Pages

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Spring Table Tunner

 Where I live there's still frost, ice and patches of snow, but during the day we get some warmth from the sun. I long for green grass and flowers in my garden!

I made this table runner which will be great for spring and easter. The tulips grow up from the sand and soil and bring colors to the surroundings.


The table runner is designed by the Norwegian designer Runa Kristiansen. I used fabrics from may stash, and used Aurifil threads for piecing and quilting. Finished size for the runner is 12" x 36".



Keep on quilting!


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Traditional Patchwork Quilt for Charity

 

 

 This year's first charity quilt is a traditional patchwork quilt. It consists mostly of donated fabrics. It's quilted with a wavy crosshatch design.



The backing is pieced from a cute Debbie Mumm paper doll panel. Finished size is 42" x 54".

This is my first charity quilt for the year 2024, and number 106 all time for the children's ward at the hospital. 



 

Keep on quilting!


Monday, March 11, 2024

AGF Sewcialite Sampler

 Six weeks in early 2024 was used to make this gorgeous sampler. Ten designers were responsible for two blocks each, in inverse colors. I used fabrics from my stash for both front and back of the quilt.

 

Finished size is 54" x 67". Quilted with wavy horizontal lines. A pieced colorful backing from my stash adds extra color to the quilt.



Keep on quilting!

 

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Vintage Treasures

 Last year I was approached by a friend of ours whether I could help restore/repair three quilts his grandmother had made. I don't know exactly how old these quilts are, but the lady was born in 1905 so I guess they are approaching 100 years old.

I have never restored or repaired quilts before, so I was a little hesitant in accepting this task, but finally said yes.

The quilts showed different stages of wear and tear.

The first quilt was in the best condition, though the fabrics were faded a lot. The size of the quilt was 46.5" x 75". The edges were very flimsy and needed to be repaired. 

My local quilt store had a French General solid from Moda in a beige color that was almost the same color as the original binding, so I bought that for all three quilts.


The blue background fabric in quilt number two showed minimal fading, but some of the stars were very pale. The size of this one was 59" x 76.5". As you clearly can see from this picture the edges are flimsy and worn and the blue fabric had holes around the edges.


The third quilt was the biggest one, original size 63" x 81", and very colorful. All hand pieced and hand quilted. This one was most worn of the three, some of the fabrics in the star were completely worn off. In addition, the yellow fabric "extension" on top and bottom were worn to pieces and had to go.

 


A closeup of some of the most worn blocks. A lot of the fabrics couldn't take the daily wear and tear.

I searched my stash for replacement fabrics, and also bought some vintage looking fabrics from my LQS. This became a big hand sewing project; ripping out single diamond and square pieces, adding batting pieces where I had to, hand sewing new shapes into the blocks, and finally hand quilting the repaired blocks.

The largest quilt took me almost a month to hand stitch, while repairing one block I often found another next to it that had to be fixed.

Finally all the quilts are restored, and are again heirlooms that can be handled with care. Lucky great-grandchildren who will inherit these beautiful quilts!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

 Below are the restored quilts in all their glory:

The first one got a new binding and some holes were mended.


For the second quilt I cut off some of the most worn blue fabric on the edges, and added a new binding. The resulting length was reduced to 70".


The third quilt got a completely refreshed look with the star blocks repaired and a new binding. My opinion is that it also looks a lot better without the yellow fabric extension on top and bottom. Finished dimension is 63" x 72.5".

This quilt restoration project was a great experience, and I am proud of the result.



Monday, January 8, 2024

Postage Stamp Quilt

My latest quilt was made in December 2023, but wasn't blogged until January 2024.


As for most of quilters my scrap bins are overflowing. That's why I took a deep dive into them and cut lots of 1.5" squares for a postage stamp quilt. i organized squares into 64-patches, some by color and others more ore less random. White sashing made the blocks stand out, and neutral cornerstones completed the design. A blue border completed the quilt.

Walking foot quilting was the right finishing for this quilt with 768 one inch finished squares. Scrappy binding was perfect for this baby quilt that measures 38" x 48".



 The backing is filled with cuddly puppies.

 

Close-up of the quilt.

This is my thirteenth charity quilt for the year 2023, and number 105 all time for the children's ward at the hospital. 


Keep on quilting!


 

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Batik Triangles

 


 Winter is here with freezing temperatures, and what gives a better contrast than bright batik triangles?!

I had a lit of batiks in my stash, and figured out that they would be great for a charity quilt. I decided to make my first, ever, triangle quilt. I cut the triangles using the Hex'n More ruler. 

After cutting I realized there was one triangle short to make the last row complete, so I fussy cut a cherry block (can you find it?).



 The backing is a great panel with dragons and castles. It wasn't wide enough, but a green strip with leaves took care of that. quilting is done with a green thread on the front and a light green thread in the bobbin. Finished size is 33" x 53" after a washing and drying cycle.

This is my twelfth charity quilt for the year 2023, and number 104 all time for the children's ward at the hospital. 


Keep on quilting!