Little Darlings Quilt, Loaded on Frame

 Today I sewed the rows of the Little Darlings quilt together, then attached a border.  What would I use for backing?  I have few large pieces of fabric in my small stash.  I looked at Hobby Lobby's website to see what time they closed... started to head out of my quilting studio -- then walked across the landing into my little office where I have my fabric totes.  Halfway through the stack of bins, I hit pay dirt on the third one I opened:  there was a large piece of blue and gold flower print.  

This is from the Countryside Collection by Maywood Studio, and it's left over from the Atlantic Beach Path quilt.  Perfect!  I could back little Eva's quilt with leftover fabric from her Daddy and Mama's quilt!   Some of the blues on the top are from The Quilt Crossing in Boise, Idaho, purchased with a gift card I received when the Atlantic Beach Path won Best of Show at the Boise Basin Quilt Show last year. 

But... would there be enough?  I unfolded it and measured.

There would!  I would need to piece it, but there would be enough.

Next, I pieced together some high-loft poly batting, then loaded everything on the frame.  I'm ready to start quilting!

Rows Together, Little Darlings Quilt

 The blocks are now sewn together into rows for the Little Darlings quilt.  Tomorrow I'll sew the rows together and add a border.  As I feared, I ran out of one of the fabrics.  Three blocks sport a few patches that are unlike the rest.  Can you spot them?

More Paper-Pieced Star Blocks

 A few more paper-pieced 8-point star blocks are done.  Six more to go, and the Little Darlings quilt will be ready to put together.  Remember the picture I posted last week showing how crookedly the blocks were printed?  The third shot shows that it turned out looking quite straight after the sashing was sewn on.  I did not try to follow the grain; I instead followed the printed lines, as that's what will be noticed.

The last picture shows the first 8-point star I put together.  I didn't care for it, for this quilt; but I'll make a pillow out of it to go with the other Little Darlings quilt I'll be making.

Four More Blocks

 Four more 8-pointed stars are done.  Here they are with the coordinating Little Darlings blocks.  There will be a total of 30 blocks in this quilt.

Paper-Piecing, Cont'd

Despite my griping, paper-piecing does turn out a pretty block.

I actually like paper-piecing, but it's been a while since I've done it, and any time I start a new project with this method, it takes a couple of blocks before I get into the swing of things. Here's why I did paper-piecing for this block: The middle square is 4" x 4". The outer squares are 3.75" x 3.75". The large triangles are 4.337" x 4.027" with 62° angles. The skinny triangles are 4.492" x 2.419", bisected diagonally. This, because the block had to be 10 ½" in order to match the coordinating blocks. 😏

On Paper-Piecing

Note: Paper-piecing makes me feel exactly like a toddler must feel when he sizes up a small chair, works up a logistics formula in his active little brain, and then begins turning around, the better to dispose of his small ka-rumpasetter (daughter Hester's word, when she was barely 3) smack-dab into said chair.

He turns around... and around... and around... and around... and then, feeling he has properly and precisely arrived at his destination, he sits down, ker-PLOP. And looks totally amazed to find himself on the floor. What happened to those worthy logistics?!

That's how I paper-piece. However, the more I do, the better I get!

Ahem. Theoretically. "The better I get."

>>...disrespectful guffaws issue from the peanut gallery...<<

In-Between Blocks for Little Darlings Quilt

Today I've been working on the in-between blocks for the Little Darlings quilt.  I drew it in EQ8 in order to accommodate the fussy-cut square in the middle, which needed to be exactly 3½", finished.  The fabric is all cut for the rest of the blocks, but it's possible I will run out of that tan fabric.  If that happens, I'll come up with a revised plan.  (I added one of yesterday's blocks that coordinates with the star block.)

 

15 Blocks for Little Darlings Quilt

Fifteen 10½" blocks have been made and squared up for the Little Darlings quilt.  The print on the fabric was askew, so things are a wee bit whoppyjaw; but I steamed and pressed and cut and sewed carefully, and steamed and pressed again before squaring up all the blocks.  I think they don't look too awfully cockeyed now.  

I still need to make 15 complimentary blocks, using some coordinating fabric.  I'm drawing the block in EQ8's EasyDraw.  The blocks will be positioned as they are in the first photo.  This quilt will be for granddaughter Eva, 2½.

Starting 'Little Darlings' Quilt

The trouble with panels and printed blocks is that they're printed all whoppyjaw!  Ugh, look at this.  Fortunately, fabric is flexible.  🫤🙄

I'm starting a 'Little Darlings' quilt (maybe two quilts), a Henry Glass & Co. print, for one or two of the littlest granddaughters.

'Little Ones' Quilt for Oliver, Finished

The 'Little Ones' quilt for grandson Oliver, 1½, is done.  It measures 39" x 48".  The panel, 'Little Ones', was designed by Dawn Rosengren for Henry Glass Fabrics.  I used 40-wt. Omni natural white on top, and 60-wt. Bottom Line natural white in the bobbin.  The batting is cotton, leftover scraps zigzagged together.

The last four pictures show a couple of pages of the little book that goes with the quilt, and the back.  The coordinating piece for the backing wasn't quite wide enough, so I added strips of contrasting fabric to the sides.

Quilting the 'Little Ones' Quilt

 I've reached the halfway point on the 'Little Ones' quilt for grandson Oliver, who's 1½.

'Little Ones' Quilt Top Together

 The 'Little Ones' quilt top is together.  Tomorrow I'll piece the backing and batting (I'm trying to use up my scraps) and start quilting it.

'Little Ones' Book

 Just finished this soft fabric book, 'Little Ones', for grandson Oliver, 1½.  Each page has a layer of Soft & Bright cotton batting inside.  Now for the matching quilt.