Playing With Squares

I'm cutting 5 1/2 inch squares from the shirts my Stepson wanted to get rid of and playing with them on this bed which serves as my design surface.



This is by far the simplest quilt pattern I've made, but I still need to make sure I've scattered the colors about evenly.



I need to cut some more of the muslin squares and the setting triangles and borders, but I will be sewing the patches together in a couple of days.



I'm linking this post to Design Wall Monday at Judy's Patchwork Times. and to WIP Wednesday at Lee's Fresly Pieced Blog.

Tiny Little Bit Of Quilting

My current quilting project, Gentlemen's Quarters, is coming along slowly. I think a series of posts on how I am cutting 5 1/2 inch squares from shirts would be kind of boring. I'll post an update on the quilt when there's something more interesting to show!



But, for today, here is a mug rug/mini quilt I made this week. I made two, one of which my hubby will be using on his desk at work



Since I am on a John Deere theme lately, here is a small quilted tote/purse.



Happy Thursday!

FNSI Results - Strawberry Tote and Fabric Bag for the Car

Here are my Friday Night Sew In projects for March.

A Strawberry Fabric Tote:



A Fabric Bag for my car that I plan to use for small trash items such as straw covers, receipts,etc., or possibly just to use to hold my sunglasses, a pen, and a small notepad.



This picture shows the bag and the key fob I made recently. I am really enjoying the key fob!





I adapted the instructions for the FRIENDSHIP BAG TUTORIAL at PS I Quilt found HERE, to make the bag.

1 1/2 inch by 5 inch strips:



Ready to quilt:



Some Quilting:



You can see more FNSI results at Handmade By Heidi HERE.

Friday Night Sew In

I almost missed it! Its Friday. Its Friday Night. Its Time to Sew!

Join Friday Night Sew In HERE at Handmade By Heidi



Will be back tomorrow with my results.

Fabric Shopping

Fabric Shopping Supplies:



I've been striving to use what I've got in my fabric stash and to avoid going fabric shopping. But there comes a time in every quilter's life when there just isn't any fabric in your stash to go with the pattern and fabric you are using for a particular project.

Every now and then I need to go fabric shopping and today was the day!

I tried to go prepared so that I could find what I needed as quickly as possible. I cut swatches from all the shirts that are going into the current quilt project and put them in a plastic zipper bag. This way I could just lay the baggie on the bolts of fabric in my cart to "audition" them.

I also got together some 40% and 50% off coupons for the fabric store, along with a gift card I received at Christmas. Yes, I've had the gift card for almost 3 months! I have done really well to have worked on my quilts for months without making any major fabric purchases.

Being prepared was helpful and kept me from aimlessly wandering around.... well somewhat! I still didn't find the fabric needed for the outer border, but I can proceed with inner part of the quilt for now.

An Orphan Block Finds a Forever Home

When making the Jacob's Ladder Quilt that I finished recently, this yellow block just stood out like a sore thumb.

Its makes a handy, functional and cute pocket on this tote bag!



From this:



To this:




This bag is for sale in my Etsy Shop.Have a great day!

Debbie J.

Gentlemen's Quarters Remake Progress

Its WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Here's my progress on the Gentlemen's Quarters Remake. I deconstructed 3 of the shirts so far and cut as many 5 1/2 inch squares as I could from each.



From each shirt I was able to get 32, more or less, squares. I am saving the seams and button plackets for use in the garden for tying up tomatoes, flowers, etc. I cut out a few sets of squares for the Cheddar Bow Ties leaders and enders project. The other pieces that aren't quite big enough for the squares are going into a baggie for a string quilt to be made "some day".



This quilt will be similar to the below quilt. I'm not sure if I will alternate tan or muslin squares with the shirt fabrics or just use the shirt fabrics for the squares. I think I will have plenty of shirt fabric squares, but alternating with another color might add that extra touch I am looking for.

In this one I alternated the plaid squares with denim squares.

Baby Brother Patrick Reid

Here's my boy's version of the Stacked Coins Baby Quilt I have been working on for my cousin's baby. She already has twin girls who are about 2 years old. Looks like the baby beat me to it! Little Patrick Reid arrived early, but is doing fine.

I have to give my thanks to Crazy Mom Quilts for the tutorial for this quilt. This is the 5th baby quilt I've made from her instructions. Click HERE to see the tutorial.

Gentlemen's Quarters Remake

I'm thinking of making the graduation quilt I talked about in my previous post using the Gentlemen's Quarter's quilt pattern above.

I made this quilt for my son several years ago using a McCall's Quilting pattern that I found on line. I've had requests for the pattern many times and referred them all to the site. But, the pattern isn't available any more.

I never printed out the instructions and all I have to go on is this picture and my memory of the process. Well, duh... I could go over to my son's house and just do some measuring! Its a very simple pattern, so I've decided to figure it out as I go and possibly make a tutorial to put on this blog.

I'll need to do some planning to put together the colors I will need to go with these shirt fabrics.....



The planning of a quilt is one of the most fun parts.

The Next Quilt - More Quilting With Clothes

I am planning my next quilt! I know that surprises you! :o)

This one will be for my Stepson who is graduating from East Carolina University in May. Recently while home for the weekend, he did some closet cleaning and gave us a stack of clothes that he wanted to get rid of. I was secretly celebrating because there were several nice 100% cotton shirts. He never saw me take the shirts straight to my sewing room! I had been wondering about colors for his graduation quilt and the stack of shirts answered my question! I have some more plaids and solid fabrics in my stash that I think would go well with these shirt fabrics.

Now I just have to pick a pattern.... Its fun looking at all the choices.