Postage Stamp Finish

I admit, when I start a quilt I never quite know where it will end up.  

Today's Friday finish is a good one!

This quilt started out with these boring little blocks using some low volume and some gray scraps.  I think they measure about 5" square and used up some fabric that was sitting on my cutting table.

Not knowing what to do with these, I became inspired when I saw the Postage Stamp quilt made by Sally over at The Object of Design.

Rather than making each block in a rainbow color, I decided to try and colorwash the entire quilt.  I would use 1.5" squares and make 12.5" blocks.  I also thought I would locate the frame within the block in whatever placement I fancied.

I finally finished the quilting and the binding and I have to say, I am in love with this quilt!

My intent on this quilt was to not be a perfectly blended design.  I purposely placed light and dark squares to create a more pixelated effect.

I really wanted to use up the scraps I had and sometimes trying to blend something too perfectly, you end up creating more scraps than you started with!

The quilting is hard to see on this but I went with an echo quilting that followed the color contours.  So there were quite a few thread color changes.  I quilted the design right through the light boxes.  The quilt has some great texture!

I used a gray solid for the binding to match the gray frames.  And I used one of the backings I recently picked up from Connecting Threads.

I did add a bit of pizzazz on the back by adding in a strip of an ancient batik that was hiding out in my stash.  The colors perfectly matched the front of the quilt and this was a great way to use up that older stash!

Happy Friday! And have a wonderful weekend!

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My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

So Scrappy for RSC19 

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Tuesday Tutorial - Inset Triangle Detail

There were a number of comments and questions about a recent strip detail I put on my Splendid Sampler quilt top.  I thought I would try and write up a quick tutorial to show how easy it is to do.

Any time you set blocks on point, you need to cut what are called inset triangles to fill out the edge of the quilt.  This tutorial is a fun way to add a bit of color to them.

I go ahead and cut my inset triangles to what ever size the pattern or the block requires.  I usually am just adding a thin detail so there is not that much fabric waste to worry about.

While this picture isn't representative of what you will actually be measuring (because your block will most likely have sashing across the top), I truly just use a ruler to get a guestimate of where I want the strip to connect on the block.  As you can see here, it is on the 2.25" line.

Note:  You do not want to assume you want to cut through the center of your triangle!

At this point, I usually grab a scrap and test everything out to confirm the triangle will turn out as I want.  You will probably find you want to adjust a bit.

Once you get your measurement, from the bottom of the triangle, you make a parallel cut.

(I am lining up that 2.25" line right along the bottom of the triangle)

Then you cut a strip and sew it across where you just cut.  I used a 1.25" strip for mine.

I also fold the triangle in half and make a center mark right there along the bottom.

You will use that mark to align the point of the triangle top. 

 Then you just resew it back into a triangle shape.

Next, I use a big square ruler and align it to both side edges on the bottom portion of my triangle.  You should need to do a bit of trimming off the strip and the top portion of the triangle.

And there you have a triangle with a fun detail in it.  If you use the same measurement for your cut, they will align up all along the edge of your quilt.

I love knowing these little tricks so that I can add a personal detail to make my quilts so they stand out.  Now, you can too!

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Linking Up:

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)

Sew Fresh Quilts (Bee Social)

Oh Scrap! : Red

I can't tell you how much I have been looking forward to having Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks to sew again.  It was great to get my red scraps (January's color) out and start sewing.

I haven't had a lot of time to sew this last week but I did get out all of my RSC blocks and see what I had left over from last year.  I still have about 11 blocks to make for my zig zag quilt.  I have a bright red from last year so I thought I would pull out some dark burgundy scrap and make a dark red block.

I finished the block and added to the rest.  It really blended right in with the black and brown blocks!

Hopefully we have some bright colors in the near future to give this project a much needed punch.  But I am really happy with how it is coming together!

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It is now your turn to share what you are making with scraps.  Here are the details for linking up: 

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow Me on Bloglovin'          Follow me thru Email          Follow me on Feedly

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)

Cooking Up Quilts (Main Crush Mondays)

Em's ScrapBag (Moving it Forward)

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)

So Scrappy for RSC19 

It's a Flimsy!

Yippee!  I finally sewed my Splendid Sampler blocks into a quilt top!

I started making these blocks the first part of 2016 as part of a quilt-a-long.  There were a total of 100 block designs but many were applique - which I skipped.

I used my Kaffe Fassett scraps.

There are a number of blocks that I really loved.  And many, I will probably go back and remake someday.  However, I am just not one who loves to make small blocks. 

I wasn't sure if I was going to have enough of the blue background fabric for the entire quilt, so I used a green for the center medallion.  It was a good decision because I ended up with only a small strip of the blue fabric left!

Both of the background fabrics are a woven striped fabric.  I prefer fabrics with a texture to go with my scrappy blocks.  I don't know why but I am always looking for different lines of fabrics like this to keep in my stash.

So I was really excited when I saw that Connecting Threads has a new fabric called Faux Linen Tonals.  I will definitely be giving these a try.  I am in love with the Navy and Night blues!

Connecting Threads also has all of their batting on sale right now too.  Stock up now for all those 2019 finishes!.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

APQResolution!

I'm jumping in!

Every year, the folks at  All People Quilt host a UFO Challenge to assist quilters like me that end up with a long list of unfinished projects.  

Just how does it works?

You download their challenge chart and list 12 projects you want to make progress on in 2019.  Every month, they will draw a number and that is project you work on that month.  You can share your progress on Instagram or on Facebook.

January is item #3.

When I made my list, I already knew what item was going to be for January, so I listed my Splendid Sampler quilt in the third slot.  I did this to ensure I started out the year with a probable success.  

There is nothing wrong with wanting to start the year out right!

Feel free to join in if you want.

(You can read all about it here.)

If I get half the items on my list accomplished this year, I will call it a success!

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Linking Up:

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)

Sew Fresh Quilts (Bee Social)

Oh Scrap! : Something New

I have been putting a lot of thought on how I want to use my scraps this year.  As I was perusing my Scrap-A-Palooza gallery to come up with a new quilt design, I became side-tracked by my vertical pieced strip quilt.  Hmmm...I have a pile of leftover Kaffe scraps I would love to use up.  

This quilt will be perfect!

I quickly dug through the bin and pulled all the larger chunks in golds, oranges, browns, green, reds and purples.  I cut them up into 2.5 x 4.5" rectangles and 4.5" squares.  (I have still have lots of smaller scraps but I will have to come up with a different plan for those.)

I started sewing them up as a leader/ender project - creating pretty columns of color.  I have no particular plan on what gets sewn, I just try and space the colors and the two sizes apart as I go so it looks good.

I am sure I have something that will work for the background.  But I will cross that bridge once I get all the strips sewn.

I don't think this quilt will take me any time at all!

*********************************************

It is now your turn to share what you are making with scraps.  Here are the details for linking up: 

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

An InLinkz Link-up



Follow Me on Bloglovin'          Follow me thru Email          Follow me on Feedly

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)

Cooking Up Quilts (Main Crush Mondays)

Em's ScrapBag (Moving it Forward)

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)