Category Archives: block pattern

Baby Strings

Posted on September 29, 2019 by heARTs Creations

In May I worked on a string quilt while at a retreat. The leftovers have now been put to good use. Originally, this was the layout:

I decided, however, to change the layout and I like this much better.

The string sections are quilted with a loop pattern and the white sections are done with straight lines.

Another finish feels really good, but I don’t want to just add it to my pile of finished quilts. It’s too small for a Hospice quilt, so I will be donating it to my guild because they give quilts to the hospital. I’d love this to go home with new parents and their precious little one, or a baby in need of extra TLC.

And here’s my September wrap-up. Much of my time has been spent sorting through stuff some reorganization. Sewing has definitely taken a back seat. I enjoy sewing more when all is in order!

Sept WIPS

Linking up with: Oh Scrap! Monday Making

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Posted in block pattern, charity quilts, Color, Projects, Quilting, Scraps and tagged Charity, Color, projects, Scraps. Bookmark the permalink.

Aiming for Accuracy

Posted on September 19, 2019 by heARTs Creations

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That’s the name of a pattern from Craftsy several years ago. I fell in love with it and it being a free pattern, it made my decision to do this quilt a lot easier. I immediately ordered the fabric, Bobbins & Bits batik. Interestingly enough, this fabric also was in a non-batik and yes, I originally ordered the wrong one. Thankfully that mistake was easily corrected.

The fabric is bold and fun with graphics of buttons and scissors. I did all the cutting and began to put several blocks together when I did my artist in residency at Wild Acres about three years ago. When I brought the project home, it sat, and sat, and sat. Finally I put what was done on the design wall and was motivated to get this baby done! My aim at accuracy was a bit off in places, but overall I’m good with the results.

There is an excellent long arm quilter in South Carolina that I met last year and I gave her the flimsy in May. She travels a lot and I was willing to wait because I knew she would do a great job. And a great job she did! The red thread on the back fabric is quite bold! And as an extra bonus she squares and trims the finished quilt!! I machine sewed the binding on as soon as I got it home. Usually I completely machine sew on my bindings, but this one begged for me to hand sew the one side. For a week I dog sat at my son’s house so I had the perfect project to keep me busy!

This for me is more than just another completed quilt. It was a quilt in my must do because I truly love it quilty bucket list. It’s done! And hung! I love it! YIPPEE!!!

Linking up with: Moving it Forward Monday, NTT

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Fabric, Pattern, Projects, Quilt Setting, Quilting and tagged Color, Patterns, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

I Got Mail & a Finish!

Posted on September 16, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Recently the best box of goodies showed up at my doorstep. A reader from Kansas contacted me. Her mother, who was an avid quilter, passed away. Just like most quilters, it was no surprise that she had WIPS in her stash that her daughter now wanted to pass on to the Hospice ministry. And WOW! First, was this hand pieced, hand quilted piece. I needed to take it apart a bit to make it into a square, but because she used Georgia Bonesteel’s laptop quilting method, it was easy. I took it apart, rearranged some blocks, sewed it back together, put on a binding and look! A finished Hospice quilt! What a wonderful and loving way to honor the memory of her mother. This finish will be passed on to Hospice this November and shortly thereafter will bring warmth, joy and love to someone in need.

All that hand quilting – WOW!

There were a couple of block of the month kits with the blocks all made, needing to be sewn together, and the patterns given to us too. Another amazing treasure was the Sunbonnet Sue blocks and yes, hand done. There are even the cardboard templates included! A few blocks were complete and many, many pieces were prepped ready to applique.

The below quilt was also a block of the month – all put together.

And yes, another quilt all pieced. WOW – so much excellent work!

I was tickled to see this scrappy quilt. I can only image all the quilts that were made resulting in the scraps for this one.

Thank you to this most generous reader. Our group is honored to have your mother’s fine works and will endeavor to do you proud!

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Posted in Applique, block pattern, charity quilts, Projects, Quilting, Scraps, Stash and tagged Charity, Donation, Patterns, projects. Bookmark the permalink.

Endless cutting and August Progress

Posted on September 1, 2019 by heARTs Creations

A blogger I follow, Quilt Diva Julie recently posted about a string quilt she was doing called Optic Strings, using prints and solids. I loved it and immediately knew what fabrics I would use from my stash! The prints I pulled are all the Tula Pink prints I had and matched them with coordinating solid shot cottons. It was a blast to pull and match!

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The cutting marathon began. The strips are 1 1/2″ wide by 10 1/2″+ long. There are 37 pairs of fabric and I cut two sets of each fabric with 4 print strips and 5 solid strips for each block. Whew!! It took me days because I cannot cut very much at once. The tennis elbow has improved, but I can’t push it. The blocks are all cut and clipped together – yippee! I do not have permission to post a pic of Julie’s blocks, but you can follow the link above to see them.

This past month I did manage to complete and prepare the backings for two quilts that are now at the long armers. I quilted and bound a scrappy flannel quilt that will be added to the Hospice quilt pile. I will share pics of these at a later date. And I made 8 Baby Tag Blankets. Because I am attending quilt retreats in September, October and mine in November, I have been very busy prepping so when I get there I can just sew!

August WIPS

How about you? Have you gotten to sew in August, or did end of summer activities take over? Either way, I hope you had fun!

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Posted in block pattern, charity quilts, Fabric, Hospice Quilts, Pattern, Projects, Quilting, Quilting Retreat and tagged Charity, Color, projects, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

Applique Update & Detour

Posted on August 20, 2019 by heARTs Creations

A very long time ago I began to hand applique Lollypop Tree by Kim McLean. The background for my first block wasn’t quite what I wanted so I began again, using a gray and white backgrounds. Much better! There are now three complete and the fourth one is very close to being done.

But I’ve come to a complete halt. I was so on fire to finish this one and get to number five. My plan is to do six total as the blocks are rather large. Most unfortunately I’ve developed what I believe is tennis elbow and I cannot do hand applique until it’s better.

Big whimper – it hurts My research has shown that this could take months – Grrr!! I see the doctor next week to get an official diagnosis and plan of action although I’m betting it won’t be much different from what I’m doing now – limiting what I do with my right arm, exercises, and icing it regularly.

Big SIGH…I want to applique!!

Tennis Elbow

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Posted in Applique, Art, block pattern, Fabric, Kaffe Fasset, Projects, Quilting and tagged projects, Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

Baby Tag Blankies – and Tutorial

Posted on August 18, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Recently I was asked to make several baby tag blankies – some in pink and some in blue. This really is such an easy project and a great gift idea.

Baby Tag Blankie PDF

Last Border, Round Robin

Posted on July 28, 2019 by heARTs Creations

Finally!! This Round Robin project has been around forever! There was only one border remaining for me to do but I just couldn’t decide. At first I was so sure it was to be yellow. I even sewed one strip on only to see it wasn’t the right one. Not much unsewing, so that was okay. Lots of auditioning and finally decided on a black and white print. I was also determined to use something from my stash!

I didn’t like all one plain border – just didn’t seem to go with all the other rounds that the very talented participants added to my center block. I tried a plain black corner square. Nope. So I mimicked the previous pieced corner square and finally finished the final border!

I like it! It has now been added to the “to be quilted pile” that I’ve never had, said I would never have, but is now a reality. I’m thinking of getting a quilt ladder for my studio to display the flimsies – why not enjoy them instead of being piled in a closet?!

Thank you so very much to Helen, Deb and Judy for this wonderful experience doing a Round Robin. I love my quilt!

Linkup up: NTT For the Love of Geese Moving It Forward Monday To Do Tuesday

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Posted in block pattern, Color, Projects, Quilting, Round Robin and tagged Quilting. Bookmark the permalink.

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