End of the Year Post

I really can’t believe another year has come and gone.  Looking back on what I have accomplished all I see are lots of blocks laying around.  First there are all the Chester Chriswell blocks.  We are now up to block 27 . 

The Susanna Chriswell block.

Then there are the Benjamin Biggs blocks

Block Eleven

Block twelve

I did complete this little quilt to give to my Granddaughter and her Americian Girl doll as a Christmas gift.  They both loved it.  I think it was the minky leopard fabric on the back they loved.

Back Basting Applique

There are so many quilters like Dawn and Hilda , just to name two that really like back basting appliqué and do such beautiful work with this method so I thought I should give it a try.

I watched videos about how to go about it but decided I needed  a book because I am a book person and like to have something in my hands to refer to.

 Back Basting Appliqué Step by Step by Barbara J Eikmeier  was recommended and it is a good book with lots of information.  The only thing I needed more of was information about how to fussy cut your fabric using this method.

The first mistake I made was when I marked the pattern on my background fabric.  I marked it on the right side of the fabric and it was supposed to be on the wrong side of the fabric.  No problem  I said to myself it’s only marked with a pencil and that will wash out.  Not so easily done.  I did finally get the marks out after several washings with several different products.

 My next problem - I kept losing the holes in the fabric when I was stitching the pieces and so I wasn’t able to stay on the pattern line.  I used the needle and thread that was recommended .  Maybe it was the fabric I used.

I kept pushing on and did get the little quilt finished.  I may give this method another try sometime but for now I have decided it’s not for me.
Thank goodness the pieces in this project were fairly large.   I simply can’t understand  how people are able to do tiny little pieces with back basting.

I hope you are able to find a little stitching time in this busy season.
Nancy

Flags of the American Revolution

It’s the first of another month already -  Time to post about Flags of the American Revolution and as usual I am not prepared.  I do have the blocks stitched but had no pictures taken so that had to be done.

Whiskey Rebellion was November’s appliqué block.

We were to make only three pieced sawtooth star blocks but since I was already going I made all five.

Looking at the picture in the book we appear to be nearing the end.

This month we are stitching the two crescent  blocks and some of the star moon blocks.

I think I will start putting together what I can.

I am linking with Lori at Humble Quilts.  

Di Ford Mystery Quilt

I am so excited to have all the borderie perse stitched on this quilt.  I don’t know if it was this particular fabric or just me but it seemed rather difficult to work with.  It wasn’t like regular chintz but more loosely woven so I had trouble with it raveling.  I was fortunate to have more of the fabric than the people doing the BOM so I was able to have more flowers to choose from and could redo if things went too terribly wrong.

Here she is completed through border number four.

These are the bits for border number five.  Stitching left to do.

From what I have gleaned from the internet the last border, number six is full of English paper pieced stars.

Oh my,  not looking forward to that.

Chester Criswell

 Just to catch up on my third year blocks for the Chester Chriswell quilt.

Block 24 Alice Richmond

Block 25 Sarah Stubbs

The quilt has three Sarah Stubbs blocks but I only made two.

 Block 26 Elizabeth Cummins

I thought about not continuing on with the third year but I have a hard time not finishing something I start so I am continuing on.  So far this third year has held some pretty blocks so I am happy I didn't quit. Now I need to start thinking about how I want to lay this one out.  I might even decide to make two quilts since I have so many blocks.
Happy stitching,
Nancy

Benjamin Biggs

 Benjamin Biggs block 10

What can I say about this one except that it sure is a strange one.  I don’t know if it’s a vase or a candle holder or something else entirely.

I tried to photograph all ten blocks together so I could see how it was looking and all I decided was it looks dull, dull, dull to me.  The colors are so dark almost a maroon and not at all what I wanted but here it is and on I go.

Maybe a dull quilt won’t be too bad.

I am open to any suggestions anyone might have as to how I could brighten it up.

Flags of the American Revolution Continued

Five blocks and lots of stripes this month.

Guilford Courthouse Flag
I used wool for the circles instead of buttons for this block.  I didn’t even realize they were supposed to be stars until everyone started posting their blocks.

 Sons of Liberty
This one was very simple.

U.S. Navy Jack
I really like the snake block with his cute little tongue .

First Stars and Stripes

Bennington Flag

The last two are supposed to have lots of button stars but not being able to find buttons and not a big fan of buttons on quilts anyway 

I choose to wait and see if I could get some ideas from some of the other quilters taking part in 

Lori’s sew along.

Some ladies had star fabric with stars that were large enough to appliqué on.  Which looks great but I think I am going to go with wool again.  Now to figure out the size of the stars since there is no pattern given.

The Di Ford Mystery and Noah & Matilda

I managed to get all the Broderie Perse I could fit into the center block stitched.
I am happier than I thought I would be with the outcome.  It wasn’t the easiest nor the neatest appliqué I have done but it’s finished and I moved on to the circles.  They were much simpler.
I am now stitching on part three...More Broderie Perse. ((:

Noah and Matilda month ten.  

Pineapple

                                  

                                                                              Cactus Vase

                                                                 Mexican Rose

Such Cute Block patterns.  This quilt just keeps getting better and better.  Only two months (6 blocks) left and we will have all of the blocks.  Lots to do on the borders.
I love Dawns patterns and I think she may be about to launch a new one.
Thanks for stopping by,
Nancy

Flags of the American Revolution Month Two

It’s hard to believe it’s October already and time to post last months blocks for the Revolutionary Flags quilt.  I finished the center Eagle block by adding the stars .

   

In September we were to make four blocks all with trees.

 This a fun quilt along Lori is hosting on her blog Humble Quilts.  It’s not too late to join the fun.

This and That September

The past month has been a busy one for me.
It was mostly spent with family.
Spending time with the grandchildren and their  families.

Spending time with my DH and his airplane.
Here we are at a gathering in Illinois.  Quite a flight from Georgia.

I also managed to get a little quilting done.
If you have any young girls around you know how popular the characters from "Frozen" are.
I made these two little quilts for the granddaughters.

My September Benjamin Biggs block all stitched.

Last months Noah and Matilda blocks.

I have also started stitching on the Di Ford Mystery quilt.
I must say I am not loving this one because of the difficulty I am having getting all this broderie perse appliqué   to fit in the space allowed.


Happy stitching,
Nancy

Flags of the American Revolution

A group of quilters are sewing along with Lori from Humble Quilts to make the quilt Flags of the American Revolution from the book with the same name.

The first installment was to be the eagle.   I did manage to get the eagle stitched but not the setting triangles and stars.

I am linking up with Lori.  She is showing some great pictures of what others have made.   It’s always fun to sew along with others and see how they interpret the pattern.

Happy stitching,

Nancy

Noah and Matilda Months 6 and 7

Blocks for month Six.

Blocks for Month Seven






I have finally finished all my Noah and Matilda blocks .  Well, not really as the next set just came out .
It was the grapes that did me in this month.  They are so tiny about 1/4” and it took me a while to decide how I wanted to make them.  Dawn discuses several ways on her blog Collector with a Needle and I really like the way she did hers but just couldn’t get it to work for me .
I usually make my circles using the little perfect circles from Karen Kay Buckley but I didn’t have one small enough so I just had to needle turn them.  They are not all perfect as you can see but they will do.
Another thing that slowed me down - after getting last months patterns with the purple grapes I decided I really didn’t want to have blue in my quilt so I went back and redid all the blocks with blue.    I did leave the little blue bird.  Just couldn’t make myself change that little bird.
I like my blocks much better now.

I have really enjoyed making these little blocks. Each months set seems to hold a new appliqué challenge for me .
Have a great stitching day,
Nancy