Above is a picture of our block. I made a 6" square. The smaller blocks look so sweet when completed! The only problem with tiny blocks is you have to sew a lot of them for a bed quilt. An example of this dilemma is shown below. Barb started making these blocks a couple of years ago. After each one she would exclaim, "Isn't this so cute?"  She would carefully pick her favorite prints for the baskets and match them up with a background which perfectly complemented the basket. After making about 80 blocks, she thought she was just about done. We laid the blocks out and found she was no where close to being done. She really needed 291 basket blocks! She then just started grabbing fabric from her stash. She no longer cared if the prints went together well.... she had 211 blocks to go! (Those of you who have made this quilt probably know the feeling!)



The basket quilt is found in When the Cold Wind Blows published by the Kansas City Star Quilts.


Next Barb thought she would make a quilt of 25 blocks. Twenty five large blocks would be so much easier than 291 blocks....but it still has 125 small 4-patch blocks. The Irish Chain quilt is in our Weekend book.


How can you use small 6" blocks without making 291 of them? Make a table runner. Piece 6 blocks, add some setting triangles and a border and you're done. For our block pattern click here. Our table runner directions will follow next Tuesday.


Jeanne Zyck quilted this for me last night. Just finished the binding. (Talk about sliding in for the finish!!!) Thank goodness for Jeanne.




The prize is pictured below. Leave a comment and we will select one person to get the three Jelly Rolls. One each from some of our favorite fabric lines. The contest ends on the 16th. and we will announce a winner then. Good luck to all.


The blog hop is almost done. Here are the remainder of designers you don't want to miss.

I've been sewing some of the blocks from the Moda blog hop. I love the small 6" ones. They go together so easily!


The fresh blue prints from Nature's Basket look crisp and clean.


I had to show a bit of stitching I've been working on each night as I watch TV.  One row a night....(This sampler is from Chessie and Me. I purchased it at market  - Janet Reid 1835 Sampler.  This piece is done with Gentle Arts wool floss, and stitches up like a dream. 
  


The heart fabric above is from our Blueberry Crumbcake line. If you want to set the blocks on the diagonal this sweet heart block won't work, but I can see a baby quilt of these easily pieced heart blocks.
Here's the schedule for the remainder of the week. Don't forget to come back here on the 13th!

     The next Loose Feather pattern will be delivered to our warehouse next Monday. After we box them up and give them to UPS, it takes another two days to get them to the distributors. Then the distributors have to repackage them and ship these patterns out again to the shops. They are well traveled by the time they get to you. Are you keeping up with all of this stitching? I can hardly keep up with the publishing deadlines.

     The initials of Barb’s great aunt are located inside the urns. Stitch your initials in the urn first and then fill with the stitches on the chart. Barb's great aunt was born in 1915, so Barb put the year her Aunt Ethel Larson was 10 years old. Just the right age to learn to stitch. What a lovely tribute to her aunt. I'll have to make one for my Aunt Dorothy!

    Don't forget the blog hop....visit our friends listed below today!!!

Until later!

Alma

     The blog hop began yesterday....but it's not too late to view the blog sites and download free patterns and sign up for free gifts. This is going to be a fun one! Every day begins with three free block patterns. Each block will be shown using fabrics from each designer, making sure you will find one color way which will tickle your fancy. Since this is National Sewing Month it's the perfect time to download a pattern, grab your fabric and get sewing! The above two block designs are from Laundry Basket and French General using Blackbird's Nature's Basket fabrics. The good thing is this line is available in your quilt shop now. These two blocks only took about 30 minutes to sew together! I only have one more to go and I will have yesterday's patterns completed. Maybe tonight I can get caught up with Brigitte's block (Zen Chic), and the ones from today.

September 4, 2013

Until later!

Alma

I made a mistake in the symbols for Never Far Apart. The symbols for Raspberry Parfait and Apple Cider were transposed. You can tell from the picture above the roof and baskets are done with the Apple Cider....not Raspberry Parfait. I'm very sorry and hope you won't have to remove stitches!!!

Until later!

Alma