I Spy Puss in the Corner

At the local op shop I bought a pile of old quilting magazines which included Australian Quilters' Companion No. 18 (the one with the Candied Hexagons pattern).  There is also a pattern called 30s Sweet Dreams using a traditional block called Puss in the Corner.  Here's what I did with the pattern:

The pattern uses 3.5 and 1.5 inch pieces.  This is smaller than what I usually save, but I sorted through my 3.5 inch squares and found these framed pieces, seven in all. I discovered I did have a bin of 1.5 inch strips so I cut a pile of bright pieces and sorted them into take away food containers.

I like using these containers.  I don't use the lids, I just stack them inside each other when I'm putting things away.
The magazine pattern makes the quilt in rows rather than blocks and I found that worked very well.

The finished piece is too big for a doll's quilt.  I think I'll add some wide borders and make it cot sized.  If I was using the pattern again  I would make the big squares 5 inches and the strips 2 inches, which would still keep the pattern but would end up a more useful size.

Flowers in a 9 Patch

I'm part way through a new I Spy setting but it's not quite finished.  So I though I would take the chance to share my latest finish.

This is Miss Emma's birthday quilt.  The top is made from two years worth of swap blocks in my group Primary Patchworkers.  The flower blocks were made in 2009.  Each group member supplied a box of fabric which went from member to member once a month.  Each person used the supplied fabrics to make a block in her chosen style.  Mine is the pieced flower bottom left hand corner.
The nine patch blocks were made in the 2011 birthday blocks.  I supplied pink, yellow and white fabric (leftovers from my flowers) and asked members to add some from their own stash to make nine patch blocks.  I actually asked for nine inch block when I needed eight inch ones, so I trimmed them all resulting in a large square surrounded by smaller squares.
I quilted in the ditch along the diagonals and then - drum roll please - I did a free motion outline in each flower block.

The backing fabric is a very pretty pink gingham with white embroidered daises scattered around. 

 Miss Emma likes pink.

I'll finished with a gratuitous picture of a Singer treadle machine, my mother's day present.

I like sewing machines.

Stars and Square in a Square

Each year my real time patchwork group makes a monthly block challenge, which we keep for ourselves or make for each other.  This year we given a monthly set of instructions for two 12 inch blocks which we construct from our own stashes.  At the next meeting all 48 blocks are collected and sorted into two quilts' worth.  At our Christmas breakup we will each receive a package with 24 quilts blocks to make into a quilt (or perhaps a UFO).

Last month's pattern was for a star block and a square in a square.  We were given the feature fabric and a guideline for colours.  Here are my two blocks:

I thought, 6.5 inch square of feature fabric? Another I Spy idea!  I made two more blocks for myself.

I decided to use some animal prints.  The little fish on the left have ocean corners, and the koalas on the right have wattle flower corners. 

The two different blocks make a great secondary pattern.  I better make some more.....

I Spy Evening Stars

Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville site is one of my favourite places to browse.  I like Bonnie's chatty style and her great patchwork ideas - she never seems to stop!

Recently in her blog Bonnie shares the progress of a new quilt for a baby boy.

The quilt starts with some novelty print 4.5 inch squares which become the centre of Evening Star blocks.

The blocks increase in number using 2.5 inch strips to make the flying geese and corner squares.

Now, if I was working with these nice bright blocks I would probably sash them with some nice neutral fabric to draw them altogether - but Bonnie is never neutral.

How's that!  I certainly wouldn't have thought of black and white checkerboard strips, but doesn't it look great!  I like the way the black and white extends into the multicolored border.

You can read all the details of this starry I Spy here, and here, and here.  Well done Bonnie - you've inspired us once again!

The Talking Quilt

I bought a stack of old quilt magazines at a secondhand book sale. I was browsing through 'Country Quilts - Fall 1995' when I came across an article on 'The Talking Quilt'. It was an I Spy quilt made with 98 different novelty print charm squares. The author made square in a square blocks with each charm square, sashed with navy blue, and put the blocks on point with a wide border. It looked very nice, but the best part of the article was two pages of ideas for using charm squares.

Here's a few of the author's block ideas.   I used 6.5 inch charm squares that I sell at Two Bits Patches and made them up to 12 inch blocks.

Do you have a favourite pattern for a child's quilt? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Cobblestones / 9 patch

Log Cabin / Pieced Star

Square in a Square / Antique Tile.