Greeting Blog Friends,
I'm still working with flannels this week, only I've changed the pace a bit with this next project. These flannels were from a kit and were originally meant to make a quilt. Only that's not what I decided to do with them.
This is one of those times where you buy the kit, it sits in the stash for a few years, and when you finally get it out to make it, you find that you don't like it. Has this ever happened to you? I'll bet it has. This doesn't happen to me very often, but this time it did. I didn't like the quilt pattern that came with the kit and the fabrics in the kit just didn't seem to go well together (for my taste) So what to do?
Well, there were two large pieces of flannel, enough to get two pillowcases from each, and fabrics for the accent (cuff) and flange. So, out with the quilt and in with two pair of pillowcases that I can live with. Even now, looking at the cases side by side, I still can't see these fabrics coordinating together. I'm glad I didn't make the quilt. What do you think?
I have something different to share with you next week. A gift for my little traveling dinosaur pal, Dino. Till then...
Greetings Blog Friends,
I have finished Flannel Quilt #4, and this one actually has a name, Vintage Christmas II! Fabric is from the Christmas Kitsch line by Cloe's Closet for Moda. The prints are primarily in primary reds and greens and have a definite vintage 1950's feel. I have a quilt in my collection from other fabrics in this line. These fabrics were printed approximately 6-8 years ago, so this fabric has been waiting awhile also. I have enough for the quilt top, backing, binding and a couple of pillowcases.
I purchased the fabrics because I like the collection, but never did have a definite pattern in mind for it. I was searching around the internet for suitable patterns (simple piecing was a "must" to keep bulky seams in check) and found this one on the All People Quilt website. This pattern is called "On The Fly" and I adapted it to use have 4" x 8" finished rectangles instead of the 3" x 6" called for in the pattern. I wanted to showcase the vintage prints a little more.
I used the stripe for both interior blocks and also for the sashing. Instead of cutting one long strip for sashing, I cut strip WOF (width of fabric) and sewed them together end to end, matching the stripes. The seam lines are virtually invisible. So, a few alterations and voila, my version is as seen above.
I made this quilt with random (or not??) fabric placement for a scrappy look.
More to report next time. Till then
Greetings Blog Friends,
Well, it is still cold outside and still warm in my sewing room, so I have another finished project to share with you. This one has a story attached to it...I bought these fabrics as a kit from Jeri's Quilt Shop in Norway, Michigan. (A great little shop, one of my favorites! I get there several time each year when we are in Iron Mountain visiting my husband's brother and his wife.) It was packaged as a quilt using Churn Dash blocks. I love the border print, printed panel images and other coordinating fabrics. I am not so much a fan of the Churn Dash block, however. That must be why I haven't made it. And, in my opinion, I don't think that block lends itself well to flannels. Too many small pieces and seams, which creates a bulky mess!
I found a pattern that suited the fabrics well from Mary Quilts.com called Happy Blocks from Charms. I altered the block size to fit the panel images and also added an outer border, so I could use that gorgeous border print on the front. I just didn't want to hide it on the back. It is what I love most about this quilt.
A word about the border...the quilting gods must have been smiling on me, because the yardage I had for the border was just long enough on the sides to match up to the blocks, but not long enough to match up to the top and bottom borders. So, I made four corner blocks to make up the difference, and here is the finished top:
Meanwhile, it's back to the sewing machine for me. Till next week...
Greeting Blog Friends,
So sorry about the late post this week. Blogger has been having some technical issues, mostly with pictures, so I haven't been able to complete this post. And, what good is a post without the pictures? They tell most of the story.
I've been working in the sewing room and with weather like this (this morning, Nov. 6!!) who can blame me?
Last week, I completed Flannel #2:
This is another Thimbleberries pattern named "Tree Farm Throw" and I've had the flannels and the pattern for a long time. The pattern and the flannels were printed in 2007. These flannels by RJR are so soft! Now that winter looks like it is here to stay, this cozy quilt will help on cold nights in front of the fireplace. I can't wait to snuggle up in it! Again, this is just the quilt top, waiting for quilting and finishing the week of Thanksgiving.
I'm currently working on Flannel #3 (which is really cute, by the way). I'll show you next post. Till then...
