Karen Styles – Chopin – A Passionate Quilter From Texas

Our internet service has had issues the last month or so and the service finally went belly up for good last Saturday. I enjoyed the quietness and think I did progress in quilting…. Hum! Today the technician came out to fix last week’s technician and customer services boo boo’s. So now back on-line and in the fold again!

I started Robin’s Nest this week-end. I have studied this pattern for 2 years and it has been on my 2017 Goals for 4 months now. This is a fairly complex quilt and not as complex as Ms Billings and Phebe, and others, but it is a striking quilt. Templates are provided, but when one is making 3 1/2″ UF stars, using small templates and a rotary cutter is not for me.

I made one block using the templates and was not pleased. So I decided to reverse engineer the templates and convert to rotary cutting. I made 3 other test star blocks to ensure my rotary cutting measurements were accurate. The 4th one appeared to be perfect (until I looked at the picture I took) and realized that one point was off. So back to the drawing board on size of the strips. The hexagon is 1 inch, so you can see how small the pieces are in making this star block. Notice the bottom two points – Amazing how we do not see our little mistakes until we take a picture! I have had problems with flying geese before, but now I know the secret in getting them perfect!

Points Corrected – I replaced the Flying Geese that was off!

Here are the measurements for a 3 1/2″ star block using rotary cutting and no templates!

There are 17 pieces in each star.

Cut 4 each 1 1/4″ squares for the corner from a 1 1/4″ strip from the light fabric.
1 each 2″ square for the Center from a 2″ dark fabric strip.
4 each 1 3/4″ squares cut once diagonally for the Star Points from a dark 1 3/4″ strip
2 each 2″ squares cut diagonally for the Flying Geese background fabric (light)

When I sew the Flying Geese I use a scant 1/4″ seam allowance, then I go back to the full 1/4″ seam allowance to put the rest of the Star Block together. It comes out perfect. I am using 50wt Aurifil thread and a Husqvarna Designer I. (this is important because all machines are different)

I cut the center hexagon out using freezer paper (I do cheat on this – I purchase the pre-cut Jenkins freezer paper and print the pattern out – it saves me a lot of time). The leaves, or whatever they are, will be hand appliquéd in either blue or black fabric. I have 2 more stars for this portion to be completed and then I will cut out more triangles in black that will be the next “border”. I am using the template for the triangles to connect all the stars.

Next will be 12 more Star Blocks and they will be in Blue. I am using a mixture of Barbara Brackman’s Union Blues, Richmond Reds, and Pam Buda’s Cassandra Crossings. I will probably be using more from other reproduction fabric lines as I work on each border in the quilt.

I have not loaded the Grace frame as of today, but maybe tomorrow or this afternoon. Things appear to now be settling down and I will have more time to quilt.

We have a “cookie” sheet bird feeder. Hubby took a picture of the Doves feeding – it is so much fun watching the birds and the deer feeding while I am sewing! The cat next door sits on the ground just wishing for one of the birds to drop off the feeding tray for a good snack! LOL

Doves on a Cookie Sheet – and One in Flight!

Have a great day and Happiness is peace and quiet and sometimes boredom! (well only today!)

Ready or not – Spring is here and in South Texas I think a hot summer is right around the corner!

It has felt like a month since I did a post, but checking back, I am only 8 days behind my schedule – self-imposed of course – but enough to drive me to the brink of “oh no” another applique project!!!!

Earlier today I was reading a Blog and saw 2 of Karen Styles quilt patterns. I looked at Robin’s Nest and thought – “should I”, then a little birdie said – CHECK OUT THE PATTERN STASH – and there it was! Nestled in with Mrs Billings quilt pattern from Karen (heck I thought I had down away with Mrs Billings). My friend Jan and I talked yesterday and she reminded me that after an “unplanned” absence from quilting that she was working on the Dear Mrs Billings quilt again! Darn – There is no way I can start the Mrs. until at least mid 2017. But Robin’s Nest is a striking pattern. Isn’t it beautiful?

No, this is just a picture – I have not resorted to quilting 18 hours a day yet – need to talk with my hand doctor to see if he wants to add to his bank account! I will try to do this one next year also. (LOL) What a 71 year old dreamer I am today!!

Well, here we go with Ms Margaret Potts! Jaydee and I are working on this one together. We figure – what the heck – one block a month for 7 years? We can do that easy peasy (as Jaydee would say) – a no stress project – finally!! Anyone who is already a member of BAS is welcome to send me your pictures and each month I will post them on my Blog – if you are not a member of BAS and a dyed in the wool appliquer consider joining. Each month BAS provides the pattern for the Potts BOM as a way to reach out to the “far away” members to join in the fun.

I finally finished my blocks last night – or at least I thought I had. I revamped the basket on Block 32 and added some embroidery for Block 31. So here we go. I will start with Jaydee’s Blocks She is using a lot of Kona Cotton and pulling from her stash! We are now awaiting for the April Block which should be coming in the next week or so. (I am hoping for “or so”)

I started using my 1930’s fabrics, but quickly decided I did not like the fabric for needle turn applique, so I switched to some Kona’s. They are not my favorite, although I know that they are best used in the Baltimore Style Reproduction quilts. I finally settled for “let’s play with the stash” choice and now I am using whatever strikes me. In the first 4 blocks I have used a batik and a lot of Moda’s. These are fun and easy blocks. The finished size will be 8 or 8 1/2″ and the quilt is set On-Point. I took pictures on point – guess I should have done what Jaydee did, but now I am too lazy to retake the pictures today!