The Breezy Windmills quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Quilters on the American frontier were inspired by the world around them. They stitched up log cabins, rail fences, bear paws, and flying geese. And, of course, they stitched up windmills.
You see, windmills dotted the Great Plains, pumping water from deep underground. When dry spells left the earth parched, a windmill could pump enough water to cook, bathe, wash, and water crops. Now that’s a quilt-worthy feat!
This week Jenny is whipping up a simple Breezy Windmills quilt using precut 2.5 inch strips. It’s a pretty jelly roll pattern that comes together quickly with strip sets in every color of the rainbow!
When Jenny Doan was a child, she lived in an idyllic little town called Spreckels, California.
In the center of town stood a park circled by a wide sidewalk, the perfect canvas for chalk artists to create all sorts of interesting scenes: Fields of poppies, snow-capped mountains, coral reefs filled with rainbow-hued fish.
How she wished to hop right in – Mary Poppins style – to explore those magical worlds!
This week, Jenny is working on a Playground quilt that is as charming as that small-town park. It’s a beautiful jelly roll + layer cake pattern made with easy flying geese, square in a square, and blocks with snowballed corners.
You may know this old-fashioned favorite as Swing in the Center. We’re using cute 30s prints to give it a vintage look. Follow Jenny’s tips for keeping your points razor-sharp—you’ll never lose another point!
The Vintage Blossom quilt from BLOCK Volume 6 Issue 3.
This year for Mother’s Day, give mom a gift truly from the heart by stitching up a new quilt just for her. We celebrate our mother’s because they have always been there for us; they are both our providers and protectors. This year instead of the traditional route of flowers, blanket her in the warmth and comfort of a quilt to let her know that when she needs you most, you’ll always be there to comfort her.
We’ve picked out five great quilting projects that are perfect for mom. From vintage classics that will remind her of her youth to new exciting designs that incorporate the imagery of Mother’s Day, no matter what her style is we’ve got a solution for you!
The May Day Baskets quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
You know what they say, April showers bring May Flowers. May is the perfect time of year for home gardens and flowers and therefore, has become a symbolized by beautiful bouquets of flowers. Put a spin on the classic gift from the garden this year by presenting mom with a May Day Baskets quilt, blooming with beautiful buds that will never wither away.
The Vintage Blossom quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
If this project looks familiar, you may know it by a different name such as Grandmother’s Flower Garden! This traditional quilt pattern not only will be stitched with love, but will be a nostalgic gift that reminds mom of a simpler time. Not only will you be covering mom in a gift of love, but you’ll be creating a new version of a quilt that is rich with history to be passed down to future generations.
While any precut will do, Jenny demonstrates how to make this quilt in her tutorial by using layer cakes (10″ squares of precut quilting fabric). When selecting your layer cake, we suggest you follow in Jenny’s footsteps and locate a vintage or reproduction fabric such as Jane Austen at Home 10″ Stackers by Jane Austen for Riley Blake. These fabrics offer a vintage and more muted color palette that will give this quilt the classic ambiance it deserves!
The Mother’s Choice Remake quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
This project is simply in the name, Mother’s Choice! An easy jelly roll quilt, this project is made up of easy half-square triangles, snowballed corners and flying geese. When gifting this quilt to mom, you may be surprised to learn that this beautiful creation is actually a classic block known as the Dove in the Window, Fringed Square and Laurel Wreath!
We adore Jenny’s fabric choices for this project, so if you’re in a pinch when selecting what fabrics to use, go with what works! Jenny used The Emporium Collection The Tudor Rolie Polie by Liberty Fabric to create the elegant and delicate design of this quilt. This fabric features florals, intricate vines, feathers and much more in a lovely pink, black and cream color scheme.
The Turnabout Granny Squares quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Talk about a classic! The Turnabout Granny Squares quilt is a blast from the past that makes a great option for a Mother’s Day gift. This creative block can be found in a multitude of crafting mediums; you may be more familiar with it as a crochet pattern. Regardless of how it’s used, this simple block creates a great quilt that is full of traditional elements.
Once more, you’ll need to use 2.5″ strips to create this masterpiece. But what if mom enjoys traditional elements from her youth AND is a modern maker who enjoys a splash of color? Go bold with this project to perfectly blend two periods of time by selecting a vibrant and bright fabric such as Jazz Batiks Strips by Bella Nonna Designs for Island Batik.
The Grandmother’s Fan quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Whether you’re celebrating mom becoming a grandmother, or stitching up something to appreciate grandma as well on Mother’s Day, the Grandmother’s Fan quilt is a classic curved project that she will be sure to love! This dresden based pattern comes together in an absolute flash by using the Missouri Star Large Dresden Plate Template for 10″ Squares.
Handy Andy is a traditional 19th century quilt block. It’s sometimes called Footstool or Mrs. Jones’ Favorite. And, truth be told, it’s ALWAYS made with bajillions of tiny pieces. (Bajillions!)
But don’t worry! You can count on Jenny to make it easy!
Using 2.5 inch precut strips and our beloved Clearly Slotted Trimmers, Jenny whips up scores of little half-square triangles and hourglass blocks without breaking a sweat. Best of all, the leftover scraps become a piano-key border!
We’re calling this charming jelly roll quilt Handy Dandy, but whatever the name, this pattern is an absolute joy to make!
Quilters are some of the most resourceful, green people we know! We are always saving up scraps and asking other quilters for ways we can reduce, reuse, and recycle quilting and sewing materials. We never want to throw anything away if we don’t have to!
In recognition of Earth Day and being green, here are a few ways that we choose to reduce, reuse, and recycle to demonstrate our support for the environment!
Found Fabrics
Found fabric is fabric that you can find . . . anywhere! Make a trip into your closet, into a loved ones closet, to the closest thrift store, or have a stash swap with friends and start cutting up and stitching the fabric back together to create something new and beautiful!
Jean quilts, like the one pictured below, are great found fabric quilts! Take some old jeans, cut them up, and you’ll have a quilt that will last! Bust these out during a camping trip, outdoor sporting event, picnic, or outside play time and they’re perfect for staying warm and dry. The sturdy material won’t pick up dirt and debris as easily as other fabrics can – it’s the perfect outdoor blanket!
Jenny and granddaughter Katie enjoy some sunshine out on the jean quilt Jenny made years ago!
Jeans are not the only clothing item that can be used as quilting material! Shirts of all kind (T-shirts, plaid shirts, flannel shirts, and more!) are great fabric sources. Who knows, you could find the perfect missing piece for your next project in your very own closet!
T-shirt quilts and memory quilts are perfect ways to hold loved ones and warm memories close for years to come.
Scraps
Don’t let those scraps go to waste! There are plenty of ways to make use of small pieces of fabric.
Do you have tiny scraps from a project that you just can’t bear to throw away? Do you have a stray block sitting around that you don’t know what to do with? Make a pincushion! Those tiny pieces are perfect for stitching together to create a cute new home for your pins – make a new one for your sewing space or make a few and gift them to your quilting friends!
Do you or a loved one have a pet? Make a fabric scrap animal bed! Do you want to use those scraps to make something bigger than a pincushion? Try crumb quilting! There are countless ways to make use of those tiny pieces that we may not think twice about as we sew along on other projects. What is your favorite way to use up scraps?
Re-Purposed Items
Many items around you can be re-purposed into something new. The possibilities are endless!
Do you have a cute little cup or pot that needs a new home? Turn it into a cactus pincushion!
Easy Cactus Shaped Pincushion project.
Are you in need of an ironing station closer to your sewing machine? Use a TV tray! Simply grab a heatproof surface such as the Missouri Star Wooly Betty Board to lay on top of the tray and you have the perfect portable ironing station so you can iron as you work! There are so many ways things around us can be re-purposed and transformed into something new. What items have you transformed?
For even more inspiration on how to go Green this Earth Day, check out our Celebrate Issue of BLOCK Magazine! This issue is filled with projects you can stitch up using your small pieces and scraps. Download the digital version and get started on a t-shirt quilt, wall hanging, denim bag buckets, adorable little aprons, and more – today!
Tell us how you go green while quilting in the comments below!
