Denyse Schmidt Modernized D9P

In 2015 I'm going to do a better job about taking good pictures of my quilts. And blogging about them. For real this time. I promise. So...without further ado, here is my amazing (and finished!) modernized D9P made with Denyse Schmidt charms from a swap I participated in ages ago.

I. Love. This. Quilt. And for the first time ever, I'm keeping it for myself. Back in 2011, I participated in a few rounds of a Denyse Schmidt charm swap over on Flickr. (Of course I had several spots in each round.) I decided I finally needed to start doing something with them, so I pulled out some of the blue, green, gray, and gold charms to make a modernized D9P using Kristy Daum's tutorial.

For the backing, I scored a piece of clearance Fancy Free Allover Floral at Joann's (love, love, love that Joann's carries Denyse Schmidt and other designer fabric) as well as a DS Quilts remnant that I used for the binding. Except for the two gold pieces on the back and the Kona white on the front, the quilt is all Denyse Schmidt fabrics.

Quilt Stats:
Name: Denyse Schmidt Modernized D9P
Size: 50" x 62"
Fabrics: Denyse Schmidt, Kona white, a few scraps from my stash
Binding: DS Quilts Fancy Free remnant
Pattern: Kristy Daum's modernized D9P
Quilting: straight(ish) line grid quilting by me
Started: October-ish 2014
Completed: February 28, 2015

digital WISH quilt

I recently had the opportunity to become a quilter for my WISH circle of do. Good Stitches. For the April blocks, I chose this modernized disappearing nine patch in red, aqua, dark brown and white. And finally (a little late), here's the completed quilt:

My favorite part is our do. Good Stitches label incorporated into a wonky star block on the back.

This is the largest quilt I have ever quilted. I tend to make baby quilts since they aren't as difficult to maneuver on my domestic machine. Since this was my first large quilt, I chose a simple quilting pattern of wavy horizontal lines. I love how it turned out and would like to thank the ladies of the WISH circle for making such beautiful blocks. This quilt will be donated to Project Linus.

Stats:
size: 51.5" x 62"
quilting: wavy horizontal lines, quilted by me on my Bernina Activa 220

modernized d9p quilt blocks

I am so excited for April! Next month I will have my first turn as quilter for the WISH circle of do. Good Stitches. Ever since I found out I was going to be a quilter, I've been searching for the perfect quilt blocks and the perfect color scheme to make the perfect quilt. I've changed my mind about a thousand times so I'm just going to go ahead and post my idea now so I can't change it again!

I've decided on a fairly straightforward quilt design for my first month. We'll be making this Modernized Disappearing 9 Patch from Kristy at St. Louis Folk Victorian. Now for the color combination. I've been perusing all the beautiful possibilities at Design Seeds and finally chose this pretty combination of white, aqua, red and dark brown.

Everyone will make 2 quilt blocks and each quilt block will use 4 colored/print charm squares and 5 white charm squares.

Sew your 9 patch blocks using any two of the layouts provided in the tutorial.

Cut each 9 patch block into quarters.

Mix up your blocks and sew them back together however you like!

QuiltCon block #1

After reading about the QuiltCon Block Challenge, I decided to try and make 3 blocks to send in before the August 15 deadline.  I know there's no way one of my blocks will make it into Elizabeth Hartman's favorite 20 (I mean have you seen some of the blocks?), but all the remaining blocks will be used to make quilts for Austin Children's Shelter.  How awesome is that?  So after choosing some appropriate fabric from my stash

I cut and sewed a disappearing nine patch panel and framed it with white borders.

A little busy, but not bad.  At least most of my points are matched up.  Now off to plan block #2!

patchwork pillowcase

Just a quick WIP post today because it is the last WIP at Freshly Pieced until September and I don't want to miss out.  Today I finished up a patchwork pillowcase.

It's for Danny at Mommy for Reals.  (You should check out her blog because she's funny and crafty and her daughter is adorable.) She needs 40 pillowcases for the young ladies who will be attending Teen Reach Adventure Camp.  I love crafting for a good cause so of course I wanted to help.  I made a disappearing nine patch panel with some rainbow charm squares from one of the swaps I participated in.  I used purple fabric from my stash for the borders and back and quilted it with some randomly spaced diagonal lines and variegated purple thread.  I think it's fun and colorful and hopefully a teenager will like it--I'm a little out of touch with what teens like!  (I know the pillowcase looks a little big. It's for a 20 inch pillow but the only pillow "model" I had was only 18 inches.) Now just one more pillowcase and one drawstring bag to make then I can ship everything off!

on a roll

You remember those April goals?  One of them included doing something with this cute little patchwork panel.

I was going easy on myself and set a goal of adding borders and making the quilt sandwich.  But then I was on a roll and finished the whole thing.  It's a smaller sized quilt--about 33 inches square.  I think it would be a good size for a play mat or to use in a stroller or car seat.  It's hard to see in the picture, but I quilted it with horizontal wavy lines.  The borders are pale yellow Kona cotton remnant I purchased at Hancock's.

I backed it in Bridle Path - Metro Orange.  It's not my favorite print from the collection, but that's what happens when you wait a year to finish a project!  I used pale yellow thread for the top and orange thread in the bobbin.  After a slight adjustment of the bobbin tension, I didn't have any problems with the bobbin thread showing on the top of the quilt.  I love the subtle look of quilting using the same color thread as fabric.

I used Central Park Flowers - Cream for the binding.  Kind of a waste of such a pretty, bold print but I like the look of it.

I think I'll hold onto this quilt for awhile.  (Yes--I'm the crazy lady that makes baby stuff for no reason.)  Who knows? Maybe we'll be blessed with a second child.  And maybe we'll be blessed with a baby girl.  And I would want her to have this beautiful little quilt.

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4/26/12:  I'm linking up at Owen's Olivia.  Come share a quilt you have made!

a finished quilt

After sharing so many quilt tops, I finally have a finished blanket to show off.

It's another disappearing nine patch (of course) made up of 45 6-inch squares. I made this little quilt completely from supplies I had on hand. I have a bad habit of purchasing little remnants of cute fabrics (like the multi-colored polka dot and the white fabrics), but I never end up using them. Turns out they're perfect for a D9P. Some of the other fabrics (blue and white check and blue and yellow plaid) are leftovers from some of the first blankets I made several years ago. The finished size of this blanket is about 32 inches x 40 inches. I backed it in a blue chambray-type fabric leftover from decorating my son's room, and I quilted it in random straight lines across the width and length of the blanket.

This little blanket is for nobody in particular--I just wanted to make something from my fabric stash. I'd like to make more and donate them to a worthwhile cause like Project Linus or an organization that assists expectant mothers.

another disappearing nine patch

I've decided my new favorite quilt pattern is the disappearing nine patch. There's some nice instructions here at Cluck Cluck Sew. So even though I've done absolutely nothing with this DNP quilt top I made back in February, I decided I needed to start yet another quilt. I used a Moda Fresh Flowers charm pack to make this little beauty--
The charm pack had 42 squares and I cut 3 more squares of Kona snow. With 45 squares I was able to make 5 nine patch squares. When cut and sewn back together, that makes a perfect little baby blanket quilt top. This will actually become the center panel of a quilt for my mother in law for Christmas. (I can't believe I'm actually starting a Christmas gift in September!) On Etsy, I found a bargain--2 yards of two different coordinating fabrics for $10.50 including shipping! That was half of what I would have spent at my local quilt shop. I really try to support local businesses, but I'm on a budget and couldn't pass up that deal.

I think I need to use some of my fabric stash to make some DNP baby blankets for charity.

a little spring. . .

. . .on a dreary February day.

This is my first attempt at a disappearing nine patch which I worked on over the weekend (in addition to free-motion quilting another blanket and binding a third blanket).  I used 36 squares from a Moda Central Park charm pack.  It's much busier than anything I've ever made before, but I think it will make an adorable little baby blanket/play mat.  Not that I have any need for a girly baby blanket, but I couldn't resist the bright, happy fabrics.  I think I'll end up using it as a center panel, and this will be the first square blanket I've made.  I've decided when it comes to quilt-making, I really enjoy picking out the fabrics and piecing them together which is why I have 5 quilt tops and 0 quilts.  The quilting part I don't enjoy so much--probably because it takes me so long!  I don't even mind hand stitching the binding.  So what is your favorite/least favorite part of the quilt-making process?