Disappearing Rail Block

 A while ago I found a pile of 2 1/2" strips of primary colored print

fabrics and wanted to use them in a baby quilt.

I thought if I added primary solid fabrics to these strips and made

some rail blocks they would make a nice baby quilt.

WRONG!!!

This is so ugly!

I tried rearranging the blocks, adding sashing,

putting them all in the same direction and they were all ugly.

Great!  Now what do I do with them?

Well, over the years I've made a number of Disappearing Four Patch Quilt.

What if I cut these blocks up and put them back together?

Would that be more pleasing to the eye?

 

Here is the creation of the Disappearing Rail Block.

(Is this already a thing? I can't find anything like it online.)

 

 

 

 

 

I took two coordinating blocks,

 

 

 

 

Cut them diagonally in both directions...

 

 

 

Switched two pieces with each other...

 

 

 

 

 

Stitched them back together...

 

 

 

 

Trimmed the block down to 5 3/4" blocks...

(It was the largest size I could make.)

 

 

 

and this is what I have!

I kind of like these!

 

 

 

 

I took this stack of blocks (well part of it),

added some fun polka dot sashing and cornerstones

and this is what I have!

 

 

 

 

 

Oh.... this is MUCH better!

 

 

 

 

There are a lot more blocks to use, so we shall see where else they end up.

 

 

Happy Quilting!

2023 Patriotic Table Runners

 For the past I don't know how many years

I've made a patriotic table runner or topper for

my siblings in memory of our dad.

He was one of the most patriotic people I know.

Usually I make them and gift them around July 4,

but this year we were all together this past weekend

and I'm not sure when we will be together again until fall.

I had time to get them done and decided they could use them

for Memorial Day this year.

A while ago I saw this design on Shabby Fabrics,

but didn't like the muted fabrics they used.

Out came my stash and the cutting began.

 

 

 

These went together very quickly!

When I had all of the blocks finished and on

my design wall, I thought about making

a big quilt with all of the stars,

but decided I needed to get these finished.

That may be a project for a later date!

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't measure the size of these, but they are big.

If I were make them again, I'd use 2" squares instead of 2 1/2" squares.

 

 

 

 

The one I'm making for myself isn't finished yet.

It's going to be a four star table topper.

 

 

The Gridster Queen Bee for May asked for this block

from the Whirligig pattern by Emma Jean Jansen.

Emma Jean graciously gave permission for the block to

be used for the bee block.

 

I chose yellow for my block and it sure put a happy smile on my face!

Happy Quilting!

Wedding Quilt Finish

 On my husband's side of the family

we have one niece,

who is getting married in the beginning of June.

My usual wedding gift is a quilted Christmas tree skirt,

but this niece is Jewish, so that would not be appropriate.

Since she is the only cousin on my husbands' side,

and there are 11 cousins on my side,

I decided to make the bride and groom a quilt for their bed. 

After consulting with them on colors, design preference, etc.,

I designed a quilt on EQ8 (my first one!!)

and began making blocks. 

 

 

 

The floral fabric in the HST's was the focal fabric.

All of the other colors came off of that piece.

 

 

 

 

It was so much fun to come up with different blocks

to make for each round.

I started to get a bit carried away and reigned myself in before

it got out of control.  :D

 

 

 

 

The quilting was done by Jennifer at Peaceful Hill Quilting

and it's beautiful. 

 

 

The binding and label were finished last night,

so it can be wrapped and delivered.

 

 

 

I chose this backing fabric because my niece is a history professor.

She loves words!

 

 

Happy Quilting!

Pineapple Quilt is Finished!

 After working on this quilt on and off for over 2 years,

the quilt my husband made me make is finally finished!

The reason I call the quilt this is because when I started making 

the pineapple blocks, I had only planned on making enough

for a wall hanging.

My husband came into my hidey hole and saw it hanging on my

design wall and said it would make a really nice quilt for our bed.

At that point I started teasing him and telling people

he made me make the quilt.

I am not sorry at all!!

 

 

 

I started out with a jelly roll of batiks and quickly

realized that I would need more fabric...

a LOT more fabric!

 

 

 

 

The collection of blue and green batiks began

and blocks were slowly made.

 

 

 

 

 

Throw in a move for us, two moves for my daughter,

two moves for my mom and other things

and progress halted for a while.

I decided this would be my quilt camp project

for last fall and the rest of the blocks were made.

 

 

 

I used the Pineapple block ruler from Creative Grids

and really liked the precision that gave me.

 

 

 

 

 

I sent it off to Rebecca Grace at

Rebecca Grace Quilting and she worked her

beautiful magic on it.

The binding was the perfect finish for this quilt.

 

It isn't on our bed yet because we are having our bathroom

redone and things are a MESS.

Hopefully it will be on the bed soon.

Then I will need to decide what to do about pillows.

 

I am linking to Design Wall Monday.

Happy Quilting!