Thankfully, not administered by me, as I tend to forget to blog for a week or three!
Check out Quilting Bee Blocks for all the blocky goodness you could ever want!
April 7, 2010
March 15, 2010
One-block wonder.
I’ve written already about my love of quilts made up of a single block, by which I meant a single block, repeated many times in a grid to make a big quilt top. (Or an equally awesome not-so-big quilt.)
Today I’m going to add another entry to that distinguished group, which I can only describe as a wholecloth with single floating star block. Or perhaps it’s technically a star quilt, with white borders that can be measured in feet or meters? Take your pick:
I love this vintage-looking quilt by Me? A Mom? to pieces. It was sized for a toddler bed, which makes it seem especially genius to me. I know I often get excited about the idea of going whole hog and spending months and years on that perfect set of 49 (or more) hugely intricate blocks for that special, once-in-a-lifetime quilt, but let’s be practical here. If you responsibilities go beyond crafting for a small child into the realm of, say, caring for a small child, you just don’t have the kind of time to make dozens of spiderweb blocks every time your little one outgrows a piece of furniture.
Unless you do, in which case you are a superhero, and I’m not sure I want to be talking to you.
At any rate, there’s something to be said about a quilt that seems to speak to its function. The simplicity of all that white coupled with the the jaunty color placement just screams childhood to me, even though there’s plenty of adult appeal here. And while I admire lots of fancy handiwork as much as anybody, it’s a breath of fresh air to see a quilt that isn’t too labored.
I can see this quilt getting lots of love in the future. Better yet, I can see it getting lots of love now.
March 12, 2010
Cabin quartet
I’ve been spending a lot of time over at Quilted Nest, because the only thing better than lots of great quilt pics are lots of great pics of quilts in cozy homes.
Preferably with kitties.
La vida compartida calls this “my brother’s quilt,” and it really is prefect for a guy. The simple lines and strong colors are masculine without reverting to the old “blue is for boys” trope. And the log cabins are GORGEOUS – it’s nice that they’re small in number, so that the cute hodgepodge of fabric can really be appreciated in one eyeful.
Speaking of cute fabric, I love the styling with these pillows. They really complete the look without femming things up too much.
And then there’s the kitty. Yay, kitties!
March 5, 2010
A block that’s also a quilt!
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a quilt made from really huge, sprawling blocks Burgoyne Surrounded, of which this is just one variation, comes to mind, but this week I did notice this wonderful entry into DQS 8 made by what I never said.
I’d call this a single block – which it is – but it’s also much more than that. Nine-patches, rail fences, a bit of starriness in the corners…. It’s the best kind of miniature quilt, really, in that it contains everything a larger quilt does. But it’s pared down so you can really concentrate on the integrity of the design.
The fact that some of my favorite fabrics have been used certainly doesn’t hurt, but the more muted color scheme isn’t what I’m used to in the exuberant celebration that is your average doll quilt.
Then again, this is no average doll quilt. I’d like it in solids, but I wouldn’t love it, not in the way I love the blend of playfulness and sophistication she’s achieved here. But if you want to make a quilt like this, note how perfectly precise the piecing is.
Not easy to acheive, but so worth the effort.
February 19, 2010
hexy idea #5: build a wall
How seductive are these rows and rows of tiny hexes by Alexia Abegg?
These are only .5″ per side, which is TINY. And crazy. And awesome!!! Look at the cute prints! They work together beautifully. And the alternating solid cream hexes add so much to the overall design. Not sure what the end result will be, but it’s shaping up to something amazing!
February 14, 2010
i heart hex
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I fell hard in love with hexagon quilts in the fall, and I’ve been working slowly but steadily (is there any other way to make hexes?) on a bed-sized quilt.
(1% of the blocks I’m working on.)
And while I’m pleased with my decision to make a quilt out of 100 appliqued hex flowers, different variations on hexagons continue to fascinate me.
My alma mater used to celebrate “Sex Week” on the week of Valentine’s Day, and, in the spirit of being true to my school, I’m hereby kicking of Hex Week at A Quilt A Day. Check back for quilts that feature hexagons, but go way beyond the traditional Grandmother’s Flower Garden configuration.
If you want to get in on the fun, I highly recommend making or buying freezer-paper templates, like the ones I use from sewmuchbetter56. These will fuse to your fabric and let you form the hexagons almost as if they were yoyos – no sewing through paper means no hurting fingers! Searching online for “freezer paper hexagons” will bring up a number of tutorials that will explain what I mean.
As far as instructions, I suggest reading through several tutorials, and picking the one that strikes you as most intuitive. It worked for me!