do. Good Stitches {April blocks}

I've been contemplating a scrappy/bright/low-volume/HST quilt idea for awhile. I figured since I'm the quilter in April for the PEACE circle of do. Good Stitches, this was the perfect opportunity to try it out. (Disclaimer: I have no idea what the finished top will look like, but I'm excited to give this idea a try!)

I'm slightly addicted to the scrappy, bright+low-volume color scheme, so we're going to use it again...even though we just used it in January.

Everyone will make 3 or 4 8.5 inch blocks using the following options:

Block Option 1:

• Sew a print 5" square to one low-volume 5" square to make half-square triangles. Trim each HST to 4.5" square. (Don't forget about this amazing tutorial for trimming HSTs.)
• Make 2 4.5" half-square triangles using a bright print and a low-volume fabric
• Add 2 low-volume 4.5" squares to get this layout:

Block Option 2:

• Make 4 4.5" half-square triangles using as above
• Lay them out in any pleasing HST arrangement. Some examples are shown below:

Block Option 3:

• Make 8.5" half-square triangles. I started with two 9" squares (one bright print and one low-volume fabric), made my HSTs and trimmed down to 8.5". Two blocks done! So easy:

If you are as addicted to HSTs as I am, feel free to make as many blocks as you like. I will use them all to make quilt(s) for Project Linus.

WISH quilt

Have I really not posted since July? I don't know where this year has gone. . .

September was my month as quilter for the WISH circle of do. Good Stitches. I chose this Half Square Triangle {Scrappy Strings Style} tutorial from Blooming Poppies with the string part of the block in bright, citrus colors (yellow, orange, green, pink) and the other half in a light gray solids or low-volume gray prints. My bee members provided me with some beautiful blocks and I am in love with the finished quilt.

I quilted straight lines approximately one-half inch apart in the gray areas, echoing the diamond pattern. It really shows up on the back.

Bee member Kirsten generously provided the beautiful Amy Butler Soul Blossoms fabric which I paired with a Kona orange and hot pink. My initial plan was to have the quilt label in the unquilted area but I somehow flipped the layout when I put the back together. Still beautiful, though. The binding is a large-scale hot pink and white polka dot. The quilt measures 38.5 inches by 47.5 inches and will be donated to Project Linus.

There is a do. Good Stitches year-end celebration of all the amazing quilts that were completed in 2013.  Go check them out!

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

wip Wednesday {6/5/13}

Today I'm working on. . .

My June blocks for the WISH circle of do. Good Stitches. We're making Bijoux Blocks in gray, black and mustard. This is my first attempt at curves but I think I can do it.

I've been in the middle of an "i spy" project which has been strewn across my sewing room floor for weeks now. It took me forever to figure out the correct measurements for the flying geese roofs on my "i spy" houses. I don't know how I can be so bad at quilt math.

I'm almost done quilting my first WISH quilt!

I am so in love with the wonky star block I made using our do. Good Stitches label.

And the packages are continuing to roll in for my i spy charm swap. Just waiting on one more and I can start sorting!

scrappy kaleidoscope blocks

Awhile back I signed up on the wait list for do. Good Sitches {a charity bee}. Each month, group members make quilt blocks to send to one of the group's quilters who will use the blocks to make a quilt for charity. I was so excited to get the e-mail letting me know I was a new member of the WISH group. We will be making quilts for Project Linus and our first task was to make bright pink/purple/orange/gray scrappy kaleidoscope blocks using this tutorial. I panicked a little when I saw the blocks. I haven't really made intricate blocks before. I panicked when I saw the colors. I don't have the greatest fabric stash. Then I took a breath, read through all the instructions, and surveyed my stash. And I made these:

I'm a little disappointed with the center points--I could not get them perfectly lined up even after multiple attempts. My stash was lacking in gray fabric but fortunately I had just ordered a variety of gray polka dot fabric to make my friend a baby quilt. Most of the corner pieces are from a Moda Half Moon Modern Charm pack. The orange fabric is Bridle Path by Kate Spain/Moda. The purples and pinks are random scraps. I'm excited to see the final quilt. I would never mix these colors but I think the end result will be beautiful.