It's Hip to be a Square in a Square

Hello Everyone,

 

Here is Block #3 for The Quilt Show featuring the Square in a Square which starts airing today HERE.  This block will help to reinforce the lesson.  The cutting directions are available for download HERE.

 



We are still building on what you have already learned.  Half-square triangles, Y-Squares and now square in a square.  Here are the components you need make for this block.  Remember, you can make them any size you want.  It would help to have the Patchwork Math book.  (Hint, hint, wink, wink.) 

 

Here are just a few of the variations you can make with the components.  My cousin Melody was visiting us at the cabin last week.  I sat her down at the kitchen table and asked her to become a designer to see what she could make with a batch of components.  The first block on the left is her creation.  I should turn it into a pillow for her!

 



Now I have three finished blocks using components from my classes.

 

To easily find all of my videos on TQS, you can go to YouTube  HERE and watch them all over again!  There are many other interesting videos you can watch on this site and get so much additional information to help you with your quilting.

Today I'm getting ready for my Lil' Orphan Scrappy class which is tomorrow at In Between Stitches.  The quilt is off the machine and ready for binding!  I'll show you pictures tomorrow.  The pattern will be available after the girls shake out all of the "bugs" tomorrow during class.  They know they will get extra credit during class if they find a boo-boo.

Soon,
Lynn

Machine Quilting Lil' Orphan Scrappy

Hello Everyone,

 

The long arm was a hummin' yesterday.  My Handi Quilter just purred her way through the first couple of rows of Lil' Orphan Scrappy.

 

 

Selecting the right thread color was difficult since I used SOOOO many different fabrics.   I settled on a soft, goldish tone.....my old standby Mettler 515.  My machine is happy with that thread, so that's what I used. When she's happy, I'm happy. 

 



Every feather I quilt is random.  I guess you could call it a meandering feather.  Every twist and turn is different.  No two are alike, just like the blocks.  They are not too matchy-matchy.  I pulled out every single scrap of Marcus fabrics from my stash and incorporated them into this quilt.  I think one non-Marcus snuck into the mix when I wasn't looking.  Oh well, I'll bet you can't spot the intruder.

 

I use Dream Wool batting for get the extra loft that I love.  It is warm in the winter, and cool in the summer.  It doesn't hold a crease and drapes beautifully on a bed.

The rick-rack look running through the entire quilt is totally random in most cases.  I paid greater attention to the borders.  You'll get to see them when this LARGE quilt is off the machine.

I was a wee bit concerned the machine might stall with all of these seams on the back in addition to the seams on the front.  So far, it has not been a problem at all. It slices through all of the seams like butter.

 

I have a full Lil' Orphan Scrappy class at In Between Stitches this Saturday.  For those of you who are local, I'm teaching it again on Saturday, October 17th at IBS. You can sign up by clicking HERE. The quilt is much easier to make than you think.  It is SEW much fun and a real scrap buster.

 

You know where I will be today.  I'll have my arms tied to my long arm.  My neighbor Barbara dropped in yesterday while I was at the machine.  She said, "Oh, you are listening to classical music today."  My response was, "Classic quilts require classical music."

 

Soon,

Lynn

 

I Have Your Back

Hello Everyone,

 

I put the extra blocks leftover from Lil' Orphan Scrappy to some good use by incorporating them into the backing.

 

I had only three yards of the blue fabric so it took some planning to get it to this point.  The light fabric on the sides is a tone-on-tone floral print.  Every scrap of this fabric is Marcus Fabrics.

Now if I can just get this loaded onto the long arm evenly.  That is the question!

Soon,
Lynn

The Versatile Y-Square

 

Hello Everyone,

 

This week on The Quilt Show.com you will learn the formulas and techniques to make Y-squares by clicking HERE.

 

 

Study this block and see if you can find all of the Y-squares.  Go ahead and count, I'll wait.  Did you find 20?  If not, it's time to go back to the drawing board.  This block looks like it is full of triangles, and there isn't a single one.  The cutting directions to make this 9" block are located HERE.

 



 

You can also turn Y-squares into a cute border or sashing just by twisting and turning them.  I always make them 8 at a time so I can put them together into sets of four.

 



 Here are the just some of the variations of the block above.  It is so much fun to play with the components once you make them.  The possibilities are endless.

 

Here are the components that make up the block.  Remember, you can make these components any size you want for a block, sashing or border.  The formulas are available for download HERE.

 



 

We are building on the skills you learned last week by adding Y-squares to half-square triangles.

Two very simple components can make very dramatic results.

 



 

Happy weekend!

 

Soon,

Lynn



Sewn'n Wild Oaks Class is in Session

Hello Everyone,

 

My girls definitely keep the machine quilters busy in this area!  Jeanne's gorgeous Country Charmer is ready to be quilted.

 



This amazing quilt is all finished!  This quilt combined many different techniques from a year long class.

There is a great amount of detail in each and every block.

Susan has her strips ready to start in on Grammy Squares.  She is using the Strip'n Sew that Mr. Joe makes.  He has some available for sale.  Send me an email if you are interested.  My email address is sewnwildoaks@gmail.com.

Suzanne is going gangbusters on her Dresden quilt.  She is way ahead of me!  She drafted a fabulous border for this one too.

Judy is making good progress on her Grammy Squares quilt.  These little blocks refused to be rushed.  You just need to take your time and stitch on round after round.

Patty is making little blocks for her October Magic quilt.  The machine quilters in the valley are so "booked", Patty contacted a quilter to get this quilt on the schedule the beginning of October.  That way the quilt will be on display just in time for Fall.  Now she has a definite date set to finish this one.....and she will.

Gail is testing my Lil' Orphan Scrappy pattern.  Please note that her stripes are all going the same direction.  She knows it would drive me crazy if they didn't!

Jeanne is also making Grammy Squares.  Some of the fabrics are leftovers from her Country Charmer.

Paula is creating a beautiful Lucy Boston block.  These blocks are SO MUCH FUN to create!

Now Gail, my dear sister, was having a few issues with her quilting on Tuesday.  Patty, her table mate took matters into her own hands and tacked a gentle reminder on Gail's machine.  (She was going to put it on Gail's forehead, but then Gail couldn't read it!)

Have a great day of quilting and keep those right sides together!

Soon,
Lynn

Buttonwood Meets Georgetown Fabrics

Hello Everyone,

 

This weekend I made a Buttonwood block from Judie Rothermel's Georgetown Fabrics from Marcus Fabrics.

 

 

Here is the digital rendition using the fabric swatches.  I'm totally in love with the border fabric! You can also see just a hint of the border fabric as a flange across the top of the basket.  Just enough to add interest without being overpowering.  The fabrics have been ordered, and I'll be making kits just in time for my retreat in October at Snowflake Lodge in Arnold, CA.  The kits will also be available online.

 

 

The half-square triangles finish at 3/4".  Don't go running from the room yet.  This is a perfect example of why you should make your half-square triangles 8 at a time from two fabric squares.  It is all in the cutting and stitching.  This is also a shameless, self-promotion of my classroom session on The Quilt Show.com.  Click HERE to see the technique and learn the formula. 

 

Here are some more blocks that I made sometime ago from the same Buttonwood pattern.  I really mixed things up with the blocks to show some versatility in the frames around the block.  Now about that Fall table runner I was going to make a few years ago.......

They are nothing like the original.  It is just so much fun to play with fabric!

 

Set some time aside and have a fabric play date today.....tomorrow and everyday.  I'm off to the shop this morning to play and get ready for the Preview Party tomorrow night at The Purple Orchid.  Come see the classes being offered during from September thru December at In Between Stitches.  It's is always a fun event.

 

Soon,

Lynn

 

Annie's Star Quilt Guild Lecture and Workshop

Hello Everyone,

 

It was a fun and whirlwind trip to Chico, California last Thursday and Friday to Annie's Star Quilt Guild.  Chico is located in Northern California.....my old stomping grounds.  It was a trip back home to my roots.



 

 

I tell my story through my quilts, 26 of them to be exact!  I always begin with my Once Upon a Vine quilt.  I'm not quite sure what struck us so funny, but Nadja holding the quilt on the left, and my sister Gail and I were having a good time.

 

 

The guild has a wonderful meeting location at the Masonic Family Center.  They are very lucky to have such a great spot for their meetings.

I had the opportunity to meet and chat with many of you.  Thank you all so much for coming and spending the evening with me.  A special thanks to those of you who traveled an hour or so to attend the lecture and workshop.  You have no idea how much that means to both Gail and me.  A special shout out to Donna who was in high school with me.  Yes, I found you in the year book, and you haven't changed! 

I had a full workshop in the spacious classroom at Cathy's Sew & Vac in Chico on Friday.  The girls came to work, and soaked up information like a sponge.

The walls were starting to be decorated by lunchtime.

Now let me tell you about this floral fabric.  Beth purchased a bridesmaids dress and used it to make her blocks!  All of the large floral prints are from the dress.  What a fabulous idea!

Some of my pictures aren't the best since I was using my cell phone.  Mr. Joe wanted the camera since he was taking a trip to an animal rescue reserve while I was in class.  Did he take any pictures?  NO! He was too busy watching lions, tigers and bears....oh my!

The girls had fun watching their components grow and grow.

They had a productive day learning the math and piecing techniques.

 

 

My friend Sandi is going to make a bright and cheerful table runner with her components.

 



 

As I said in the beginning, traveling to Chico was going back to my roots.  Mr. Joe and I had some time to drive around town and take a look at our old college hangouts. I met Mr. Joe in this apartment complex 44 years ago.  We each had a small studio apartment here close to campus.

 



After we got married, we moved to this house and enjoyed living in the whole middle flat.  Mr. Joe was a Head Resident of seven Victorian homes which had been converted to college housing.  We lived rent free while he finished his last year of school and I had a job on campus. We spent our first year of married life with 100 students. Boy do I have stories about that year!  It is now a Frat House.

We stayed with our friends Joe and Sandi.  John was the best man at our wedding and Sandi was a bridesmaid.  Can you tell that Sandi is a quilter too?  This was our comfortable room during our stay. Thank you so much for inviting us to stay with you and walk down memory lane.  All of us stayed up way past our normal bedtime!

 

Getting out and about and meeting other quilters is so rewarding and fun. Thank you all for making our trip to Chico very memorable.  Quilters are the BEST!

 

Soon,

Lynn