String diamonds! (thanks to Max, who unearthed a pile of rectangular pieces of paper while pulling all the fabric off my shelves!)

I hope no one’s been waiting too long for this! Thanks to Morgan, I (finally!) created a downloadable PDF for you which shows the chart I used to create my Ruby Strings quilt (or ‘Ruby’s All Strung Out’, as I’ve been referring to it lately…memorable, but maybe not the best blog title!)

Download: Ruby Strings Chart

For this quilt, I used 11″ square blocks – 6 blocks by 7 blocks, which results in a quilt that measures about 63.5″ x 74″– a generous throw. I used Bonnie and Camille’s lovely Ruby fabrics, and by my estimates, you’ll need about 40 fat eighths (I had a 40 FQ bundle, and have about half left over). I’d guess that you’d also need around 4 yards of solid white (or your solid of choice).

These blocks use the same technique as described in my String Block tutorial, so I’m not going to recreate that here for you. Just check over here for the instructions for creating string blocks.

Each block starts with a 1″ strip of white (or your solid of choice) running diagonally through the block. Then you can refer to the PDF chart for the width of the print and solid for each block. (Please note that you will always start with a printed fabric on either side of the diagonal 1″ white strip). Continue adding prints and solids of the called for width until you’ve covered one side of the block.

Unlike the scrappy version of the string quilt, the goal with this quilt design is to get the strips to line up. This can be kind of a challenge, especially with those really narrow strips! Tips? Make sure your 1″ white strip is centered diagonally through the block, be sure to maintain the same seam allowance throughout, and be sure to iron (or finger press) each strip well (and consistently!). That being said, I wouldn’t worry too much if things are a bit off – there are many strings in my quilt which aren’t perfectly aligned, but I don’t think anyone would notice!

I hope you’ll find this chart helpful! I found it useful to cross off each block on the chart as I made them, so I’d know which blocks I still needed to make. If you make a similar quilt, be sure to add it to my Flickr group – I’d love to see it! And as always, feel free to ask any questions here. I’ll answer in the comments!

Oh boy, I love this pattern! So much so that I bought the pattern several months ago as soon as I started seeing quilts made from this pattern. (Of course, then I failed to actually make any of the blocks…)

And that’s why I was so happy when Katy started the Swoon along. Apparently it was just the push I needed! After I found my pattern (someone needs to clean their sewing space!), I debated about fabric choices, but ultimately decided to go with my old standby (a favorite for years now!), Flea Market Fancy.

These blocks are large!, finishing just under 25″, so each takes a bit of time to complete, but somehow I find it to be so satisfying. I’m really excited about the 4 I’ve completed so far!

Want to join the Swoon-along? Be sure to check out the Swoon-along Flickr group for helpful info and of course, lots of photos of gorgeous blocks!

Oh yes, I felt the urge for another string quilt! They’ve always been a favorite of mine, and I’m loving how this one looks with the lovely Ruby by Bonnie and Camille.

I changed it up a bit this time, altering the widths of the printed and white solid. Of course, this way requires a bit more planning – I even had to make myself a little chart so I’d know which block to make next!

I have several more blocks to make in order to turn this one into a nice large throw. I think it’ll be quite the perfect quilt for the holiday season – just Christmas-y enough, but not so much that it wouldn’t be perfect for the rest of the year too.

I’ve been hoarding little pieces of Liberty fabrics since I started sewing. I’ve purchased lots of small pieces (most recently from Jo at the Organic Stitch Co.) I’ve also been gifted some gorgeous pieces from Kate, Katy, and from a generous blog reader, Isabel. Thank you, thank you!!

It seems no pattern is ever good enough for my pretty Liberty fabrics, so there they sit, boxed in a closet. Sad.

Yesterday I decided to just start using them, starting off with these mini wonky cross blocks, totally inspired by this cute little pincushion made by the lovely Nova.

Nova’s little cross blocks are super teeny tiny and perfect. I’m not that good at working with such tiny pieces, so I opted to make mine a bit larger. I’m going for 3 1/2″ squares, which still appear little and cute. Of course, it’ll take quite a few to make a decent sized quilt! Luckily they’re quick and fun to make.

I love how it only takes a tiny bit of the Liberty prints to make a big impact! I would love to make a large quilt out of these blocks, but I know myself, and I’m quite certain I’d grow tired of it long before I had made enough blocks. It looks like this one is destined to be baby sized…

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Anyone in the Burlington, VT area (or visiting our state during this lovely Fall season)? Be sure to stop by Nido on Monday afternoon. Kelly Wilkinson of Make Grow Gather will be there from 5-7 to sign copies of her new book, Weekend Handmade. Nido will also be celebrating their 2 year anniversary, complete with fun snacks and 20% off storewide from 4-7pm. Maybe I’ll see you there?

My first thought is to use them for blocks for this fun Summer Sampler quilt. I’ve never made a sampler quilt, so maybe it’s time?! I’m loving the look of this one, and I’m a fan of the ladies who have organized it (Faith, Katie & Lee). I already missed the first week, but now that I have all my fabric scraps out, I’m sure I can get caught up!

I’m also thinking that the longer strips could be fun in a quilt made out of Alissa’s block of the month, which was just posted over at Sew Mama Sew.

I particularly love how this one simple block can be used to create so many great designs. Alissa showed these great variations over at Sew Mama Sew. I can’t decide which one I like best, though for now I have my eye on either the first or last in the second row. We’ll see!

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Of course then I start thinking about how I could skip the scraps and make either of these quilts in some of the fun new fabrics that are out now, which of course is just my way of justifying another fabric purchase. The fact that Sew Mama Sew just sent out a coupon code doesn’t help either (15JULYPICNIC for 15% off in case you’re interested!) Oh, and while we’re talking sales, Kathy at Pink Chalk Fabrics is having her summer sale, and I noticed several prints I’d like to own… and I guess this is how the scraps keep multiplying!

So instead of finishing up any of those older quilts, I decided to start a new one. Slowly piecing a few blocks doesn’t make me quite as hot as the thought of actually quilting a quilt. This pile of fabrics has been shelved since I showed them here. At the time, I thought they’d make a great winter quilt, what with all those darker jewel tones. I clearly didn’t get it done in time for last winter, so perhaps this winter?

In addition to the previously pulled stack of reds and purples, I pulled out some corresponding solids in the same colors

Then did a little editing and ended up with this pile (I couldn’t decide about that floral one in the center, which is why it’s off by itself. I’m thinking I’ll skip it…)

And now I’ve started making up some improv blocks. I’m going with simple blocks and cutting them down to 8″ square. We’ll see where it goes from here!

I’m still plugging away at these blocks, and I’m getting kind of excited about what the finished quilt might look like!

It’s been kind of fun to work with fabrics that are not my typical go-to colors. My challenge with these blocks have been to brighten them up a bit – even though the fabrics in the Greenfield Hill line are on the darker side, I think they can be combined in such a way (by adding in a few additional prints) to make a brighter, lighter set of blocks.

We’ll see how it turns out once I get them all finished!

We’re currently in the midst of that big snowstorm that’s hitting so many states. As much as I’d love for this to be an unexpected mid-week day off (perfect for sewing!), unfortunately working from home means no snow day for me… but I hope that those of you stuck indoors have some projects on hand to keep you busy!

I’ll admit that when I first saw photos of Denyse Schmidt’s new Greenfield Hill line, I wasn’t over the moon with it. In fact, I thought that this might be a line that I passed by, mainly because these aren’t the typical colors I’m drawn to. When it came down to it though, I decided I ought to reserve judgment until I saw it in person, so I ordered a FQ stack from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics. Upon arrival, I still wasn’t sold – still darker than what I typically go for.

But to give it a fair chance, I decided to make a quilt using the green colorway (dogwood, I think?). I went to my stash to add in a few other prints, and had a little trouble (due to my love of brighter colors, my stash is filled with the same!). In the end I came up with this pile – adding in some Moda Lush (too bad this line is out of print, because I love how they look together!), a little Cake Rock Beach, a couple japanese polka dotted prints (purchased here), and a few Essex cotton/linen solids. And suddenly I was really feeling the possibilities of this little pile!

I had a design plan in mind, but at the last minute decided it just wasn’t right, so I decided to revisit an old favorite – a Denyse Schmidt inspired improv block, which seems only appropriate, right?

I made up four such blocks yesterday, and now I should be the first to admit that my opinion has definitely changed. I’m no longer iffy on this line – in fact I’m quite taken with it and can’t wait to make up some more blocks!

I hope to have a whole stack to show you in the near future!

I started with a fussy cut square and then added the logs to two sides until each block measured at least 8″ square. Initially I wasn’t sure how I’d want to lay them out – I considered making these blocks in a variety of sizes and laying them out so they all faced in one direction. After deciding to make them all 8″ blocks, I decided I like them best in this bento box type of layout.

My original goal was to make twice as many of these blocks which would make for a generously sized lap quilt, but now that I have them up on my design wall, I’m once again thinking that it would make for fun art instead…. maybe framed? (perhaps time to switch these out?). Ah, I can’t decide, but for now I’m enjoying them on the design wall!