Adding to the Purple

This weekend I pulled out the purple cancer quilt and made a couple more blocks for it.  I'm fixing to teach a class on the log cabin block, so I thought I would play around with the pattern.  I ended up with a block about 16 inches, using 2 inch strips (plus seam allowance).  That was too big for my quilt, so I needed to trim just a little off.

I decided to split my logs and turn the blocks to get a different look.  I'm sure somewhere there is a version of this out there, but for me, tonight, it was my own creation and I'm calling it the Split Log Cabin Block.

I didn't take a picture of the block before I cut it, but it was a traditional setting with a 4 1/2 inch center block.  I added darks and lights (with a little yellow tint) on both sides as I built my block.  Once done, I found my centers, both directions, and cut.  I flipped the 4 new pieces until I was happy with the new look.  It took a little trimming to get it down to a 13 1/2 block, but nothing major and it looks great with the rest of the quilt.

With the left over "logs", I sewed the strips together and made some 4 patches, putting them all together until the block was the right size.  I had to add a little border to get the measurements just right.  So far I have 12 blocks and one center block that still needs a border around it.

Starburst

I saw a version of this block and decided I couldn't wait for the directions to come out in the magazine.  Their's was made with 80 pieces, mine was with 40. And I turned my pieces differently.  It reminds me of a starburst...hence the name I'm calling my version.

 Not having a pattern, I had to figure out how to put it together on my own and the centers didn't line up as easily as I would have liked.  I'm hoping that after it is quilted, it will lay flatter than it does now.  I used a strip method for the pieces and then cut on the 45 angle.

 This is the block and I fudged a lot of the points.  I suggest you wait for the magazine for their pattern,  I was ready to put the thing away, but tonight I put it together with hand piecing and it was much better than on the machine.

 I added a border and now it's ready to prepare for quilting.  I really love the color combination.

Final Stitches

 

Summer is officially here!  Hay is on the ground and I won't see Adam again until it rains or the leaves start to turn colors.  He's working on that farmer's tan and getting his clothes as greasy as all get out.  Three washings finally got the grease out of the pockets!  If you happen to know a trick for getting grease and cow poop off blue jeans....please share!

While the men worked outside this weekend, I played with my mother's sewing/quilting machine.  I've been a little scared of quilting with it, but I bit the bullet and played with a couple of pieces.

Janome Memory Craft 6600

 

 Here was my first attempt at straight lines.  The pieces were left over from my Nine-Patch quilt.  They are the Disappearing Nine-Patch pattern that I used in my class when showing the students some of the variations of the Nine-Patch.

I think this made a cute little doll quilt that will be put away for a future grand-daughter....no rush on that!

I found that using the auto-stitch option made my stitches even. 

 Then I played with the free motion setting with another Disappearing Nine-Patch made into pin-wheels for a small table runner.

I was a little tense doing this, but started to get the hang of it too.  I don't think I had one of my settings right, but I really like that technique.

 These two pieces are now ready to be quilted.  I love the greens and roses of this Nine-Patch sampler.  There are 3 different sizes and techniques of the Nine-Patch used in the lap quilt.  Then for fun I added some applique.  I call this one "Chasing Butterflies".

Here are some of the applique pieces close up.  I used bullion stitches for some of the flowers.  Several of the patterns used are made from templates found in my grandmothers' things.

 This is my Nine-Patch set together with 2 1/2 inch strips.  I don't have the name of the material, but it was a new line that came out a few months ago.  It is all done in country rose, greens, reds, and creams.  All machine pieced.

Now I just need to get brave enough to put these in the machine!