Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Scraps, dots and plaids, oh my!

I woke up to snow this morning, so stayed home and shamelessly sewed all day.

Here's what I completed.  It began last month, sewing scrap "strings" together, Gwen Marston style.  Each block finishes at 19".  The whole quilt is 69" x 81".




First I sorted my scraps by length, with no preference for color, pattern or style.  These scraps are 4" to 7" long.  (I have other plans for the longer scraps.)  Then I sewed them together, chain stitching--1 plus 1, then 2 plus 2, then 4 plus 4--to get a strip of 8.  Then I traced the template from Gwen's book, Liberated String Quilts.

And cut along the lines.






 
Eight of these makes...


One scrappy star.



Add dots...




and plaids...



And go out and play in the snow!


Do you think this rose is a little confused?



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31 comments:

  1. Bonnie HullJanuary 18, 2012 at 11:00 PM

    PERFECT snow day quilt...looks like the view out the window...xo

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  2. RachaeldaisyJanuary 19, 2012 at 1:30 AM

    I Love this!! It's so wonderfully wild and fun! The black spotty fabric will be such a great reminder of the quilt you sewed while it snowed outside. The photo of your dog with the snowman is so cute too. And fancy that rose blooming in that cold weather, very optimistic!

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  3. antique quilterJanuary 19, 2012 at 1:41 AM

    OMG it is just soooo beautiful...love the dots, and the plaid together. Very fun quilt and just your style!
    Kathie

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  4. AnnaJanuary 19, 2012 at 2:06 AM

    I have admired your sense of fun in your quilts. Not to mention the strong use of colour and pattern, your quilts look ancient and modern at the same time.
    But tell me, do you mix your shop bought "quilting" fabrics with the fabrics from the thrift shop?
    Anna

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  5. UnknownJanuary 19, 2012 at 2:37 AM

    Love, love, love your quilt! I will have to add this one to the must do list also!

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  6. MaritJanuary 19, 2012 at 2:52 AM

    Thank you for the tutorial. These are both fun and pretty! Love how the black background is so appropriate for a snow day!
    ; )

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  7. MaureenJanuary 19, 2012 at 4:43 AM

    A show stopper! Thanks for sharing your method.

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  8. Victoria Findlay WolfeJanuary 19, 2012 at 4:47 AM

    Beautiful combinations Nifty! The plaid is just so perfect! You have an great sense of fabric style!

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  9. Julie FukudaJanuary 19, 2012 at 4:53 AM

    Good thing I don't have a machine as I could be sorely tempted. I love the dots and plaid. They are just perfect.

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  10. LisaJanuary 19, 2012 at 5:02 AM

    Wonderful quilt! I just love it. You really have a knack for mixing fabrics. Really great.

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  11. BrendaJanuary 19, 2012 at 5:52 AM

    fabulous! I like the string stars, the polka dots and the sashing. what a great quilt!

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  12. ClareJanuary 19, 2012 at 5:55 AM

    Oh my indeed!

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  13. Eat Sleep QuiltJanuary 19, 2012 at 6:38 AM

    Beautiful stars, what great color and fabric combinations! The background fabric looks like snow, so appropriate. Love it!

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  14. YankeeQuilterJanuary 19, 2012 at 7:17 AM

    The dots and plaids are so wonderful together! I have a box of star parts ready to put together....thanks for the inspiration. Stay warm in all that snow!

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  15. sheila 77January 19, 2012 at 7:22 AM

    A lovely, happy quilt - great colour combinations, great sashing, great design. I love seeing the process and the snow pictures too. A very good post, thank you.

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  16. Vicki WJanuary 19, 2012 at 7:45 AM

    That's a great quilt!

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  17. KimJanuary 19, 2012 at 8:09 AM

    I was thinking about you yesterday when I saw the snow was falling out there, oh what a great snowy day you had! This quilt is just such a pop of happiness, doesn't it make you smile to look at it? Nice job and nice tutorial too.

    Happy Sewing

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  18. Elaine MJanuary 19, 2012 at 8:18 AM

    What a fun quilt! Makes you smile! :)

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  19. fiberchickJanuary 19, 2012 at 10:09 AM

    The plaid easing is perfect!

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  20. fiberchickJanuary 19, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    Oops I meant sashing!

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  21. BridgetJanuary 19, 2012 at 11:17 AM

    Your quilt gave me a great big smile. That's my kind of Gwennie quilt. Thanks for making my day and enjoy your snow days.

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  22. Sujata ShahJanuary 19, 2012 at 11:23 AM

    Those Seattle snow days have to be good for something!
    Beautiful finish! Would you hand quilt this one too?

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  23. smazoochieJanuary 19, 2012 at 12:52 PM

    I don't miss snow but I do miss snow days -- can that make any sense?!?
    Lucky you! Looks like you had fun, love the midnight snow falling on your scrappy stars!

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  24. CindyJanuary 19, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    I just love everything about this! The dots, the plaid, and the strips! Wonderful colors and texture!

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  25. BarbJanuary 20, 2012 at 9:00 AM

    What a great scrap happy quilt!
    My coco is so jealous of your snow.
    Fingers crossed that we get some tonight.

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  26. BarbJanuary 20, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    The polka dots just add to it, wonderful...and your quilt below...oh my goodness!!!

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  27. AlexisJanuary 20, 2012 at 8:59 PM

    It is gorgeous! It has been a great week for sewing!

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  28. Ailsa (Cape Pincushion)January 21, 2012 at 1:33 AM

    What a fantastic quilt! It's brilliant! Thanks for the step-by-step instructions too.

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  29. Katie, Julep and Derby's MomJanuary 21, 2012 at 10:13 AM

    I was blog-hopping and came across your blog - what a beautiful quilt! You love bold colors and prints - check out Jane Sassman and her big designs and beautiful colors - you can find her blog on my Blog List if you're interested.

    All the best - Katie
    www.westiejulep.blogspot.com

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  30. Tonya RicucciJanuary 21, 2012 at 4:36 PM

    fun. got a recommendation for you though - the Easy Eight ruler by Sharon Hultgren. makes cutting diamonds sooo much easier. much better than the template way. cheers.

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  31. KarenQuiltFebruary 19, 2012 at 12:37 PM

    Love string quilts and Gwen's way of making them! This is gorgeous. That black polka dot background print is so effective!

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