Range Backpack

I love bag patterns from Noodlehead.  I've made two Firefly Totes and one Sandhill Sling (so far!) and with a (hopefully, covid rates permitting) trip to QuiltCon next month, I wanted a new backpack and just finished making the Range Backpack.

The printed canvas fabric was sourced from Spoonflower.  The contrasting gray is RF Big Sur, left over from one of the other bags.  The lining is one of my all time favorite prints by Giucy Giuce.

The directions were easy to follow.  The pattern was also easy to modify.   I added a inset pocket on the back of the bag so I could keep my wallet or phone secure but also easily accessible.

I also added an inside zipper pocket by layering it on top of the drop in pocket in the pattern.

Finally, on the other side of the lining, I used some mesh to make two pockets, one of which is to keep my water bottle so it is standing up and easy to retrieve.

I took the assembly process slow and it was very enjoyable!

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Buffalo Plaid Quilt Tutorial

After seeing (and petting) some soft flannel in my LQS, I decided to make a simple quilt with nice easy squares and large meander quilting.  I'd always wanted to make a buffalo plaid quilt and in case you do too, you can find a brief tutorial below.  (I used the Yuletide Gatherings Flannel.)

My quilt finished at 55'' x 55''.  You can easily change the size of your quilt by adding or subtracting the rows and columns or even changing the size of the blocks.  The fabric requirements are for a quilt which finishes at 55" x 55".

Buffalo Plaid Quilt Tutorial

Fabric Requirements 

• Dark Gray (DG) - 1 yard
• Light Gray (LG) - 1.5 yards
• White (W) - 0.75 yard
• Binding - 0.5 yard (assumes binding cut at 2.25")
• Backing - 3 yards

Cutting

Cut 5 1/2'' x WOF strips from each.  You will need 6 strips of the DG, 9 strips of the LG, and 4 strips of the W.  Each 5 1/2'' x WOF strip will yield seven (7) 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" squares.  Cut the required number as shown in table below.

Quilt Assembly

Assemble 6 rows of DG and LG squares.  Each row uses 6 DG and 5 LG.  Press seams towards the LG.

Assemble 5 rows of the LG and W squares.  Each row uses 6DG and 5W.  Press seams towards the LG.

Join rows together, alternating the DG/LG row with the LG/W row, ending with the DG/LG row.  Pin at each intersection to ensure seams stay nested.

Quilt and enjoy!  I used a basic large meander on my domestic machine.  It only used 2 bobbins and didn't take long to quilt!

If you make a buffalo plaid quilt using this tutorial, please let me know!

Pin for later:

Have a wonderful day! Patty

2021 Temperature Quilt Flimsy

And 2021 is a wrap!

There was such an amazing string of days at the end of December - which continued into the first 2 days of January - where we saw high temperatures in the 70s (yellow) and upper 60s (green).  The other amazing part is the lows were not all that low - look at those greens in the last 3 days of the year which means the low temperature was in the 60s!

Since I used the same fabric 2 years in a row, I've really enjoyed the year to year compares - 2020 on the right and 2021 on the left.  (See the fully quilted 2020 version here.)   The compare really shows how unusually warm 2021 December was!

My flimsy is 36" x 32", 1/2 the size of the 2020 version.  I've not yet decided if I'll make another for 2022.  I've two thoughts so far - one is to just keep extending the 2021 version and end up with a 2 year quilt.  The other is make an even smaller version.

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.  You can see my temperature quilts for 2018, 2019, and 2020!

Have a wonderful day! Patty