Hand Quilting Blogathon Day 5 Birds and Blooms Antique Quilts

Today's quilt from the Starley Quilt Collection is a great basket quilt that is elevated with a stellar border featuring birds, flowers, and heart appliques!! And a delightful, delicate piped binding. Circa 1855 from New York State. Hand quilting in straight lines.  *Don't forget to click on photos to enlarge, see details.
Don't you just love that folky bird - kind of odd- standing on a branch or does he have giant feet?

And I'm still not sure if that orange applique is a flower, bud, or maybe a peach?

The full and glorious quilt. You can never go wrong with a basket quilt especially with birds and hearts <3 and="" birds="" blooms="" is="" my="" nbsp="" of="" p="" quilt="" show.="" star="" the="" this="" trunk="">

Day 4 - Hand Quilting Blogathon Cheddar Stars

I love recreating antiques in my collection and my miniature Cheddar Stars Over Moab is one of my favorites. Inspired by an antique star quilt in the Starley Collection. Little 3" Stars are foundation/ paper pieced by machine but the quilting is all done by hand.

The stars are small and the full miniature reproduction quilt comes in at just 19" x 24".

This pattern is available on my etsy shop and it is also available as a fun paperpiecing class. You'll learn how to paper piece and create your own wonky star patterns. You'll also learn tips for accurately recreating antique quilts. I'd love to come teach this at your shop or guild.

An action shot of picking out the perfect fabrics to recreate the original.

Antique Quilts and Hand Quilting Day 3 - 31 Days of Quilts

You can't have a December Quilt Fest without some red and green quilts and I always try to include at least one French Star Quilt, one of my favorite patterns. Here is my newest one, red/green/yellow with a gorgeous paisley border. Thanks to dealer Mark French for finding this beauty (he likes them too).

And since this month is all about hand quilting, here's another close-up of the quilting. Again, it is double-rod (two close parallel lines).

Happy Holidays!!

Day 2 - 31 Days of Hand Quilting

Day 2 of a glorious month of hand quilted quilts from the Starley Quilt Collection features a wonderful crib quilt that actually survived the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It predates the war and managed to make it through the conflict. Clearly it was made for a very loved child as shown by all the blocks full of hearts and flowers!

Here's one of the delightful heart blocks (see my version of this block in yesterday's post).

And lots of appliqued flowers.and great double-rodded (2 close rows) hand quilting. Enjoy. Remember click on the photos to enlarge and see details.

December Blog-a-thon Begins - A Month of Hand Quilting

I'm joining the December 31 Days of blogging challenge hosted by Cheryl Sleboda once again. I will be sharing hand quilting both old and new all month. Each day will feature a different hand quilted quilt.  

Click on link to Cheryl's blog above to join in the fun or to follow along with other bloggers.

Here's the after and before shots of my Virginia is For Lovers Quilt. Look at what a difference the quilting makes!

The full quilt - only 16" x 16"! Yes, the flowers above are teeny. A recreation/reproduction of an antique crib quilt in the Starley Quilt Collection. I'll share the antique tomorrow.

Virginia Is For Lovers 16" x 16"
Original Pattern - Sandra Starley
Based on antique quilt in Starley Collection

Quilted Joy! Recreating the Past

Quilted Joy Too - 36" x 36"
2014 - Sandra Starley

I love sharing quilt history through my antique quilt collection both by trunk shows and classes as well as recreating and patterning pieces in the Starley collection. So pleased to announce my newest reproduction pattern Quilted Joy is now available on my Etsy shop. Click here to see details and to purchase.

Detail from antique inspiration quilt

Getting Started With Hand Quilting -Back To School Blog Hop

Have you always wanted to learn to hand quilt?? Well, what is stopping you?

Starting is as simple as picking up some fabric, batting, needle, and thread. 

STOP making it a big deal and

START quilting!!

Just DO IT!!!  And HAVE FUN!!!

So many of us are perfectionists and that leads to paralysis. We tend to wait for that "special quilt" before starting to hand quilt and when we have the special one we are afraid of ruining it ...  Any of this sound familiar?

The best remedy is just to START stitching.

Batik Tulips - Sandra Starley - pattern available

Here are the very simple basics:

1. 15-inch piece of fun fabric for the top, 
2. 15-inch piece of batting (I recommend a thin wool or silk batt), and 
3. 15-inch piece of fabric for the back.
4. Cotton thread
5. Quilting needle
6. Thimble

Folk Art Applique - Sandra Starley- pattern available

Grab a chalk pencil to draw a simple grid or geometric design. Use a white lead for dark fabric or the pencil chalk for light colored top. Or try quilting along the lines of a large plaid or a floral or holiday pattern - no marking needed.

Cheddar Stars -Sandra Starley - pattern available

Layer starting with backing wrong side facing up, batting, top fabric right side facing up. Hand baste (simple running stitch through all 3 layers) or pin to secure. And don't forget a thimble to protect your finger. Think of this as a test and don't put pressure on yourself. It is only a little bit of fabric. Get comfortable with the process on this sample instead of your great masterpiece. If you like it make it into a pillow, if not, save it to look back on in a few years and see your progress.

Detail - Virginia Is For Lovers - Sandra Starley

Just Try It!!
Thread a quilting needle with a cotton thread - it doesn't have to be special quilting thread or a super teeny needle. You will need to tie a small double knot at the end of the thread and pull it through into the batting. Use your needle to pull the thread end out of sight. There are two basic stitches: rocking stitch or stab stitch. Try both and see which you like. Try different battings - see which suits YOU best. Same with needles and thread. Find your bliss!!

Mini Moab Landscape - Sandra Starley - pattern available

HAVE FUN!!!
Hand quilt where it will show - block centers, borders. Feel free to machine quilt in the ditch, in seams, etc. Showcase the hand quilting. As you grow in confidence start using fun, bright threads and bolder designs/patterns.

Detail Pennsylvania Posies - Sandra Starley

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Keep on Learning - visit the rest of the blog hop stops to learn something new everyday this month!

Here’s the blog hop team and their topics: 

Day 1 – September 1 – Sam Hunter: Sewing Long Seams Without Stretching – huntersdesignstudio.com

Day 2 – September 2 – Susan Arnold – Joining Binding the Easy Way – quiltfabrication.com

Day 3 – September 3 – Angie Wilson – Fussy cutting tips and techniques – www.gnomeangel.com

Day 4 – September 4 – Andi Stanfield – No-Mark HST: Let your machine be your guide – truebluequilts.com/blog/

Day 5 – September 5 – Bobbie Gentili – Say YES to Y-seams – geekybobbin.com

Day 6 – September 6 – Mel Beach – 5 Reasons to Say Woo Hoo! to School Glue – pieceloveandhappiness.blogspot.com

Day 7 – September 7 – Laura Piland – 7 Ways to Use a Laser on Your Sewing Machine – www.sliceofpiquilts.com

Day 8 – September 8 – Suzy Webster – How to solve loops in free motion quilting – www.websterquilt.com

Day 9 – September 9 – Tara Miller – Accurate Stitch-and-Flip Corners – quiltdistrict.com

Day 10 – September 10 – Latifah Saafir – Accurate Seams Using Masking Tape! – latifahsaafirstudios.com

Day 11 – September 11 – Sarah Ruiz – The Magic of Glue Basting – saroy.net

Day 12 – September 12 – Jen Shaffer – Ways to stop your ruler from slipping while cutting – patternsbyjen.blogspot.com

Day 13 – September 13 – Cheryl Sleboda – Basics of ruching (a vintage fabric manipulation technique) – muppin.com

Day 14 – September 14 – Raylee Bielenberg – Choosing quilting designs for your quilt – www.sunflowerstitcheries.com

Day 15 – September 15 – Jen Strauser – Accurate and Attractive Machine binding – dizzyquilter.com

Day 16 – September 16 – Jane Davidson – Matching points for all types of intersections – quiltjane.com

Day 17 – September 17 – Teresa Coates – Starch and starch alternatives – teresacoates.com

Day 18 – September 18 – Jen Frost – Benefits of spray basting – faithandfabricdesign.com

Day 19 – September 19 – Sandra Starley – Getting started with Hand Quilting – utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com

Day 20 – September 20 – Karen Platt – Drunkard’s Path Made Easy – karenplatt.co.uk/blog/

Day 21 – September 21 – Kris Driessen – All Kinds of Square (in a Square) – scrapdash.com

Day 22 – September 22 – Sarah Goer – Planned Improv Piecing – sarahgoerquilts.com

Day 23 – September 23 – Kathy Bruckman – Organizing kits for on-the-go sewing – kathyskwiltsandmore.blogspot.com

Day 24 – September 24 – Cheryl Daines Brown – The Secret to Flat Quilt Tops: Borders – quilterchic.com

Day 25 – September 25 – Cherry Guidry – Pre-assembling fusible applique – cherryblossomsquilting.com

Day 26 – September 26 – Laura Chaney – Getting started with English Paper Piecing – prairiesewnstudios.com

Day 27 – September 27 – Ebony Love – Cutting Bias Strips from a Rectangle – lovebugstudios.com

Day 28 – September 28 – Tammy Silvers – Working with heavier weight threads in your machine – tamarinis.typepad.com

Day 29 – September 29 – Kathy Nutley – Create a perfect facing or frame with 90 degree angles – quiltingsbykathy.com

Day 30 – September 3 – Joanne Harris – Using Leaders and Enders – quiltsbyjoanne.blogspot.com

Back To School Blog Hop 2019

 Sam Hunter is once again heading up her fun and super informative Back to School Blog Hop 2019 for the whole month of September. Yes, a whole month FULL of great tips and tutorials! You can easily accomplish your goal of learning something new every day by following/hopping along!

Visit Sam's blog to see all the links and be sure to come back here on Day 19 (9/19) to learn how to get started on hand quilting. I'll show you how easy it is to get started and how much fun you can have in the zen zone of hand quilting. All you need is some fabric, batting, needle, and thread and finally "making that first stitch!"

1876 Centennial Log Cabin

Antique Log Cabin quilt featuring dated 1876 Centennial fabric, part of the Starley Quilt Collection.

It features the brown Centennial cheater cloth on the right side of the picture. Fabric was printed to celebrate America's Centennial (100 years) in 1876 and it has 1776 and 1876 in the print.

More of the quilt along with the red colorway of the 1876 Centennial cheater print - such a cool fabric.

More of the fab fabrics including the cheater as well as a fun novelty print with horseshoes and dice.

Even more wonderful prints.

Technically this is a summer spread or coverlet because it does not have 3 layers. No separate backing layer or any batting BUT it was sewn on foundation fabric squares so it has a "back" and it is bound with no raw edges.

2019 Monthly Color Challenge -June Challenge -Orange

I’m participating in PBJ -Patterns By Jen’s Monthly Color Challenge for June and the focus color is orange. Each month is a different pieced pattern with a color scheme inspired by a special flower. This month's color is orange and the flower is the Sundaze Blaze Strawflower. The block is a 12" Card Trick. The pattern is here -available for free for the month of June. Scroll down to the end of the post to find links for the other bloggers participating in this month's challenge.

Strawflowers are super cool - they are the perfect cut/dried flower as they are almost already dried as a new bloom.

I  chose June because it is my birth month and because I LOVE ORANGE quilts and strawflowers too. So my first task was to decide which group of orange fabrics to use for my block. One option was Halloween but that didn't seem very true to the floral inspiration.

Next, I looked at Cheddar Orange antique reproduction fabrics which I often use in repro quilts but again, they didn't seem to capture the strawflower.

The third choice was the charm, a selection of orange prints and batiks.

For all the choices I took pictures and played with the black and white feature to determine the value or contrast between the fabrics. **Take a picture on your phone and edit color to black/white. Or put the fabrics on a copier and copy on black/white. These fabrics don't have a lot of contrast between dark/medium/light but there is enough to make an effective block.

Card Trick or "It's All About the Triangles"  :)

All of the steps/parts of the Card Trick pattern involve triangles and most involve diagonal seam half square triangles.

The first step is making 1/2 square triangles for the 4 corners. Take 2 squares, draw a diagonal line and sew a 1/4" on both sides of the marked line. Cut apart on the marked line. 2 square sets (light/medium and light/dark) make 4 1/2 square triangles. 

Next is to make the block center which is an hourglass. You repeat the diagonal seam 1/2 square triangle method with a medium and dark square. Cut apart and press. Carefully, place the 2 squares right sides together with opposite colors touching (see photo) so that you will create an X, 

Draw another diagonal line on the back of one of the 1/2 squares and again sew 1/4" on both sides of the line. Cut apart and press. You will have an extra hourglass block.

The final 4 blocks are pieced triangles - simply sew 2 small triangles and then add a larger triangle to make a square. These blocks go in the North, South, East and West positions and are the blocks that really create the Card Trick illusion.

The final steps are joining the 9 blocks together in rows and then sewing the rows together to create a 12" block.
 It is a fun block to make but you do need to be precise in your sewing. I used batiks so I didn't have to worry about right or wrong sides or bias stretching.

*********The other bloggers joining in the fun besides Jen and me are:
Kathy Nester of Penny For My Thoughts
Kathy Bruckman of Kathy's Kwilts

Tumbling Block Stars

For several years, I've been collecting an unusual group of tumbling block star block quilts that feature a solid fabric center star. See the center star of this one below

The quilts were made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and about 20-25 examples have surfaced so far. Most are from the 1880s and 90s. This one has a novelty calendar print dated 1881. Some have very careful fabric selection and color placement as seen on the 2 blocks below with the fabrics in opposite points being very close matches. However, most of the other blocks are more random.

 Lots of wonderful novelty prints including birds and a wonderful cheater print with cats and dogs. See the dog above and he's in from this novelty fabric.

Patterns Through Time - Antique Quilt Trunk Show

In March I was so happy to share my antique quilts at the Sew On and Sew Forth Quilt Retreat run by Amy McClellan of Under The Garden Moon. I presented my Patterns Through Time trunk show where I share at least a dozen different quilt patterns with 2 different examples of each pattern. For example. a 1890s Rocky Road to Kansas and a 1930s version. I discuss the pattern and its history and explain the differences and similarities between the two examples.  I also cover general information on quilt history and quilt dating. 

1890s Rocky Road to Kansas from Penn. (left) and 1930s version from Utah (right)

  1830s Mosaic (early Grandmothers Flower Garden) and a 1890s Diamond Field (another GFG variation).

3 examples of Caesers Crown from the 1800s - middle and right ones are signature quilts.

Patterns range from common 9 patch blocks to the very uncommon French Stars shown above. Top quilt is from 1870s, made in Pennsylvania. Lower quilt is from the Ruby McKim pattern and is from the 1940s/50s.

Hope you enjoyed this sample of my Patterns Through Time trunk show. I'd love to come share these treasures with you! Have Quilts, Will Travel. See pages under the banner photo for more information on my trunk shows and classes.