One Outer Border On

Here is my Scrappy Stars (have I ever mentioned that I found out the real name of the quilt in spite of STILL not finding the magazine that has the pattern?).  It is called Pick & Choose.

Here is one side with all 3 borders on...1-1/2" finished, pieced HSTs and then 4-1/4" finished.  I picked the light cream for the pieced border in hopes that it would bring out the cream squares in the center (plus, I had a chunk of it in my creams box and didn't want to cut out 50 different creams).

I am worn out.  My feet started swelling again yesteday.  They are not very good tonight.  I think I'll go lie down in bed and do my Bible reading. 

Sweet dreams...
~Joan

One Pieced Border In Place...AND IT FITS!!

What in the world are all these hieroglyphics?  They are the mathematical computations to get my quilt to a size that would allow my six inch unit border to fit perfectly.  My plan seemed perfect. But when I checked the numbers one more time before starting to cut the strips, I realized I had left the seam allowances out! Good thing I checked!

Once I did the math, I decided that I wanted the brown border to be the same width all around the quilt.  So I added the cream border on just two sides to make the brown the same width as the top.

I have the other short pieced border pieced.  I have all the other HSTs pieced.  I am going to add another brown leaf border outside of the pieced one that is about the width of the pieced plus inner brown (4-1/4"??). 

I used the Judy Martin Pieced Borders book a few times now.  My borders always come out perfect after following her plan, but I am ALWAYS SURPRISED!!

~Joan, who loves a good surprise once in a while



3 x 5 Might Just Work

Here is the center of my quilt top (real pattern name is Pick & Choose).  I think with 3 more borders, it will be a great throw size.  I am going to do the same size HST units as the star points (3" square finished) and put them like they are in the original pattern (which I have not yet found, BTW...it's here somewhere!!).

I am going to add a brown print border next, then the triangles, then another slightly larger brown print border.  I am off now to figure out how large to make the next border so that the triangles fit perfectly.  Wish me luck!!

~Joan

PS:  This is 43" x 70" in the picture.

Twelve Blocks Together Plus One

This picture looks strange to me on the monitor...all the blocks are sewn together except the lone one in the middle of the bottom row.  The white is my design wall showing through.  From side to side is about 42", from top to the bottom of the single block is about 70".  I don't want to make another 5 blocks, so I think this will have to do with just filling in the side blocks of the bottom row. 


Once I got it sewn all together I realized I had one more block (how did THAT happen), and I realized I wanted it longer than the original 12 anyway.  So I cut out two more blocks.  I am in the process of piecing them now, but had to make a cheesecake, a fruit pizza, drumsticks, and rice for supper.  A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!


I have decided on a clever (I hope) outer border after a floating border...stay tuned for the outcome.  Daily life has overcome me many a day recently, so don't expect the progress to be quick.


~Joan

Different Scrappy Stars Layout

Playing around with a different layout for the Scrappy Stars.  I didn't like the dark brown sashing, but I am going to use that fabric in the border of the quilt.  I STILL have not found my original magazine, but I like the HST border in the original pattern.  I found it on All People Quilt, so I *have* the pattern. 

What do you think of this setting?  I'd have to make two more blocks to have 3 x 5 blocks.  A good throw size.

Sample of Sashing

This is a sample of how my Scrappy Stars quilt will look with sashing.  I have to end my sewing time for today.  The top left block has the cream strips sewn to the center block.  The other pieces are just plunked down on my design wall.  Have to see if I like this before I do any more sewing on it this way.  This is NOT the original plan for these blocks.  How do YOU like it?

The plan is to sew the rows of 3 x 4 blocks together this way, then put one more row of cream on the outside with one last 2" square between each sash, then border it with a solid piece of...something...not sure what just yet!

~Joan

New Project for V-Day

I saw this runner on a friend's blog...want to make one (or two).

One more block on the design wall tonight.  I'm at the place where I am being selective about colors to balance things out.

Hope you enjoy some sewing time tonight.

~Joan

Nine Blocks Up on The Wall

Above is what's on my design wall tonight...nine scrappy star blocks and Rachel's quilt.  My daughter, Rachel (12), is hand-piecing a baby-sized quilt.  She always wants to be busy, so she took some of my scraps and is making a stretched star quilt.  She plans on hand-quilting it as well.  You know that makes this mom's heart go all pitter patter.

~Joan

Suddenly...Six Scrappy Stars

I stitched up another three of these blocks. I just KNOW the magazine with the pattern will appear soon. It just has to!! What a cinch piecing is when most of the block is pieced beforehand. I have made soooo many quilts with my 2" scraps as leader/enders...4-patches and 9-patches, oh, I love it!

~Joan, who just reviewed her whole blog from last year...how *do* I do it?? Ha ha ha, ho ho ho, hee, hee, hee...I do crack myself up!

New Leader/Ender Quilt in the Works

I have a little dilemma...I started piecing these blocks, and now I can't find my magazine with the instructions. In between the blocks is supposed to be strips of 1" finished fabric (two rows, I think). I am going to plug away on the blocks in the meantime. The only unit I need to piece for the blocks is the star points. I am using up my box of 4-patches for the 4-patches (as if that wasn't obvious). Since the 4-patches are elderly, I am cutting strips of fabric from my newer stuff so I don't repeat fabrics too closely together.

I've been gleaning through my collection of many quilt magazines. My tastes have changed, and I'm getting rid of many magazines. I am keeping individual paterns here and there. Those that I want to keep are going in sheet protectors and into a magazine file box. I see that I'm still drawn to the traditional patterns, nothing artsy or wonky here. Precision and small pieces!

My engaged daughter was asking about my making her *ahem* some quilts for her house. She is getting married in June. Just some wall hangings and table runners. Well, maybe a bed quilt and a couch throw, too. A whole new world of quilting opportunity!!

~Joan