A Little Bit Country - updated pattern!

I've been busy rebranding my patterns while I'm waiting for my quilting studio to open.  I needed some consistency in fonts, pattern covers, etc.  I have been writing patterns for the past 12 years and not frequently so it's easy to have inconsistencies over a spread of time.

I figured I should start at the beginning of the alphabet so first out of the gate is A Little Bit Country.   Originally a mystery quilt, this is a scrappy quilt that I had a ton of fun creating.  The warm colors make my heart sing.  I love nine patches and I really love stars, so you can see why this one is one of my favourites.

It's available for immediate download in my Etsy shop and on my websites:

Dayspring Quilt Studio - Etsy Shop

Dayspring Quilt Studio - Store

The Stitchery LLC - Quilting Studio

Thank you for supporting my business!

Pattern Release Day! - Yesteryear

Yippee!  This quilt design has been in the hopper for a few months.  It was inspired by an antique quilt I saw at Antiques Parlour here in Cleveland, TN.

The quilt finishes at 97" x 97" and is a log cabin variation with a little sashing magic to kick it up a notch.

This sample was pieced and quilted by a good friend in Victoria who tested the pattern for me.  Her version does not have the star cornerstones as she chose plain borders.  

This is the inspiration quilt:

This quilt looks equally great in civil war prints, or modern fabrics.  Pick your favorite color, find some fat quarters plus some yardage for the sashings and borders and create your own beautiful Yesteryear quilt.

The pattern is available for immediate download in my Etsy shop and on my websites.  Links below:

Dayspring Quilt Studio

Dayspring Quilt Studio - Etsy Shop

The Stitchery LLC

Come Sew with Me!!

Further to my last post about "answering the call for quilts for Maui",  I was pleased to see that Bonnie Hunter had some instructions inside the Pineapple Blossoms Free Quilt Pattern that included 2 1/2" strips rather than 2" strips.  Rather than making a 9 1/2" block, using jelly roll strips or 2 1/2" scrappy strips, the blocks are 12 1/2".  This is appealing when you want to make big bed quilts fast. 

I checked with Kate, the quilter on Maui that put the request out for comfort quilts, asking her what size quilts they need.  She said twin and larger for actual beds.  So the bigger the blocks, the quicker these quilt tops will get finished.

 I recently purchased a Kaffe Jelly roll from a local quilt shop here in Cleveland, TN.  Paired with a solid white I think these will be perfect for the Pineapple Blossom blocks.

I cut enough for one sample block to make sure I like it.  Then I pulled out Ferdinand, my Singer Featherweight, dusted him off from his long journey with our locker contents from Canada, and made sure that my seam allowance is 1/4".  For this, I use Bonnie's seam allowance ruler and then used some flourescent marking tape to mark the bed of my machine.  I tried the little seam allowance gadget from the Featherweight shop, but when you are doing folded corner stitching, it's awkward to have anything beyond a seam allowance butting up to it.  So I opted for the flourescent tape.

Here is my first test block...

It's a little wonky but I confess I didn't have my iron pulled out.  But I do now and the next blocks will be better.  So this block is 12 1/2"  and will finish 12" in the quilt.  I think it will be a great quilt and it's easy to assemble.

I've calculated that without borders and a setting of 7 blocks wide by 8 blocks wide, the quilt will be 84" wide by 96" long and will definitely cover a queen bed and amply cover a double bed.  That's 56 blocks.

Time to get busy!  I'd love for you join me in this charity project.  

Finished Quilts can be sent to:

Maui Quilt Shop

18 Central Avenue

Wailuku, HI  96793

Their post on Instagram says they will distribute to proper agencies and shelters.

If you are in Tennessee or can mail your quilt top to Cleveland, TN I will be happy to quilt up to 10 for free on my longarm if batting and backing are provided. Contact me for further details.

Mavis

Answering the Call ... Quilts for Maui

I think by now we've all heard of the devastating fires in Maui. Today on Instagram, I saw a post by @quiltwithmisskate calling for quilts of comfort for residents of the island that have lost everything.

As I've thought about how I could help, it occurred to me that Bonnie Hunter has a free pattern which I believe would be a perfect Hawaiian-themed expression of love to the victims of the fires.  It's called Pineapple Blossom.  It has been on my 'to do someday list' for years.  I can't think of a more perfect moment to make this quilt.

Here is the link to the free pattern:  https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/pineapple-blossom.html

As you can see, it works well with so many different colors and fabrics. And it's a really simple block.  

I'm issuing a challenge and an opportunity.  Our shop in Cleveland, TN is going to be opening in a few short weeks.  We have a nice, bright classroom and I can think of no better way to break it in than with this charity quilt project. So check out our website at www.thestitcherytn.com and watch for an announcement.

Whether you can join us in person or from afar, contribute one block or a whole quilt top, we welcome you to pull out your 2" scraps and some neutrals and join us in making some quilts to ship to Maui.

Details to follow.  In the meantime, how about downloading Bonnie's free pattern, gathering those fabrics, and let's prepare to get sewing!

Sending love and prayers to the people of Maui.

Mavis