Hunter's Star Almost Done!

I spent the entire day piecing and I'm almost finished with my Hunter's Star quilt top. Woot! I decided to make a lap quilt instead of a bed quilt, so I think I'm going to add another row to square it up. The completed quilt will have 400 HSTs! I'm unsure about adding borders though.

Garden Fairy Sampler Quilt

Got an early birthday gift from my husband. He asked me what I wanted and of course it was fabric. I saw the most adorable quilt at The Fat Quarter Shop. The pattern is in the Pretty Playtime Quilts book by Elea Lutz. I purchased the kit which includes everything you need to make the entire quilt top. The fabric is simply darling!

Designing & Writing Patterns

I am contemplating becoming a quilt pattern designer. I'm not sure if I will write digital pdf patterns to sell online or paper patterns to sell in quilt shops. Maybe I will do both. I already have the Electric Quilt software, EQ7, which will definitely make the process easier.  While researching resources to teach me how to write patterns, I found this very informative website: Meadow Mist Pattern Writing Blog Series 

Another Dear Jane Post

I probably should have named my blog "Mimi Makes a Dear Jane". Yes, it's another Dear Jane post. Yesterday I tackled block A9. It has 45 pieces and is 4 1/2 inches square. It took me 2 hours! I'm really happy with the result. Woot!

Discover Dear Jane

Most, if not all, quilters have heard of the legendary Dear Jane Quilt. Jane A. Stickle, who was born on April 8, 1817 in Vermont, is the creator. Jane made the quilt during the Civil War, completing it in 1863. It is a sampler quilt, comprised of 169 square 5” blocks, each one different. There are also 4 pieced corner triangles, 52 pieced border triangles, and a unique scalloped border. Altogether, there are an astounding total of 5,602 pieces in this quilt! The Jane Stickle Quilt is a well known and much loved masterpiece. 

In 1996, Brenda Papadakis published a book called Dear Jane: The Two Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt. Thanks to Brenda and her informative book, quilters around the world have been able to recreate their own unique versions of the beloved Jane Stickle quilt.

The original Jane Stickle Quilt can be found in the Bennington Museum in Vermont, and people from all around the world travel to visit it. It is on display for a limited amount of time every year in order to preserve the quality of the quilt and protect it from sun damage. 

Dear Jane Blocks 1-8 & Triangles 1 & 2

I haven't done much sewing over the past week. Our weather has been so pleasant that I didn't want to be inside. Today I did 2 Jane blocks and 2 triangles. I was expecting the triangles to be a challenge, but they were surprisingly easy. It's supposed to rain this weekend, so I'm hoping to get a few more blocks done.

Modern Background Paper Fabric

My name is Mimi and I'm a fabricaholic. Really. I love fabric. I hoard fabric. Today I discovered more fabric that I simply must have!

Selvedges Tutorial

This is a nice little tutorial written by a member from the Quilting Board. I really need to start saving my selvedges. http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutorials-f10/sewing-selvedges-t274700.html

Sally Manke Quilts

While browsing Pinterest, I cam across these stunning art quilts by Sally Manke. They are her personal designs so there are no patterns. She has a facebook page and an Etsy where you can learn more about her. I would love to have this kind of talent.

More Dear Jane Progress...5 Blocks Done!

I finished 2 more blocks today....but not without more drama. I was paper piecing block A4, and it was coming along beautifully. Then as I was trimming a major piece, I accidentally cut on the sewing line instead of the cutting line. I wanted to scream, but I just put everything down and walked away. After a couple of hours I came back and tried again.

Dear Jane Block A3

I didn't have too much trouble with this one. My applique isn't the greatest, but I'm happy with the results. This quilt will definitely be a learning experience and will not be perfect by any means.

Dear Jane Block A2

Two blocks down, only 223 to go! Thirty six tiny pieces...thankfully, I only had to make this block once.

Dear Jane Block A1, I despise you!

After yesterday's failed attempt with block A1, I gave it another try...and messed up again!!! On my third attempt, I was finally successful. While I was sewing...and sewing...and sewing, I was thinking about names for my quilt. This is what I came up with:

Dear Jane, Were You Insane?
Dear Jane, What Were You Thinking?
Dear Jane, You Drove Me Insane!

Dear Jane, were you insane?

I made my first DJ block today. It took me 2 hours and was a complete disaster. I will be re-doing it tomorrow using a different technique. I used a foundation pattern provided by Susan R. Gatewood on her website. I'm going to try drawing my own pattern using Brenda Papadakis' book.

Yikes!!!

Using this foundation pattern I ended up with a huge knot in the center of the block.

Hunter's Star, Another Update

I finished two rows. The star blocks are very time consuming, but I'm enjoying the process.

Vintage Singer 348

DH and I were visiting the neighborhood yard sales, looking for items for my son's apartment. He just moved out and needs a few things. I found this cute machine at one place and asked how much they wanted for it. The guy said he would give it away to someone who likes sewing and old machines. BINGO!!! I haven't done much research on her yet, but she dates back to the 1960s and she works! She's missing a few little parts, but I don't care. I think I will name her Robin for her color (robin's egg blue).      

Hunter's Star Progress

I'm up to my ears in HSTs! I spent a couple of hours yesterday just sewing and cutting HSTs. There must be hundreds of them! I don't mind making them...just wish I didn't have to trim each one...it's so time consuming. I also finished 3 more star blocks. I was hoping to make more star blocks today, but I haven't found the time.

A small pile of HSTs ready to be pressed.

Trimming the night away!

I Started My Hunter's Star Quilt Today

I started working on my Hunter's Star quilt today. This morning I washed, dried, pressed and cut six yards of fabric into 5 inch squares. I spent the afternoon power sewing and finished all 28 of the four patch blocks. I decided to try to piece a star block. It was time consuming, but not too difficult. I like the way it turned out, but I need to work on lining up my points. I'm following the Easy Hunter's Star Tutorial by Jenny at Missouri Star Quilt Company. I really like Jenny's method for making HSTs.

Hunter's Star

I am planning to make a Hunter's Star quilt for my sister. I decided to just use two colors, red and cream. I found a wonderful tutorial by Jenny at the Missouri Star Quilt Company. It's a very easy way to make the quilt. I just bought my fabric, but I'm going to prewash it first. I found a couple of great videos by Leah Day that show you how to prewash, press and square your fabric before quilting.

Easy Hunter's Star Video Tutorial

Prewashing & Preparing Fabric for Quilting

Reiko Kato

One of these days I would love to attend a Tokyo Quilt Festival. Japanese women design some of the most unique and amazing quilts. One of my favorite quilt artists is Reiko Kato. Her quilts are so fun and whimsical. I just discovered that Accuquilt makes GO dies with her little houses and trees. I might give one of her little quilts a try.

 

Double Wedding Ring Tutorial

I found a great DWR tutorial that covers the process from beginning to end. I am very intimidated by curves in the sewing world. However, I really want to make a DWR quilt, so I'm saving this link for future reference. http://www.theplaidscottie.com/2011/07/dwr-quilt-along-yardage-cutting.html

Some of My Quilts

Some of the quilts I have made over the years, in various states of progress. I am reminded that I have much room for improvement.