Monday, June 27, 2011

Plaid quilt along...would you like to play with me??

HI Everyone! I had a fun weekend...dear son and dear DIL were here to celebrate my husband's birthday, and a belated Father's day! We had such fun, did lots of fun stuff and ate lots of good things...just a yummy weekend all the way around. How is it that my dear husband looks one year younger each birthday, and I age with each birthday? Just not fair, is it!!!? Happy birthday, darling! Then....I worked all week...so there!

Above are my Wool blocks from Primitive Gatherings...as you can see, I still have lots of work to do on these, LOL!! They are so much fun, though...no needle turning edges...just fuse down and hand blanket stitch around the woolie shapes...I love doing this! The time consuming thing is the prep for me...
See my header quilt? Notice that it is quilted now...yippee!! The plaid string one...many of you have asked me about this quilt and where to get the pattern. The pattern is one by Evelyn Sloppy, in her strings book...this book is absolutely wonderful, if you get the chance to purchase it, do it! Evelyn has a website at www.littlemisssloppy.com., where her book is listed, and a lot of other fun books and patterns!
The pattern and copyright are hers...and I thank her for sharing her amazing pattern with the world, I love it!! I cannot give yardages, or specific directions for this quilt...that is in the pattern book if you would like to get it. I am just kind of thinking we could all do our own thing and have fun with our plaids and have a quilt along! I gifted this quilt to my son and his wife, along with one of my nine patch quilts...so I am making another plaid string quilt, with string piecing. It may turn out like the one above, or not...whimsy will dictate the direction of this quilt! Would you like to play along??? You know...many of you have a little collection of plaids you have sorted out from your stash and did not know what to do with these fabrics...this is a great plaid stash buster. Now, I have never done a quilt along...but maybe we could just all have fun together and have a warm plaid quilt for this fall time and winter!!


I first decided what size to make the blocks...you can make your blocks and quilt whatever size you decide!! I am making 6 inch finished blocks, so I cut 7 inch muslin foundations. You can make bigger blocks, like 8, 10, or 12 inch finished blocks too. Now, lots of people love to use tissue, or phone book pages as a foundation...please do whatever floats your boat! I use light weight muslin, because I like the addition warmth it gives my quilt. Plus I hate to take out all that paper, but some people like to do that in front of the TV at night. Again, you do it your way and have fun!
Now, here is where it gets fun! I have to confess...I had some strings left over from my first quilt...and have been hoarding them! Hee!! Now, it is time to use them up! I have lots of browns and drab plaids...but I think it is great fun to mix it up! Get some bright colored plaid shirts from the good will or thrift store ( make sure they are 100% cotton, it just works better). Look for plaids in the quilt shop...at Joann's...in the discount bins! Old pajama pants work great too. I cut them all up, not measuring the width of strip at all...but some of you may want to cut your strings all 1.5 or 2 inches...that gives a little more organized look to your blocks. Again, whatever you love...do it!! I also cut some of the strings 1.5 inches, carefully, to make nine patch corner stone blocks, if I decide to do that in the end...


Ready? Set?? Next day off...I will make some plaid blocks!!!


Have a great day!!!


Julie

20 comments:

Nancy said...

Ooooh, another plaid beauty - I can't wait to see it.

Lori said...

Can you belive a plaid/homespun string quilt was on my to-do list for LAST fall?! I am working hard on a UFO but would like to start this a string quilt before the end of the month. Thanks for the kick!!

regan said...

I'm in! I've been loving your header quilt for so long....and I have all the plaids in strip bins ready to go! Yay!

Kathy said...

I love your BOW blocks. They are fun to do, aren't they? I think I'm going to like these when they are all put together in a quilt. My goal for the weekend is to get blocks 4 and 5 done - we'll see if that happens!

GardenOfDaisies said...

I love your appliqued wool blocks and your plaid string quilt. Just gorgeous! One of these days I really do want to try to make one of these string quilts I just love the look!

Teresa in Music City said...

Count me in too!!! I have been drooling over your banner quilt and have been shopping Goodwill for shirts so I can make one of my own. I have them stacked up in my closet - it's almost a mountain by now! Thanks for giving me the momentum to get started.... YAY!!!

Nicky said...

Oh yes please! I have my plaids out doing the Farmer's Wife so will just need to add these blocks into the mix. Love that quilt it is so gorgeous!

Rosa said...

I love your applique block,just beautiful!!

Me and My Stitches said...

Love your Primitive Gatherings blocks - I must have been asleep when they started this and tried to get in, but it was too late :( I see they are going to offer it as a BOM later - maybe I will get in then. Also love your string quilt. Evelyn Sloppy has wonderful patterns.

Lois Arnold said...

The appliqued wool blocks are exquisite! My friend Lorinda has done a lot of felted wool quilts. She wrote a book, "Heartfelt Wool Quilts" is the title I think. It was published by AQS but may be out of print now. I don't think I have enough plaid to play along, but I'll follow along and see the progress. Besides I have a gazillion ideas I need to do first anyway! Have a great holiday weekend!

Finn said...

I absolutely CAN NOT start another quilt!!!!!So..having said that *VBS*, count me IN 'cause I can't resist!!! Love, love, love your plaid header quilt and think I must have one too! Big Happy 4th hugs, FInnIe XXX
P.S. please scoot me an email with your snail mail addy, I must have it somewhere but have been looking for a week with and can't find it!!

Andrea said...

I'm in please Julie. I love yours and want one too. I have a fair few quite flimsy feeling plaids that I bought in a couple of fat quarter bundles. They felt ok til I washed them then they seemed very thin so I will sew them onto muslin too so they have a good base . Might dig them out thus weekend xxx

Merilyn said...

Your wool qpplique blocks are just beautiful, very nice work!!
I have no plaids in my stash boo-hoo!!, just never went in that direction, but I will enjoy watching your progress!!!!

ana s. said...

I made that plaid quilt and love it. You are making me think I should start another one. Great project for retreats.

KaHolly said...

Your wool blocks are BEAUTIFUL!! Believe it or not, I don't have any plaids. But every time I visit your blog and see your beautiful header, I wish I did!! ~karen

Anita in Florida said...

I just saw your post today...have had company for ages...I have a whole draw full of homespun FQs....just waiting to be made into a quilt...hopefully I can get some strips cut soon and join in on the qullt along.

Melanie said...

I'm doing the Prim Gatherings BOW--- You're the first friend I've seen doing it on-line.... I just love it. It's a gift to myself. On the weekends I prep a block and through out the week I stitch on the porch. A baby quilt caused me to get behind-- but I'm not stressing. I so love this.... Let's keep in touch.

Anonymous said...

Hello Julie,sadly.... unable to quilt along....still working on my hexagon quilt...hugs lyn

Amy said...

Julie,
Once I saw your quilt in the header a while back, I started making one like it! Now that my summer is slowing down maybe I will pull out my string blocks and make some progress on it.

Nancy said...

I really don't need to start another quilt but I have long been an admirer of your header quilt even bought the book a couple of years ago.
So count me in and I will try to keep up but no promises.

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