BLUEBERRY HILL--The Quilting

 While looking for an idea for a quilt to make as a gift, I came across a quilt on Instagram that was perfect. Thimbles and Needles is an Australian company and she calls this quilt Blueberry Kisses. The pattern is available as a PDF download.

69" square

As usual, I made a change to the pattern--instead of half blocks in the perimeter triangles, I used a variety of dark blue fabrics. Visually, this provides a border and I saw no need to add any additional borders.

This was fast to make and fun to quilt. Here is how I did the quilting.

First, just a reminder, you may want to pre-wash fabrics when there is lots of dye--those dark blues can really run. One lighter blue got in with the whites and there was enough color in that Color Catcher to make me very glad I used it:

I LOVE ruler work, quilting with Templates, also called Rulers. There are my favorites and I use them with almost every quilt. The Line Tamer makes it a breeze to stitch in the ditch. Amanda Murphy's ruler sets are well-made and work very well--this is one of the circles. The Grip-Its are what work BEST for me for free-motion quilting--I have tried every other solution, gloves, rubber finger tips, big gripper rings, etc. The Grip-Its are so easy to use--you just rest your hands on them, the rubber bumps on the bottom make the quilt slide easily as you have fun playing with free-motion designs: 

Threads are an important part of the quilting plan. I am a fan of Superior Threads; these are the four I used on this quilt. The bobbin has Bottom Line, my usual choice for bobbin thread. The back is dark blue so the bobbin thread is too. Microquilter is a fine. strong thread, 100 wt, and I use it for stitch-in-the ditch work. I used a medium-dark blue for that. For the ruler work, I used Omni-V, a 40 wt thread that was slightly variegated with medium to dark blues--it worked very well for the designs made with rulers. Then I used So Fine, a 50 wt, 3 ply, in a light color for the free-motion done on the white/cream fabrics:

The ruler work with the dark blue Omni V thread: 

Curved Cross-Hatching is one of my most favorite designs, though it is hard to see on printed fabrics: 

The simple loop-de-loop free motion design on the light fabrics went very quickly. It was just enough to secure the sashing, and left about the same amount of open space as the ruler work designs:

I always include a hanging sleeve on the back of every quilt I make, regardless of size. Here you can see how the top edge of the sleeve is covered by the binding. I only have to hand sew the bottom edge. Be sure to lengthen the stitches when sewing on the binding--here I was sewing through 7 layers: 

I do enjoy the binding process, often done by hand.  A few Wonder Clips make it easy to stitch around the binding: 

Later this year I will give this quilt to a special person. The good news is, I am teaching this quilt as a one day class, Tuesday October 11, 2022, 10-3:30, at Southern Charm Quilting here in Huntsville. This is the only time this quilt will be offered since I won't own the quilt after that. 

Two color quilts are very striking and any two colors will work. School colors would be fun, as would red, white and blue, or red, green and white--3 colors work as well.

This entire quilt is made using 2.5" strips, except for the border triangles. Learn lots of great tricks to speed up the piecing process. And how to replace half blocks with triangles. I hope to see you there.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Blueberry Hill

 I think it's done, no border. It's 69" square now.

 This is a gift for a tall man, a big throw, not designed as a bed quilt. 

It was fun to make and I think I will offer a one-day local class this Fall, first and only offering as a class. There is something really soothing about a two-color quilt, especially blue and white quilts.

The pattern is Blueberry Kisses by Thimbles and Needles.

Now back to the Neutral quilt, Disappearing Patchwork.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Just a Peek

 I am having fun sewing my blueberry quilt together.

Let’s quilt.

Barbara 

PROGRESS ON PROJECTS

 I've been working on a several projects at the same time, my typical process. 

Whenever I teach Antique Rose Star by Machine, I come home eager to make more blocks myself. I have Kite templates in various sizes: 1.5", 2", 2.375", 3", 4" and 5". It was time to make one BIG block with the 5" Kite, as a table topper and as a visual when teaching. It took very little time to make this:

Front  34" across the middle

Back

These would make great gifts--I received one as a gift made from a 4" kite but always have to remember to take it when teaching. This one can live in my teaching bag for this class. 

No binding or batting--I used a fabric as the "inner layer" to provide a little stability. Finishing was the "pillow" method--layer top/back right sides together, put inner layer on the bottom, sew all around the outer edge, leaving a 3-4" opening to turn right side out. Slipstitch the opening closed then some minor straight line quilting and it's done!

Garden Party Down Under is more than half way done for 2022, the Block of the Month for www.thequiltshow.com. I love my complete quilt made last year to test the pattern, with help from the wonderful Sunday Sew and Sews. 

This year I am making parts to have visuals for demos and the LIVE broadcasts I do for The Quilt Show. I didn't want to make a second complete large quilt this year. So far, I have two wallhanging tops made. This most recent one uses blocks from Months 3-7:

50" square

Earlier, I decided Months 1 and 2 make a perfectly good wallhanging so this top is also done:

38" square

Eventually, I'll prepare backs and batting for both of these and quilt them.

Then there's the Neutral Quilt I've been working on. I wrote about this twice recently, find out more HERE  My first blocks were darker than I expected so I made four more, somewhat lighter, and will place them in the middle:

All the fabrics for the remaining 8 blocks are cut out and waiting. I sew a couple of these in between doing other things. It shouldn't take long to make those 8 blocks but I'm getting busy and will travel to Salt Lake City and Long Beach in this next month. So this will have to wait.

The newest start is getting all my extra attention now. It's a gift for a man who said his favorite color is blue. The pattern is from thimblesandneedles, an Australian designer. Patterns are available on Etsy:

Not all the parts are there yet but all the pieces are cut and ready to be used as Leaders/Enders while I work on other things. My plan is to push hard on this in the next two weeks so the top is done before I go to International Quilt Festival in Salt Lake City. Having it on the wall now makes it easier to work on it as time is available. I am debating whether the perimeter triangles will be various blues or various whites. I'm leaning toward blue.

What are you working on? 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Stitchin' The Blues

Every other year the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville guild presents a Challenge program. A committee meets, sets the rules, those are announced to the guild about six months in advance and then we get to work making an entry.

Here are a few overview shots, taken by the committee before a lot of people came and it was tough to get good photos of the room:

Some years there is a lot of interest, some years---not so much. This year may be the biggest number of entries we have ever had--75--that means at least one-third of the guild particpated!

Here are the rules as presented:

1. The entry size, a rectangle or square only, may be anywhere from 18 inches by 18 inches to 36 inches by 36 inches. The length or width should be no longer than 36 inches or no shorter than 18 inches.
2. Use only blue and white fabrics. These may be solids, stripes, plaids, prints or batiks.
3. The entry must be a quilt – three layers held together with stitching.
4. Each entry made by one person only.
5. No kits.
6. Please keep your entry a secret.
7. Put a label on the back, but cover your name with tape or fabric. No obvious means of identification should be on the front, of course.

The meeting is open to the public and a lot of word-of-mouth advertising brought at least 50 guests. On the ballots we were given, we selected our top 10 favorites and "Best Interpretation of the Theme". Enjoy a little show, some of my favorites, in no particular order:

33. Blue California Star by Linda S.

37. Blues of a Feather by Pam A.

24. Carry Me Away by Linda H.

68/ My Blue Heaven by Sharon St.

44. Bluebird of Happiness by Paula N.

38. Swingin' the Blues by Teresa Rawson

34. Wedding Tradition by Kari H.

72. A Few of My Favorite Things by Anne C. This won first place for Best Interpretation of Theme. The detail in this is beyond belief--Anne outdoes herself in every challenge and show.

8. Blue Melody by Denise P.--this won 2nd place in Best Interpretation of Theme

61. Stitching the Blues Away by Leigh H. --this won 3rd place in Best Interpretation of Theme

64. Caribbean Waters by Sue B.

One of my most favorites:

51. Blues in the Night by Ben D.

15. Dave in Blues by Elaine H.--based on a photo of a well-known local musician Microwave Dave

Here is my entry, a variation of Spellbound by Calico Carriage Quilt Designs:

It is 19.5" x 21.5" and is made from the leftovers from my full-size Spellbound:

This one is bed-size and the quilting is about half-done. I am working diligently on it now. My eldest son saw it a few weeks ago and said "Who is THAT ONE for?" He really likes it. Christmas is coming. Don't you love it when someone really likes a quilt you are working on? 

Blue and White quilts have been very popular the last few years as we move toward the Sapphire Celebration of October 2019--the 45th anniversary of the International Quilt Festival in Houston. Our challenge quilts are too small to be entered in the Special Exhibit in Houston but this is a good way to get started and excited about the upcoming Celebration.

If you  have a blue and white quilt you want to consider entering in the Sapphire Celebration, here is the basic info--submission dates will be provided later this year:

Sapphire Celebration

I saw this quilt at the International Quilt Festival in Chicago in 2017. It is Sarah's Revival, a Sue Garman pattern, made by Gail Smith and quilted by Karen McTavish. I think it is just spectacular! I hope to see it again at the Sapphire Celebration.

Maybe a Blue and White Quilt is in your future.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Make Plans: Sapphire Celebration

During all the excitement of the Ruby Jubilee, the 40th anniversary of the International Quilt Festival in 2014, I was often asked if I was making a quilt for the 45th Celebration. I just laughed and said "no", since I had not made "Red and White--By the Numbers" specifically for the 40th anniversary, it was just a matter of lucky timing. See my post here about what that marvelous experience meant to me. I didn't even know what the color scheme for the 45th anniversary would be--now we do:

This spectacular quilt is a Sue Garman design, Sarah's Revival, and it was beautifully executed by Gail Smith and quilted magnificently by Karen McTavish:

It was recently on display in Chicago along with this blue and white art quilt by Sarah Ann Smith:

There were posters and flyers around the show announcing the Sapphire Celebration, Celebrating 45 years, which will be the 45th anniversary of the International Quilt Festival in 2019:

No matter what your style, it's not too early to plan and make a Blue and White quilt. It just might be included in what is sure to be a stunning exhibit of blue and white quilts, a favorite among quilters for many years.  One of the women in my Halo Sunday Sew and Sews group is making her Halo Star Medallion in all blue and white fabrics. It is so beautiful--I hope to see it in Houston in 2019.

I must admit I'm now thinking of a blue and white quilt. I've only made one years ago:

Easy Star Sampler

I gave this away. I've always wanted a blue and white log cabin, maybe it's time to start buying a few blue and white fat quarters...

I hope you'll give some thought to a blue and white quilt. I can assure you it's lots of fun to be included in such a fun event.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara