New quilt!

Remember that box of new fabrics that I got (told about in my last post)? With this cute Acorn Park--Aw Nuts fabric by Winthur Sempliner for Connecting Threads. 

 Squirrels and nuts and leaves in awesome colors!  

 
I couldn't resist!  Instead of finishing my UFO's, I started a new quilt with a new technique.  A technique that I have never tried before. 

It's a simple nine patch block that is then cut and re-arranged!  It eliminates the need to cut individual small pieces in three different sizes. 


Start by making a basic nine patch using charm squares (5 inch square).  I used the charm squares and interspersed them with a light yellow fabric--also cut into 5 inch squares.  After you have your block sewn, (no picture) then you cut it up!  First, cut in half (my block is lying on my ironing board--the silver background):

Then in half again, the other way:

After than, you re-arrange the smaller blocks into a pleasing arrangement: 

I then sewed all my nine patch blocks back together into the new arrangement, but adding a lattice strip about 1 inch wide (cut 1.5 inches for seam allowance) to fill the cut spaces and keep my colored patches from touching each other. 

After that I used larger lattice strips to separate each block. You can use whatever size you prefer.  The finished quilt top will look something like this (although this is not a good picture.  The yellow fabric is light and looks as if it has a pattern in this picture.  You can see the darker bedspread fabric slightly through the light yellow.  When quilted, the light color filling will make it look more like the solid yellow that it should be!)

This technique made quick work of the quilt top.  I can't wait to quilt it!

Whatca think? 

First of the Year UFO's - Unfinished Objects

It's the time of year to finish projects. I always take inventory of my UFO's at the first of the year. Last year I did this and finished quite a few of them, but then . . .I always add back to the "unfinished box" through out the year! Sigh! I thought I would share some of this year's UFO's:

Immediate project to finish is a flannel quilt for my first great grandchild--biological that is!  Can you tell that she is a girl!  This is Leighann Rose's quilt.  It's basted and partially quilted (as seen on the right side of the picture.  On the left side, you can see a small matching baby doll (or cuddle) quilt that I made from the remaining scraps.  Finishing the big quilt, hopefully, this weekend.  

This lap quilt top is finished but not basted.  I have the sandwich materials ready to go, as you can see on the left.   I call it floating squares.  The square centers are a nine patch of less than 1.5 inch squares!  I save scraps--any small piece that is 2" or slightly less goes into a baggie designated for this purpose.  I hope to quilt this one next!  

This quilt top, called '13 going on 30' (the name of one of the prominent fabrics in the quilt) is not finished due to a problem.  Ever had a problem with a quilt top?  I hope to resolve the issue and get it to the finished pile!

Then there is this one that I love:

Not the greatest picture, but my first hand appliqued project.  Pretty ambitious for me!  Not basted yet. Haven't chosen a backing fabric. And, then, let's not forget my embroidery project, when you talk about ambitiousness! 

I am attempting to embroider a foggy landscape which involves monochromatic threads and a lot of thinking on my part!  Wish me luck! 

Oh . . . interruption!  A box just arrived, let's see what is in it:

You guessed it!  Quilt fabrics and thread!  I will blog about what I have planned for this set in another post!  

What do ya think?  Got any UFO's at your house?