Sunday, February 27, 2022

Easy Brick Quilt

 I get requests for this pattern all the time.  Since I'm discontinuing my other website, thought I'd put it here.

Easy Brick Throw/Baby quilt



4” x 8” Brick Throw Size Quilt (finished quilt is 40”x52”)

 

Supplies:

Sewing machine, needles, scissors, rotary cutter, cutting mat, at least a 8 ½” quilting ruler, thread, seam ripper (all the normal quilt making supplies)

 

Fabric (for top only):

¾ yard of white or background

~2 yards of assorted colored/printed scraps in pieces at least 4.5” by 8.5” (see suggestions below)

 

Backing fabric:

About 3 yards

 

Binding fabric:

About ½ yard for 2” finished binding

 

Cutting:

Cut 19 pieces of white 4.5” by 8.5”

Cut 40 assorted colored or printed scraps 4.5” by 8.5”

Cut 4 pieces of white 4.5” by 4.5”

Cut 8 pieces of assorted colored or printed scraps 4.5” by 4.5”

 

Sewing:

Sew together in horizontal rows placing the white as shown in the picture.

 

Suggestions:

I’d recommend using at least 10 different fabrics for the colored blocks.  You can use scraps, layer cakes (10” squares), fat quarters, or fat eighths.  A fat eighth will make (4) 4.5” X 8.5” blocks.  If you don’t have scraps and want to use fat eighths for the colored fabric, get at least 11.  Many quilt shops will cut fat quarters or fat eighths for customers.


Friday, February 25, 2022

New Scrap Quilt

 I just wasn't into the blue/green quilt I had started so I put it away for a while.  I saw a free pattern from All People Quilt and really loved it.  It is so quick.  I had a box of solid scraps and I dug out anything and everything that could even remotely be called low volume. These blocks are cut at 5" and the small solids are cut at 1 and 3/4".  I decided to make this one 90 x 103.5, with the longest part to be the width on our king size bed. What a nice summery, vintage looking quilt.  The 90" in vertical length will fit nicely behind the footboard.  Can't wait to get it done, hopefully tomorrow, then get it on the quilting machine.  Eleven of the rows finished in this pic.

The hair is still growing and getting curlier by the day.  I've decided I must have 3a type curls. I've been reading and researching a lot on how to grow out my hair, embrace the curls, and get them the healthiest I can.  I just wish I"d known how to do these about 20 years ago.


It's a lot longer than it looks.  The curliness gives it shrinkage of maybe 2-3 inches so far.  It's almost long enough to do some small twists and braids. I say three more months and I'll have a big, bushy pony tail.

My grandson still says he likes it better short, but I know kids. They don't like change in the ones they love. They will get used it, just like the hubby.  He thinks I need a "style," ha, I told him a grow out with my hair is a style, just not one anyone really wants. I've not had any bad hair days so bad that I wanted to cut it.  A few, I thought I should wear a hat, but I still don't want to cut it until I can see what it will look like shoulder length and curly.

On a sad note, my 51 year old cousin died last week of complications from Covid. She had other health issues.  So sad. She leaves behind a husband, and two daughters ages 21 and 25. Please, please, please get your vaccine. I know many people are afraid of the vaccine, and they tell me of all these bad things that can happen from it.  My response is usually, how many people do you personally know who died of taking the vaccine?  How many people do you personally know who died of covid without a vaccine?  Which number is greater?  My numbers are 0 and 5. It does save lives. 

My prayers are with the Ukrainians as their country is being invaded by Russia.  I traveled to Russia 12 times in my career. It is so sad a country as large as Russia wants to takeover, by force, the Ukraine. I don't know the details and need to educate myself, but I know it is war, and in war people die, are driven from their homes, and other horrible things. Our world needs Jesus, and the peace he brings.