Category: Projects

Last year at UCMQG I participated in a 1/4 log cabin swap with other members.  We made log cabin blocks that were cut into fourths and then swapped around.  I finally sewed mine together into a quilt top, but not before I cut them again.


I took each log cabin corner and cut it on the diagonal so I could mix up the colors and lines a little more.  In some cases I lost the cool corners that come with log cabins but for some reason I really wanted the increased variety and change in lines.

I mixed them up and sewed eight triangles together to make a log cabin block of sorts (some might say it looks more like a string block, and that’s ok) I struggled a little with the layout and settled on this.  It’s fun to have all these pieces that were sewn by women I respect and enjoy.  Being a part of UCMQG has been a blessing and has changed my life for the better in many ways.  I’m so glad I’ll have a quilt that reminds me of my friends.


I really need to get this one quilted and finished before Broadbent’s closes.  I’d like to photograph it in front of the store as another way to remember the last 4 1/2 years!

I mentioned my Prairie Sweets applique project when I shared my Aerial Grove quilt top recently.  Here it is, a completed quilt top!  This was a project that I prepped and then carried around to soccer games, practices, and tournaments as well as carpool lines.


It took a while to hand stitch all those rings around the pinwheels, but it was fun to do.  Seeing them together in a finished top brings a smile to my face and reminds me how much you can get done with just a few minutes here and there over time.


Plus, sewing with Anna Maria Horner’s gorgeous Pretty Potent collection was pretty awesome.  Once I finished the blocks I had a bunch of circles left over from the centers of the rings so I decided they needed to be part of the quilt back and that launched me into another applique project.


Here is the quilt back, and I love it!  I didn’t have enough swiss dots to use for each square so I added a bunch of low volume prints to the mix.  Once again, these blocks traveled with me as I stitched the circles to the background.  With the rings I glue basted.  With these circles I tried needle turn applique and loved it!


I had saved yardage of the Pretty Potent banner print for the backing but I had to get a little creative when I realized I had less than I thought.  I added a strip of this awesome Amy Butler print (from her Hapi collection) that I’ve been saving and couldn’t be happier with the results!


The measurements of the circle blocks perfectly matched the scale and design of the fabric and it all came together beautifully.  I feel like this could be a two-sided quilt, and I’m not sure which side would be my favorite!  Now I need to decide how to quilt it so that both sides can look good.


I’ve decided I’m going to try to get all my unfinished projects sewn into quilt tops this year, and prepare a backing for each as well.  It feels good to have one done!

I’m excited to share my Aerial Grove quilt top with you today.  This is a gorgeous quilt pattern by Carolyn Friedlander that I’ve admired since it was first published.  One of my goals for 2017 is to make the quilts on my bucket list instead of adding to my list, and this quilt is the first of several Carolyn Friedlander patterns I’ve had on that list.


I prepared the “circles” for applique last November so that I could have a hand sewing project during the holidays.  I wanted to be hanging out with my family instead of in my sewing room and having these ready to applique meant that I spent most of my time with them AND the applique was done before Christmas!


To complete the quilt top I pulled out some of my favorite low volume fabrics and just started sewing them together until I had panels that were the correct size.  I wanted a little cool, but also some warm tones, a touch of yellow, and some texture.  It was a quick and easy, no stress finish – a great way to start the year!


If you’ve never tried hand applique before, it’s worth having a go at it.  While 80 circles sounded a little intimidating at first, they’re also done quickly and the curves are easy.  I have found applique to be a relaxing and enjoyable process and I’ve tried to have some kind of hand sewing project ready to go since I started my Prairie Sweets project a couple of years ago.


This pattern can be found in Carolyn’s book, Savor Each Stitch , and is just one of many beautiful projects included in the book.  I have a few others I’m anxious to try!  In fact, right now I have four more of her patterns in some stage of progress and am enjoying all of them.

Now to decide how to quilt this!

Jennifer