Radiant Blues

The first blocks for Radiant Blues are finished! These stars finish at 16".  All of the stars are going to have a flower center.

Foundation paper piecing makes these stars turn out perfect! This block is a little dark, I like the next block better.

There is a glow to the center fabric that doesn't show in the pictures. The gold vine gives the fabric a brown tint in the picture. It's not that way in real life. The fabric  around the center is a light gray but it looks white in real life also.

I took these pictures outside but they have a dark tint to them. Hopefully the next photos will show their brilliance.

The center fabric is called Dutch Cottage and is a Robert Kaufman fabric.

It takes me two days to piece one block. Feathered stars are slow blocks to piece.

The pattern for Radiant Blue(s) is found in the January/February 2007 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine and is designed by Marsha McCloskey. I'm not using Marsha's directions to piece the stars, I'm foundation paper piecing them using the 16" pattern found here from Threaded Quilting Studio.

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not  Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Hearts & Wreaths

If you remember way back in January when I put Hearts & Wreaths into the quilting frame, I didn't put the full quilt into the frame.

Since the quilt is slightly more than halfway quilted, I put that portion of the quilt into the frame. It's not hard to do, just unpin, adjust and pin again. Here are pictures of the adjusted quilt.

The quilting frame had been at the west of the basesment, now it's been moved to the east end under more LED lights that have been installed. I've included scrappy sprouts in this photo. Those things you see hanging from the ceiling are part of some decorations the former owners had left. The farmer yanked them down but the ends didn't come. When son 2 comes, I'll have him remove them. He's tall and can reach them without a ladder.

Here is just the quilt.

A side view of the quilt.

My plan for quilting is to go around the quilt and quilt the outside border. That takes longer than the inside blocks. It does get rather boring at times but that's why I watch movies on my ipad. Years ago, in the farm house, our TV was on a stand with wheels. I was able to turn it around and watch TV while I stitched which was very convenient.

I know that corner looks slightly puckery, it will be fine once the border is rolled. Overall, I've been pleased with the side tension with this frame.

There will be no post from me next Sunday, I'll be at the Jane Stickle Retreat in Shipshewana!

Just a reminder, I have problems with Mail Chimp delivery. If my Sunday/Thursday posts aren't delivered to you via email, just type gretchenslittlecorner.blogspot.com into your browser. Or bookmark me!

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday This 'N That, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Radiant Blues

In January I posted a list of projects for 2024. One of those projects was called Radiant Blue hereafter to be known as Radiant Blues. The pattern for Radiant Blue is found in the January/February 2007 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine and was designed by Marsha McCloskey.

Marsha is famous for her method of piecing feathered stars. However, I'm not going to use her method. I'm a foundation-paper-piecer and I'm going to use the free 16" no Y seam feathered star fpp pattern from Threaded Quilting Studio. I used the same pattern for the first time when I made this little quilt.

The 16" star is a different size than the size star Marsha specifies for her pattern. I will make a sashing change. Another change is my wall quilt is going to be larger than the pattern and will include 9 stars.

I've pulled fabrics however the colors aren't quite true in this photo. And the fabric underneath the blues looks more brown than in person.

Here is a more true color picture of that fabric. I purchased this fabric several years ago to be used in a Patchwork of the Crosses quilt designed by Lucy Boston. I started that quilt with good intentions but quickly became unenthused. I made 6 blocks and made this little quilt.

I never did use this fabric so now it's time has come. These designs are approximately 5" on point, perfect for the centers of the stars.

I've laid the center paper on the fabric, perfect fit!

Here it is sewn. 

There are 3 different flower designs in the fabric, a perfect number for 9 blocks. Next post I'll have at least 1 feathered star block to show you, optimistically there will be 3 blocks!

Next time won't be next Thursday however, I'll be at the Jane Stickle retreat in Shipshewana!

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not  Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Planning Party, Spring Progress

It's March so it's time to see the progress I've made with the list I published in January. 

Tula Hexies is a flimsy, I'm planning to quilt her sometime this summer with my sewing machine. She measures 51" by 80" at this time which is as big as I can handle with my machine. I'm sure she'll shrink after she's quilted.

Dresden Stars is also a flimsy and measures 94" by 105". This quilt will be long arm quilted sometime but I'm not sure when. I'm also not sure who or where it will be gifted.

The anniversary quilt is pieced. I'll get it quilted sometime this year and it will be ready to gift in 2025.

Are you making progress with your 2024 quilting plans?

Linking to Quilt Plan Check In, Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not  Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Hearts & Wreaths

I am halfway finished quilting Hearts & Wreaths!!!!! See that seam line in between the blocks, that's the center line!

The pictures are posted from the right side to the left side.

I moved the quilting frame, I think I'm able to take nicer pictures now. The background fabric actually looks yellow and there are no shadows,

Here's a link to my first post about Hearts & Wreaths way back in August 2021. And here is a link to the Quiltmania magazine that has the pattern.

I will not be posting next Sunday.

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Craftastic Monday, Design Wall Monday, Monday This 'N That, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday

Sewing Comforter Bindings

I don't like knotting comforters, instead I have volunteered to sew the bindings using this tutorial. 

In the first part of February, I sewed bindings on four comforters from church. When I returned those four, I brought two more home. After they were finished, I took pictures of them to show you.

Comforters are different from quilts in that they're usually made with larger blocks and they're knotted, not quilted.

The comforter on the left has been knotted. Here is a close up of the knots.

The comforter on the left has been strung (stringed?) but the strings haven't been cut. That will happen later when there is a 'knotting'. Usually crochet thread is used for strings/knotting, sometimes yarn is also used.

The last time I showed a 'stringed' comforter, people said in the comments they couldn't see the strings, now you can! In April my church will have a snip & knot evening where anyone can come and help knot comforters.

My friend Elaine went to the resource at the MCC Depot and brought home 4 comforter tops and knotted them. I had told her that I would bind them for her. She was happy to hear that, she dislikes the binding process. We work well together, I dislike the knotting process and would rather bind! Here is a picture of the 4 comforters she knotted.

The two outside comforters are both the same design. The blue Dresden is cheater cloth, a pre-printed fabric. I used to see a lot of 'cheater' cloth in stores.

The above comforters were bound in February but more comforters have come to me in March. After I finished piecing the anniversary quilt, I got to work and did more bindings.

Here are three more from church.

The red one in the center was a top that was given to me. I added the red outside border. There are many ladies from church who sew bindings, I don't always get 'my' comforter tops back. These comforters will also be knotted at the 'snip & knot' at my church.

The day I told Elaine that I would sew the binding on the comforters, Marie was there and asked if I would bind some comforters for her, sure! I'm glad to help. The next three are from Marie and are also going to MCC.

Most of the comforters are made from large square blocks, 5" or larger.

But that quilt in the center was made with bricks that finished at 2" by 4". It was so cute! I've never made a brick quilt but if I would, the bricks would probably be 4" by 8" or larger!

So far this year I've sewed bindings on 20 comforters. I'm a small part in the process, last year MCC shipped almost 60,000 comforters to people who needed them. 

Linking to Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not  Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Patchwork & Quilts

Hearts & Wreaths

As usual, more hand quilting from Hearts & Wreaths.

Here are pictures of the blocks from left to right.

Last week someone asked if my fingers have callouses? Yes, my finger tips are fairly calloused but I have dry skin and I get cracks sometimes. Then I use a light coat of super glue. That seems to take care of the cracks.

Also, when I do any kind of hand stitching, quilting, embroidery, applique, I use a thimble on the middle finger of my right hand. I don't buy the expensive kind but a metal one from the fabric store. Interestingly, I need a smaller thimble in the winter than the summer. I don't understand the reasoning behind that but it's true!

Linking to Kathys Slow Stitching Sunday, Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Craftastic Monday, Monday Musings, To Do Tuesday