Quilts for Christmas

This Christmas season I was able to gift 3 finished quilts - a record for me! I owe it to my local quilt shop owner who quilted two of them for me. 

First up, the Monterrey Medallions quilt was finally officially given to my daughter. Now I just have to mail it to her as it didn't fit in her luggage!

I'm really happy with how this one turned out. I designed it based on the panel I got at my local quilt shop. The owner quilted it for me too! She did a great job going around the animals. Most of the fabrics were from my stash. I did buy the grunge green and some of the Northcott Stonehenge dark blues.

After I saw another quilter use this fabric for a backing, I knew it was the right one for this quilt! It's a beautiful wideback from Northcott.

This is the only quilt that I quilted - after it was sitting around for a year! It was the mystery quilt at my quilt guild the year I joined - 2016? I gifted it to my dad for his retirement this month. It has some of my favorite fabrics in it.

And this post wouldn't be possible in many ways without the support of this man, Mr. Sew Joy! He is always encouraging and willing to hold up my finished quilts. I plan to keep him busy next year too ;)



With Joy,

Sarah V.

Read more...

How to make a 12" finished quilt block COMPLETELY out of 2 1/2" strips!

I could have also called this post, "how I hacked a block made by Jennie Doan", but that might not have sounded as exciting:)

I followed this video by Jennie - except for the measurements.

Missouri Quilt Co star block video

I needed a star block for my Guild mystery challenge. I'm using two background colours and a package of 2 1/2" strips. I didn't want to have to start with pieces larger than 2 1/2" if I could help it AND I wanted the block to end up 12" finished.

Jennie's star uses jelly roll strips (2 1/2" wide strips) to make the start points, but not the background. Her block finishes at 11". 

So I played!

I used both of my background fabrics cut into 2 1/2" squares to make my background corners 4 1/2" unfinished.

Then I realized in time that my star strips would need to be longer - instead of 4" and 6", I cut mine 4 1/2" and 6 1/2".

The result is what I wanted! You can see I played with alternating my background colours to make 4 patches and tried to get the pattern to continue through the stars. If I was going to make another, I would make all of the star point squares of the same fabric!

I'm very happy with my hack and how the star block looks with the rest of my blocks.

Have you hacked a pattern?

With Joy,

Sarah V.

Read more...

Catching up on my Civil Roosting Round Robin blocks

With the holiday season over, my quilt guild's first meeting of the new year is quickly approaching. Time for me to catch up on some projects that will be due!

First up, my Roosting Round Robin that I'm doing two of - this one is my civil war fabrics one.
I did an initial post on the fabrics and my first block here.

This time I had two blocks to do.

The first round after the starting block was to use triangles.
I decided to try one of the blocks in the latest Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine.

Here's the block:

This block is named, "Flying 'Round" by Marilyn Foreman of quiltmoments.com {block 1565 of Quiltmaker's 100 blocks vol.16.)

I used my blue background quilt and one of the white prints to make the spinning pinwheel stand out. I liked this block because it let me make good use of my 2 1/2" strips.


Block 2 needed to be a log cabin. Again I wanted to use my 2 1/2" strips effectively and use lots of them!

I simply started with a red 2 1/2" square and added to it with 2 1/2" strips. I stopped when it measured 12 1/2" - can't get much simpler than that!

Then I spent a little time playing with setting ideas. As a member of the planning committee I know what the next rounds will be (shhhh!) I think setting everything on point will work out nicely!

Next up, to work on the modern mystery!


With Joy,

Sarah V.

Read more...

Progress on my blocks of the months

These projects are not necessarily on the back burner, but definitely the side burners! My last post focussed on my 3 focus projects for this quarter of the year. The following three - or four - are also taking their turns under the sewing machine needle.

My Friends on Chelsea Lane blocks by Pat Sloan: I'm trying to at least fuse down one of these blocks a month. I am now behind on doing the blanket stitch on several and the words. I think I will spend time in the summer months stitching the words out on the porch :)

This is an older pattern of  Pat's that I was fortunate enough to be gifted as a kit. She has a beautiful quilt in the latest issue of Primitive Quilting that is available in a kit and features her new fabric line. You can see Spring Breeze here.

I've just recently started to fall behind on this one. This is my 150 Canadian Women blocks laid out on my queen size bed - there's around 64 - 6 1/2" blocks in this photo, plus the one 12" block that I added in. I'm hoping to catch back up shortly now that my secret sewing is finished!

These blocks are designed by Kat Tucker of  Next Step Quilt Designs. There are more blocks to come and a CD you can buy in November that includes all of the 150 blocks.

My local quilt shop recently started the Holly Jolly quilt along by Sew Fresh Quilts . Of course I couldn't resist the easy pieced blocks and fun colours. Plus Christmas! I have been meaning to share this one for awhile as it seems I've made several copies of this photo for the blog ;)

This is one of those block of the months where you pay a fee at the beginning, bring in your block completed by the next release date and receive the next pattern free. It works for me! I did mistakenly personalize my mitten block, but I like it. The next block is a big bow due in a few weeks:)

And one more - my quild's mystery quilt! I joined the guild late in the year and have some catching up to do. Apparently I don't have to have it finished until the next quilt show in a couple of years :)  The last clue has been given out and I'm thrilled with the design - it's one I've been putting off doing. I'm also glad I used some stashed favourites in this one. Now I just have to get it done - and convince my husband I don't have too many quilts and can keep it!

There will be another post up here this week: I'm happy to announce that I am one of the stops on the Quiltmaker's 100 blog tour next week!

AND my block is on the cover!

Can you guess which one? Come back on Wednesday, May 3 to find out!

I have made a lap top quilt top for the tour and can't wait to share it with you. Now I just need to take it outside for some photos before it starts raining!

With Joy,

Sarah V.

Read more...