Links to Quilt Blog Posts

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Quick and Easy Table-Toppers

I made a couple of quick and easy table toppers this month.

One was for a friend who was on a FamilySearch mission the same time I was and we have kept in touch. I happen to know he loves dachshunds. (Yes, I had to look this word up in the dictionary.) I saw this fabric in the remnant bin, thought of him, and couldn't pass it up.



He can also use it as an equipment cover or a doggie dish placemat if he prefers.

 
The next is a long and narrow table runner I made for my Kindergarten teacher daughter to put atop her cubby unit in her classroom.

The snowman pattern I found on quiltdoodledesigns.blogspot.com. The opposite side I came up with myself using in Valentine designs, most of which I had on hand.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Robyn's Rules On Quilt Care

I give a copy of this to anyone who receives one of my larger quilts:


Robyn’s Rules on Quilt Care

This is the quilt I made just for you. I tried to pick colors and/or a theme that I thought you might enjoy. Sorry if I guessed wrong and you don’t like it, because this is probably the only quilt you will get from me.

If you want to help your quilt last more than a few years, please keep the following guidelines in mind. Most are common sense, but it’s surprising how often people are careless and only realize after something is ruined that it could have been prevented with just a little effort. I learned that from experience after I allowed a favorite quilt of mine to fade and rot due to sun exposure. As my mother was fond of often reminding me, if you don’t take care of the things you have, you won’t ever have anything nice for long.

1.       Never leave your quilt in the sunlight, especially sun coming through a window. The fabric is cotton and sunlight will fade and rot it.
2.       Do not use the quilt for a dog bed or something for a dog to shake and chew on—no tug-of-war.
3.       Do not allow cats to sharpen their claws on it.
4.       Do not allow babies to be changed on it without a changing pad between the baby and the quilt.
5.       Avoid spilling food and drink on it.
6.       Do not allow children to jump on a bed or a couch covered with the quilt.
7.       Wash rarely, and when you do, use cool water and gentle detergent with a gentle spin cycle. It is best to lay the quilt flat to dry. If you use a dryer, set it on low heat.
8.       Do not store in a cardboard box or in particle board furniture. The chemicals will eventually discolor and rot the fabric.
9.       Do not store long-term in a plastic bag. Quilts are best stored in a cool, dark, dry place wrapped in fabric (pillowcase or sheet).

The K & K Wedding Quilt

I finally finished the wedding quilt for the granddaughter and she finally received it last week.

This was my first attempt at a black and white quilt. Okay, technically, it has a dab of red in it, including the red flange.

I considered a log cabin pattern and a courthouse steps pattern, but could not visualize either one as what I had in mind. So, I created my own block for the quilt.
I named my block, "Robyn's Roadblock." This 24 inch square block was not the easiest to assemble.

In this quilt, I used a two color design (actually, three if you count the blocks that have a smidgen of red in them). I want to make up this block again in a four or five color design.

As for colors, I went through several fabric choices before I found the ones I wished to use. I have enough discarded pieces in black, white and blue to provide accent for another quilt.

In keeping with my "Robyn's Rules On Quilt Care," I also made two matching pillowcases. When the quilt is not in use, it can be stored in a pillowcase. NO EXCUSES!

So, even though the quilt was late, it was given to the happy couple with lots of love and wishes for a long and joyful marriage.

It was

Fast and Easy Half Square Triangles

I came across this site by Amy Gibson, Stitchery Dickory Dock, with a tutorial for making fast and easy half square triangles:

http://www.stitcherydickorydock.com/hst-trick-its-not-cheating-its-genius/

I estimate that when using pre-cut 5 inch charms, the resulting half square triangles will be 3-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches. When using pre-cut 10 inch cake layers, the half-square triangles will be approximately 7 inches square.