Friday, December 12, 2025

It's A Top! Fairlawn Roses

 

It's a top!
Fairlawn Roses
84 x 110

I used all rose prints to make the blocks. The pattern, called Fairlawn, is from the book Making Quilts with Kathy Doughty. 

" God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December" --J.M. Barrie

. “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Abraham Lincoln ( although some attribute quote to Alphonse Karr)


“It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses, we must plant more roses.”― George Eliot

I do love roses!


And sew on...

Finished or Not Finished Friday at Alicia Quilts


***


When I went outside to take photos of my quilt top I noticed a lot of animal footprints going through all my gardens. I think most are raccoon and deer and maybe fox. Oh my!



But some may belong to gnomes. Oh my!




Thursday, December 11, 2025

Round One

 

Round One 
Thirty Pie Bird Blocks

I started making 10 inch Pie Bird blocks the other day. They are basically a Courthouse Steps variation. I made 5 blocks and then decided I wanted 35 total blocks. I also decided to work the rounds on all of my blocks at one time. That way I can cut all my required pieces for each round at one time. I cut a lot of the pieces for this round and part of round two when I was processing 2.5 inch width scraps

And sew on...

***
I had my wellness exam Tuesday. I am a healthy 73 year old lady. I am very thankful for good health.

***
Since Oct. 1 we have had 19 inches of snow. A lot of it finally melted yesterday but more is predicted for later today. 

***
Moira sent me some vintage blocks from her mothers collection. I will use them in comfort quilts.

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Indian Hatchets

 

Indian Hatches
Blocks 215-234
Goal 234. Goal met!
Traditional block made of all colors of scraps
Inspired by a vintage quilt
Sometimes I just have to wait for scraps to happen!


 If interested there are cutting instructions for five different sizes of blocks at Generations Quilt patterns. I made my blocks in a little different way. Hey, whatever works!

And sew on...


Monday, December 8, 2025

Boho Dandies

 


Boho Dandies
Blocks 33-52
Goal 225
Traditional block: The Dandy Quilt
Six inch blocks
Color scheme: scraps of grays, browns, electric oranges, sky blues and saturated purples.

And sew on...

Sunday, December 7, 2025

Gum Wrapper Chain

 

I decided this month to work on my Gum Wrapper Chain quilt I started way back in 2022. It is a good thing to work on as a leader/ender if I have a supply of 1.5 inch squares. It was originally inspired by a postage stamp quilt I saw at the Q Is For Quilter blog. 

My project box was a little dusty. It contains postage stamps, black 1.5 inch squares and strips and small chunks. 

It also contains strips of nine 1.5 inch squares previously sewn together when I was making this as a leader/ender. 

I have now been adding black 1.5 inch squares to each end of the strips of nine squares. 

Then after the black squares are added to the strips I add white triangles cut with my Easy Angle ruler from a 1.5 inch width strip to each end of the strips. Then the strips get added to the panel. 

I guess I have a long way to go since I originally planned to make and join together 10 panels 90 inches long for a large bed quilt. I guess that is still the plan. 

Small steps...
And sew on...



Saturday, December 6, 2025

Scrap Processing

 

I finally finished up processing a box of 2.5 inch width scraps. Most have been given to me. Whenever I receive a box of scraps I sort through them with my little six inch ruler In hand to measure width. Then I put them in bins sorted by width. I usually have several projects going for each width of scrap. I have found that the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) is a good way to work on all of those projects- just pull scraps in the color of the month out of each bin and make the designated blocks. I am able to make a lot of comfort quilts using this method.

I have now cut up all pieces in the bin that were less than 4 squares or 10 inches or so in length. 

1. I cut 5 inch lengths for a free pattern called Charm Tuesday. I switched darks and lights for my quilt so have 104 dark 2.5 x 5 inch rectangles and 208 light. This is not a block quilt so I will probably assemble as a leader/ender. 

2. I cut a bunch of 2.5 x 4.5 rectangles. I have not counted them. That was just the size the scrap could be cut without waste. I can use these in future blocks like Two Rails or Potato Chip blocks. 

3. Bricks and Stones. The stones are 2.5 inch squares of black. The bricks are rectangles 2.5 x 4 inches. I have made 113 units out of a goal of 350 - 10 across x 35 down. I was able to cut 137  more bricks so will probably sew together bricks in the scraps in the color of the month each month.

4. 440 2.5 x 3.5 inch rectangles toward a goal of 800 for a "value quilt" similar to one I previously made. 

5. 2.5 inch squares. 

6. 1.5 x 2.5 rectangles. I put the light ones in with my potato chip blocks. I am using the rest in Pie Bird blocks

With any width of fabric (wof) pieces I will be making Rick Rack blocks as a RSC block. There are several free patterns and videos for this block. 

I will also be making Tennessee Blocks from 2.5 inch width scraps and squares. I will also use some contrasting solid scraps. I may use a mix of fabrics of similar value in making some of the blocks each month. 

I will also continue to make Buckeye Beauty blocks. The four patches in these blocks are made of 2.5 inch squares. 

I am going to process the box of 3.5 inch width scraps next.

And sew on...


Friday, December 5, 2025

Fairlawn Roses - Two More Blocks

 


I have completed two more 24 inch blocks for Fairlawn Roses. Only 9 more to go!

And sew on...