Postage Stamp Scrap Quilt

(Click here for One Monthly Goal April Link-up)

My solid scrap postage stamp quilt is complete and I love it!

Creating this quilt was my 100 Day Countdown to QuiltCon project.  During those 100 days, I made 100 blocks at 6 1/2'' x 6 1/2'' each of which contained 36 tiny squares (1" finished).

I used scraps of whatever solids I had and sewed together strip sets with all different shades of white and light cream.  

To quilt, I used my walking foot and went diagonally through the white squares.  This really frames up the color squares nicely so they look like they are popping out of the quilt.

After auditioning several fabrics for the binding, I went with black because it looked the best.  The backing is a light aqua which you can see in the photo above.

The quilt stats:

• Overall size is 60'' x 60"
• Contains 1800 squares of color and 1800 squares of white/light cream
• Finished block is 1"
• Fabrics used were solids from all different manufacturers - whatever I had leftover from other projects.

I started the quilt on November 16, 2020 and had all the blocks done 100 days later in time for QuiltCon together.  Making a postage stamp quilt had been on my bucket list for a long time.  It was way more work than I had anticipated but so worth it!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Paradox Blocks

                                 (Click here for One Monthly Goal April finish link-up)

Welcome to week 4 of the Fat Quarter Shop Jolly Bar 3 Tablerunner QAL.  These Paradox blocks came together quickly - choosing fabrics for the flying geese was the hardest part!

The table runner can be made with a single jolly bar (pre-cut which measures 5'' x 10'') and some background fabric.  I am using a layer cake - Quotation by Moda - for mine!

Want to sew along?  You can find the free pattern for each of the blocks here or pick up the Jolly Bar book volume 3 here.  (affiliate link)  The book has patterns for 20 different quilts.  The table runner will be a nice sampler of the different blocks in the book.

Find overall information and fabric requirements at the Jolly Jabber blog.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Harmony QAL Rectangle Units & Link-up

(Click here for One Monthly Goal April finish link-up)

Let's make some Rectangle Units!  Each Harmony block needs 4 Rectangle Units which means you'll need 16 if you are making the throw sized quilt.   We are in the home stretch now!

We've got our second check-in link-up and a chance to win prizes - scroll down to enter!

Just a few straight seam and you'll Rectangle Unit will be assembled!  The most important tip to remember is to sew the piece with the most seams on top so you can sew through the seams.

Rectangle Unit Link-up

It is time to share your Rectangle Units!  Whether you’ve got one Rectangle Unit sewn, all four for a wall hanging, or all 16 for the throw quilt, gather them up and share a photo!   If you’ve already sewn the Rectangle Units into a Harmony block, just share a photo of the block.

This link-up will be open until midnight, Sunday, May 9, 2021.  Missed the chance to share your Corner Units in our first link-up?  Go ahead and add them here. The Grand Prize link-up for your final quilt top link-up (quilted or just a flimsy) opens May 17, 2021 and closes at the end of June.

Our fabulous sponsors have provided wonderful, useful prizes that you are going to love! Kristin and I use all of these great products regularly!

• Oliso reinvents products that surprise, delight and simplify life including the Oliso Mini Project Iron™ which brings you the power of a full size iron in a compact design for home and away.   Oliso is offering a Mini Project Iron™ to two lucky winners.   

• The Daylight Company brings daylight indoors with their innovative and functional lamps in the art, needlework, craft, low vision, and beauty markets. They are generously offering a Clip On Travel lamp to one lucky winner. 

• OLFA® cutting tools get the job done for quilts and crafters, professionals and hobbyists. With OLFA ® cutters, you get the job done quickly without sacrificing accuracy.  OLFA is generously offering a great prize package including precision scissors, 1” x 12” ruler, and a Navy Splash Cutter to one lucky participant. 

• Quilters Dream Batting uses the finest fibers and state of the art manufacturing to bring you quilt batting of unsurpassed quality and consistency.  They use the softest silkiest high-quality fibers so that your quilt will resist shrinkage and stay soft yet strong and wonderfully drapeable. Quilters Dream will send one Queen sized batting to one lucky winner. 

• C&T Publishing is a craft book publisher with a list of books and products across a range of subjects including quilting, sewing, embroidery, cozy mysteries, Cosplay, and more. They are generously supplying a quilty eco-tote and pouch so that you can shop in style! The environmentally conscious tote and pouch are made from recycled water bottles and feature designs by prominent quilters like Bonnie Hunter and Jennifer Sampou.

Photos can be shared from a blog, Flickr, or Pinterest and must include a  link to Elm Street Quilts or Simple Handmade Everyday.  Photos can also be shared via a public Instagram and must contain the tag #handpiecedqal and/or #harmonyhpqal   Photos can also be unloaded directly into the link-up from your computer.

Don't have a way to share?  You can also email them to handpiecedqal at gmail dot com.  Need instructions on how to link-up?  See the tutorial!

Units shared must follow the guidelines below to be eligible to win a prize.

We hope you take a few minutes to visit others and make new friends!

Please note - sharing a photo in the link-up gives Elm Street Quilts and Simple Handmade Everyday permission to feature a photo of your block on their sites.  Full attribution will be given.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Guidelines:

• Units must be entirely hand-pieced.
• Units must visually match either the Rectangle Units or the Corner Units in the  Harmony Hand Pieced QAL pattern. (If you’ve already assembled the Harmony block and don’t have a photo of just the Rectangle Unit, share a photo of your Harmony block.)
• Units can be made a different size.
• Units shared in the first Harmony Hand Pieced QAL link-up should not be shared in this second link-up.
• Multiple Rectangle Units created by one quilter should be shared in a single photo. 
• Winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email.  Winners have 72 hours to claim their prize - if we don't hear back, we will draw another name.  Once winners have claimed their prize, this post will be updated with the winner's names.

The Basics 

Still need the pattern for Harmony?  Grab yours now!  

Harmony is a large single block - make one and you've got a lovely wall hanging (28'' x 28'') or join 4 Harmony blocks together for a lovely throw sized quilt (56'' x 56'').  Did you miss the QAL announcement?  You can find more information here!  If you have any trouble ordering the pattern, please don't hesitate to email us at handpiecedqal@gmail.com - we'll be happy to help!

Whether you are making the wall hanging or the throw sized quilt, we recommend you cut just the pieces you need to make a single Harmony block.  Once you've sewn a few units and have some experience cutting with templates, you can go back and cut the rest of the pieces for all the Harmony blocks you need.

Please consult the tutorials for Using Templates, Marking Stitching Lines, and the Running Stitch if you need some tips.

Stay in touch and join our community so you don't miss a thing!  

• Join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group.  

• Subscribe to our newsletter 

• Follow Simply Everyday Handmade and Elm Street Quilts on Instagram

Have a wonderful day! Patty

One Monthly Goal April Finish Link-up

Ready to link up your April finishes?

Don't panic - this link-up is open until April 30 at 11:55 pm ET.

My goal for April was is to assemble my By Annie Catch All Caddy (affiliate link).  The fabric has been in my stash for many years and I've been putting this caddy to good use!  Read more on this post.

Now it's your turn to link-up!  There will be 3 winners - Fat Quarter Shop is offering a $25 gift certificate, Quiltfolk is offering a one year subscription, and Paper Pieces will provide a EPP Starter Kit to one lucky participant!

Congratulations to the winners - Sandy, Deb, & Kathy!  (updated 5/6)

Visit the One Monthly Goal event page for the specific requirements for links and social tags. 

And remember, to be eligible for the prize(s) by random drawing you must linkup at both the goal setting and the accomplishment linkup in a given month. (April Goal Setting Link-up)

Make sure you add a link to this OMG post so others can follow where you are linking.   Let's make that easy -  just paste this into your post:  

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - April Finish Link-up

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Have a wonderful day! Patty

2020 Temperature Quilt is Done!

I am so happy with my 2020 Temperature Quilt finish!  I used my walking foot to do straight line quilting which ended up about 1/4'' spacing.  I was tempted to do even more quilting since I really like densely quilted quilts!

I used a collection of Aurifil threads in colors that coordinated with the fabrics.  While I concentrated the red in the middle - for example - I also brought some of the thread color into the colder months.

Before I started the quilting, I actually changed out the gray filler blocks to a darker gray and am so happy I did so as the darker gray works better with the saturated colors in the rest of the quilt.  (Below see the version with the light gray filler blocks.) 

I had a rainbow ombre piece of fabric in my stash which worked perfect for the back.  The back really shows off the quilting too!  I chose a binding that matched the gray filler pieces and  added the temperature scale down the bottom.  I love the way this looks. 

Since I'm making another quilt for 2021 using the same color palette, I decided a small mini was in order for the color key!

See my 2021 temperature quilt work in progress here.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Springtime Bliss Block

Welcome to week 3 of the Fat Quarter Shop Jolly Bar 3 Table runner QAL.  These hour glass blocks - called Springtime Bliss - were fun to assemble in these bright colors!  (Grab the pattern for this and all the blocks here.

The table runner can be made with a single jolly bar (pre-cut which measures 5'' x 10'') and some background fabric.  I am using a layer cake - Quotation by Moda - for mine!

Want to sew along?  Pick up the Jolly Bar book volume 3 here.  (affiliate link)  The book has patterns for 20 different quilts.  The table runner will be a nice sampler of the different blocks in the book.

Find overall information and fabric requirements at the Jolly Jabber blog.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Harmony Hand Pieced QAL - Flying Geese

My favorite quilt block is the Flying Geese and I'm excited that we've gotten to the Flying Geese unit in the Harmony Hand Pieced QAL!   Each Harmony block needs 4 Flying Geese units (8 geese in total) which means you'll need 16 Flying Geese units (32 geese in total) if you are making the throw sized quilt. We've got lots of basic tutorials - Using Templates, Marking Stitching Lines, and the Running Stitch - if you need some tips.

If you are just catching up, you can see the tips for all the previous units: Square in a Square, Half Square Triangles, Fancy Half Square Triangles, Partial Square in a Square units, Twisted Triangle in a Square, and the Corner Units.

Stitching Tips

The flying geese unit is easy to piece whether you are sewing units cut with a rotary cutter or units cut with templates.  

Two 'pro' tips for stitch and flip method (rotary cut):

• Mark both triangles and align a pin through the intersection point on each block to keep pieces aligned.
• For the second triangle, start at the top folded over corner from the first (background) triangle

One 'pro' tips for templates:

• Mark the /4'' stitching line just where you are about to stitch and clearly mark the start and stop lines 1/4'' from edge.  (Please note that my lines are not usually that dark - a bit a computer magic made the lines visible in this photo!)

When you are ready to stitch the flying geese together, stitch as shown in photo (on right below) so you can both stitch through the seams and keep the point of the geese intact. 

If needed, sliver trim your block and then go ahead and mark the stitching lines around the outside so you will be ready when it is time to sew your units together.

For more tips, check out Kristin's post - she has a great video for sewing geese!

The Basics

Still need the pattern for Harmony?  Grab yours now!  

Harmony is a large single block - make one and you've got a lovely wall hanging (28'' x 28'') or join 4 Harmony blocks together for a lovely throw sized quilt (56'' x 56'').  Did you miss the QAL announcement?  You can find more information here!  If you have any trouble ordering the pattern, please don't hesitate to email us at handpiecedqal@gmail.com - we'll be happy to help!

Whether you are making the wall hanging or the throw sized quilt, we recommend you cut just the pieces you need to make a single Harmony block.  Once you've sewn a few units and have some experience cutting with templates, you can go back and cut the rest of the pieces for all the Harmony blocks you need.

Please consult the tutorials for Using Templates, Marking Stitching Lines, and the Running Stitch if you need some tips.

The following supplies were used - the Perfect Piecer, Aurifil 80 wt thread,  needles, Clover applique pins, wool pressing mat, Oliso mini iron, and great lighting!

We will be sewing the units in the order of the pattern which means our next unit will be the triangle in a square unit - we will share tips next Monday, April 19. Our second check-in link-up will be April 26!

Stay in touch and join our community so you don't miss a thing!  

• Join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group.  

• Subscribe to our newsletter 

• Follow Simply Everyday Handmade and Elm Street Quilts on Instagram

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Slow Summer Stitch Project Update

Last August, I buried packed away with care my Summer 2020 Hand Piecing project.  In a sewing studio clean up I found it again!  After a bit of pressing, I laid it out on the floor to see where I was in the process.  

The assembly process involves bringing blocks together in groups of 4 and then joining those into a group of 16 blocks.  There are lots of partial seams here which are much easier to do by hand than by machine.  Assessing where I am, I've decided to make two more 4 block units (already prepped) sew these 16 block units together and then (perhaps) use the other blocks I have to add a row to one end.

Read more about the project here.

To give me a bit of incentive to finish my quilt top, I am going to join the 100 Day Summer Sew-Along which is all about hand sewing!  Grab your favorite project and join in!

The sew along is hosted by Jenn from Sew Fine thread gloss and begins on June 1.

Kristin and I are sponsoring the event and will be offering our hand piecing patterns as one of the prizes.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Sewing Table Caddy

I've got a great counter height table in my sewing space (see my post a few years ago) which I love.  I use it often both for cutting fabrics and also for basting quilts and sorting fabrics.  It often covered in 'stuff' and I can easily loose items in the mess.  (Please tell me I'm not the only one!)

I just finished making the Catch All Caddy from By Annie (affiliate link)and couldn't be happier with the results!  I spread the assembly process over several days - not all of them in a row! - so it never felt overwhelming.  Sewing with Soft and Stable creates a great product but you are sewing with lots of bulk.

Wonder clips  (affiliate link) were key to the assembly process.  Annie has a Craftsy video which walks you through the process (and includes the pattern) and her tips about putting the flat side of the wonder clip so it would be on the underside was a great one.

The design features a bunch of pockets on the outside and organization dividers on the inside.  I found the construction for these dividers to be quite the interesting and I think they will keep things organized.

 

These fabrics have been sitting in my studio since 2012 (!!!) and are from the Moda Sweetware Lucy's Crab Shack lin.  I had enough of the blue plaid and the bicylce print to use for the outside but only with only a little of the blue with the kite tails, it became my binding fabric.

I had so much fun that I'm thinking about making the Ultimate Travel Bag - not because I've got a trip planned but because I've likely already got all the fabric I need!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Homecoming Block

Welcome to week 2 of the Fat Quarter Shop Jolly Bar 3 Tablerunner QAL.  These little house blocks were quick to sew together and it was fun to switch up the location of the door in each.  You can grab the pattern for these blocks here!

The table runner can be made with a single jolly bar (pre-cut which measures 5'' x 10'') and some background fabric.  I am using a layer cake - Quotation by Moda - for mine!

Want to sew along?  Pick up the Jolly Bar book volume 3 here.  (affiliate link)  The book has patterns for 20 different quilts.  The table runner will be a nice sampler of the different blocks in the book.

Find overall information, fabric requirements plus the individual block patterns at the Jolly Jabber blog.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Harmony Hand Pieced QAL - Triangle in a Square

The Triangle in a Square unit is a template only unit but after mastering the Twisted Triangle in a Square, this one will seem straightforward!  Each Harmony block needs 8 Triangle in a Square units which means you'll need 32 Triangle in a Square units if you are making the throw sized quilt. We've got lots of basic tutorials - Using Templates, Marking Stitching Lines, and the Running Stitch - if you need some tips.

If you are just catching up, you can see the tips for all the previous units: Square in a Square, Half Square Triangles, Fancy Half Square Triangles, Partial Square in a Square units, Twisted Triangle in a Square, and the Corner Units.

Stitching Tips

The Triangle in a Square unit requires templates for its construction.   Place the template (photo below) and cut along the long diagonal with a rotary cutter by aligning the 1/4'' line on the ruler to the solid stitching line.  Use the rotary cutter or scissors to trim and round corners to match template.

Flip the template over, align on your freshly cut diagonal and then cut the straightedge.  If you are cutting the template such that you are cutting through 2 layers of fabric, wrong sides together, one cut will yield a triangle D and a triangle E.

The most important tip for sewing is to mark the stitching lines on both triangles (the blue and the background) and use pins to make sure the intersections are aligned between the two pieces. 

Repeat for the second side triangle.  Start your stitching at the top with your stitch right up against the fold of the first triangle. 

Press.  If needed, sliver trim your block and then go ahead and mark the stitching lines around the outside so you will be ready when it is time to sew your units together. 

For more tips, check out Kristin's post!

The Basics

Still need the pattern for Harmony?  Grab yours now!  

Harmony is a large single block - make one and you've got a lovely wall hanging (28'' x 28'') or join 4 Harmony blocks together for a lovely throw sized quilt (56'' x 56'').  Did you miss the QAL announcement?  You can find more information here!  If you have any trouble ordering the pattern, please don't hesitate to email us at handpiecedqal@gmail.com - we'll be happy to help!

Whether you are making the wall hanging or the throw sized quilt, we recommend you cut just the pieces you need to make a single Harmony block.  Once you've sewn a few units and have some experience cutting with templates, you can go back and cut the rest of the pieces for all the Harmony blocks you need.

Please consult the tutorials for Using Templates, Marking Stitching Lines, and the Running Stitch if you need some tips.

The following supplies were used - the Perfect Piecer, Aurifil 80 wt thread,  needles, Clover applique pins, wool pressing mat, Oliso mini iron, and great lighting!

We will be sewing the units in the order of the pattern which means our next unit will be the triangle in a square unit - we will share tips next Monday, April 19. Our second check-in link-up will be April 26!

Stay in touch and join our community so you don't miss a thing!  

• Join our Hand Pieced Quilt Along Facebook Group.  

• Subscribe to our newsletter 

• Follow Simply Everyday Handmade and Elm Street Quilts on Instagram

Have a wonderful day! Patty