Dresden Stars

 Dresden Stars came home from the long arm quilter several weeks ago. The binding is finished and she's ready for her debut!

Colleen Gall is the long arm quilter who custom quilted Dresden Stars for me. 

I have many close up pictures of the quilting to show you. I added a red binding, it adds a touch of color to the edge.

A cream on cream fabric was used for the backing fabric. Colleen used the same brown thread for quilting both sides of the quilt. The cream backing fabric displays the quilting designs very nicely. Of course I took pictures of the back side.

Years ago I purchased two kits for Dresden Star quilt at Lolly's Fabrics in Shipshewana. Completing these kits was one of my goals for this year and I've done it! The center of the quilt is Dresden Star, a pattern by Edyta Sitar.

The Dresden Star pattern does not make a large quilt, two pieced kits were larger but still not bed sized. I added pieced borders to enlarge it. The finished quilt measures 91" by 104", a queen sized quilt.

I have a tub full of civil war fabrics, some of which I purchased, some were gifted to me by my friend Deanna when she moved. I liked civil war fabrics back in the early 2000's, now, not so much. The kit from Lolly's had some really blah fabrics so I pulled from my stash.

I'm planning on taking Dresden Stars along to the retreat this fall to display at show & tell. I worked on these blocks at several of the retreats. Some of the ladies told me they also bought the kit, maybe this will encourage them to sew their kits.

As I said, civil war fabrics are not my favorite fabrics, Dresden Stars will be donated to the 2025 Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale next year.

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

Elegant Garden

I have started another applique project in addition to the applique borders of Blueberry Pie. Pie is a large bulky project, I don't want to take it out of the house to work on. I need a small transportable project and Elegant Garden is perfect. 

Block 1 was started at the handwork group I attend once a month. Of course I had to finish it when I returned home.

These blocks are small enough I could easily applique a block a week but I'm going to try limit myself to one a month until I give in and work on them full time. The blocks will finish at 9".

I am using my civil war fabric stash for my blocks. I have enough fabrics that I shouldn't need to purchase any.

Elegant Garden is an older quilt designed by Edyta Sitar from Laundry Basket Quilts. 

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

Blue Pineapples

I started piecing pineapple blocks at the Jane Stickle retreat last April, I didn't realize how time consuming these blocks were!

This August, I've managed to foundation paper piece 20 more blocks so 40 blocks are completed. 

Sorry, this picture has a dark tint to it. Here is a close up picture of some of the blocks.

I had originally planned to piece 49 blocks for a 7 blocks by 7 blocks setting. The blocks finish at 12.25" which means the quilt would be 85.75" by 85.75" square, but knowing me, I'll probably come up with a different measurement even though these blocks are foundation paper pieced. I don't intend to add a border.

85.75" square is an odd size for a quilt, too big for a throw, not large enough for a bed quilt.

If I would piece 24 more blocks I would have an 8 by 8 setting which would be 98" square, a decent bed quilt. I'm going for 24 more blocks.

I purchased the foundation papers from Gigi's Thimble. Gigi had a sew along in 2022 but I wasn't aware of it. I thought her quilt was beautiful when I stumbled across it. Of course it was in blues, how could I resist, so I ordered the foundation papers.

I was surprised when the papers arrived. The pattern was printed on ordinary white paper, just like what I would run through my printer. Normally paper used for foundation paper piecing is a lighter weight paper, easier to tear for removal, less apt to make the edge seams come undone when removing the paper.

I have these papers so I'm using them, however I do not recommend them. When I wrote my post in April about the blocks, someone commented that they normally use regular paper for foundation paper piecing. After foundation paper piecing 40 of these blocks, I am definitely NOT a regular paper fan and will stick to newspaper weight paper from now on. That's my opinion, you use whatever weight of paper you want to use.

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

Blueberry Pie Borders

It's been a year since I completed the center for Blueberry Pie. The plan has always been to add applique borders but Pie had to wait while I appliqued the borders for Hearts & Wreaths. Then I hand quilted Hearts & Wreaths so Pie had to wait even longer!

It's taken me several months to find my handwork mojo again. I enjoy hand applique, it's just all the time that goes into the preparation before I can actually applique that is so tiresome.

Finally, the applique borders for Blueberry Pie have started. There isn't much to see, just appliqued vine so far.

I have Lady Jane hanging in the dining room area. I really like the center medallion applique. 

I took the center medallion and altered it to become the border design for Bluebery Pie. This obviously isn't a professional layout but it works for me!

After the pattern was revised, I traced it onto the fabric borders, with a black Frixion pen.

I cut the bias vine fabric at 3/4" wide then used a 3/8" Clover bias tape maker to make the bias vine. When I marked the quilt, I only made a single line for the vine. 

Here is a link to the Lady Jane pattern which is designed by Nancy Rink. Nancy designs lovely patterns!

I was in Wakarusa a week and a half ago, and took pictures of the quilt garden, it's really growing!

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

The Anniversary Quilt

Back in January I posted a list of quilts I wanted to make this year. One of those quilts was an anniversary quilt to be gifted next year. It's finished!

She was quilted by one of the long arm quilters at Calico Point. I think all the employees know how to use the long arm machine. I don't know the name of this quilting design but I thought it would look very nice on this quilt, and it does.

I used a white backing fabric which shows the design better than the front side does.

She measures 94" square.

Here is a link to more information about the anniversary quilt.

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

More Comforter Bindings

The comforters for binding had been piling up while I had been machine quilting binging. Of course I took pictures.

Some of the comforters are more attractive than others but they will all be loved.

These comforters have been take to the MCC rescourse center where they will be distributed for use.

Let me clarify, I did not piece these tops or knot them, I'm one of the binders.

This is the way I bind these comforters. There is a quick link to this tutorial on the top right hand of my blog.

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