Orphan Block Quilt

Orphan Block Quilt

40 x 60

The middle orphan blocks are called Practical Orchard (I think).  I swapped them long, long ago but didn't like some of the blocks because the points didn't match up nicely, some of the HSTs are turned the wrong way, etc, etc.    Well, they sat around long enough that I finally decided to let them out of the bag to star in a quilt for donation. 

I added a couple of strips of butterflies on either side of those blocks. 

And then I added some Rail Block orphans to the top and bottom plus some extra strips to make a 40 inch width.  I quilted it on my DSM with what I guess is a serpentine stitch. This was a first try of quilting with a decorative stitch on my machine. 

I pieced together my batting strips. I used a thrift store sheet for the backing and some strips left over from backing used on another quilt for the binding. 

This was my goal #6  for

2017 First Quarter Finish-A-Long

This will be donated to either Wrap-A-Smile or Quilts Beyond Borders. 

And Yet Another Wonky Log Donation Quilt

Go Fly A Kite

40 x 58

For this Wonky Log Cabin I started with six inch centers of a kite fabric I've had laying around here for years. I think my daughter brought it to me from a garage sale. 

The rest of my blue short strings went into this quilt.  

I pieced together some batting pieces by zigzagging them together.  I used a solid blue sheet from the thrift store for the backing.  I quilted it on my DSM with some swirls (like the wind blowing the kites around).  I had just enough of that blue fabric for binding.  And I used up some blue thread I had already wound on a bobbin that pretty well matches it.   Machine binding is recommended for the donated comfort quilts but I'm not good at it as you can see.  I've been trying out different stitches to stitch the binding down and sometimes it's just hit and miss. 

This will probably be donated to Wrap-A-Smile but that box is almost full so it may go to Quilts Beyond Borders instead.   When that box is full then I donate locally.  I like to rotate donations. 

I say a little prayer for the future recipient of the quilt who will be undergoing surgery (if donated to Wrap-A-Smile).  I figure what goes around comes around. My son-in-law will be receiving a bone marrow transplant soon for his leukemia. A donor match has been found and that prayer answered. 

 No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted - Aesop

This was my goal # 2 for

First Quarter 2017 Finish-A-Long

Another One For Wrap-A-Smile

Wonky Logs

40 x 58

I made 9 inch wonky log blocks with purple and blue scraps (some given to me for donation quilts) and started each one with red heart centers. 

I used some other fabric with hearts for the border. 

As you can see there are some unexpected surprises in some of the blocks too. 

I quilted each square going back and forth with with scribbly lines in alternate directions (kind of like a basket weave pattern). 

I quilted it on my DSM with gray thread.  I hope I didn't quilt in any cuss words because my machine kept skipping stitches periodically. There were so many starts and stops and ripped out threads in this darned thing.   I think I finally figured out it must be the cross wound spool of thread.  When I changed to one that was not so full the quilting seemed to go a little better. 

This was the first FMQ  I have tried since my sewing machine went in for repair and I did notice that I could not lower the feed dogs because the switch is stuck. I guess I will have to take it back in to repair guy.   I actually don't lower the feed dogs when I FMQ so went ahead and kept quilting. 

I used scrap batting. I zigzag pieces together until I have a piece big enough for my quilt.  The backing was a piece of yardage I picked up from the thrift store a few years ago.  And the binding was leftover.   

This will be donated to Wrap-A-Smile.    Wrap-A-Smile is a partner of Rotaplast International, Inc. an organization committed to helping children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities. 

This was my goal #3 for 

2017 Finish-A-Long

Still in the Hoop but Moving Right Along

Triangle Stars

All 12 of the stars have the hand quilting completed 1/4 inside each triangle. 

Right now I'm working on quilting some stars inside the areas between stars that form an HST. 

After that I'll have the areas where the stars form a four patch. 

Joining the virtual quilting bee, Slow Sunday Stitching, at Kathy's Quilts

Aqua, Turquoise, Blue-Green, Teal: Chunks, 1.5, Strings and 4.5 Edition

We have a new color to work with this month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge - aqua, turquoise, blue-green, teal. 

I looked in my chunk scrap pile first for anything in that color that was at least 8.5 inch square to make my Improv Circles.   For these circles I also use red and brown scraps as my constants. 

I then dug into my 1.5 inch scraps and made some little 3 inch rail blocks. 

I also made these little thingys that finish at 2 inches. 

I saw a quilt at Kat & Cat Quilts that she called Confetti that reminded her (and me) of gum wrapper chains so decided to make one myself since it takes 1.5 inch scraps. Might as well cut for rails and Gum Wrapper Chains while I'm at it.  (And, yes, these would make a good leader/ender but I'm not a leader/ender kind of gal). 

Finally the 1.5 inch scraps got a postage stamp (1.5 inch square) cut off of them along with some reds to make a 10 inch postage stamp block inspired by a vintage quilt.  I think I only need four more blocks and quilt assembly will begin.   

Then I made a 10.5 string block.  I barely had enough strings in aqua, etc. to make this one block.  I'm using the black rainbowy fabric 2 inch strip somewhere in each block. 

Then I moved on to 4.5 inch pieces. Normally I make Flying Geese units from my 4.5 inch scraps but aqua ones don't really fit into my plan so will skip making those from 4.5 inch scraps this month. 

I have a big pile of 4.5 inch HSTs already made from various projects over the years so have been using them up in 12 inch HST blocks as well as 8 inch Broken Dishes blocks. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

Did you know that a group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope? 

This month my kaleidoscope of butterflies includes the above collection. 

Gosh, I didn't realize a lot of my floral fabrics are so dark. 

Ghost Moths is a free pattern I used to make my butterflies in case you want to make your own.  These are actually pretty quick and easy to make. 

And I made a few little butterflies on blue to add to this kaleidoscope of butterflies. 

Do you recognize the fabrics?  They are the "waste triangles" left over from the first set of Ghost Moth/ Butterflies  I made. 

For most it is probably obvious as to how to turn waste triangles into "butterflies" but I'll tell you how I made mine anyway.   There might be some new persons just learning to sew that don't even know you can use "waste triangles" in a variety of ways.  Or there might be some folks curious as to size of the blocks or any other number of things. Warning...some might find the following little tutorial boring  because you are already experts at using your waste triangles in a variety of different ways so if that is the case skip on down to the bottom of the post for a linky party. 

1. Gather together sets of two triangles that are of the same fabric for each butterfly you want to make. In this example I had 9 sets waste triangles that resulted from my Ghost Moth/Butterfly making. 

 2.  Cut four 2.5 inch squares of background fabric (blue tone on tones for me) for each butterfly set of waste triangles you gathered in step 1. 

3. Position your waste triangle in a corner of your background square leaving about 1/4 inch of the triangle overlapping on each side  of the background square.  Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the edge of the waste triangle.     Repeat for all your waste triangles. 

4. Clear off the end of your ironing board so you can put a new ironing board cover on.  Press all triangles toward the background corner like top set in photo. 

5. Turn squares over and trim excess triangle fabric so they are even with the background fabric.  If, after pressing, the waste triangle doesn't completely cover the background fabric it is okay if it is within the 1/4 inch seam allowance like the 3 at the top of the photo but if the waste triangle is really out of alignment then try again to be more precise especially if you don't trim away background fabric.  (You don't want any of the butterfly wings flying free...well, at least I don't want that). 

6. You could cut away the background fabric even with the waste triangle 1/4 inch seam if you want but for these butterflies I just leave it on.

7. Line up the extra background squares with each "butterfly wing" like you see above and chain  piece until you have little four patch units or completed 4.5 inch butterfly blocks that will finish at 4 inches. 

8. Since I left the background fabric under the butterfly I "twirl the seams" and press to reduce bulk. 

9. Admire your work and take a photo

10. Link up to "Kaleidoscope of Butterflies" with

 Ann of Fret Not Yourself or Cathy (me) of Sane, Crazy, Crumby

An InLinkz Link-up

At The End of This Rainbow is a HEART of Gold

Heart of Gold

It's just a top right now

When finished this will go to my youngest brother who unexpectedly had a quadruple bypass last year shortly after Easter.   It was unexpected because he's not overweight nor does he have high blood pressure.     At any rate I hope this quilt reminds him to stay heart healthy and that I love him and his heart of gold. 

I made these blocks (or I guess I would call them units instead) from 4.5 inch  scraps last year as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.    You know (if you are a regular blog reader) I usually don't lay out my quilts (on my floor - no design wall here)  but instead sew blocks together randomly but this rainbow configuration I decided upon meant I had to lay blocks out and then, good golly, Miss Molly, I had to make sure I not only sewed them together correctly but sewed them together pointing in the right direction.  Sheesh!  It didn't all go so smoothly and I have to say I became reacquainted with my old seam ripper that has grown lazy but in the end I have a rainbow trail. 

My inspiration was Kathy Doughty's (of Material Obsession) "Red Centre" quilt. 

This is a UFO I hope to finish up this quarter. Since I now have a top I'm getting closer to that goal!   I'm not sure what I will use for the backing and I hope there's enough rainbow fabric left for the binding.  

Check out what everyone else is doing with their scraps at: 

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework. 

My February OMG (One Monthly Goal) is to get this finished!! 

OMG at Elm Street Quilts

I didn't make my February OMG goal so now it's my March (One Monthly Goal) OMG to get this quilt finished!!  

OMG at Elm Street Quilts