A Prairie Home Quilts

The top is done.  It’s quite bright.  Probably because that’s what I’m drawn to.  I was able to add in some fabrics from Sonia’s scrap basket.  When I’m house sitting there, I can go through the scrap basket and take what I want.  She’s a long armer so she has scraps from her own quilts and customer’s quilt backings.  And she doesn’t do a lot of scrappy quilts so the scrap basket is usually overflowing.

I like the way it finished up.  I need to get some backing material and then I’m going to use it to practice a new-to-me hand quilting technique.  I would like to do another one like this with reproduction scraps and perhaps another with batiks.

I’ve whittled a few off my WIP list but added a few more ideas to my “want to do” list.  Sonia has an extensive book, magazine and pattern collection.  She works at the LQS.  I sit and wander through them sketching out more design ideas.  The Quilt Index is a dangerous place for me as well.  I found another quilt with LeMoyne Stars that has an unusual alternate block.  It really caught my eye so I now have it designed in EQ6.  I probably wouldn’t be so tempted to start on it if I didn’t already have 3 yards of fabric that I purchased for Guute’s Antique Quilt Club that I decided not to do.  Let’s see how long I’ll be able to resist the temptation to begin yet another project. . .

This is my progress on my 9 patch leader / ender.  I started sewing together 9 patches inspired by Bonnie Hunter’s leader / ender method of completing a scrap quilt while working on other projects.  I could have more of this done if I wasn’t spending so much time on the computer…

This isn’t my design wall.  It’s where I’m house sitting.  Except for the white-on-white that I used in the 9 patches, this is made all from scraps. I’m sure I have enough 2″ & 5″ squares already cut to make another top, but I think I’d like to use an off white or beige in the 9 patches the next time.

Back to sewing so I can get this one to the finished top stage before I’m done house sitting…

This quilt shall otherwise be known as “Erin can’t make up her mind.”  I’ve had the 9 patches for this scrappy quilt done since January 2008.  I originally planned to make the alternate blocks an hour glass block in tan/beige neutrals.  I used the fabric I had for them for some other project along the way and the 9 patches have been sitting…  waiting…  patiently…  to be transformed.

After I cut a bunch of apple core shapes for an Inklingo swap in April [May?], I hit upon the idea of using the “peel” part that was left over from cutting out the shapes to make a flowery-looking motif on the alternate blocks.  This idea involved ironing fusible stuff to the little “peels” and then sewing around each one either by hand or machine.  Did I mention that I need 128 alternate blocks?  Yeah.  So the 9 patches have been sitting…  waiting…  patiently…  to be transformed.

Then I saw Lori’s post at Humble Quilts about her 9 patch quilt.  She used reproduction fabrics for her alternate blocks.  WOW.  It’s lovely and inspiring.  Mine won’t be near as nice as hers with the beautiful shirtings and other repro fabrics, but I do aim to quilt mine with Baptist fans.  It will be warm and charming and inviting I’m sure.  I’m in the process of cutting up the alternate blocks from my scraps.  Then I should be able to get the top together quickly.  Then it will probably sit…   waiting…   patiently…   for borders.