OK, I have to admit. I do NOT like the word rhombus. Yes, I was a high school math teacher at one time and I'm sure that word was in my lesson plans. But, hey, how to you use that word in your circle of friends? "Hey, Sally. I love your rhombus engagement ring!" Yeah, right. Well, you're probably thinking, "Sheesh. She sure does have a bee in her bonnet!" Not so. Diamonds are diamonds are rhombuses. They both mean the same thing, which is: " an  oblique-angled  equilateral  parallelogram"  which is what Dictionary.com says. Now, let me move on to some quilts with diamonds. That's why you've come anyway, right? First some DIAMONDS. Diamonds cut from 4-1/2" strips This is my Baby Blocks quilt using those diamonds. I call it "My Diamonds Have the Blues" (pretty original, don't you think?) My Diamonds Have the Blues (60" x 60") And a few smaller ones: Baby Blocks using 3-1/2" diamonds A...

I must like this pattern, as I've made this several times. I have a whole lot of blocks from teaching it a dozen times last year! Now to put them together. I have fixed the links to the pattern. Many thanks to those who alerted me! Here is my first one: Gretchen quilt in black and red prints Then I received a bundle of fabrics from Red Rooster and made this one: Gretchen Quilt in happy colors Then I made some sample blocks for my recent workshops. I used some of my precious shwe shwe cloth from my Africa days 40 years ago. Yikes! What took me so long to cut into these? Blue indigo prints from Africa make up four Gretchen Blocks  And I had just a handful of the reds: 4 Red Gretchen Blocks I love shot cottons mixed with Kaffe Fassett prints and I made these this morning (yes, I get up early). What do you think? First, realize that there are NO TEMPLATES. You are only working with two sizes of squares and a magical way with your rotary cutter! ...

Are you still with me? Today I share my 3rd class which I am teaching this summer at the MAQ retreat in Gettysburg, PA. I will have another English Paper Piecing class which concentrates on using diamonds with hexagons. Sunday, July 16: C16   English Paper Piecing with Hexagons and Diamonds Skill Level:  All skill levels. This is a hand sewing class. Description:  English Paper Piecing is a great take-along hand piecing project, perfect for making traditional Grandmother's Flower Garden (GFG) blocks – and more! Discover simple diamonds, which, when combined with the hexagons, offer exciting possibilities for altogether new blocks adding a creative dimension to your design options. My collection of samples is a treasure trove of inspiration, where you’ll see all sorts of ways to use your hexagons and diamonds in a variety of settings and projects. Techniques covered  English Paper Piecing, hand sewing, designing with hexagons and diamonds. Kit Requir...

Part Two of my MAQ class lineup in July. I shared on Monday what I'll be teaching on the first day of the quilting symposium: English Paper Piecing, Going Beyond the Hexagon . If you missed it, make sure you get over and see all the pictures ! My Saturday class (July 13) is The Traditional Pickle Dish . You may be asking: What is a Pickle Dish? And why would I want to make a quilt out of pickles?! It's not made out of pickles; the sharp points take their cue from an old fashioned cut glass pickle dish. Here's just one block. Yes, this is PAPER PIECING and curved piecing, not for beginners. Pickle Dish Block: 12" x 12" Here's my description: This is NOT a Double Wedding Ring but the vintage block that simulates a glass pickle dish with sharp points, which are possible using foundation paper piecing. The center melon shape and background curved unit are doable using my easy pinning method. The 4 blocks are set together for a square center. More blo...

MAQ ? What's that? It's Mid-Appalachian Quilting Symposium  and they work on one thing all year long - putting together one of the loveliest quilters' retreats I've ever been to. For 32 years this group of volunteers (a new board every 2 years) puts together an amazing line up of national teachers which offer a wide range of classes. Dates? July 12-14, 2019. Where? Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania This is a 3-Part series. Today I share my Friday class. Friday:   English Paper Piecing: Going Beyond the Hexagon This is a hexagon. Actually, a lot of 2" hexagons. Let's work with some other 60 degree shapes! The Zig and Zag of Hexies How about one hexagon and 6 half-hexagons? What's this called? A Twisted Hexagon! We might be exploring this delightful block, which I typically make on the sewing machine. We will have NO sewing machines in our class! We will also answer your question: what's with those little bits of fabric sticking ...

This is a repeat of a blog post from 2014 featuring some beautiful fabrics from Benartex. Beautiful fabrics from the Sakura Collection by Benartex I was especially drawn to the large scale print featuring butterflies. What do you think of these? Oh. You want me to show you how to make them? Allow me! Butterflies remind me of Spring. Are you coming, Spring? I wanted to make something simple, letting the fabric take the stage. Simple shapes: circles and squares. Did I say that circles are simple? Easy? Of course. Let me show you how! Isolate a butterfly. Cut out a circle of freezer paper. I drafted a 6" circle and printed it. Then I traced it onto freezer paper. I will center it on my butterfly. Captured all of the butterfly within the circle Now I iron the freezer paper circle to the WRONG side of the butterfly. It will be my sewing guide. Cut a piece of medium weight interfacing larger than the circle Now for the fun part! Sew along th...