To all my new friends in Arkansas. I hope that you and all of your
families are safe. My prayers are going out to everyone in the south.
Seeing the devistation on the TV makes me so very sad and makes
me want to make quilts for everyone.
Julie

to find the pattern

To find the pattern I'm considering-try googling
"united notions
figgy pudding quilt moda"

or posting www.unitednotions.com/fp_figgy-pudding.pdf
for some reason, I can't link it into the blog.....

Blocks for Jennifer R.!!

The one with more hot pink was Lara's and the other Jennifer S's. so cute I can't wait to see the finished product!

June possibility

To answer the question regarding material to look out for...well, I've always dreamed of a Christmas quilt, and even though my month is June-we're doing Christmas!

Here is the pattern I think I'll go with:



I'm still debating colors, but obviously Christmas-y. I'm thinking everyone make the set of trees-1 large and 2 small and give me any scraps and I'll work those into the blocks to blend all the fabrics together.

Here is my square for Jennifer!

Make sure that when you put the pinwheel design together for the center of the square that you sew the darker piece (green) on the right of your rectangle (turquoise) and the white piece on the left... otherwise the pinwheel will be backwards. (hmmmm I may or may not have a mirror image of this one for my collection!)

Taking Care of Business

Jennifer S. has suggested that we combine November with June and December with July to alleviate extra stress during the holidays.  Can everyone give a yea or nay?  My vote is yea.

Also, since the Baseline WalMart is selling fabric at 50% off Jennifer S. asked that if you know what type of quilt design and color you are going to do, could you please post it so that everyone can take advantage of the sales and get the material early.

Jennifer/and All:  I will be doing a Christmas Tree Quilt using Jewel Tones.

Assignments by Month

Monthly Assignments

January                Jennifer Schwartz
February               Connie Tollett
March                   Terri Bailey
April                      Jennifer Russell
May                      Kristin Beaumont
June                      Lara McElderry
July                       Mardie Tobler
August                   Julie Larson
September              Marnita Bisbee
October                  Nikki Webster
November/Dec         Courtney Sanderson & Llewellyn Webster

Beetle Boy Bug Quilt

While on my ski trip to Utah I stopped here for some fabric therapy.  I was in fabric heaven.  The only problem was that I only had 1 hour to shop before my rental car was due back....bummer....I could have stayed in this store for hours. 

One of the first things I saw when I walked into the store was a quilt using  a pattern called Strip Search by G. E. Designs with some great Dr. Suess fabric.  My very first thought was I MUST MAKE THIS QUILT FOR MY SON!!!   So now to find the fabric.

I was rushing to find the perfect fabric and running out of time....then I found this fun fabric by Ellen Crimi-Trent called Beetle Boy.  Umm, my little boy LOVES bugs!!!   So what better fabric to create a fun quilt for my sweet guy.



After cutting my 2.5 inch strips I sewed them together.




You cut your strips into squares and then cross cut them into triangles.
You actually have two different sizes for your squares so that you end up
with different size triangles to put together.



This is the finished top when you sew the various triangles together to make the squares.

This was one of the easiest and fastes quilts to make.  Once I had the top finished I decided I didn't want to use the stripe fabric for the back so I went online to find more fabric to go with this and came across this shop and they had the beetle bug backing for another quilt they were doing with the same fabric line...I ordered the backing and some more red to make the binding.  



I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out!!

AND, my little guy loves it too.  He is looking forward to cuddling up in it to watch tv.

Now....what next????

My latest project

My name is Connie and I am addicted to fabric.   Whew....it is out there now.  I have a stash.  I love to buy new fabric and patterns....I really love to sew. The problem is that I am always busy doing something else, but not this past week...oh, no.  My stash was calling my name.

I have had this stack of charms for over a year. 



Recess by American Jane (Moda)



 I have bounced around a couple of ideas but none really took. 

My friends at 12 Squared are working on a twisted 9 patch this month....

and I had seen this done before so I decided to pull out the charm packs and go to work.

lay out your charms in a 9 patch then sew them together

Cut through the center squares



turn and cut through the center squares in the other direction




now, your 9 patch is 4 squares





twist them around




Sew them together and ta da -- you have a twisted 9 patch.



not the best picture but hopefully you can see how it looks all put together.

Now, I am going to order some fabric for the backing and binding...

hopefully I can find some of this Recess fabric.

I really like the way it turned out and can't wait to finish the quilting part.

Connie and Marnita's Blocks for Terri B.

Ok, we finished these a couple of weeks ago and have already given them to Terri but we haven't posted them to the blog......so here they are!!!

Connie's block with pinwheels in the middle!



Marnita's applique block.

 Terri, I hope you enjoy them ....can't wait to see the finished product.

April - Dutchman's Puzzle

Thank you for being patient with me with getting this posted. We celebrated my first born's birthday, had a couple of soccer games, and watched a LOT of BYU-TV this weekend! =) I've put together a tutorial that I hope you will find helpful.

Mardie (Happy Birthday, Mardie) shared with me that Rachel Graham is in another quilt group that did Dutchman's Puzzle last month. You may choose to check it out. But, keep in mind that the measurements on our finished block is 12.5 squared. The other group's Dutchman measured 14" squared. Because, I have never put together a tutorial before, I decided to MIMIC/STEAL/Plagiarize her tutorial with a few exceptions including that I will show you how to put together your Flying Geese in an assembly line. So here goes-

Dutchman's Puzzle in Aqua and Lime

(For Beginner's)

Description of Pattern:

This block consists of eight FLYING GEESE. You see in the upper left quadrant of the block, the FLYING GEESE pair are pointed north. In the upper right quadrant, the FLYING GEESE pair are pointed east. In the bottom right quadrant the FLYING GEESE pair are pointed south. And in the bottom left quadrant, the FLYING GEESE pair are pointed west. This block is constructed using 3 fabric choices that coordinate, but are different enough to show off this classic pattern. Then, a white on white fabric will provide a nice background that frames the beauty of your fabric selections. ...feeling the pressure? he he he =)

Materials:

12 - 3.5 inch squares (White on White Fabric) (Background)
4 - 3.5 inch squares (Coordinating Fabric A) (Center Mini Pinwheel)
4 - 3.5 x 6.5 inch rectangles (Coordinating Fabric B) (Larger Pinwheel)
4 - 3.5 x 6.5 inch rectangles (Coordinating Fabric C)

Color Requests:

Aqua Blue and Lime Green. You may choose all prints or a mixture of solids and prints. You may choose to use a print that has both aqua and lime in it, like I did for the rectangles. And then something solid for your center mini pinwheel. Or you may choose to use another print for the center. You may notice that my Fabric B has a slight amount of Hot Pink in it. I welcome any extra Spring-Like color, as long as aqua and lime are portrayed as the thematic colors.

General Instructions:

Finished block is 12.5 inches square.
Sew right sides together unless otherwise stated.
1/4" seam allowances on everything.

Let's Get Started.

1) Cut all your squares AND rectangles. This photo only shows the squares. I have organized them to get them ready to pair up with my rectangles. They are anxiously waiting.

You may choose to lay out your rectangles and pair them up with your squares to get a handle on what's about to happen. Keep in mind your 2 upper left quadrant rectangles will point north, etc... (see Description of Pattern) You may decide to skip this organizational step.

2) Take your squares. Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the wrong side of each 3.5 inch square.

3) Organize and Layout all pieces. Give each rectangle (Fabric C) 2 background White of White (WOW) squares. Be sure to lay the fabric right sides together.

Give each rectangle (Fabric B) 1 WOW square and one (Fabric A) square. Be sure to lay your fabric right sides together. Also, be sure to line up your (Fabric A) square so that it will end up in the center of your Dutchman's Puzzle.

Here is a picture of my rectangles with the appropriate squares placed over them. I have laid them out in their proper places, so that my assembly line will work as smooth as silk.

4) Begin Assembly Line. I choose the top left rectangle. I place the right square on my table to wait patiently until I'm ready to sew ALL my right squares to my rectangles. I line up my left square with the left side of the rectangle. I choose to slightly press it. I think it helps keep it in place while I'm sewing.

5) Attach the left square to the rectangle by sewing on the line.

Daisy Chain Assembly:
After attaching this left square stitch a few stitches. Then, bring another rectangle with another left square to your machine. Making sure your needle is up, lift the foot. Gently, place another rectangle and square under your needle. Again, sew on the line. Stitch a few stitches between each rectangle to be sure that you give ample room to snip them apart when you are finished attaching all left squares to all rectangles. Repeat until all rectangles have their left squares attached. Notice in this photo, I have daisy chained my rectangles together. Saves. so. much. time.

6) When all left squares are attached, snip the partial Flying Geese units from each other. Use your ruler to trim away a 1/4" from the seam. Do them all. Save your small triangles for another project. I'm thinking about using them for a cute tote for Jillian.

7) Press the triangles open.

8) Then lay out you're new rectangles into place and return your patiently waiting right squares back in to place on the appropriate rectangles.

9) Repeat steps 5 through 8, attaching the right squares to the rectangles.

A little tip in regards to keeping your Flying Geese Points from disappearing under their awaiting seams... When you line up your right square to the right side of your rectangle, you will notice that when you sew on the line... you WILL CROSS the left square's seam 1/4" away from the edge of the fabric. Doing this WILL result in giving your flying geese enough space so that it will most likely never have to hide it's pretty little pointy face behind an upcoming seam. (I'm smiling and wondering... is anyone still with me?)

You should now have 8 Flying Geese Units. Congratulations! I was so happy!

10) Next, using your Flying Geese units, make Flying Geese pairs. Again, I am keeping my block laid out appropriately on my table. Begin with the upper left quadrant. Flip the top Flying Geese over onto the bottom one in it's quadrant and stitch them together. (Again, right sides of fabric together.) Make sure your Flying Geese pair will point NORTH!. Then, move on to the Upper right quadrant. Sew the Flying Geese pair together and make sure they will point East, and so on until all 4 quadrants are together.

Then sew the top two quadrants together. Line up the base of the pairs (the center of the mini pinwheel) so that the center of the unit will be continuous. In other words, our objective at this point is constructing the pinwheel to have all of it's points come together. Mine aren't perfect. Let me just tell you. But, I'm impressed with how well they look considering this is the fourth quilt block I've ever constructed. by myself. EVER.

After your top quadrants are sewn together and your bottom quadrants are sewn together, sew the top and the bottom together. Keep an eye on the center of your pinwheel... Oh, and when your needle is going through the very center, you may have to slightly pull the block to help feed it through the multiple layers of fabric. (Even on a slightly decent machine!)

Here 'tis:

Hope you all enjoy this as much as I did!

OH, don't trim your block. Remember, you will want 1/4" fabric between the edge of your block and where the points begin. If you have it, you're golden.... don't trim it away!

Happy sewing!

What I did while my husband and I were sick...

My husband has been home sick since last Thursday... I know! I have needed to be close by so I brought my machine down stairs and went to town. (then I got sick and so the sewing continues! I even finished the sashing and border on my Book of Mormon quilt. Woo Hoo!)
I am hoping to make this our square for July! The squares go together in a really great design. The background fabric (polka dot) formsThese were much easier to do than I thought they would be. Putting the "crazy squares" together is like creating your own fabric. My granddaughter, Megan, saw one of the stars and recognized some fabric from a baby quilt! So, ladies, save your scraps!