sew what's new?

Yes I do live in Minnesota, besides that I have been working on a grey, black and white quilt! So that's what I 've been looking at for the past two weeks. This is what the designer gave directions for, however I thought it a bit too small so I added some borders. First a small one finishing at 1 1/4" and then a larger one that will finish at five inches. I  have asked the quilter to quilt gnomes on it , as my daughter likes them. I am putting flannel on the back. Grey, black and white flannel of course. Chatter later, Martha.

I've been working on a quilt for my daughter using 2 1/2" strips.   Here I have 23 diamonds made, with 5 more needed. I must make these before continueing on.... I actually made 8 more in case they might be needed to help with variety.  I need to make 2 different blocks with these diamonds, four of each kind. The seams need to be pressed open when joining them together. The first block uses only three of these diamonds. I love my seam stick to press open seams. It makes it so easy! Here are my four blocks that use only three diamonds each. This is what I call one block. All for now, chatter later, Martha.

My projects for this month will be mainly trying to use up my huge bin of 2 1/2" strips.  In making as many quilts as I possibly can out of this, so that I may get this container off my sewing room floor! I have  a large selection of patterns that mainly use 2 1/2" strips and a bit of background fabric. My first pattern is a pattern my daughter choose last year for one of her grey,  black,  and white quilts she wants for her living room. I can see this being made with red, white blue, and gold strips for Quilts of Gratitude or Quilts of Honor.  Maybe just scrappy using all colors too!  I begin by sewing three strips together and press seams one direction and then using the 45* angle on my ruler cutting more 2 1/2 strips..... Which I get 3 pieces from each strip and I need 81 of these for my quilt.... I have already made 44 of these, so the next few days I will be making more of these. I will update you as to my progre...

I just finished Kim Diehl's " True Blue"  quilt with binding and combined hand and machine quilting.  I used this stencil.... along each side border and hand quilted it there. I did machine stitch in the ditch around each block. I have also started my fourth block for my "Wooly Critter Sampler " quilt.... It is a squirrel just in case you can't tell!  I only have a few leaves stitched down so far.  I also went to pick up a baby quilt from Rebecca Anakkala who had finished my Zen Chic  quilt.... It is a modern pattern  with Cherrywood background and a vintage charm square pack. So it is a  modern/vintage combo. And that is what she did with the quilting too! I am so happy with it! I am hopeing with the next few pics that you can see some of the feathers(vintage) and some of the hexies (modern) she has quilted in. Right now I have four quilts that need to be bound and one queen size one at the quilter's(Bonn...