Strings and Things

This month the theme in my sewing space is "Strings and Things". I think the "things" will probably be mostly clearing away some  "piles". 

I do have a few string UFOs I will work on this month but one just needs assembly and the other two (Spider Web and String Stars) take skinnier and shorter strings. So the first thing I've done this month is make string blocks to use all of the longer strings I've accumulated since last time I sorted strings. 

I made 48 Heartstring inspired blocks. Like the Heartstring blocks I use the same color/pattern of string for  the center of the blocks although I must admit I'm not real good at perfectly centering the string. Unlike the Heartstring blocks I use a paper foundation and make my blocks 10.5 inches (unfinished). 

Someone sent me a little pile of 2 inch width strips of that leafy tan fabric I used for the center strings. I didn't count out the strips ahead of time. I made 8 blocks at a time and cut 16 inch lengths for those 8 blocks from the strips. I figured if there weren't enough strip pieces of that fabric I could use some other fabric similar in colo but I had just enough strips for my 48 blocks after I pieced some strip ends together. It was meant to be! 

For the block corners I used up a plastic grocery bag half filled with brown scraps someone gave me that were left after making masks.  I've never gotten around to trimming those scraps until now and I kind of trimmed the scraps to fit the corners of the blocks. I guess it was meant to be because I had just enough mask scraps and the bag is now empty. 

I'm not going to assemble the blocks right now. I'll set them aside and assemble later in the month if I have "Strings and Things" time left otherwise I'll put them into my SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin. 

My intention with making these blocks was to use up longer strings so I have shorter ones for my Spider Web and String Star blocks. 

I don't ever cut strings for string quilts...they just happen. Usually they are skinny quilt back trimmings or wonky end cuts of fabric or end cuts of fabric less than 1.5 inches. Sometimes when scraps are given to me and there are strips that are a weird width I don't use in my scrappy blocks like 2.25 then I put them into the string bag unless there are a lot of the same strip then I might put them in the 2.25 inch binding box.  I have two binding boxes - 2.25 and 2.5 inches. Some places I donate quilts request binding be sewn down by machine so then I use the 2.25 otherwise I use 2.5 inch bindings. 

As I sorted through these longer strings I took out most of the light neutrals and put them into another box for another string quilt at another time. I also took out the bright and wild and novelties and put them into another box for another string quilt at another time. "Another time" might be this month. Whe shall see. 

When I sew to paper I use a shorter stitch length and I usually use up parts of bobbins and spools of different threads that are running low. 

I noticed Julierose is also making string quilt blocks she calls Ojos (as in Ojos de Dios -- God's Eyes) and she explains the methods she uses to make blocks if you are interested. 

Ojos, Hearstrings...it's all good!

Awhile back someone gave me several large spools of opened thread that wasn't labeled. Last month when I had my quilting marathon I tried using this spool of green and gave up on it right away because I had skipped stitches and broken thread. I set the darned spool aside but picked it up again the other day and noticed it had a label taped inside the spool that said "serger and sewing". I tried it on these string blocks and it worked just fine. 

And sew on...

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REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

Finished a book! - The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood. It's an easy reading cozy mystery. A few old ladies (a cruciverbalist, a dog walker and a vicar's wife) band together to solve a crime. 

 

Singing The Blues Verse I

Cheerios

10 inch blocks

Made from 4.5 inch and 2.5 inch width scraps

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color for February is blue. I have a lot of  blue scraps to use this month so got started right away making blocks. I actually use scraps to make my RSC blocks and usually have blocks going for any width size scrap I come across. I have a few folks who share their scraps with me and when I receive them I usually sort them by width size if smaller scraps that are less than a fat quarter. If larger than a fat quarter they are sorted by color and put with yardage of same color.   This week I worked mostly with the 4.5 inch width scraps and 2.5 inch width scraps.  I make blocks based on length of scrap - some blocks like the Cheerios take 4 - 4.5 inch blue squares.  If I can't make Cheerios from the scrap I will see if it is long enough to get 4 - 3.5 inch cuts for a Crossroads block. If I can't make a Crossroads block I will see if it is long enough to cut into 4 - 2.5 inch pieces for an 8 patch block. And so on...

Going where the scraps take me!

Cheerios

10 inch blocks

I now have 63 blocks. I'm making them the rest of the year with scraps in the RSC color of the month and at year end I will see how many I have. It takes 48 blocks for a 60 x 80 inch comfort quilt and 24 blocks for a 40 x 60 comfort quilt. So I already have enough for a quilt or two! 

Posies

8 inch

I now have 52 and my target is 63 blocks.

I have set aside a little box of floral scrap chunks to make these. I cut a 4.5 inch width strip or strips from the blue florals and 2.5 inch width strip or strips from the floral background to make these blocks.

Only 11 more blocks to my goal!! 

Crossroads

7 x 9

I now have 26 blocks and my target is 64. 

Made with 4 3.5 x 4.5 rectangles and 1.5 inch sashings of brown with red centers. 

8 Patch

8 inch blocks

I now have 27 blocks and my goal is 63 blocks.  35 blocks would be enough for a kiddo quilt 40 x 60 but I'm going for a larger comfort quilt 56 x 72.

I cut these from either 4.5 inch width scraps or 2.5 inch width scraps.

Floral Wonky Windmills

8 inch blocks

I now have 29 of desired 63 blocks.

All have gray scrap backgrounds.

Each Wonky Windmill takes two 4.5 x 5 inch rectangles each of gray and of blue scraps.

I've been making these blocks for awhile and last year made a kiddo sized top and divided the rest of the blocks into piles for two other 56 x 72 quilts - 1. florals; 2. geometrics, etc. 

Wonky Windmills

for the Geometric, etc. quilt

I now have 27 out of desired 63. 

Floral Happy Blocks

8.5 inch

This completes 37 blocks toward my goal of 63. 

5 inch center, 2.5 inch width frame.

Economy Blocks

6 inch

39 blocks. Goal = 70

I set aside some pastel florals - mostly pinks and blues - to make these blocks. Center Four Patch made of 2.5 inch scraps. Corners made of 4 inch squares cut on diagonal.

And that brings me to the little box of 4 inch width scraps I'll be working with next. 

And sew on...

RSC ScrapHappy Saturday

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

Remember 

Sow a few seeds and you will end up with a glorious flower patch.

Sew a few scraps and you will end up with a glorious quilt patch. 

Another sign for my garden from hubby - 

 

Throwing Snowballs At The Castle Wall - A Hand Quilted Finish

 

Throwing Snowballs At The Castle Wall

It's a hand quilted finish!

48 x 63

The center block is called Castle Wall and finishes at 21 inches. Back in 2014 I had this grand idea that I would use my little collectiton of Valentine themed fabrics bought over the years on clearance after many Valentine's Days to make a Castle Wall quilt consisting of 12 Castle Wall blocks.  So in 2014 I made one block.    Then in 2018 I made two more blocks including this one.   Then in 2023 as I was evaluating UFOs and ran across the three blocks I finally decided my 2014 grand idea of a Castle Wall quilt was not meant to be so I made three different medallion quilts. 

More back story on my 2023 blog post about this quilt.

In 2023 I framed the Castle Wall with a little solid pink border and made it the starting block to a medallion quilt.  Since the Caste Wall block had purple, red, pink and black in it I pulled out mostly Valentine fabrics with those colors. 

Then I decided to throw some Snowballs at that Castle Wall.

I alternated Snowballs with black and white corners. 

Then I needed to add a little length because I usually prefer to make rectangluar quilts. What better to add for a border than a couple of hearts and some roses! 

Then as you can see I big stitch hand quilted it all with black perle cotton #8. 

It has a pieced backing. 

And it is bound with LOVE! 

FYI - the other two Castle Wall quilts:

Smitten was finished in 2023

Hugs and Kisses at the Castle Wall is still an unfinished top

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

I received a box of treasures from Nann yesterday. And, woohoo, it included a big bag of postage stamps (PS) - 1.5 inch fabric squares - so I can continue on with a couple of PS UFOs! 

SAHRR Round Two On Five Row Quilts

 I am participating in the 2025 Stay At Home Round Robin (SAHRR).

As I mentioned in a previous post...

I am going to use the weekly prompts to make 5 kiddo sized row quilts. 

The prompt this week -Use Half Square Triangles (HSTs) in your block(s). 

The Elephants...

...got a row of Pinwheels. 

The Construction Zone...

...also got a row of Pinwheels. 

I added rows of little 5 inch (finished) Churn Dashes to the top and bottom because I have a pile of those in my Parts Department made of 30s reproduction fabrics. 

The Race Cars...

...got a row of Pinwheels made with racing stripes.

And the sweet little border print...

...also has a row of Pinwheels. 

And sew on...

SAHRR Round 2

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

I did more winter sowing of seeds

Top Row for the new Kayla Memorial Garden (Perky Goth/Moonlight Garden with black and white flowers with pops of pink) - Innocence Evening Primrose, Vicars Mead Angelica,Black King Carnation. Nigra Hollyhock, Creme de Cassis Hollyhock, Black Knight Hollyhock, Black Adder Dianthus, Fama White Scabiosa, Black Barlow Columbine. 

Bottom row sown in small pots either because I had a partial seed package or not many seeds came in a package (<20): Korean Angelica, Mad Dog Skullcap, Rattlesnake Master, Hoary Vervain, Burning Bush, Globe Thistle Star Frost, Globe Thistle Blue Glow, Crimson Star Coumbine, Halo Mix Hollyhock, Canterbury Bells, Duble Take Columbine, Brazilian Vervain, Comfrey, Cream Wild Indigo, Anise Hyssop, Swan Lake and Sky Dance Salvia. 

And I still have some seeds I need to winter sow!

Hand Quilted Americana

Americana

A Hand Quilted Finish

64 x 80

Four Patches made with red, white and blue scraps. 

The top was finished back in July 2023.

This month I have been big stitch hand quilting on the diagonals through the neutral squares with ecru perle cotton #8.  I just love to look at all the fabrics as I hand stitch and also I love to feel how the quilt softens as the hand quilting progresses. 

I've had this backing fabric for ages. I've been saving it for the back of a red, white and blue quilt to stay at my house. I had to piece it together and put it with the pictures oriented sideways on the back but I'm okay with that. And before I even told hubby this was our quilt he claimed it for himself. 

And sew on...

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

Finished a book! Twins On A Train by Suzanne Goldring.

 A WWII historical fiction novel inspired by true events. 

Author Suzanne Goldring explores how the Quakers helped with Kindertransport (Children’s Transport), the series of rescue efforts undertaken between 1938 and 1940 to bring refugee children, many of them Jewish, to Great Britain through Holland from Nazi Germany.

While doing research for the book the author discovered many horrific events that she included in her novel such as a swastika branded on the back of a young girl. 

 

Adding Pink Backgrounds

Pink is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color for January. I used most of my small pink scraps except for strings and crumbs and larger chunks (greater than a six inch square and less than a Fat Quarter (FQ)).  So for this week's color pink I dug out an old UFO that needs some pink. 

I started making Stars for an Edyta Sitar quilt called Blueberry Farm back at the end of  Dec. 2023. 

 I made one complete block and then in January 2024 I made the remaining 11 Stars but did not add the backgrounds. 

This week I dug out the Stars and pink background fabric, cut pieces and added backgrounds to 8 Stars. 

It's a good thing that a long time ago I had looked for errata because the pattern in the book was incorrect as far as cutting the background pieces. If I had followed the pattern as written I would have ended up with a lot of pieces that were too small.   It's also a good thing I looked for that errata a long time ago and documented it on the book page because I see that the link to the errata is no longer valid.  

I rarely follow a pattern to make most quilts but there are some more challenging ones I want to make so buy books or patterns by various designers just for the challenging instructions or templates.  Unfortunately I have come across errors in those books and patterns more often than not and that does not make me a happy camper. It's like gettting damaged merchandise that can't be returned. 

 

So anyway...this is the quilt I'm making  - Blueberry Farm by Edyta Sitar found in the book Scrappy Firework Quilts.  I've renamed my quilt to Peace Patch.   

  I found a new link for the errata in the book. FYI -there are two other patterns in the book with errors. 

I've decided that these blocks will move forward all the way to the TBQ (to be quilted) pile and not go into the UFO bin of partially made blocks and parts or into the SAR (some assembly required) bin.   I had not previously decided upon sashing for the blocks  - the sashing columns are different from the sashing between stars in the columns. I looked around in my brown fabrics and I think I have enough of that seedy looking fabric for the column sashing.  The sashing between stars in the pattern is strip pieced with a couple of different fabrics but I am thinking I might just use the pink and brown floral if I have enough of it. 

And sew on...

RSC ScrapHappy Saturday

***

REMEMBER, TREASURE, GROW, READ (my words of the year)

The past years I've been doing a lot of scrub brush trimming (for new gardens) with pruner and lopper which is hard on the hands after awhile. Sometimes I use the chain saw which is gettting to be a bit much for this old lady to handle. I bought myself a new small lightweight battery operated mini chain saw that can cut branches up to six inches in diameter. I'm ready for warmer weather!