Almost Amish Granny

Do you have any of Lori Holt’s amazing books? I have them all! The diagrams are so clear, the directions always accurate (how many books can say that?!), and the photographs are taken in Lori’s house, so they are just as pretty as can be.

The Fat Quarter Shop is revisiting Lori’s second book, Great Granny Squared, which I already made a project from last year. This time I wanted to add a “twist” to my project, so I opted to the make the full-size great granny block, which finishes at 12”, but in bright monochromatic colors that take on a different look than Lori’s normal scrappy-happy style.

Most of the fabrics are from the Basic Mixologie collection. The colors are so vibrant and gorgeous! But then my Tucker Prairie fat quarter bundle arrived (from the big after Thanksgiving Sale at FQS!) and the two collections looked like they were meant to be together. Keen-eyed fabric aficionados will also notice that the light pink block has a Hoffman Me + You modern batik print too.

I quilted an overall swirl pattern in light beige thread which was a little nerve-wracking since the thread shows so much on the black background fabric, but it turned out awesome! I haven’t attached the binding yet, but this green Tucker Prairie stripe is ready to be sewn on with this pretty Aurifil #1231.

Overall this twist is something I’d love to try again! The black background fabric and monochromatic blocks make the quilt look almost like an actual crocheted granny square blanket or maybe an Amish-inspired quilt. Thanks, Fat Quarter Shop, for letting me play along with your Great Granny Square Twist Blog Hop!

The Fat Quarter Shop has generously let me give away a copy of Lori’s book, Great Granny Squared, to one lucky visitor today. Just leave a comment to be entered and a winner will be picked Monday.

Great Granny! {a finished tablerunner}

Isn’t she a beauty?

The original pattern from Lori Holt’s book called for 3 x 6 great granny squares, but I modified the design to fit the top of our bedroom dresser so this one has 2 x 7 blocks.

I am loving the texture of the free motion quilting.  By golly, I think I’m finally getting it!  Something just clicked in my brain this time as I was trying to freehand draw the design on paper before attempting it with my machine. 

The back is nearly as gorgeous as the front.  I was able to use this remnant of Anna Maria Horner fabric left over from another project and there was just enough to position the large floral motifs straight down the center of the back.

The finished size is 17.5 x 51.5.  Most of the blocks were designed by my two oldest daughters.  I’m pretty sure I only had to show them how to arrange it once and they were on a roll putting them together for me.  The background is Essex linen in a cream shade.

I used a lot of scraps for this project, so this will be labeled #2/52 for a little scrap project goal I am challenging myself to complete a la Crazy Mom Quilts and her 100 scrap projects goal.  I might be crazy, I am a mom, and I quilt, but there’s no way I could do 100 scrap projects like she’s breezing through them!  So 52 is my goal.

It feels great to have that old bath towel replaced by this tablerunner on our bedroom dresser! 

Thanks for visiting!

Great Granny {the tablerunner}

Earlier in the year I won this copy of Lori Holt’s book on Red Pepper Quilts.

I like a lot of the patterns in this book and I’m happy to have it as part of my home library.  In January we remodeled our bedroom, and sadly our dresser has been “decorated” with an old bath towel on top to protect the surface from the TV and other electronics stored there.

But that’s all about to change!

I’ve been planning this tablerunner in my mind for several months, knowing I wanted to choose fabrics that would look sophisticated and pop out against a black background.  Slowly I built up a pile of potential fabrics and this past weekend I finally started cutting the squares.

The cream is Essex linen, and a lot of the fabrics are scraps, hooray!  The first seven blocks are sewn and squared up, just seven more to go.  The squares finish at 1” and it takes me about 75 minutes to sew one (already cut) from start to end, so this is all I’ve been working on the past four nights.

Hopefully I will have a finish to share soon!

DC Modern Quilt Guild Sewing

There are several group projects in the works at the DC Modern Quilt Guild and this past week I made and mailed off some blocks to contribute.

Sending love and wishes for good health to a member undergoing breast cancer treatment.  The request was for all sorts of variations of granny squares in aqua, coral and low volume prints.

This block has my favorite “low volume” print in it.

The doves are (hopefully) a subtle message of love and peace.

A block for a baby quilt.

And blocks for a group quilt for 100 Quilts for Kids.

This economy block square was paper pieced and the pattern can be found here and the directions here.  It was so easy to do and all the points and seam allowances are spot on. 

I was hoping to make it to the guild meeting this weekend, but school starts next week and I’ve been feeling quite “cat’s in the cradle”-ish so I’ll be staying home with the family this time and enjoying one last summer weekend of beaches, boat rides, and pool days. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Life’s Little Victories

#1  Needing a new ironing board cover and your cousin calling to say Ross has pretty Laura Ashley shabby chic covers…for less than $10.  Score!  Makes me kind of want to press some seams!

#2  Mentally debating whether or not to trim your latest bee block before you mail it--not because you are lazy, but because you want the recipient to have more to work with than less if possible.  Then, a few days later, reading on another blog you were supposed to leave it untrimmed!  I am a rule follower!

#3  Ordering a bunch of DS Quilts fabrics from Joann’s online and waiting more than 2 weeks for it to ship.  Finally receiving it and discovering almost 5 yards of extra free fabric was included!  Ok, now I don’t hate you anymore, Joann’s.  Sorry, I couldn’t get a photo of all the fabric still in the bags because, you know, I had to rip into them like immediately!

I’ve got two quilt finishes to share, but unfortunately the photographs I’d taken are not as good as I hoped, so I will be retaking them tomorrow morning and trying again.  For now I will leave you with two sneak peeks.

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

{Just Three} Goals for May

Last month I missed the linky for {Just Three} due to a husband on travel and very limited computer time and was really bummed.  I just returned from vacation last night and—yay!—the linky party is still open!  Here are my goals for May:

1.  Finish my twirling around quilt.  This one is basted and ready to quilt, I just need to get some time and get it done.  The picture is an old one, but it gives you an idea of what it looks like.

2.  Finish my granny squares quilt.  I started hand-quilting it and I’m not sure if I like it or not.  I think I need to get more done to decide, but I’m pretty sure I’m committed now and won’t be ripping out the stitches.   Again this is an old pic.  I have twenty squares already joined in a quilt top, backed with a DS Quilts pink floral print.

3.  Make my bee block for Beejeebers.  This one looks relatively easy, so I should be able to cross this off my list quickly.  The photo above is courtesy of Linzsews.

Here’s to a great month of sewing…and finishing!!!

Trying New Things Thursday

So far this week, I’ve tried three new things.

The first is Robert Kaufman’s Quilter’s Linen (not real linen, just cotton look-alike).  I ordered several colors just to give them a try.

And then I started making some granny square blocks.  I actually have 12 done at this point.  I am aiming to make 20 for a small quilt and Bea has already claimed this one.

I also bought some Presencia hand quilting thread that was shipped today.  I might either try using the size I bought in my machine as the top thread (not in the bobbin) or possibly doing some hand quilting which I have never tried for outline quilting in this granny square quilt.

I have another new non-quilty thing I tried this week…I got my super-long hair cut.  I donated a 12-inch braid to Locks of Love.   This new haircut feels light, breezy, and very liberating.  I love it!

I’m linking up to Trying New Things Thursday.  Thanks for checking in.  Have a great day!