Happy New Year!

Yes I know - it's the first of September. But for me that's New Year. It's the beginning of a new school year and as a student and then a mother and the wife of a University professor the beginning of September always marked and still marks a new year for me. The heat of the summer is over and warm and colorful fall days are around the corner so it's time to take a gulp of fresh air and get going. 

 

This year for me the new year means that I will reactivate my blog. I refuse to let the pandemic drag me down as it did the last few months. As always quilting will be my therapy. 

So - how to celebrate this new start? The best way I can. With a free quilt pattern for you all - the pattern for my quilt "Jewels" which you can also see at the top of my website. 

 

The name comes from the fabrics in jewel tones which are really glowing because of the black sashing and border fabric.This pattern is for a twin size quilt 140 x 200 cm (74“ x 107“) but of course with a few blocks more or less you can easily make it any other size

 

For the top you will need

54 squares of fabric 20 x 20 cm (10“ x 10“) in jewel tones

250 cm (3 1/3 yards) for the sashing and border strips

 

Cut a length of 210 cm (7 feet) from the black fabric

Cut this fabric lengthwise into

8 long sashing strips each 4,5 cm (2“) wide

4 border strips each 12 cm (5“) wide and

4 binding strips each 6 cm (2 ½“) wide.

 

Please note: seam allowance is already included in the measurements.

 

Btw - if you do the maths you will realize that the measurements in centimetres and in inches do not exactly correspond. That's because I adjusted them for easier cutting.  

 

Cut all 54 squares in jewel tones on one diagonal – you will get 108 triangles.

 

Join 2 triangles in different colors on the long side and press the seam allowance to one side. Sew 54 blocks.

 

From the remaining black fabric cut 40 short sashing strips 4,5 cm (2“) wide and the length of your block.

 

Lay out the blocks in 9 rows, 6 blocks in each row. When you like the color combination sew the blocks into rows, adding the short sashing strips between the blocks.

 

Sew the rows together adding the long sashing strips.

 

Add the border strips.

 

Assemble the quilt sandwich and quilt.

 

Bind the quilt with the 4 binding strips.

 

Have fun and enjoy your beautiful quilt! See you next time!

 

I'm linking to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday"

Looking back at August

 

spending some time with horses

watching the numerous butterflies

tasting the (ripe) blackberries

some rain

and much more

Looking back at July

vacation in the mountains of Styria

looking for comet Neowise

my beautiful hibiscus is blooming

spectacular sunsets

Looking back at June

hiking to see wild orchids

indulging in strawberries

roses in full bloom

some rain

taking time to smell the daisies

Looking back at May

rain and rainbows

rhubarb cake

poppies everywhere

painting my new sewing room

a new mug

and much more

Looking back at April

lockdown because of a nasty virus

sewing and wearing facemasks

hiking - far away from everybody

the start of a new shawl

beautiful spring weather

and not much more

Looking back at March

blue skies

blooming (cherry)trees

the first snowdrops

spring all around

celebrating my birthday
and much more

Blockheads 9 - Taos

In my opinion Taos called for orange and dark red to mimic the Adobe buildings and the colors of the desert. And by coincidence the colors corresponded exactely with the blooms of my newly bought hibiscus

Taos by Vanessa Goertzen

My block is 6" which made for rather small squares in the centre but it is manageable.

Here is the link to Vanessa's original post.

Blockheads 8 - 9Patch

Uneven 9Patch by Minick & Simpson

I really love the simplicity of this block. And in a 6" size it's really cute.

Here is the link to the original post by the makers.

Looking back at February

first signs of spring

some rain

spectacular sunsets

a lot of crows around

and much more

Blockheads 6 - Magic

A pinwheel-variation I should have made with 2 different fabrics to make it stand out better. Well, done is done or as a friend of mine said "better finished than perfect".

Magic by Lisa Bongean

As there are so many patches I chose the 12" size.

Here is the link to Lisa's original post.

Blockheads 5 - 9Patch Variation

As it is the week of Valentine's Day Brigitte Heitland designed a block with the word LOVE written on it (click here for the link).
Paper piecing and a written word? Not for me. So I sew that 6"

Nine Patch Variation

Blockheads 4 - Shoo Fly

This week's block is a sweet little birdhouse by Jan Patek (click here for the link). I decided that I want only regularly pieced blocks for my sampler, no representational blocks like birds, bunnies, houses, baskets, hearts, etc. So I substituted Jan Patek's block for a traditional, 6"

Shoo Fly

Looking back at January

some shunshine

a little bit of snow

putting away the Christmas decoration

a very special houseguest

a lot of fog

and much more

Blockheads 3 - Crown and Star

As this block is made up of many pieces I went for a 12" block.

I love how the precise measurements in the patterns and the scant 1/4" foot of my sewing machine are delivering perfect blocks. Thanks to all the designers!

Blockheads 3

Crown and Star by Betsy Chutchian 

This is the link to Betsy's blogpost.

Blockheads 2 - Sunshine Star

A nice little (6 inch) block that I really enjoyed making.

Blockheads 2

Sunshine Star by Sherri McConnell

Here is the link to Sherri's blogpost.

Blockheads 1 - Star Chain

For the third year in a row Moda is launching their Blockheads. That means 56 quilt blocks in 56 weeks. As I lost my sewing mojo in the last months I decided to join this sew-along to get back on track again. 

I defined some restrictions for myself:
1. No fabric buying - only using my stash.
2. No paper-piecing as I hate this technique (which is therefore not really a restriction but a permission).
3. I chose a dark gey background fabric. I have a bit over 2 yards and I will sew along as long as this fabric lasts.
4. The blocks are given in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 inches. I decided to make them either in 6 or in 12 inches. This should make for a nice, lively, not too big sampler quilt. And the 12 inch option will make it easier to sew the blocks with many pieces.

So here we go!

Blockheads 1

Star Chain by Corey Yoder

Here is the link to Corey Yoder's blogpost.

I really liked to sew this 12" block. And especially the colors I've chosen. It was a rainy gray day and the fabrics really brought sunshine into it.

To place the half-square triangles correctly I fold them and the squares in half and pinched them with two fingers to get a mark in the fabric. In the picture (left) I marked this pinch with a gray line. Then put the right sides of the fabric together matching the marks. Pin and sew (right). 

https://de.freepik.com - design by starline