Purple String Quilt

OK I finished another quilt top although I am considering putting a border on it. I didn't do such a good job of lining up the centers but I promise to do better next time. I belong to a Yahoo group called
Heart String Quilt Project that makes this kind of quilt for charities. You can make the blocks, or offer to put them together or quilt them or do it all. The charity you send them to is up to you.

To make a string block you can use either a paper or fabric foundation (I generally use paper but for anything I'll send to the group in the future it needs to be cloth). Using your rotary cutter you cut strips of fabric, this is a great way to use up scraps. You can make them all the same width or vary it as I did. Many people use the same fabric or same color fabric for the center. Starting at the center you simply sew on strips, ironing as you go, until you fill up the block. After trimming it's ready to put together.

I'm hoping that was clear enough but if you have any questions or suggestions just use the comment button below.

Dancing Diamonds Quilt Top

Do you see the diamonds dancing across the quilt top? This is the first one I've made in over 7 years and I will admit there is a learning curve going on again. Here I thought I knew what I was doing. It's an easy pattern though, it uses a paper foundation and you simply start with a four sided figure in the middle and add pieces until the paper square is filled. I used a 6 1/2" paper to start. After trimming and sewing the blocks together the finished size is 5 1/2".

A picture of the beginning is here.

Quilting Again!!

After seven years of not having a sewing machine I finally bought another one. It's pre-70's and only cost me $25 but it works like a dream! I used to do a lot of quilting. Mainly baby quilts that I would sell in the local craft shop. Now I'm going to put my Talents (as small as they are) to work making even more things for Project Linus. As I said before Things 1 and 2 won't let me crochet at home and I can't exactly haul my sewing machine to a clients home (I do in-home care for the elderly and often have down time where I can crochet) so I'll be sewing at home and crocheting at work.

I got this fabric in a bag of scraps I got through our county's freecycle. Although I have a few boxes of saved fabric from before I thought I'd start with this. I really thought the stars would be good for the kids. I'm going to use a "pattern" I used years ago. I used to do a lot of paper foundation piecing and this one was a great way to use up scraps. I don't know if you can see in the picture but I start with 6 1/2" square paper. I cut the main fabric (the stars) into four sided figures. I place them in a diamond on the squares and then sew other fabrics on until I fill up the square. I call it Dancing Diamonds and will post a picture when I'm done.