Thursday, December 30, 2021

The Last Mini Quilt for 2021

 
Hope you had a very Merry Christmas
and a happy holiday.
Now we switch gears and 
it's time to start a new year.

But until January gets too
far ahead I need to share 
my 2021 December mini.

My latest mini is reflective of the season
in the classic color combination
of reds and greens.


Christmas Poinsettias
30" x 30"
2021

This pattern was inspired by Kim Diehl 
from her book
Simple Whatnots II

Kim has also provided this as a free pattern
from Henry Glass Fabrics.


This quilt was a good combination
of pieced flowers and appliqued stems and leaves.

It was also a nice way to use
some of those reds and greens 
I've been collecting.


I few fluttering snowflakes
would be perfect to showcase 
this fun holiday quilt,
but nothing yet.


I kept the machine quilting simple by outlining the 
flowers along with a few feathers and
then a simple loopy design in the border.



I dug around for awhile
looking for a backing and finally decided
on this fabric.


Well, this is really an oldie.  I bought it in
1974 and made bedroom curtains!
Some of you may recognize it as one of
the timely calico prints from Ely and Walker.
The company printing this design and several others
for a long time even up through the 70's.
Ely and Walker Dry Goods started manufacturing fabric in
1855 in St. Louis.

Maybe, without realizing it,
I have started a  
 Red and Green Christmas series.


2021                                       2019                              2020



I'll have to keep that in mind when
December, 2022 rolls around.

Maybe you're ready to join in 
making a monthly mini coordinated by


 and her quilty mini-ettes as we march into 2022.
Time to get stitching.

Until Next Time-
Kyle

Monday, December 13, 2021

Why Not Start Something New

 With Christmas only 2 weeks away,
why not start something new!

A month ago one of my quilting groups
had a holiday silent auction.
Basically, it's bring some good stuff from your 
sewing room so, others can buy it and 
 take it their home. 
The money we collect goes to 
the local foodbank.
This is what I came home with. 
 These incredible Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks.

There are more than 80 blocks.


Each in excellent condition.

Over half of them 
have fussy cut motifs.

I'm thinking maybe they were made in the 40's
because the motifs are bigger than what
we generally consider the 30's.
Any thoughts?



The blocks are sewn both by machine and
by hand.  I can't figure out the reasoning or her approach.
But either way the stitching is perfect
with 1/8" seams.

I was so excited to get these blocks. 
I couldn't wait and had to 
started  hand stitching them together.


I've got most of them together in sets
of two and then into sets of four.
Slowly, they'll all get connected.

I keep eyeing that outer edge.
Adding a binding is going to be a real bugger!
But I won't think about it now.

*****

I've also been X stitching

Unsewing seems to be part of the process!


"Basketful of Winter"
Design by Brenda Gervais
With Thy Needle and Thread



"A Cup of Cheer"
Design by Brenda Gervais
With Thy Needle and Thread

****
Currently, we have no snow
here in Fort Collins,
but maybe we'll have a 
White Christmas.

Until Next Time-
Kyle