September's Winner is.......

Mrsmarg is the winner of September's prize which is the Vintage Lifestyle book.  Congrats Margaret, random number generator has picked you!

Now for October's prize.  I was amazed at the number of pictures posted on our Flickr group. Ninety eight pictures for September.  Woohoo!  You women amaze me.  One prize just doesn't seem like enough.  For October I will be offering two prizes to be drawn randomly from all the pictures posted to our group.

The first prize is Nancy Halverson's latest book and pattern.  You will just have enough time to make something for this Christmas.  The second prize is a Hoffman Bali Pop called Caramel. Mmmmmm good.

This block from our Flickr group really impressed me.

Betty really mixed things up, went her own way, and came up with this stunning block.  I will have a little something special coming Betty's way!

Stash Busters Quilt Along, Week 5

It's hard to believe that we are at week 5 already.  I just checked our Flickr page and we are up to 81 photos.  Wonderful!!!!!  On October 1st I will draw a winner for our first months giveaway, and post what next months giveaway will be.  So don't despair if you don't get your pictures up by the 1st, they can count towards next months prize.

This weeks block is Circle of Geese.  Click here for the link to the Piece by Number page that features the block and a link to download the Pdf pattern.  Beth at Piece by Number has graciously agreed to let us use her pattern for our quilt along, thanks so much Beth!  When printing the pattern be aware that there is a clockwise, and counterclockwise, pattern.  Print four copies of one of them.  I used the clockwise spin.

This is a paper piecing pattern so remember to cut the pieces bigger than you think you need. LOL!  I had a few miscues and therefore a little reverse stitching to do.  I started with a fat quarter of background and ended up with a little piece about 2" x 3" left over.  Allow yourself lots of fabric.  Beth has a link on her page to some great paper piecing directions in case you don't know how, or need a little refresher.

I decided not to make one of these blocks out of my reproduction fabric since it wouldn't really fit in a reproduction quilt.  Instead I  made a second batik block.  I'm sure I'll find a use for it.

For those of you that follow the quilt along through facebook, please be aware that throughout October I may be away from my computer on Sundays and therefore not able to post the link on Facebook.  It will be scheduled to appear on the blog for 00:01 each Sunday, so you may need to go directly to my blog at lindasquiltmania.blogspot.com to find it.

If you have a problem downloading the pattern from Beth's page, please let me know and I will try to walk you through it.  Happy quilting everyone!

Split Nine Patch Quilt

Way back at the start of the year I showed you a picture of my basket of quilt tops and vowed that I would have half of them quilted by the end of the year.  Well...... I am running a little behind.  I did finish one of them a little bit ago.

This is a scrappy split nine patch.  The top was pieced about 12 years ago, and has waited patiently for me to get it quilted.  I loved digging this one out, as looking at all the fabrics brought back a lot of memories of quilts past.

Once it was finished it needed a home.  Luckily my friend Dawn was having a birthday the next day so it seemed appropriate to give it to her.  I won't call Dawn my oldest friend, as that would be rude and untrue.  She is however my "longest" friend.  We met back when I was 15, and have shared each others lives every since.  I treasure our friendship!

Dawn sent me this picture of her enjoying her new quilt.  Perfect!

I am lucky to have several wonderful friends, many of whom have joined me in my Stash Busters Quilt Along.  Today I would like to feature the blocks that Betty S. has made so far. Great job on the blocks and it looks like she is making a dent in her stash.  This will be a lovely scrap quilt when it is finished!

Stash Busters Quilt Along Week 4

This weeks block is a traditional block called Weathervane.

Ooops, my photo editing cut the points off.  Really, they are there.  LOL

To make this block you will need three fabrics, a background a medium and a dark.  Cut the dark 4 1/2" centre square.  All the remaining pieces will be cut from 2 1/2" strips.  From the dark cut four 2 1/2" squares and eight 2 1/2" Easy Angle pieces.  From the medium cut four 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" pieces and four 2 1/2" Companion Angle pieces.  From the background cut four 2 1/2" squares and sixteen 2 1/2" Easy Angle pieces.

Lay the pieces out as shown and start sewing together.  For those that don't have the rulers, you need to make eight 2 1/2" half square units and four 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" flying geese using your favourite method.

You should end up with a 12" finished, 12 1/2" unfinished square.  Try playing with your colour arrangement.  With bright and funky fabrics this old favourite is a lot of fun!

Ho Ho Ho, It's Time to Make That Christmas Quilt

Even though it is still September, it is time to think about getting a Christmas Quilt finished. While on the Island this summer I was inspired by a quilt I saw in the Comox store, to make this quilt.

The Nancy Halverson panel is so cute.  I cut it apart, placed a 2 1/2" strip of the coordinating fabric between each piece of the panel, with a little Moda green as sashing.  More green on either side of the panel and here it is.  The quickest Christmas Quilt I ever pieced.

I quilted HO HO HO on one side, and a few snowflakes on the other.  For background quilting I used the circle in the circle.  A green Glide thread was the perfect thread to add a little bit of shine to the quilting.

Green Minky on the back, and OH OH OH for those that have a warped sense of humour like mine.

Have you finished your Christmas quilting yet!

Stash Busters Quilt Along Week 3

This week's block is a simple star made from half square units.

Cut a 3 1/2" strip of your background fabric and a 3 1/2" strip of four different feature fabrics.  Using your Easy Angle ruler cut 16 background units and 4 of each of the feature fabrics.

Sew the background and feature units together to make 3 1/2 " half square units.  If you don't have the ruler, make these units with your favourite method.

Lay out the units as shown and sew together.

You should have a 12 1/2" block that will finish 12 when sew it into your quilt.

I have been asked how many blocks I will be posting.  I plan on posting at least 20, perhaps more, depending on the interest.  I will be giving away one prize a month to be drawn from those that have posted their block picture on the Flickr page.

Happy sewing!

Stash Busters Quilt Along Week 2

Thanks to all of you for the incredible response to block 1 of our quilt along.  All kinds of wonderful blocks on our flickr page!

This weeks block is called Circle of Squares.  I first saw this block on pinterest.  I traced it to this tutorial.  I changed up the piecing a little, and here is my version.

The blocks I have seen around the web were all done scrappy.  I wanted to make this as easy as possible, so I stayed with one feature fabric.

Cut two 2 1/2" x 10 1/2" strips of feature fabric.  Piece a 2 1/2" x 10 1/2" piece of background fabric onto one of the strips.  Piece a 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" piece of background fabric to either side of the other piece.  Press towards the feature fabric.

Cut both strips into 2 1/2" segments.

Sew a 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" background piece to each of the segments with the 2 1/2" background piece.  Sew a 1 1/2" x 4 1/2" background piece to each side of the segments with the 1 1/2" background pieces.  You should now have four of each of the blocks shown.

Cut a 4 1/2" square of background fabric and lay out your block as shown.  Sew together.

Different fabrics give a very different look to each block. I am definitely going to have to try a scrappier version of this block.

I hope you enjoy this weeks block.  I will continue to scour the web looking for interesting blocks for us to make.  Some will be traditional, some will be not so traditional.  I hope they will all be fun!  I have been asked how many blocks I will be posting.  I plan on at least 20, perhaps more.  You can make them all, or just pick a few of your favourites.  There is no pressure to make them all, however the more you make, the better chance you have of winning each monthly prize.

Happy sewing everyone!

Donna's Retirement Quilt

Well, last week my friend Donna retired.  As she is one of our Postie quilters, the Posties got together to make her a little something special!

This is a Thimble Blossom's pattern called "Round and Round."  The friendship stars really emphasize what good friends all us Postie Quilters have become.

Happy retirement Donna!

Stash Busters Quilt Along Week 1

It's September 1st and time to get going on the Stash Busters Quilt along.  Each week I will be posting a new 12" block for you to make.  The idea is to use up some of the SPARE fabric you have laying around.  As posted last week, each month I will draw a name from all that participate and post on our Flickr page and award a prize to that person.

Click here to find our Flickr group.  Add it to your favourites so that you can come back often and check out what everyone is up to.  I have set the group up as private, to keep the scammers out.  In order to post your pictures, you need to join the group.  To do that, I have to send you an invitation.  If you don't get one by noon today, let me know either with a comment below or by email, and I will get one out to you shortly.

Now on to this weeks block.  It is A Double Hourglass.

To make this block, cut two 2" background strips and one 2" feature fabric strip from two different colours.

Sew one background strip to each of the feature fabric strips.  Use your Companion angle ruler as shown above, to cut eight units from each strip set.  For those that don't have the ruler, cut a 45 degree cut, move over a little more than a 1/4" and then cut a 45 degree cut in the opposite direction.

Take four of your units, two with background at the small end and two with the feature fabric at the small end, and lay out as shown.  Sew the units together.  Make two blocks from one feature fabric, and two from the other.

Sew them together as shown.

While checking out one of my favourite blogs, I saw this block make into a quilt.

Thanks Karen for the inspiration!

If you make the block, please post a picture so we can all see it.  If you don't want to post the picture yourself, email it to me and I'll post if for you.  Happy sewing!