but it is nice to send them home. I have come to enjoy the quiet after the storm.
Today's block is Indian Puzzle. It has a little of everything in it. The center is a square in a square, flying geese on the sides, squares and HST in the corners.
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| Indian Puzzle |
Cutting
Light fabric
five 1 7/8" sq. use 4 for HST and 1 for the center
four 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
twelve 1 1/2" sq. use 4 for corners rest for flying geese
Medium fabric
four 1 7/8" sq. for HST
four 1 1/2" sq.
Dark fabric
four 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
two 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for Sq. in a Sq.
eight 1 1/2" sq. for flying geese
Enjoy,
Terry
Well, I finished my book, the quilter's mystery that my daughter gave me. It was a nice, easy read who-done-it. This is the kind of book that I enjoy for a change of pace.
Another thing that I like, in quilting, is the pinwheel. I like the movement that it creates in the quilt. With that in mine, today's block has a pinwheel theme. It is called Spinner.
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| Spinner |
Cutting
Light fabric
four 2" sq.
Medium fabric
two 3 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Dark fabric
four 2 3/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Have fun quilting,
Terry
Most quilts that we make are of 100% cotton. I have a friend that uses whatever it takes to create the look that she wants for her quilt. She has used satin, liquid lame, burlap, tissue lame and many other mediums. She doesn't make those very artsy quilts but they are a great twist on the everyday quilt. My point being, step outside the box sometimes.
Today's block is Capital T. It has flying geese and HST.
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| Capital T |
Cutting
Light or Light Medium fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST
one 2 1/2" sq.
eight 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
Medium fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cu diagonally once for HST
sixteen 1 1/2" sq. for flying geese
Step outside your box,
Terry
Have you had the opportunity to make a t-shirt quilt? It is a quilt type that I get commissioned all the time to make. That is one part of my job that I really enjoy. This time I got to make a special t-shirt quilt for my grandson, Owen. His mom was cleaning and gathered up all his old t-shirts from elementary school. He brought them to me and asked for a quilt. It was fun to see all that he did, plays, sports, travel and camps. He even had some of his dad's coaching t-shirts. I have the quilt ready to be quilted. Owen picked out a satin for backing, yes, a satin. I think his dad, Christopher, will quilt it for him. Owen is a 7th grader now. I am sure there will be another quilt request made from his middle school t-shirts. Hopefully, the other 9 grandchildren don't notice because that is lots of quilts. Being grandmother, how could I refuse any of them.
Today's block is Union Square. It has HST, flying geese and sq. in a sq. You will have fun with this one.
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| Union Square |
Cutting
Light fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for sq. in a sq.
four 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST
eight 1 1/2" sq. for flying geese
Medium fabric
one 2 1/2" sq. for center of sq. in a sq.
four 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for HST
four 1 1/2" sq. for outer corners
Dark fabric
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice for sq. in a sq.
four 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
Enjoy,
Terry
Another week, another dollar and another week closer to spring. I don't mind the 4 seasons but I would make winter shorter if I could. Anyway, it does make great quilting weather. So let it snow and a quilting I will go.
Today's block is Return of the Swallows. It is flying geese all around.
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| Return of the Swallows |
Cutting
Light fabric
sixteen 2" sq.
Medium fabric
four 2" x 3 1/2" rect.
Dark fabric
four 2" x 3 1/2" rect.
For extra help, check out our flying geese tutorial at Fabric Junction on youtube.
Terry
Binding, binding and more binding. Sometime it seems like that is all that I get done. Thank goodness that I quit doing it by hand years ago. I would not be able to keep up. Besides my hands gave out some time ago so I bind only by machine. Being busy is a good thing, not a complaint.
After a busy day, it is nice to do a simple block. Today's block is Practical Orchard. You can mark your diagonals first and sew, then cut if you like.
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| Practical Orchard |
Cutting
Light Medium fabric
four 2 1/2" sq.
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice use 2 triangles for hour glass
Dark Medium fabric
four 2 1/2" sq.
one 3 1/4" sq. cut diagonally twice use 2 triangles for hour glass
Relax and enjoy,
Terry
For Christmas, my daughter gave me a book that is a quilter's mystery. She thought that it would be something that I would enjoy. She was right. I enjoy quilting and also a good mystery. What more could one ask for in a book. Anyway, I started reading Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks over the weekend. So far so good.
Today's block is No Name Patch. It is made of 4-patches and square in a square.
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| No Name Patch |
Cutting
Light fabric
one 2 1/2" sq.
four 1 7/8" sq. for the sq. in a sq.
Light Medium fabric
eight 1 1/2" sq. for 4-patch
Medium fabric
four 1 1/2" sq. for 4-patch
eight 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once for the sq. in a sq.
Dark fabric
four 1 1/2" sq. for outer corners in sq. in a sq.
Have fun and find a good book.
Terry
As I have been working with the different blocks, some of them I think would make some interesting quilts. If I only had the time to make them all. As the year proceeds, I will see how many of them get made. I would like to see what you are coming up with using the blocks.
Today's block is Merry Kite made from flying geese and squares.
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| Merry Kite |
Cutting
Light Fabric
four 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
Light Medium fabric
eight 1 1/2" sq.
Medium fabric
twelve 1 1/2" sq. eight for flying geese
one 2 1/2" sq. for center
Dark Medium fabric
four 1 1/2" sq. for outer corners
Dark fabric
four 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rect. for flying geese
eight 1 1/2" sq.
Christopher and I did some taping today. He should start posting the videos to youtube of some of the blocks that we have been piecing. In the tutorials, I show you how I put the blocks together and the blocks that I have made for the quilts. I am still picking out and sewing my blocks so the quilt is not finished. Check out Fabric Junction on youtube for the new tutorials.
Today"s block is--Four Crowns. It reminds me of bear's paws. It is made of nothing but HST.
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| Four Crowns |
Cutting
Light fabric
two 2 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
ten 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Medium fabric
ten 1 7/8" sq. cut diagonally once
Dark fabric
two 2 7/8" cut diagonally once
Enjoy,
Terry
