State Blocks top complete

Just finished the State Blocks top after adding a couple of borders.  I didn't have enough bright blue star fabric to complete the borders, so I added 2 sections of yellow that matches the cornerstones.  I also used one 10" square, cut into 4 pieces to complete the 4 corners.  The top measures 47" x 57.5".  Now, I just need to piece a back.

State Blocks Top complete  47" x 57.5"

Design Wall Monday

Today, I went to my Sewing Group.  I did some cutting and trimming up of some blocks.  Since we missed last Tuesday due to ice, we spent most of our time checking out what everyone did with their extra time indoors.  Quite a few Quilts of Valor tops were brought in, along with several other quilt tops.

Star Flower QOV top complete

QOV Top made by sewing group member

QOV Top made by Denni

QOV Top made by Sewing Group member

 
Here is the State quilt top with sashing and cornerstones.  Now it just needs a border.  Will need to try out a few different border fabrics to see which one looks best.  

State Quilt needs a border

Border Choices

The light brown looks like brown paper, so I'm leaning towards a narrow white border and then the turquoise with stars.  The width of the 2nd border will be based on the amount of fabric I have and all I have is hanging on the design wall.  Hopefully, a boy or girl will find some learning value in the states shown along with names of towns and cities.

Join Judy at  Patchwork Times.com  to see what others are creating this week.

Quilt of Valor Top sewing completed

Just finished sewing the QOV "Star Flower" top.  It still needs to be trimmed.  The best part is that all the set-in seams are done.  Wow!  What a project.

Quilt of Valor Top

Icy Trees in Tennessee

This morning's Beauty

I found it was difficult to capture the beauty of the ice in the trees by staying indoors, taking the picture through the blinds.  Here are just a few pictures.

Ice in backyard tree-taken in mid morning

Icy tree in the front yard

 

 

Ice in the trees

"Icy" Design Wall Monday

This morning, we woke up to sleet, which has accumulated on the streets, sidewalks and actually everywhere you would want to drive or walk.  I have no idea what it looks like anywhere else but in our neighborhood.  Several neighbors have ventured out in their cars.  I'm sure they were needed at work.  Been there, done that and I still remember that it was not a fun adventure.  Thankfully, I'm retired and can just stay home and sew and quilt.

Cardinal at the Salt Block as the Ice accumulates

Since last Tuesday, I've been working on a QOV kit.  All the pieces were cut by RJ, my friend from our weekly Sewing Group.  I now have all the blocks sewn together.
There are (10) full Star Flower blocks-(3) are shown in the picture
There are  (8) half blocks-(3) are shown on the left side of the picture
There are (4) quarter blocks- (1) is shown at the top of the picture

Sewing the blocks together was easy enough, once the angles were figured out.  Now, all that is needed is sewing the blocks together with the large diamonds, using set-in seams.
It's just like a great big growing puzzle.
Here's what I have so far.  My design wall measures 60" x 70", so it is not big enough to show all the pieces.  The finished size of the quilt is 72" x 83" and was designed by Diane Tomlinson of FonsandPorter.com
The pattern was shown in the March/April 2014 issue of Fons and Porter magazine.

Star Flowers QOV

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Design Wall for last Monday Feb 9th

I always seem to be running behind on all my projects.  However, I did get (2) quilts done & bound on Monday evening, so I could turn them in on Tuesday to our Sewing Group.  These two quilts will be given to ladies in need of a hug.  Here's a picture of those quilts.
The batting was pieced on each of these quilts.  I tried butting the batting pieces together & free motion quilting the pieces to hold them together.  Let me tell you--that was not such a great idea.  As you can tell by the lower right side of the picture, there was some stretching involved when I machine quilted it.

Thankfully, I figured out the problem prior to machine quilting the Tumbler Quilt.
Instead of free motion quilting the batting together, I cut a long 3/4" strip of muslin.  The two pieces of batting were placed side by side and the muslin was centered on top.  Then I sewed down each side of muslin, making the batting into one nice piece with no stretching of the batting.  I also sewed a strip of 3/4" muslin down both sides on the back of the batting.  Why in the world would I go to all this trouble?  I had too many pieces parts of batting, which I wanted to use.   

Front of Quilt 30" x 60"

Back of Quilt 30" x 60"

Back of Tumbler Quilt

Front of Tumbler Quilt

On Tuesday, when I went to our Sewing Group, one of the ladies was working on a Quilt of Valor.  She had all the pieces cut for Star Flowers, which was designed by Diane Tomlinson, Assistant Editor of Love of Quilting.  It was shown in Fons & Porter magazine (not sure what month or year).  It has lots of angles and we discovered, it does matter which way you cut the 60 degree diamonds and we didn't have the special ruler needed to make it easier.  She asked if anyone wanted to take it home and give it a try.  After I got home, I happened to notice the small printing at the top of the page which stated:  CHALLENGING.
I always try to steer away from "Challenging" but since I had everything, except the ruler, I'd give it a try.
Here's what I have so far.....

(4) Star Flower Blocks for QOV

I assigned a number to each of the (6) sections of the star.  It was determined that Section 1 & 6 were the same and Sections 2,3,4, and 5 were the same.  It made a difference which way the blue or red strip was sewn on.

I also try to steer away from "set-in seams", which I discovered, will be a challenge when joining all of the stars.  And, yes, it does make a difference on how you turn the large white diamond, when you sew it onto the stars, which I discovered when I went to press, based on the picture shown below.

Large Diamond set in seam (LOL)

Everybody needs a good laugh, now and again.  I set the large diamond in very nicely.  However, the star block wants to stand up on the ironing board rather than lie down flat.

For now, I think I will finish making all the star blocks and then see how I feel.  I may try to tackle the set-in seams again but at this point, I'm not sure.....

Hop on over to Judy's Blog  Patchwork Times.com  to see what others have created this week.

 

Design Wall Monday

This morning about 8:00, I could see a few tiny snowflakes if I looked quick.  I feel bad just mentioning it due to all the folks up North and in New England who have been bombarded with snow.  This morning, I've been working on answering a few emails and writing some cards in answer to quite a few Christmas cards that we received.

The project hanging on my Design Wall actually began as a Table Runner using leftover HST.  It was several years ago that I had sewn the blocks together and there it sat, waiting....  So, I decided to add (3) borders to make it into a narrow quilt to be wrapped around someone who may be hurting.  This quilt measures
30" x 61" and will be donated to a local group.  I purchased the lavender and purple flower print at Hammers Dept. Store in Winchester at $5.00/yd and it will be used for the back of the quilt.  The fabric also has the word "Joy" printed throughout the fabric.  It is barely there and you really must look for it.

Quilted Wrap for a Special Lady

Other items waiting for attention------
(5) Quilts are waiting for bindings and labels:
Family Reunion Signatures from 2011
Mystery Quilt
Ice Cream Cones
Here Comes Santa
Cubes

Drop by Judy's Blog at  Patchwork Times.com  to see the creations of other quilters.