I changed my mind--again

I was so excited today, it's time for me to lay out the blocks for this quilt.  I just have a bit more embroidery to do on the flower appliques.  I spread out the blocks on my bed (no design wall for me--my quilts are intended to be put on beds anyhow, not hung in a museum). I got out my big tape measure and my calculator and started planning the sashes.  Sashes were in my original sketch for this quilt. I had that all figured out.  I was trying to decide on the color of the sashes--and then I took a closer look at this photo.  Guess what, I decided that I don't need sashes!  I think that I just need to square up these blocks, cut out some yellow blocks to go on each side of Jenna's name, and sew it all together.  Then I'll add a border to the edges.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I have washed some cute flannel for the back of each quilt--although Sabrina's quilt is only a thought in my head at the moment, I already picked out a backing for her quilt. There's a lot of quilting to do!

Free- pieced Medallion Quilt

Here it is at last, my free-pieced medallion quilt. It was tied, not quilted. I must say a "Thank you" to Gwen Marston, as it is her wonderful books that inspired me. I did go off on my own tangent, though and designed this quilt myself, so don't blame her for that, please. In her book "Freddy & Gwen Collaborate Again" she encourages sometimes tying quilts, instead of quilting. And it gives quilts an old-fashioned look, I think. I did give details about how I tie a quilt in previous posts. Meanwhile, I'm in the midst of putting together a string top. And two other projects are in my mind right now. So my quilting projects keep me quite occupied at times. And I have to mention that my son came to visit from out-of-town and was kind enough to hold up the quilt for the photo! So much fun when the family gets together. Meanwhile, all those little health problems that I keep complaining about (so boring) are getting better.

Log Cabin quilt completed, new project started

Here's the log cabin quilt completed. It looks so much better with the binding applied. I've changed my binding method lately. I no longer add a doubled edge. And I don't make bias binding any more. This is what I do--I cut straight strips 1 3/8 wide. I know that size sounds a bit on the fussy side. And I'm not a fussy quilter. But I have found by trial and error that it is the easiest size to work with. I join together as many strips as I need to go around the quilt. Then I sew it by machine to the edge of the quilt in a 1/4 inch seam. When I turn the quilt over and hand hem the binding down, I have found that it's really easy to needle turn under the edge. I hand hem while I'm watching TV, and it only takes an evening or two (depending upon the size of the quilt) and the quilt is ready to be signed, sealed and delivered! And I have also posted a photo of the start of my next project. Look how I have these photos all messed up. I don't know how some bloggers manage to add a bunch of photos and make them all come out in a nice order!

Glimpse

I'm quite excited, I've started to get the first of the boys' quilts together. I'm going to quilt it in two sections, so it will not be joined up in the middle until the end. (A rather disjointed sentence, for a disjointed quilt.) I decided to add the borders before I even begin to put together the second one.