Swallows in the Window

Swallows in the Window is another vintage blocks that uses 45 degree diamonds. I hope you saw my Flying Swallows post earlier this week.

Swallows in the Window vintage block

Then, digging WAY back in my archives I came across Hearts and Swallows. This was made in 2001. I had to do a bit of fabric manipulation to make those diamonds behave in the corners, but it worked! Yes, these are also 45 degree diamonds.

Hearts and Swallows

This would not be hard to make today. Those 4 corner units are really half Lone Star blocks! 

I always wanted to make another one.  It would be fabulous to capture a beautiful print in that center. But the center size will be dictated by the size of those corner diamonds. Trust me. That's the way math works!

Swallows in the Window

Here is the current project I'm working on using those Fairy Frost diamonds and a beautiful fabric collection called Romance by Windham Fabrics (2018). Yes, it took me awhile to cut into the set of fat quarters! The diamonds and triangles are rotary cut (I showed that in Sunday's post).

Swallows in the Window: 19-1/2" finished (center of quilt shown below)

But, as you can see, I had to get creative with that center block. The 1/4 yard of the border print (18" x 22") was the EXACT size I needed for the top and bottom borders.

With added borders: 27-3/4" x 31-3/4" unfinished

I went a bit further with more fat quarters to get this to measure 36" x 39".

Then, because I needed/wanted an unseamed strip for outside borders, I had to go with another fabric collection (from Benartex). Can Windham and Benartex play nicely and not fight in a quilt? Let's see!

Flying Swallows: 45" x 49"

I used some border prints from the Benartex Southern Charm collection (2016) and carefully cut what I needed (with maybe an inch to spare!). I added the four border squares from the Windham Romance collection (2018). I haven't heard any quarrels or heard things being thrown about in my sewing room, so I'm guessing they've become friends!

She's ready to be quilted. Will be using my trusty HandiQuilter Sweet 16 machine for that in the next few weeks (I hope).