Today I finished my Southwest Strip Stacks to the flimsy stage! 
The top measures approximately 91″ x 97″– queen size. 
My design wall is now free and clear–ready to tackle the next project!
Southwest Strip Stacks
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Category Archives: flimsy
String Half Log Cabin – Flimsy
Back in 2010, I was inspired by a blog post written by Kim Brackett. Kim’s String Block Tutorial was easy to follow and I started making a pile of string blocks using her technique. Kim never did post a picture of her finished quilt on her blog so I am not sure how she set her string blocks in her finished quilt.
I played around with various settings for my blocks and decided that I liked the blocks set on point best. Today, I finally finished sewing my blocks together into a top. My blocks finished at 9 ” square. At this stage, my quilt top measures approximately 78.5″ x 79.5″. I haven’t decided whether or not I will add a border to this quilt. I like the look of the top without any further borders–the large chaos of colour seems to float on the quilt top. However, I will likely regret not adding a border to stabilize the edges of this quilt when it comes time to quilt it. I am sure that keeping the on point setting of the blocks with the bias edged setting triangles square while quilting will be a challenge I am sure.
It took me 4 1/2 years to get my blocks finished and set into a quilt top. Let’s hope It doesn’t take me another 4 1/2 years to turn this quilt top into a finished quilt. 🙂
The next time I make this quilt, I think I will make the first square of this block the same size and from the same fabric. I think this will help to “tame” some of the wildness of this quilt and give the eye a place to rest.
I recently purchased Fons and Porter’s Easy Diagonal Sets Ruler. This ruler was a big help when it came time to cut the setting triangles. The following link will take you to a video that demonstrates how to use the ruler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBfDsLP3P9I
I usually use the method of cutting setting triangles as described by Marti Michell in her book, Quilting for People Who Still Don’t Have Time to Quilt. Marti says to:
Just cut a larger square on both diagonals to yield four setting triangles. To determine the size of the larger square, measure the diagonal of the finished size unit block, and add 1 1/4 inches. this is the size square to quarter for perfect-fit, no-mistakes-allowed setting triangles. I prefer to add 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches to the diagonal measurement of the block. That size square will yield slightly larger setting triangles which allow the design blocks to float inside the borders.
Using Marti’s method, I would have been cutting my squares 15 1/2″ square in order to get 4 setting triangles. In order to cut enough squares this size for my setting triangles, I would have needed more black fabric than I had on hand. However, using the ruler, I was able to cut my setting triangles from narrower strips of fabric and still have some fabric left over.
Funky Pinwheel – Queen Size
Back in November 2014, I fell in love with a quilt that I was quilting for Darlene R. It turns out that the quilt was made utilizing some clever acrylic templates made and sold by Jodi Nelson of Pleasant Home.
The templates were perfectly designed to cut 5″ charm squares with the perfect angle to make the Funky Pinwheel block. This is the quilt. I quilted it with my Swirls template which gave the blocks the appearance that they were turning in the wind–the perfect quilting template for this quilt!
Customer Quilt
I contacted Jodi Nelson to see if I could purchase a set of templates from her. As it turns out, Jodi is no longer selling her templates. Darlene was very generous and loaned me her templates so that I could make my own Wonky Pinwheel quilt.
Funky Pinwheel – flimsy – 95″ x 103.5″
I worked on my Wonky Pinwheel quilt over the Christmas/New Year’s season and finished it to the flimsy stage on January 2, 2015. This is a large quilt – finishing at 95″ x 103.5″.
A Flimsy, A Milestone Birthday, and A New Hiding Spot
I have been working on this quilt top for a while. This pattern is called, Random Reflections. (Refer to my March 1, 2014 post for pattern details.)
I decided that the recipient of this quilt would not want it the length it was in the pattern as that would not provide enough length for wrapping around oneself in the cocoon fashion that my kids like to do with quilts so I added two more rows to the original pattern which made this top finish at 80″ long, rather than 60″ like in the pattern. Next up will be to get this one quilted as it is needed as a gift for the end of June.
Today was my MIL’s 85th birthday. Family members took her out for lunch at a local restaurant to celebrate.
She had some help from the younger crowd to blow out the candles.
And just because it makes me smile….
This is a picture of Joey’s new hiding spot. He is not impressed with the flooring renovations that have been happening upstairs. He used to like to lay on the carpet in the sunshine to soak up the rays. The carpet has now been replaced by laminate flooring so now he heads downstairs and climbs up on top of the stack of quilts under the long arm to sleep. I think he thinks he is hiding under there, but the tail sticking out gives him away. 🙂
Valentine Projects
While I was in AZ on my vacation, I picked up a few Valentine’s Day fabrics from Joann to add to my stash. I find Joann fabrics are not the same quality as the quilt shop fabric, but for a seasonal project that won’t get much wear they are perfect. When you go into the stores now all you see are Valentine-themed chocolates and decorations so I decided to dig out the Valentine fabric and work on some projects.
These projects are still flimsies and they are remaining on my design wall until I get them quilted. The smaller octagon is made from 5 x 3″ strips of fabric (finished topper: 25″ across) and the larger octagon is made from 6 x 3″ strips of fabric(finished topper: 30″ across). Because the smaller table topper took less fabric, I had quite a bit of the leftover strata. I decided to piece the leftovers together into the rectangle you see in the picture. I am not sure if I will just quilt this the way it is or if I will add something more to it.
