The scrap quilt is coming along

I finally finished sewing my 400th flying geese unit last weekend for the scrap quilt I'm working on. It was a good feeling, let me tell you.

I still have to piece a couple dozen quarter square triangles, and then all the 4.5-inch units that make up my 16-inch blocks will be complete. I've been busy arranging the blocks on my makeshift design wall, which really is going to be coming down soon, because the painters tape isn't holding it up anymore.


I'd like to get the first twelve blocks that are laid out above sewed together this week before taking it down this weekend. Then I'll have to lay the rest out on my bed or something until I can make, and have space for, a real design wall.

My first block of the month

About a month ago I saw a block of the month program for a Civil War quilt.

My first thought was that I could join it, and sew all the blocks by hand like the women would have during that time. Then reality set in and I realized there's no way I would have the time to piece an entire quilt top by hand in a year.

So I abandoned my thoughts of making a Civil War quilt. Then at quilt retreat last week I met a quilter who was still working on a block of the month project from a couple years ago.

I was inspired and signed up for Fat Quarter Shop's Civil War Tribute block of the month program. Each block in the quilt represents a significant battle in the war and the instructions come with a historical information about the battle.

I still want to piece it by hand, but if I don't finish it by the end of the year, that's OK.

Combing my love of dogs and quilting

I found this super cute applique pattern at Nancy's Notions and I have to have it. I'm going to make it in a summer scene so I'll be able to make the dog look like Einstein, one of our three dogs.


I've also been asked to make a wall hanging for a humane society fundraiser in October, and I think this might work perfectly for that event as well. So I'll probably be making two.

A peak at the design wall

I had a great time at quilt retreat. I did nothing but sew and chat with other quilters for three days, and while my husband doesn't understand why that was so fun, I'll definitely be going back for the fall retreat.

On Friday afternoon I finished the quilt top for my signature quilt, layered and basted it. Then I spent the rest of the retreat making quarter square triangles and flying geese for another quilt I'm working on. It's all in shades of brown and cream with a few greens, blues and reds thrown in for variety.

I've started arranging the blocks on my design wall. I need to buy eight more fat quarters to have enough fabric to complete the quilt, but when it's done there will be 42 different fabrics in the quilt. I'll post a few more glimpses as I add more blocks to the wall.

Things to do before Quilt Retreat

1. Make two pots of the De Pasquale family pasta sauce recipe for lasagna on Friday night.

2. Decide which projects to bring with, (signature quilt, T-shirt quilt, quilted messenger bag, a quilt I'm making as a gift and an airplane baby quilt are all possible contenders).

3. Finish laundry so I have clean clothes to wear this weekend.

4. Pack said clean clothes, sewing machine and notions and at least two possible projects.

5 . Stop by fabric store to see if there are any fun stencils, fabrics or notions I must have at retreat and can't believe I've done without for so long.