One Monthly Goal September Finish Link-up

Ready to link up your September finishes?

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

My goal for September was to make more bucket hats!  These are all reversible - the blue one has an orange solid on the other side, the peach with flowers has a mint green solid, and the pink with flowers has the same fabric.  See my first hat (on this post) and check out the bucket hat tutorial here.

Now it's your turn to link-up!  There will be 2 winners - Fat Quarter Shop is offering a $25 gift certificate and Oliso is offering a mini iron!

Congrats to Janice and Julie - the lucky winners for September!!  (updated 10/5)

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. (September 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 - September Finish Link-up

Thanks for linking up!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Book Review - Just One Charm Pack Quilts & Doodle Stitching

I got some happy mail recently and wanted to share a bit about these two books.   (Note these books were supplied to me by C&T Publishing.  The opinions are my own.)

I used to buy a lot of charm packs - some to just collect because I loved the fabric and others were used to make a bunch of Schnibble quilts - remember those?   (Here is one of the books written by Carrie Nelson.)  

Do you have a stash?  If so, Cheryl Brickey's new book Just One Charm Pack Quilts  would be worth a look.  There are 18 different patterns using charm packs and some background fabric. My favorites are the Fishes (left page below) and Coin Flip (right page below.)   The instructions are written clearly and the supporting illustrations are really good.

Doodle Stitching - One Hour Embroidery by Aimee Ray is filled with over 130 little embroidery designs and 18 little projects..  The love doing little embroidery projects so when I saw the little Saturn and some stars, I found a small hoop and started stitching!

The book has some nice illustrated directions in the beginning on various embroidery stitches too.  After I finish my little Saturn hoop, I can see putting one of the little doodle designs on a zip bag to add a fun touch.

Thanks C&T Publishing for sending these books my way!

P.S. My previous book reviews were Step by Step Texture Quilting, Modern Curves and Bold Stripes, Design Make Quilt Modern, and Boro & Sashiko.

(Please note that this post contains affiliate links.)

Have a wonderful day! Patty

One Block Scrap Quilts

I'm thrilled to share that my article One Block Scrap Quilt is featured in the latest issue of Make Modern Magazine!

I've published several quilt patterns with the magazine but this is my first ever published article and I'm very excited to share it.

I've made two scrap quilts so far!  The most recent is my postage stamp quilt.  In the article, I give tips on how to construct a similar quilt for yourself using scraps.  I included some tips on how to stay organized as your quilt progresses.

My quilt finished at 60'' x 60'' so those beautiful collection of solid squares are 1'' finished.  This quilt was finished in April.

I also shared a few photos of my Half Rectangle Triangle scrap quilt which I called Scrappy Celebration!    I finished this quilt in November 2018.

While both quilts are filled with wonderful scraps, the fabrics for the HRT quilt were curated and I paid more attention to placement.  

Want to learn more about how to tackle your very own scrap quilt?  Grab issue 42 of Make Modern!  There are some wonderful quilt and table runner patterns in the issue too.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Firefly Tote - Project Sized

When images of the Firefly Tote by Noodlehead (i.e. Anna Graham) started showing up in my IG feed, I knew I wanted to make one - or two! - for myself.  I really liked the front pocket design and the size seemed perfect.   The only thing I wasn't fond of - for my use - was the drawstring closure.

So I did a recessed zipper instead!!

All the fabrics use were from my stash where they had been living for over six years.  They are Moda Sweetwater prints.

Right now, the extra zipper bit is pushed down inside the bag.  I am going to put the bag to use for awhile and then decide how to handle it.

This was my practice tote which is now perfect for picnics and trips to the pool.  I couldn't visualize how to do the zipper until I had a bag in front of me.  The pattern is easy to follow and there are great supporting videos.

For my next one, I will make the larger one using a gray canvas.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

August Temperatures

August was a hot and humid month!  In fact, 18 of the 31 days saw highs in the 90s (i.e. red) and lows in the 70s (i.e. yellow.)   Interestingly enough, when the calendar flipped to September 1, the humidity disappeared -  at least for now!

When I compare to August of 2020, we actually had less 90+ days than last August!   (In the photo below, the first eight months of 2020 are on the left and 2021 is on the right. )

My design documents both the high and low temperature in a block which finishes 1 1/2 '' x 2''.  The improv strip is 1/4'' wide and records the low temperatures.  

Every month takes 2 columns - the 1 through 15 in first column and then 16 through end of month in the second column.  Filler blocks are added to square off the quilt.  The thin strips - 1/4'' wide - are randomly inserted and run 'vertically' for odd days and 'horizontally' for even days.

I'm using the exact same fabric that I did for my 2020 Temperature quilt.  The time I spent organizing is paying off - it takes no time at all to get the prep work done for sewing each block.  I made myself a mini-quilt to show off my temperature grid.  Oranges are 80s, yellows are 70s and sew on.  I've been asked several times what my fabrics are - I used all Painters Palette solids:

100+ is Sangria, 95+ is Real Red, 90+ is Poppy red, 85+ is Burnt Orange, 80+ is Tangerine, 75+ is Pencil Yellow, 70+ is Bright Yellow, 65+ is Apple Green, 60+ is Mint, 55+ is Bright Aqua, 50+ is Turquoise, 45+ is China Blue, 40+ is Lapis, 35+ is Purple, 30+ is Amethyst, and any temp is the 20s is Royalty.

I've written up my basic temperature quilt process in my tutorial including where I source the high and low information.  I'm looking forward to sharing the progress!  You can see my temperature quilts for 2018, 2019, and 2020!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Blue Improv

(Click here for September One Monthly Goal link-up)

In response to an improv quilt challenge from my local guild, I decided to gather up all scraps of blue and make a monochromic improv quilt.

I really loved my first two blocks.  They sort of resembled buildings of some sort.

So I made a few more (no photo of this step) but everything was looking kind of blue and needed some pop so I added some orange. 

Next step was to join the blocks together, bit by bit to end up with one giant square of all improv.  My various ideas lived on my design wall for a few days but nothing was working.  The result seemed overwhelming - your eyes had nowhere to rest.

So I gave myself permission to cut apart my favorite blocks and then carefully cut apart a large scrap of blue and used it to join the blocks together in a unique way.   Suddenly with a bit more orange, I had my final quilt top.

My quilt top is 18"-ish square.  

Next step is to work through how best to quilt - matchstick quilting?  Random walking foot lines?  Or something more custom.

Guild challenge is due in early October so I've got a bit more time to get this done!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

One Monthly Goal September Link-up

New to One Monthly Goal?  Welcome!  To join, share a photo of your project, some words about what you want to accomplish in a blog post, an Instagram post or a post on Flickr and add that photo to the link-up.  Return at the end of the month and share your results.  You can read about the event and the rules on the main event page.

We have wonderful sponsors this month - two (2) winners will be randomly chosen from those who join both the goal and the finish link-up!

Fat Quarter Shop offers a tremendous selection of fabric, notions, books and just about anything you will need for your project.  Fat Quarter Shop is offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky participant.

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 one lucky participant.  

Aren't these just terrific sponsors?  (Remember to check out the full sponsor list for 2021!)

My goal for September is to make some more hats for family members for an upcoming trip to the beach.  Read more about the first hat I made!

Make sure you visit the One Monthly Goal event page for the specific requirements for links and social tags.  Your blog post (or Flickr post) must contain a photo of your project, a clearly stated goal and a link back to Elm Street Quilts.  Your Instagram post must include a photo of your project, a clearly stated goal and the tag #onemonthlygoal.  (Entries which don't contain the required information may be disqualified.)

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.   (The One Monthly Goal accomplishment linkup will be available on September 24.)

Make sure you add a link to this OMG post so others can find the OMG link-up from your blog.  Let's make that easy -  just paste this into your post:  

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal September Link-up

Thanks for linking up.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Have a wonderful day! Patty