mommysew

Blocks 1-4

Good morning! Well this post sure didn't get up like I planned on Sunday (or even Monday!). This time of year is crazy busy for our family, and I just had to sacrifice something so I could sleep! At any rate - here we go!

I thought you might like to see my original sketches for the blocks - if you've read back, you'll recall that I didn't create these (of course!), but I put them all down in my quilt sketchbook so I could have them all in one place. 

So here are the blocks. Now, these are pretty easy to lay out and assemble. As there are SO many blocks, I decided against row by row pictures for this round, and I laid out the entire block for you in half-square triangles. After each laid-out picture, I'll include the finished block photo so you can double check your finished block to see what it looks like. I hope this is helpful! Please let me know if you have any questions as you're working through them!

Block 1

 

Block 2

 

Block 3

 

Block 4

 

Modern HST QAL - Week 1

Good morning! It's time to get started on cutting our fabric for our quilts. Be forewarned - cutting, sewing the half-square triangles, and trimming them is the most time consuming part of the QAL. I like to do a whole bunch at once, and have several batches in different states, so whenever I have a free moment, I can work on something, even if I don't have time to piece a full block. 

You are more than welcome to create your half-square triangles however you would like! I am going to present how I make them, but there is no wrong way!

From your two colors, you will cut 3.5" strips, which you will sub-cut into 3.5" squares. (If you sew very precisely, you can get away with cutting 3" squares, but you will have very very little to trim, so you may want the larger squares). You will have to cut a total of 53 strips of each color, which you will sub-cut into 576 squares!! (I told you it was a lot!)

On the back of your lighter color squares, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. I use an acrylic ruler (I love my 6.5") to make my straight edge. If you use the tape method (tape on your sewing machine to show you where to line up your corners), you don't need to mark anything! You can also use half-square triangle paper if you prefer. 

Then, start sewing! Place a light color right sides together with a dark square. I sew a scant 1/4" on either side of your drawn line. I will do a whole batch on one side, and then flip it around to sew the other, and then I'll cut them apart. 

After you've done that, you will cut them in half by cutting on your drawn line. Press each HST unit open (you may want to press your seam to the dark side), and trim each HST to 2.5". 

Don't get overwhelmed! It is easy to keep up with these as we go - don't feel like you have to do them all before we start. You will make 1,152 HST units for the entire quilt - you've got time!

If you want to sew as you go, each block takes 16 HST units, and we are making 8 blocks a week. That's 128 units you need each week. 

Please let me know if you have any questions! Oh, and what colors am I using? Pink and Navy - I'm so excited for something traditional, but also a little bit modern. 

 

Blocks start next week! I will do four blocks on Sunday and 4 on Wednesday!

Join the Quilt-a-Long!

I am so excited to kick off 2020 with a quilt-a-long for one of my favorite completed quilts! I first made this quilt over six years ago, and I have been wanting to remake it for about two years, just waiting for the timing to be right. I decided we needed to jump right in, or it would never get done, and I thought a quilt-a-long would keep me accountable. 

 

Want to join us? You will need five yards of each of two colors (I used white and black in my original, check back next week to see my new colors!) for the blocks. We will talk more about the sashing and cornerstones later, as some folks may want to leave those out, but you may want to think about a third color that would work for the sashing if you'd like. I used Kona Cotton for my first version and I'm using Kona again - I just love all of their color choices. 

There are 72(!) blocks in this quilt, so it is quite a bit of work. I will post more next week about getting started, and then I will post eight blocks a week over nine weeks to include them all. I'll do two weekly posts with four blocks at a time, to make it more manageable! Then we'll discuss finishing options. Feel free to make the ones you like, make a smaller quilt, or enlarge the size of your blocks - it's your quilt!

If you do follow along on social media, I'm @mommysew on Instagram and will be posting there throughout. I'll be using the tag #modernhstqal if you'd like to tag your blocks too! 

Love Flying Geese

Good evening! I'm dusting off the blog for a special post! One of my most favorite quilt designs is featured in a new book from Stash Books and Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine, called Love Flying Geese. All of the designs have previously been featured in the magazine, but it's a great addition to your library!

My design, which was previously called Geese in the Forest (now Light and Dark), is on page 11. This design was inspired by carpet I saw on vacation several years ago. I loved the pairing of the half square triangles and the flying geese, and the interesting look it gave. I used a fun collection from Art Gallery Fabrics to complete the quilt, and I love it! 

Possibly the best compliment I received, is that I no longer own this quilt! The then-editor of the magazine loved it so much (and it matched her living room!), so she asked to purchase it. I need to find time to make one of my own! 

The design is quick and easy to piece - half square triangles, and four-at-a-time flying geese! 

There are MANY fun designs in this book, and I'm thrilled to offer an e-book version for giveaway! Just leave a comment telling me what your favorite quilt block/design is, and I'll choose a winner Friday night. Check out the rest of the blog hop too! 

karenlewistextiles.blogspot.com

snipssnippets.ca

www.materialgirlquilts.com

www.mommysew.com

www.quiltdesignduo.com

shequiltsalot.com

http://blackisleyarns.co.uk/

incolororder.com

minkikim.com

 

Happy Quilting!

What Shade Are You?

I was so excited when RJR contacted me about being part of their “What Shade Are You” blog hop. I’d seen several of the amazing quilts that had been created up to that time, and I knew I wanted to do something bright with many colors! I’d been working on several traditional patchwork blocks at the time, and I knew I wanted to step outside my comfort zone a bit. I had seen an image online of a curved pinwheel block, and thought that would be a fun design. But I wanted to be able to incorporate more colors, so I planned for each petal of each pinwheel to be a different shade of the same color from the others in its block. Honestly, the hardest part of making this quilt was narrowing down my colors from all the lovely ones RJR makes!

I used Jen Carlton Bailey’s quarter circle template

 to make my curves, and randomly arranged the finished pinwheels until I had a layout I liked!I quilted with straight lines to oppose the curved lines, and bound with scraps of teals, greens and blues. When it came time to take pictures, I knew I wanted to use this amazing mural on the outside of an art gallery here in Fort Worth – it’s a perfect spot for pictures of a bright quilt!

I just love the way this quilt turned out – exactly as I had pictured it in my head, and I LOVED working with the Cotton Supreme Solids. They cut and sewed like a dream, and the colors are gorgeous! I’ve made a bunch of quilts using solids and these definitely rank at the top of my list!

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Modern

Good afternoon! I am happy to share with you my original design in the Modern Quilts Category for Blogger's Quilt Festival! I love this take on a spiderweb block, but turned around and back and forth! I love the pink and greys together - so bright and happy! 

 

Blogger's Quilt Festival: ROYGBIV

Good afternoon! I am excited to share my ROYGBIV entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival! I just had this design published in Modern Patchwork Holiday Gifts. I was inspired by an image I saw online and loved the plus design, with the scrappy background! 

Thank you so much for your consideration in voting! 

 

Scrappy Plus Quilt

I'm excited to share my Scrappy Plus Quilt with you! This design was just published in the new special issue of Modern Patchwork Holiday Gifts. 

 

I sketched this idea out over a year ago, and finally tried putting it all together/doing all the quilt math, and I couldn't be more pleased with the way it came out! I'd love to see yours if you make one too!

You can buy the digital issue here, or find it on newsstands now!

New Quilt Design!

I have a new quilt design in the new issue of Love Patchwork and Quilting (issue 37). It won't be available to purchase in the states for 4-6 weeks, but you can buy a digital download now! 

(photo from Love Patchwork and Quilting, used with permission)

And here's a full shot so you can really see the design! 

I'd love to see your versions! Tag me @mommysew on IG! 

I'm a Wheel Quilt

I'm glad to finally be able to share this quilt with you! I designed and sewed this quilt last spring, and it seems like it's been forever until it was published! Based on a wheel block and a four patch, this simple quilt is a great beginner project! And best of all, it's available for free from Fons and Porter!

(Image from Fons and Porter)

I'd love to see your versions of it! Tag me on IG with #imawheelquilt and @mommysew or email me your pictures! Happy Making!