23 and Counting

This week the scrappy patchwork madness continues in my sewing room. I've finished 23 nine patch blocks and I've got another 3 sitting next to my sewing machine ready to sew.

My original plan was to piece together a completely spontaneous, unplanned, willy-nilly patchwork quilt top. I would use up some scraps and make a quilt the kids could wrap themselves up in while watching movies and eating buttered popcorn.Win, win.

Sadly, my poor little order-seeking brain just couldn't handle the chaos. Now I'm slowly piecing intentional nine patches with a solid square in the center of each. Of course the joke is on me because as soon as I put all the blocks together it looks like an explosive color mess! I may add some narrow sashing between the blocks so they aren't completely lost in a riot of pattern. We shall see.

Although I'm really enjoying this project, I'm going to put it down for now and start yet another quilt top.

Details to come...

Happy sewing!
-Annik

Stamp Collection

There's nothing like a simple patchwork project to cure a bad case of sewing malaise.

Postage Stamp "mini runner" using Juggling Summer by Brigitte Heitland for Zen Chic for Moda 2.5" candy pack.

Another mini runner using ABC 123 by American Jane Patterns, Sandy Klop for Moda 2.5" candy pack.

I haven't felt much like quilting lately. Making clothes - yes. Reorganizing my sewing room - yes. Refolding the stash - yes. But piecing and quilting? Not so much. When quilting fatigue sets in, I find nothing cures it quite like making a mini quilt (or five). Nothing fancy, no pressure, just something simple and quick. I pieced these two postage stamp minis yesterday and you know what? It was fun!

What's your favorite way to get your quilting mojo back?

Simple and Satisfying

I finished this today -

Okay, wait, here's a bigger view complete with loads of clover-

 

Hats off to Minick & Simpson for their beautiful Charlevoix line for Moda and of course, my beloved Sandy Klop for her super versatile pindots.

Don't you think this quilt is a slice of Americana? It makes me want to sip lemonade and talk about the good old days (whenever they were).

Here's the back - I love this print. It reminds me of my childhood, although I'm not sure why. Those little flowers seem really familiar.

Mapping out the straight line quilting was a bit slow and required lots of painter's tape but was totally worth the effort (in my humble opinion).

It occurred to me this evening that I've made this quilt before, albeit a much smaller version, right down to the red with white polka dot border. Odd.

So, at the risk of being repetitive, I'm planning to make another one with Sherbet Pips. Will I add a red with white dots border? Perhaps!

Want to make your own Americana throw? You'll need eighty-eight (88) 5" charm squares (11 rows of 8 squares). Cut 4 WOF and .5 WOF x 1.25" wide strips for the narrow border (finished size is .75" wide). Cut 5 WOF x 5" strips for the outer border (finished size is 4.5" wide).  I like  2.25" wide binding strips, but use whatever size you prefer.

I still owe you a post about the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, but that will have to be tomorrow because I'm pooped out after a long week of wrangling kids.

Happy sewing,

-Annik