I pieced several small quilts while at the new to me retreat which was held at the Essenhaus Inn in Middlebury, Indiana. This motel is very nice, the sewing space was spacious and the complimentary breakfast was delicious!
The first blocks I pieced were the corner and inset triangles for the Garden Party quilt. Those are done and sometime I'll start sewing all the blocks together. I don't have a picture of the blocks I sewed, you'll see them in the quilt.It was time to sew a 3 yard quilt. I didn't want to buy a book, I'm not going to make that many 3 yard quilts and I'm tired of buying books that don't get used. I googled free 3 yard quilts and several patterns pulled up, I decided on the Awareness pattern designed by Donna Robertson.
This quilt sewed together very fast since I had cut all the pieces at home. This little quilt measures 46" by 52".
I had bought these fabrics in a kit that was intended for a 3 yard quilt. I hadn't looked closely at the fine print on the label of the package before, it said the yardage was 3 & a quarter yards each. I could have added another row and used more of the fabrics!
Several years ago I purchased this cute butterfly fabric on the spur of the moment at Calico Point. For a background fabric, I used a gray pinstripe fabric.
I designed my own pattern and came up with a little quilt that I call Butterfly Beauty, she will also be a compassion quilt.
The mottled looking blue fabric on the left corner is actually a lovely purple fabric from the stash. I didn't have a large enough piece of the butterfly fabric to use. This little quilt finishes at 44" by 52" and will be quilted and donated in the spring.
I had prepped blocks to possibly piece two Wiggly Whimsy crib quilts. I started the first one but I didn't think the squares blended well. So I stuck those pieces back into it's bag then pulled the second one and made a good start. It's pieced and hanging in the to be quilted closet, I forgot to take a picture! Here is a link to a crib quilt I pieced several years ago. It's a free pattern somewhere on the Moda Bake Shop site but I can't find it now. * * * * Update * * * A commenter left a link to the pattern. Here it is! I've also added a direct link to the pattern in my sidebar list of free patterns.
The last project was to strip piece for a teal patchwork quilt.
I sewed strips together but wasn't able to subcut them. That I did at home. I pieced the subcuts into 8" finished blocks. This flimsy now measures 55" by 71".
All are lovely, Gretchen. It must feel good to get those fabrics out of your stash and on their way to finished quilts. You got a lot done at your retreat!
ReplyDeleteYour retreat place sounds wonderful. Love that teal patchwork quilt!!
ReplyDeleteBefore I click on your blog, dear Gretchen, I usually think of blue – but this time it was shades of red :-)
ReplyDeleteAll three quilts are beautiful. I especially like the turquoise one with the small squares.
Thank you so much for the links.
A sewing class sounds fantastic. I would love to attend one sometime; perhaps the opportunity will arise.
Warm regards, Viola
Good morning, Gretchen! Great work done on retreat! I see your beautiful teal fabrics all together and it makes me want to make a similar quilt…fresh, light and springy! I tend to buy the darker, dustier fabrics. I will have to start collecting bright teals!
ReplyDeleteWow, you had a very productive retreat, Gretchen!!! Your 3-yard quilt is such cute fabrics! Love the butterfly print & how you featured it your quilt. I looked for the Wiggly Whimsy pattern but I think they pulled it. Your teal quilt is stunning--great idea to strip piece it.
ReplyDeleteHello Nancy, If you try this link, https://modafabrics.wordpress.com/2012/08/ you should be able to read it. Regards, Pam.
DeleteWhat a retreat that must have been--you were so productive! Love your three quilt tops. Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2026/02/18/wednesday-wait-loss-472
All of your quilts are so nice even the 3-yard ones! I certainly agree with you about buying books that don't really get used. I looked at your Wiggly Whimsy quilt and love it! I can't find the pattern but I can figure out what you did from your pictures.
ReplyDeleteYes, you certainly were productive at that retreat. So many lovely fabrics in this post and those finished tops are lovely. I'm determined to sew something from each quilt book in my little library but I'm so slow; so far I've used three. Anyway, you take care and happy stitching!
ReplyDeleteWhat a productive retreat you had. That butterfly fabric caught my eye, as did the quilt you created with it. Love how you designed a symmetrical borders and corners. Really elevates a simple, but stunning quilt.
ReplyDeleteOh my, you have been quite busy making pretty quilts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a productive time at retreat! How fun to use fabrics from your stash to create such pretty tops!
ReplyDeleteHi Gretchen, those are all lovely quilts - it's going to be a great quilting spring! Thanks for linking up to I Quilted This!
ReplyDeleteLovely quilts done on retreat, it sounds like it was a great fun and sewing time ! The butterfly fabric is pretty and your own pattern is beautiful, I love the last border. Thank you for sharing your beautiful finishes and linking up.
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