My Favorite Quilt

What is your favorite quilt?  Mary is asking this question and hosting a linky party.   

It's quite a show over there.  I hope you'll join the party.  I want to see your fave!

Here's the one I posted.  It's my favorite for many reasons, mostly because I worked on it with a friend.  We cut up a top I didn't like, added 1970's tablecloth fabric, and stitched it together one wild and crazy afternoon.  

Quilt-making doesn't get more fun than that! 

That 70's Quilt

I've become obsessed with a certain quilt block pattern.  

I found it used in an old quilt here.  According to Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Block Patterns,* it's called "Shooting Star," and dates back to 1895.  

I made it with my 1970's fabrics.  Each block is 24 inches, so the whole thing is 72 inches square.

This block is a great way to show off large prints.  

This print is from a table cloth that came with 4 inch white fringe.

This one is yardage, 36 inches wide, of course.

(Sorry about the blur.  It was sunny, but breezy outside today.)

More yardage--perfect for a summer dress.

Another table cloth, which also came with white fringe, paired with and a man's shirt.

An apron with sleeves.

The print is bark cloth, and was made into napkins.  The gingham was curtains.  

Home decorator yardage.


I just love these fabrics!  They remind me of the carefree days of my teens and twenties.

Here are some other quilts I've made using 1970's fabrics.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

*The Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns is an excellent resource for over 4,000 quilt block patterns.  The book is out of print, but there's a digital version called Block Base here.

Pine Burr Quilt!

"Flower Power"  48 x 48"

This quilt is rockin' the 70's, with polyester "burrs," denim sashing, and an old home dec print for the border.  

Reminds me of my hippie girl days.  

Many of you asked how much these blocks weigh.  So I put one on a postal scale.  Looks like about 5 ounces each.  I'm sure it would be more if the "burrs" were made of cotton.

You also asked how on earth I was going to put these blocks together.  Here's a photo of how the original one was done.  (See last post.)   I tried this, but it made the points stick out around the edges.

Here's another close-up of the original.  I can't imagine getting all that fabric through my machine!  

 Looks like she stitched around and around, to keep the points from curling too much.  

Since mine's a wall hanging, I don't think I'll need to do that.  

I will put a back on it, maybe some light batting, and stitch in the ditch around each block for stability.  

Yes, the quilt is heavy!  These quilts would definitely keep you warm!

Doin' the Pine Burr

I've become a little obsessed with making Pine Burr blocks.

This is my first.  I thought I'd make only one.

But then I couldn't stop!

I've made one each evening for the last four nights.  

Talk about a stash buster!  Each one has at least 144 three inch squares.

It all started with this quilt at the Bold Expressions show.

Did you know that the Pine Burr is the official state quilt of Alabama?

Em's mom, Marian, sent me this wonderful box of 1970's fabrics cut in 3" squares.  And Mary sent some lovely small scale gingham.  What's a girl to do?

Want to make one yourself?   

You can go here, for instructions from Loretta Pettway Bennett of Gee's Bend, Alabama.  

 Geesh, I discovered these instructions AFTER I made the blocks!

Or you can just wing it like I did.  My method is below.

  First you need a ton of 3" squares and a 12.5"square of muslin or other fabric.

Put a square of in the middle.  The color should match your middle "burrs."

Fold 4 - 6 squares diagonally twice and iron them.  Then pin them on.  

Sew a ring of stitching.  This could be done by hand too.

Then do another ring.  I lined mine up just so they would just cover the raw edges of the prior ring.

I think of the raw edges as the little triangles' "privates."

Keep goin'.  You get the picture.

It took 8 rings to cover the square.  You could do yours thicker and it may take more.  

If you end up with not enough to cover the fabric on one side, just add some more triangles.  You can see I had to do this at the top of this one.  

Then you fill in the corners.

You end up with this.

Get out your 12.5" ruler and cut off the extra.  Wa-la!

Betcha can't make just one!

If you do make one--or more--you can post them on the "Inspired by African American Quilts" Flickr group!

Go Ahead, Use it!

Home decorator fabric, that is.  Pat Sloan and I talked about using unusual fabrics in quilts on her radio show recently.  Here are some quilts I've made using home dec fabrics.  I started using them because I just love the large prints and textures.  Mine come from thrift stores, but you could use new as well. 

This is the first time I used home dec fabric in a quilt.  The black is an old, faded piece and the border is a thick weave.

The border and sashing are some old curtains from the 1960's or 1970's.  I found them at Goodwill all dusty, but they washed up just fine.

Most of these houses are made of chintz upholstery samples.  The border is a thick brocade.

When I looked for a border for this quilt, this table cloth said, "pick me!"  I had to cut off the 4" long white fringe first. 

This border is another 1970's piece.  Ah, the good old days of "flower power!"

The red print was a large chintz sample, 52 x 52"

The white floral strips are from a remnant I found in Sweden.

Remember, Corduroy Appreciation Day is coming, 11-11-11!  If you plan to post anything corduroy on the big day, let me know.  I'll post links to all of you Corduroy Quilt Enthusiasts!