2025 Designer Mystery Quilt

Block 2 of the 2025 Designer Mystery quilt has been pieced. The directions are well written and it's fun using colors that aren't normally used in my sewing room.

The finishing kit was included in the July delivery. I'll start piecing the finishing bits & bobs in autumn, there is too much happening in the summer for extra sewing.

I'm not a patient person and I confess that waiting for the shipment every month is challenging for me. This is why I don't normally participate in BOM's.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, Free Motion Mavericks, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Starting Stonefields

I'm starting a new quilt, it's mostly applique and supposedly all hand sewn but I'm not going to hand sew the pieced blocks, I'll use my sewing machine.

Originally I had planned to use  blue fabrics. For background fabric, I planned to use Kona snow and also  cream background fabrics. 

But since I've made many quilts with blues, perhaps it was time to change to something different. I had some fabrics I loved that I bought several years but then I decided the prints were too large for blocks that finish at 6" so I went back to blues.

I foundation paper pieced blocks 1, 2, 3 & 4 which are saw tooth stars and simply titled Star Block.

I've made a Dear Jane quilt and a Nearly Insane quilt and used white background fabric for both quilts. This quilt I want to change it up so I'm adding some figured background fabrics. I'm not sure how it will look, perhaps I'll end up remaking blocks and using a plain background.

Blocks 5 & 6 are Orange Peel blocks.

Blocks 7 & 8 are Pomegranate blocks.

I looked through all the patterns and decided to go ahead and make more stars, blocks 78 & 79 which are Ohio Star blocks and titled 'Pyjama Party'.

Stonefields was designed by Susan Smith and can be purchased online from various places, just google it. My pattern was kindly gifted to me several years ago by Nanette after she finished her Stonefields quilt, she had Rebecca Grace quilt it.

Nanette replaced several of the applique designs with designs of her own choosing. Other people who made this quilt have also changed some of the designs. I don't know if I will or not, I'm taking it block by block. I'm also not sure if I'll be making the hexies for the outside border.

Rebecca, Chris, Hanne and I have joined in a very loosely formed sew-along but we're sewing along at our own pace. Chris has started her blocks and Rebecca started hers here. Hanne already has a considerable number of blocks made. I'm the last one to start. 

Stonefields was not my list of quilts to start this year but I'm starting anyway. I am not going to work on this quilt exclusively, I have another quilt I want to start this summer. 

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

Small Love Triangle Quilt

Several years ago, my friend Lynn and I both purchased the Red & White Gatherings quilt book designed by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings fame. Neither one of us ever made a quilt from the book so last year I challenged Lynn that in 2025, we each needed to make a pattern from the book. We could put our own twist on the quilt but the project needed to be based on one of the patterns and it didn't have to be a full sized quilt.

In my January post about all the quilts I wanted to work on this year, I shared that I wanted to make the feathered star quilt called Starlings. I love feathered stars! That was the plan when I wrote up the list but I've since changed my mind. I have made a small version of the Love Triangle quilt. 

There are a lot of HST's in this block, I really didn't want to pieced the huge amount of HST's for a full sized quilt.

The checkerboard border blocks finish at 1.5" but they look larger in the photo.

My small not-quilted version finishes at 43.5". For now she's hanging in the 'to be quilted' closet.

Bonnie has published her new Leader & Ender challenge, Four Patch Fun! I don't make Bonnie's L & E projects every year, I want something simple to run under the needle and I don't participate if the block includes HST's or QST's. I might start the new sew-along sometime but while I stitched Love Triangle, I sewed 2" squares together to make twosies then I sewed 2 twosies together and made 4 patches. The plan is someday to have a simple scrappy patchwork quilt, simple and easy without fuss.

I wrote about organizing my sewing studio in last week's midweek post and several people commented on all the space I have. Yes, I am fortunate have a very large studio. We have an unfinished basement under the house and my studio is the full south half. I've added carpet remnants, because I usually walk around in my bare feet (in the summer anyway, other seasons I wear heavy socks), to cover the concrete on that side. I've also added LED lights to the rest of the south side. I feel fortunate to have so much room and when I'm done sewing, I can leave the mess and go upstairs. Walking up and down stairs helps keep me limber, at least that's what I tell myself. 

Here is a link to the post I wrote about my sewing studio when we moved in 3 years ago, it has evolved from then. I've added more shelving and switched the placement of the cutting table and sewing machine cabinet. I also added another display wall. I do run a dehumidifier from the first of April through the first of November. I empty it daily, more stairs exercise.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, Free Motion Mavericks, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Blue Embroidered Blocks

One of the projects on my list to complete (!?) this year is #11, Blue embroidered blocks.

I did NOT embroider these blocks. Several years ago I purchased them off the resale table at the retreat. There were 21 blocks in the bundle and they were very aged stained. 

When I went to pay Patty for the blocks, she told me she knew I would be the person to buy them. I guess my love of blues is well known. She told me she had purchased them in Lancaster County, PA.

I took the blocks home and soaked them in this product which I purchased at Calico Point. (I'm sure you can find it online if you search for it.) I could see the yellowing disappear right before my eyes, I couldn't believe the difference in appearance!

After soaking the blocks, I rinsed them in clear water then carefully dried them by rolling the blocks in a folded bath towel. Then I placed the blocks individually on the carpet to air dry. Once the blocks were dry, I pressed them with a hot iron then trimmed them to 12.5". The above picture is after the blocks were soaked, pressed and trimmed.

How do you arrange 21 quilt blocks?  Obviously I didn't want to arrange them 3 by 7 so I decided on an easier solution, make 4 applique blocks and set them 5 by 5. 

One of the quilts on my list of applique quilts to make is the Budding Beauty Quilt. (Here is a link to the free pattern from the American & Patchwork website). This applique block is very similar to several of the blocks I appliqued for the purple embroidered blocks but not as large. My blocks will finish at 12", the blocks in the Budding Beauty quilt are smaller.

These blocks appliqued fast and all four blocks are completed but not trimmed to size.

The vine is leftover bias from Blueberry Pie. It's slightly wider than what the pattern calls for but it already made and I'm using what I had on hand.

I'm making a slight variation for my blocks, on the original pattern, the center leaves cover the vine in the center. That was too much bulk for me. 

To make the plastic template for the leaf, I used this plastic. I think I purchased it at Lolly's in Shipshewana for $9.

Again I'm using the Wash-Away Applique sheets to add stability to the leaves. I traced around the plastic template onto the front side of the applique sheets then cut them out individually. Then I pressed them onto the back side of the fabric.

I don't know if this project will be sewn into a flimsy this year or not but progress has been made. Maybe finishing will happen next year.

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

This 'N That

I've been wasting way too much time lately looking for 'things' in my sewing studio so I decided it was time to organize.

First were the wire shelves. I consolidated fabrics and batting. I organized the stencils into containers by size so I can find them easier. They may not look organized but they are much much better than they were. I need to label the fabric tubs so I can see which tub is which color but I know where the blue tubs are, all 3 of them. Labeling will happen this week.

Next were the white cubbies. The left side cubbie hold scrappy long term projects. The projects on the top of the cubbie are projects for this year, Garden Party, Fire Island Hosta Queen, the blue embroidered blocks and Tree of Life. (Here is a link to a blog that shows a finished Tree of Life quilt, this is an old kit from the 60's.)

The right cubbie holds supplies. Before the reorganization, they were intermixed with the scrappy projects. On the top are trays that I use when I prep projects. I used to prep more than one project at a time, that is why I have so many trays. The middle box is odd sized strips that are left from trimming. I have a scrappy strip project started that they'll be used in. (It needs to be moved to the left cubbie.) The right box/basket is EPP pieces. They will be reorganized into one of the empty blue boxes in the cubbie.

I never shopped often at JoAnn Fabrics but of course I stopped in when they actually dropped their prices during the foreclosure sale. I bought several cotton batts (should have bought more!) and a couple storage boxes. One of the boxes was for the Tree of Life  project. The storage boxes had a top divided tray that I didn't need for the 2nd project. I repurposed it to the right side of my sewing machine cabinet. That side was always a mess of clutter.

I don't know if the tray will stay this organized but it will certainly be better than it was. My mother bought that pin dish ash tray for me when I purchased my first sewing machine. It's a perfect pin dish, I'm still using it after 52 years.

What is especially nice about reorganizing is I have found 'things' I've been looking for. I found the decorative stitch card for my Elna. It and the Elna manual are safely stored in the bottom drawer of my sewing cabinet. The spools of lace that were stored there will be donated to the craft department at the relief sale.

I also found the Dancing Star blocks that I've been searching for ever since we moved here, almost 3 years ago!

For now they're displayed on the display wall while I decide if I want to finish this quilt. I think the blocks are very pretty but I have no enthusiasm to finish it. I'll mull it over until I need to use the display wall for something else. They'll probably end up being donated to the sewing box at the relief sale. This is where a lot of UFQ's end up.

Dancing Stars is a free pattern from Amy's Creative Side.

While I was organizing, I decide to wind bobbins so when I start sewing, time won't be wasted in winding bobbins.

The basic colors are covered. I always keep a few black, dark gray and blue just in case I need those colors.  

Next I need to tackle the bookshelves.

Last year I made an anniversary quilt for our oldest son and DIL so it would be ready when it was anniversary time.

I mailed the quilt last month and it arrived on the day of their anniversary. They texted a picture and to say thank you but since it was l0l* that day, they wouldn't be using it for a while. Totally understandable!

It was so nice to have this quilt completed and ready to send ahead of time.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Wednesday Wait Loss, FM Mavericks, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Embroidered Hearts, Block 4

The 4th applique block for the embroidered hearts quilt is finished. 

The applique I'm using is from this book, A Baltimore Album, 25 applique patterns by Marsha D. Radtke. This block is called the Rose of Sharon Circle and is the 7th block in the book. It's the top left block on the cover.

Years ago I took my book to Staples and had it spiral bound so it would lay flat when copying the patterns.

The fabric background is white but it seems to look different in the picture. The green I used for the leaves is fossil-fern fabric.

Here are all four blocks. I think this quilt will look nice with the appliqued blocks in the corners.

I appliqued these blocks using the freezer paper method. The round flowers used in this block used the same freezer paper from the first applique block.

You can't use the freezer paper indefinitely but you should get at least two ironings out of it. Make sure you use a HOT iron!

Here is an applique hint I didn't show you before. When you have multiples of the same piece in an applique block, trace the design on the freezer paper. Staple that piece of paper onto several more layers, then cut out the stems.

Make sure you always label where the location of the applique is to go. AND make sure you reverse copy your pieces if they are not symmetrical.

Remove the staples and separate the individual stems, they do stick together slightly because of the staples. If you iron them together, you can't separate them afterwards. Guess how I know that!

Here is a photo of the embroidered block. They'll finish at 17" so of course I'll trim the applique blocks to 17.5 before finishing.

I'm not going to finish piecing the quilt this summer but the blocks are now ready to go when I have time to finish it.

This quilt is #12 on list of projects for this year. It's not a complete finish but progress has happened and that is what is important.

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

2025 Designer Mystery Quilt

Last winter I decided I would participate in the 2025 Designer Mystery Quilt BOM through Fat Quarter Shop. The mystery started in June and I've completed the first block.

I've never participated in a BOM through an online shop before but I thought Corey Yoder's fabrics used in this quilt were very pretty. The fabrics are from her Abloom line and is now available in stores. 

This BOM was #16 on my list of projects to make this year but the flimsy won't be completed this year, it continues into 2026.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Wednesday Wait Loss, FM Mavericks, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Embroidered Hearts, Blocks 2 & 3

The next two applique blocks for the embroidered hearts quilt are finished. They both are from the same applique pattern, Crossed Laurel Spray which is block 22 from the A Baltimore Album designed by Marsha D. Radtke. 

These blocks stitched up fast, the leaves are a nice size for easy stitching. I normally stitched 6 leaves in the evening. 

And the second block.

The background fabric for these blocks is white Kona fabric. I forgot to mention that in last Sunday's post.

These blocks will be set in opposite corners in the quilt. I used this Wash-Away Applique product on the backside of the leaves. It really helps in making sharp points on the ends of the leaves.

I purchased this at a local quilt store. Here is a link to C&T Publishing, there are many other online business that also carry it.

Here is a picture of the embroidered block. All the blocks in the quilt are embroidered the same.

The light blue dots on the white fabric are the stitching lines for hand quilting. I haven't decided if I'm going to have the quilt machine quilted or if I'll hand quilt it, there are several quilts in the hand quilting queue already.

I was in Wakarusa last week and took pictures of the quilt garden.

After I left downtown Wakarusa, I drove to Grandma's Pantry. It's a grocery/bulk-food/bakery/deli store. This is the first year they're participating in the Heritage Trail.

I'm surprised the flowers aren't farther along, we've had plenty of rain this summer.  Here is a link to the 2025 Quilt Gardens, Along the Heritage Trail.

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

2nd Quarter Check-In

It's time for the 2nd quarter check-in of 2025 and time to check in with how my project list is going.

#3 is Elegant Garden. She is a flimsy! No, I didn't add the half star blocks for the outside border but I doubt Edyta Sitar is going to show up and complain. She is hanging in the 'to be hand quilted' closet waiting for her turn in the quilting frame.

Three quilts flimsies for granddaughter Joanna were pieced in the first quarter. They have returned from Calico Point with the quilting completed.

Teal Stars was #6 on the project list.

#7 is Log Cabin Hearts

#8 is Quadrangle

#14 - The blocks in this little quilt were embroidered by granddaughter Miriam. Now it's finished!

Two Compassion  (along with several others) quilts are quilted and delivered to Goshen Hospital to be used in the cancer center.

#17 - Book Adventures or the Peter Rabbit Quilt was finished in May. I machine quilted it myself with my sewing machine.

Linking to 2nd Quarter Planning Check-In, To Do Tuesday, Wednesday Wait Loss, FM Mavericks, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF!, Finished or Not Friday, Off the Wall Friday, Beauty Pageant, Patchwork & Quilts

Embroidered Hearts

In the January list of projects for 2025, I listed two embroidered blocks projects, #11 & 12. Both projects have the same problem, not enough blocks. I finally came up with a solution, applique blocks. Number 12 is the purple/lavender blocks.

While I was appliqueing the Elegant Garden blocks, I was asked to show more of the applique process. I will do that with this applique block.

I'm using colors for the applique that are the embroidery threads. I'm not going to change the green embroidery thread on the blocks but the green I use to applique might be slightly darker.

This type of embroidery is printed onto background fabric and the blocks were intended to finish at 18". That is fine if they're printed straight on the fabric but these blocks weren't so I needed to trim the edges more. They'll finish at 17". I have twelve completed blocks, I need four more blocks so I can make the quilt square.

The applique I'm using is from this book, A Baltimore Album, 25 applique patterns by Marsha D. Radtke. I appliqued this quilt several years ago and called it the Pastor's Attic quilt.

The first block is block 10, Rose & Rosebud Circle. These are basic instructions, you print off the pattern, in this case I had to print off 4 pages and tape them together to make a whole block. I lay the paper on a light-box and place the background fabric on top then trace the design onto the fabric using a Frixon pen (which disappears when pressed with a HOT iron).

Take the background fabric off then place freezer paper on top of the paper pattern and trace the pieces onto the freezer paper. You then need to cut out the individual pieces.

With a HOT iron, iron the applique pieces onto the fabric that you are going to use for each piece. I leave the paper templates on the fabric until I'm ready to use it. Make sure you label each baggie so you know what the contents are. Notice that I've marked where the stem is supposed to be on the flower. This will help with the flower placement.

Sometimes the templates are directional, make sure you trace them correctly so your applique is going the correct direction to the marked background fabric. Make sure you iron the templates onto the fabric with a bias orientation.

There are 3 different stems on this block, I have 3 different bags with stems. Write on a separate paper which stem these are for and stick it each individual bag.

I'm not sure if I'll stick with this yellow, I  might change to a more brighter shade. The instructions are to embroider a spiral onto the flowers, I'm going with a small circle applique. For the circles, I'm using the Wash Away Applique product I talk about in this post.

For the applique, cut around the design, make sure you leave enough 'turn under' fabric. I probably leave more 'turn under' than most people but it works for me!

Before appliqueing each piece, I lick my thumb & finger and finger press the 'turn under' fabric. The fabric will remember what it's supposed to do as I stitch.

Leaving the freezer paper on the applique for now, FOR NOW!, pin the piece to the background fabric of the design. I'm going to start stitching on the right side.

I've stitched up the right side and I'm ready to make the point. Stitch two stitches at the point. Stitching two stitches helps to lock the point.

Take a sharp pointed tooth pick, that you've had in your mouth, (the moisture really helps grip the fabric) and carefully turn under the fabric on the left side.

Once the fabric is tucked under and ready to be stitched, pull the thread at the point, it should 'pull out' into a sharp point then stitch down the left side. 

The left side is stitched, pull the freezer paper out of the underside of the fabric.

Trim the excess fabric off the to be appliqued piece. Take a sharp scissors and clip into the point.

Lay the template on top of the flower bud then pin in place. I use regular sized pins but you can buy small applique pins. Don't forget to finger press the edges of the stem.

Again I start stitching on the right side, since I'm right handed and stitch like I did the flower bud. One of the stem points is more rounded than the other, that's just fine. The quilt police will NOT show up and I have no intention of displaying this quilt in a quilt show.

I normally remove the freezer paper after I've started down the left side. Since the applique has been finger pressed, it remembers where it's supposed to turn under. The stem is a little longer than it needs to be, carefully snip that off so it won't stick out the bottom.

Two stitched flowers and stems, these little flowers are about 2.5" long.

I didn't take pictures of the next steps, you basically do the same for each piece like you do for the stems; trim off excess fabric, finger press, stitch it to the design. After the small flower stems were appliqued, the vine was stitched, then the mulberry purple flowers. The leaves were stitched last and the green is still a light green but slightly darker than the embroidered lazy daisy leaves.

After a good press with a hot iron, to make the frixon marking disappear, the Rose of Sharon block is completed. 

The applique block pattern finishes at 14" but I cut the background fabric larger. It's going to finish at 17", the same size as the embroidered blocks. There is plenty of space for pretty quilting. I don't know if this quilt will be hand quilted or machine quilted. I'm getting a backlog of quilts for hand quilting. It needs to be sewn into a flimsy first.

I will not go into detail for appliqueing the other three blocks.

I completed this block while I was also quilting the Amish crib quilt. I did not do all the applique in one week. Once the four blocks are finished, I'll put them with the embroidered blocks. Hopefully this flimsy will be pieced sometime this year.

At the November 2024 retreat, Rosemary gifted each of her table mates (which included me) project bags that she had made.

She bought old dresser scarves (that is what my family calls them) at thrift stores and used them for the back of the bag, what a great idea!

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