I have always loved to recycle. In fact, I was recycling items before there was even a word for it (back in the early 1960s). And recycling magazine articles that I wrote 20 years ago is something I also love to do. As you know, I was an editor with Quilt Magazine for 14 years (1993-2007) and published hundreds of quilts and almost 1,000 technique articles (yes, that's true!) One that I just re-discovered is from Sampler Quilts 2003. It's my Hexagon Sampler Blocks. It wasn't associated with a real quilt, just some blocks I designed and provided steps for making (along with templates). Parts to Baby Blocks using Meadow fabrics by Windham I reused the patterns for one or two of my 18 Block a Day calendars. Here is the way the entry for 2010 appears. I created 6 blocks in a simple setting. These use English Paper Piecing. Hexagon Sampler from my 2010 Block a Day calendar The blocks finish to 9". I've made all of them using the Meadow Collection by Windham Fabrics . I ...

If you've had trouble leaving a comment on my blog in the past few months, please know that I was alerted to this and made a change just this morning. Google did something to ostracize those without Google accounts. First, a quilt so you can be entertained! One of my Christmas quilts recently finished. Seasons Greetings Panel Quilt: 42" x 44" Now, back to Google. I want to hear from you if you want to leave a comment! I love knowing what you think of what I share here. If you try to leave a comment and it doesn't work, send me an email: kratovil@his.com More quilty stuff: This is a candle mat I made with that same collection (Seasons Greetings by Benartex) in 2014. I used the very last of the panels on the back: Back of Seasons Greetings quilt (6 extra panels) Now, back to Google. They have turned off the notifications via email for me - and I own the blogger account! I have to remind myself to visit my own page because I no longer get emails about new posts. I can...

Just when I think I'm done with a particular pattern, it shouts at me from another room and I have to pay attention! My sister in law asked for a cheering-up quilt for a friend whose husband is going through chemo. She sits with him during his treatment and Sarah thought it would be nice to have something cuddly on her lap. Hence, she chose this Stacked Kites quilt I made a few years ago.  Stacked Kites quilt : 44" x 54" I taught a Rose Star class a few years ago and even had a simple template made to make cutting those kite shapes easier. Here is my Rose Star class sample: Rose Star table topper Here's my simple acrylic template (I have not a single one left): Kite template for 5" kites You may even have one of the "specialty" rulers on the market. They are cumbersome to operate, especially the Clearview Triangle that came with NO INSTRUCTIONS for cutting kites. I asked them about that. Crickets. (It's a $27 ruler, btw) Creative Grids Kite ruler (...

I shared this post a few years ago and then up popped an ad from Connecting Threads about the fabric collection today. I pulled out my blocks and remaining yardage using  Warp and Weft  by Benartex.                                    Here is a repeat post that also is a fun tutorial: Warp and Weft  by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr of  Modern Quilt Studio  debuted in early 2019. These fabrics are not your ordinary cottons that are surface dyed, but are wovens with colored threads. As soon as I saw them I knew just what I'd like to stitch with them. My tried and true " Yikes! Those Stripes " pattern is a go-to anytime there are fabrics such as these in my studio. I featured these when they first came out and I came upon the blocks hanging in my closet the other day. I think I need to make some more. Let's see what I said about them 2+ years ago: First, the fa...

. . . for now, at least! (Check last week's posts to see the other 3 quilts I made with many of the same fabrics.) I emptied my workshop box of all the blocks and parts using the same fabrics and found that I could squeeze one more quilt out of them! Added a lovely yellow print for the setting triangles and here she is! Holiday Splendor #2: 46" x 48"  These are the units I put together with larger triangles. These went on the back: Diamonds and triangles I had lots of red diamonds with small yellow triangles. Two different reds, but when you're trying to squeeze another quilt out, it's ok if they don't "match." I put the units shown above together for the center of the quilt back! I made two of these. Found an awesome print at Joann's last week and pieced the back. What do you think? I wanted to make sure there was a rod pocket at the top but ran out of the main print. Found something with similar colors. It works and more than that - the quilt i...

This fun collection of holiday mice dancing and gift giving and generally getting into some mischief has been with me for over 10 years. I made 2 kids' quilts and gave them away, but still had some block parts.  One of 6 block/units featuring these mice I had some stars left over from another quilt using the same yellow and red prints. I discovered about 1/2 yard of the yellow and jumped for joy - now I had enough for this last quilt. Here is the first mouse quilt. I used my Hexagon Wreath and Stars pattern (first published with Creative Grids rulers). Hexagon Wreath and Stars: 40" x 45" https://www.etsy.com/listing/824780000/hexagon-wreath-and-stars-quilt-pattern This is the blue and white quilt that was made first. Compare this with the red quilt above. Same everything, but the white borders made everything float after the stars! Hexagon Wreath and Stars: 39" x 43" I had enough of the mouse prints to make a second quilt. A little funky with those split stars,...

What? Is my iron flat? Is it still hot? What am I talking about?! Well - this vintage inspired quilt from 2000 which I made using some lovely reproduction 1930s prints. 1930s Flat Iron: 70" x 83" Just two sizes of triangles create this 10" x 11" block. I set it with a white/cream solid, squared up the sides and then added that appliquéd border. I plan on giving this to my dear daughter for Christmas. She loves all things 1930s and it has sat in my closet for too long. I know she will treasure (and use) it! To me, this has the flavor of a Sugarloaf block. I've made several quilts using that vintage block. Here's one that is made with Christmas colors: Magic Triangles (Sugarloaf): 32" x 43" I disguised the 6 blocks by putting them together two by two. Here's one of the 6 blocks. Magic Triangles Block: 12" x 14" I made a LOT of extra block parts and pulled open the box the other day. I was able to make not one, but TWO more quilts. I...

Here are a few more orphan blocks that shine in all their glory, center stage in fact. I've shared these before (and you can read more about them by clicking the links under the photos). This was a 30 year old block that I used the Windham "Fantasy" collection to complete. Isn't this lovely? Vintage Flower block  surrounded by 2" strips And then Fantasy decided they wanted to adopt another block. OK. I can do that, I said. This also was a vintage block that waited around for years. First adoption - read about it  here And just one more. I made this appliqué elephant block several years ago. Nothing happened with it. Finally, he roared out and insisted that I put it into a quilt. What else could I do? Minton Elephant : 44" x 47" Now, I hope I've inspired you to dig around in your orphan block pile and consider this very easy way to make them into simple quilts. I found a few others and one in particular has finally run out of her patience. She has be...

A simple bedsheet was languishing on a table at an antique vending mall. I was drawn in to the beauty of the sophisticated hand embroidery. One dollar? That's all you want? She's mine! It sat in my closet for a few years. I would pull it out from time to time and then it hit me - this is NOT going to be a bedsheet for any one of my grandkids! This is NOT going to be subject to bed wetting and throwing up and go into the washer over and over. I was teaching free motion quilting classes and I decided to use what I taught to transform this. Here she is up close: Mary's Little Lamb I gave this to my sweet granddaughter Eva and her mom promptly hung it over her bed. Here is the full quilt/sheet. Quilted lamb bedsheet with wide binding And here it is hanging above Eva's bed (with another of my quilts on the bed). It is good to rescue these things. Whoever the maker was, I'm sure she would be thrilled to know that I elevated it from bed wetting to glorious wall art!

I can't remember how I acquired this lovely and LARGE vintage block, but I loved it at first sight. I named it One Block Rose Wreath because, well - that's what it is! It's a whopping 36" x 36" and I decided to give it a minimal treatment for borders. One Block Rose Wreath: 45" x 45" I think it's interesting that the maker put red squares in the 4 corners and the green leaves overlap in a casual sort of way. This was hand appliquéd. My 3 strips and 9 Patch borders don't take away from the beauty of the center block. Here is what I said about it when it was published: A special friend (whom I’ve never met!) buys, sells, and trades old quilts, quilt tops and blocks in Kansas City, Oklahoma. In fact, DottieMae Groves travels around the country in her quest for special quilting items to add to her antique shop’s inventory. In one of her forays she discovered a whimsical, folk art quilt block that is bigger than many wall quilts! There was nothing kno...

I came across this quilt I put together back in 1998. My editor at Quilt Magazine had a set of vintage appliqué blocks that she wanted me to set into a quilt. I was game! She sent the blocks to me and I arranged them on point, added borders and we had it quilted. What a beauty! Magnolia Blossom: 7" block; 48" x 58" quilt This is what was written in the 1998 issue of our magazine:  “Let Spring bloom in a quilt.” So said the Weekly Kansas City Star for its January 11, 1936 offering of a quilt block entitled “Flower of Spring.” This old-time block was contributed by Miss Margaret L. Bosworth, Agnos, Missouri and many home sewers quickly cut out their own versions of this beautiful pieced block, sewing up several during the cold winter months in eager anticipation of the coming spring. Barbara Brackman lists this as #799 with other names of “Floral Patchwork” and “A Tulip Pattern in High Colors.”  I transformed these 12 blocks into a larger quilt with simple setting triangle...