Laying out a scrappy quilt

I have been working on the LOTUS quilt I wrote about in the previous post.  From each strip of fabric you cut, you make two blocks.  I have been making them two at a time, using one for the top half of the quilt and setting the other aside for the bottom half.  When I make scrappy quilts, I like to make all my blocks first, so that I can lay them out in a way that somewhat balances the colors.  These blocks are so big, they are hard to layout on my design wall.  The other problem, is I have to climb up on that bench you see the other projects hanging on, in order to put blocks at the top of my design wall.  My husband made this for me , and he angled the back to be a little lower than the front to keep it from turning over on me.  I am having some pretty bad inner ear problems and dizziness right now, so he gets very nervous when I start climbing up on that bench.

Here are the first two rows (total of 6 rows in quilt) on my design wall .  I can get three rows on there but possibly get all six if I set them sideways.  I kept wondering how I could do this in an easier way.

 

Then I remembered the triangles that you get when you cut the blocks out.  I pulled two triangles out of my leftovers for each fabric, and used a flannel board I made (cardboard covered in flannel).  This allowed me to layout the fabrics for the entire quilt  in a smaller area.   Now I am ready to start assembling the blocks into rows and rows into a quilt top. (The triangle on each side are cut in half to make a straight edge.) 



 



 

This was fun to play with, and may be a technique I use often in scrappy quilts in the future.

 

Lotus quilt

 
 

I found this patter a few years ago and even bought the ruler to make the quilt.  But, as things go, I never got around to making it. 

My Grandson, Titus, as been out of the crib for some time now and is deserving of a Big Boy quilt.

 He loves the Cars movie, especially Tomater, which is his favorite.   I just could not wrap my mind around making a Cars quilt, as I would rather it be something that he would keep for a long time and I wanted it a little more appropriate for an older boy - in a few years.  I did purchase some cars fabric and started looking for a pattern - just nothing came to mind, until I remembered this LOTUS pattern by Jaybird Quilts.  But sadly, I just could not see this car fabric used in this quilt. 

Then I found a cars panel and have ordered it on line, but it has not arrived yet.  It has a big image of Tomater and Lightening, soooooo, I thought, why not use that for the backing, along with a border using the Cars fabric I already had purchased.  I decided to do just that, and use the primary colors to make the lotus quilt.

I am having fun with this project now.  To make the twin size quilt (69" x 90" per the pattern) I need 1/3 yd cut of 27 different fabrics.  I checked my stash, and I had 18 different ones I could cut a 9 1/2" strip from WOF, so only needed 9 more - off to Hobby Lobby I go (we have no quilt shop in my home town.  The closest is almost a hour drive away.)  I actually bought 1/3 yard cuts of 10 different fabrics, hurried home, washed the fabrics and put my husband to work cutting out the triangles.  Decided to go with solid white triangles, as I had a bolt of that fabric on hand.  I cut out the jewel shapes, and started making blocks.    Here is an arrangement of 6 of the blocks, just so I can see how it will look with all these different prints and patterns.  I think it will make a great Big Boy Quilt :)

 Oh well...one more project to add to the list.

Pemberley: Dresden Plate Flower Blocks

Slow stitching Sunday - working on the Dresden Plate Flower blocks for my Pemberley quilt.  One block is completed, I am in the process of appliqueing one to the background and then two remain in waiting for applique.  Each is different fabrics and the Dresden Plate is English Paper Pieced.

Border Workshop

 

I recently took a border workshop, taught by Joyce Walton a member of my guild, York County Quilters Guild, Inc.  She had developed this very easy method of making this border.  The panel is one I purchased several years ago and could not decide what to do with it, I just thought is was the most beautiful panel I had ever seen.  This border treatment seems to suit it so well.

I am pleased with the result, but now having trouble deciding how to finish it.  Joyce did a presentation at our last guild meeting and she does the most beautiful quilting with decorative threads, beads, embroidery - I left so inspired wanting to use some of these techniques in this quilt.  She both hand quilted and machine quilted with the decorative threads, and that is what I am battling with.  I don't want to do heavy quilting in the panel, as I think it would take away from the pretty floral design.

Its up on my design wall, waiting for me to make up my mind.

Happy July 4th!!!

I am so thankful to be an American living in this great nation of ours. 

A few years ago, I made this banner.  The star is of my own design and I call it Star of Justice.  The words are from the Pledge of Allegiance and are hand embroidered and the banner is hand quilted.  Its just a small banner, but I do love putting it out at this time of year.  I give the pattern away and if you would like a copy, just give me your email and I will .pdf a copy to you.  If you don't want to post your email, just send me an email at jqd@comporium.net and I will send you one.