Rustling Leaves Rag Quilt

 

Finished throw

     I bought this kit 20 years ago from Keepsake Quilting.  The kit included 24 fat quarters from which you were supposed to cut two 9" squares.  By the time I had squared off one side I wasn't able to really get two true 9" squares.  Fortunately since it was a rag quilt, one square being slightly smaller wasn't going to be a problem.  I did use a double layer of batting in each each as I wanted a little bit of a warmer throw.

Traced leaves

     I cut all the squares at home and traced the leaves onto paper backed fusible web.  ( I found out when I was putting away the pattern instructions later that I had missed the maple leaf shape, oops)  While at my 'quilt retreat' in Fairfield Glade I fused the pattern to the fabric and while watching TV one evening I cut them out.

Appliquéing the leaf

     I laid out the backing squares on the bed in the second bedroom, then laid the top squares on top, and then placed the leaves where I wanted them.  I fused the leaf to the top fabric square and used an appliqué stitch to stitch them on.  The first leaf I did I used a piece of tearaway stabilizer because I wasn't sure that the fabric was thick enough to support the stitches and remain flat.  It was so hard to tear out the stabilizer that I tried one without.  It turned out fine so I did the rest without the stabilizer. 

Finished, not washed

Needs to be washed

     After getting all the leaves appliquéd onto the squares, I started putting it together.  I would layer the sandwich and either stitch corner to corner for the plain squares or I traced a square around the leaf and stitched that.  I put them together as I finished each square because I didn't want to lose track of placement.  The last stitching to be done was to stitch all around the outside of the quilt.  Then while watching TV in the evening again, I snipped all the edges.

Finished and washed

Back of the quilt

    When we got home I threw it in the washer and dryer.  They do recommend using commercial machines but since it was only a throw size I used our front loader washing machine at home.  This was fun.  Not sure if I will do another one

Birthday T-shirts 2025

       As all the grandkids' birthday parties have now been held, I can show their birthday t-shirts.  Each year I make them a t-shirt (except their first birthday) and put money in their college fund.  First up is Cltn who turned 12.  As he is getting older, I just did a plain grey t-shirt for him.

     Next up is his sister Miss M, who turned 10. I had this pretty floral knit in my stash.  The ribbing is from a sweatshirt of my mom's, her great grandma.  My mom passed away just two years ago so my granddaughter did know her and saw her often.

     Next up is MTB who turned 9 and is a baseball nut.  The embroidery is from Designs by JuJu, one of my favorite places to get designs.

     Next up is his brother, SEB who turned 7.  I wanted something simple and this alligator fit the bill.

     Next up are the two youngest grandkids.  GJB turned 4.  I had a small piece of the dinosaur fabric left from a previous year and added the yellow fabric from my stash to make him his t-shirt.  Of course I added a dinosaur embroidery to the front.

     Last but not least is Miss V who turned 2.  I made her a matching t-shirt to her older cousin.  

     These are the patterns I used, just tried and true t-shirt patterns.

A Trip to Fairfield Glade

The first day from our bedroom deck

     We just got back from two weeks in Fairfield Glade TN.  We had a wonderful two bedroom place in a Wyndham resort.  The trees were absolutely gorgeous when we got there.  I went for a long walk or hike every day.  John was working and I brought my sewing machine.

My sewing room for the stay

     I put together three quilt tops, just lap sized ones, and a small rag quilt with appliquéd leaves.  In the middle of our stay we went to a money and Marriage event in Franklin TN.  We also visited with our daughter-in-law's aunt and uncle.

Snow

    When we returned to Fairfield Glade, the weather had turned and we had a bit of snow but then it warmed back up.  John had off Veteran's Day, so we were able to do a hike together then.  Our last full day there, John and I went on another hike.  Here are a bunch of photos from the walks and hikes.

Irises in November?

Daddy's Creek

     We found out that Wyndham is selling off this resort and we will no longer be able to go there.  We have been multiple times and really love the area.  I was so bummed to hear this as we were planning on going there at least once a year after John retired.  

The last day from our bedroom deck

     By the time we left after two weeks, most of the leaves had fallen.  I'm so happy we were able to enjoy one last time there.

 

Gift Card Holders

Gift card holder

     At our ASG meeting in September, one of our members demonstrated this cute gift card holder.  She then gave us squares of fabric, cording and little pompoms to make the bags.  We all made one or two and then returned them at the October meeting to be used for a seniors' place Christmas luncheon.

Pattern

     We needed a 12" equilateral triangle for the pattern piece.  I drew mine on pattern paper and then cut out my pieces.

Sewn triangles

     I sewed the two triangles right sides together, leaving an opening to turn.  I trimmed the corners and pressed.  Then I turned it right sides out and pressed again.  

Waiting for the cord

     When you sewed up the sides, it closed up the opening that was used to turn the piece.  Then I turned down the 'flaps' and sewed a casing for the cord.

Ready to thread the cord

    

      I used a blunt, large eyed needle to thread the cording through the casing.  Last step was sewing on the little pompoms to the corners.  A cute idea to give a gift card or a small gift. 

Zippy Bag #2

 

Finished Zippy Bag

     A few years ago I made my daughter a Zippy Bag to use when she is teaching.  That one wore out but the hardware was still okay.  She asked for another one so I carefully took apart the old one and saved all the hardware and zippers.

Detail of the zipper and hardware

     This one I made from a canvas fabric so hopefully it will last longer.  Because the zippers had already been cut to size, I had to carefully stitch the coils together on the ends so they wouldn't separate while sewing the bag together.  I had a deep green canvas in my stash, good for not showing stains.  I then used Packers fabric for the lining as she is a Green Bay Packer fan like me.

Inside of the purse

     I was glad I had saved the labels for the cut pieces from the last time I made it.  They came in handy to keep track of the pieces as I cut them.  It came together easily, I just had to be careful with the zippers.

Pattern used

HST Placemat - September ASG Challenge

Finished placemat

      The challenge for September was to make half square triangles (HST) by drawing lines on fabric squares and then sewing and cutting.  We were given a chart that had what size HST would be made from different sized squares of fabric.

Fabrics chosen

Lines drawn

     I chose a couple of coordinating 10" squares from my stash so that I could make a placemat for Meals on Wheels.  I drew the lines on the lighter colored fabric and then pinned the two pieces together.

Sewing done

First cut

After second cut

Last cut

     Then using my 1/4" foot, I sewed on either side of the diagonal lines.  First cuts were straight cuts, creating four squares, then lastly the diagonal lines were cut to make 8 HST.  

HSTs created

Trimming to size

     I then carefully pressed, making sure I didn't stretch the bias seam.  Then using my square ruler, I trimmed them to size, in this case 4 1/2" squares for finished 4" HSTs.

Finished

Square in square block

Back

    I sewed four squares together to make a square in square block.  I could have also done a pinwheel block or even made a row of flying geese.  Then using more coordinating fabric from my stash, I made a 14 x 18" placemat.  I did some quilting to keep it all together and added the binding.  It's fun to learn new techniques and be able to use them in a project for charity.  

     I do think I prefer using Thangles to make my HSTs because they get pressed with the paper in place preventing stretching the bias seam but it is always good to know how to do them another way.