Stars and Stripes

I just thought I’d share a few old projects with you that make me think of the 4th of July. I made this quilt about 10 years ago and it was one of the first quilts I ever made. I don’t remember the pattern source, I’m pretty sure it was in a magazine, maybe Quilter’s Newsletter????

I had collected quite a few fat quarters of 30s reproduction fabrics and other red, white and blue small prints. When I made this I didn’t know that flying geese and stars were supposed to be hard. This quilt is also set on point with lattice sashing. I do remember taking the finished top into the LQS (local quilt shop) to get backing and the ladies working there being very surprised that it was my first real quilt. Just goes to show you that sometimes not knowing what you don’t know is a good thing.

When I made this quilt it went on Emma’s bed when she had her first room to herself. The room was painted a nice deep yellow with red and white ticking curtains. Now it is on the guest room bed and is usually covered with a black comforter because it really doesn’t match that room anymore. I’m thinking of moving it to the basement family room. It would look fabulous against the big red couch down there.

Another old quilt that I keep on display in the guest room is this “Stack and Whack” star quilt I made using hand-dyed fabrics from my fabric dying era. I love the bold colors in this wall quilt. As you can see this room is now painted with vivid green walls and a turquoise ceiling so the bold colors of this quilt really fit well here. No one will ever accuse me of being afraid of color!

 

 

This last little project is a store sample I made last summer. Just used a variety of red, white and blue fabrics we had and cut them into 2.5x5” strips and pieced them in a brick pattern. Other features of this pillow are the covered buttons. I used the I-Top button maker to make them. It sure is a lot easier than the old method of making covered buttons!

 

I also added red piping in the seams and accented the pieced section with hand-look stitches in red. That was the one feature that really got attention at the store. Most Berninas have this stitch available. It is done with the color thread in the bobbin and invisible thread in the needle and adjustments to the thread tension.

This pillow will also be added to the big red couch in the basement. Someday I will have my dream house with a big wrap around front porch with white wicker rockers and I will decorate it up for the 4th of July with red, white, and blue quilts and pillows, bunting and vases of daisies.

Hope you are all staying cool and safe today. I think I have a date with my pool for the rest of the day (and a can of 100 spf sunscreen!)