It's Finished!

While spending a couple of weeks working on other projects, I contemplated how to quilt Night Before Christmas. My quandary was how to quilt the border, knowing that I planned to have a wandering feathered vine in all of the 4-inch wide sashings. I worried that more feathered vines in the border would overwhelm the face of the quilt.

As designers, we all have to consider combinations of options, our personal capabilities, and the tools at hand. I finally used a plastic overlay and "practiced" several different quilt designs on the quilt border -- from a wavy ribbons to straight lines, to evergreen trees. Despite my concerns, I decided that the best way to quilt the border was to stitch more feathered vines, and when a package arrived in the mail with the perfect color of olive-green thread, I loaded the quilt on my machine and started quilting away. Quilting -- whether by hand or machine -- is such wonderful therapy for me. It combines creativity, design, and productivity in one package, while allowing me to mull over schedules, issues, future plans, and whatever else is on my mind. Days spent quilting are totally relaxing for me!

So it's time for the "reveal." I don't have a full-size photo of Night Before Christmas to show you yet - but here are two semi-closeups so you can see how I quilted the sashings and borders. I had planned to hand-quilt the interior of the blocks because of the embellishments in them, but as it turns out, I was able to machine quilt the entire quilt. Woo hoo! It's finished! And here it is:

I'm elated that the quilt is done - except for that all-important label. That will be added in the morning....

Happy stitching, everyone!
Sue

(c)2008 Susan H. Garman

Christmas is Coming!

When I made my "Night Before Christmas" quilt, I used 4-inch blocks for the cornerstones. At the same time that I made the 4-inch blocks, I also made identical (but larger) 6-inch blocks and 12-inch blocks.

I finally set my 6-inch pieced blocks into a quilt. I used a dozen of the pieced blocks with thirteen 6-inch applique blocks. Each of the applique blocks has a little motif that is found in the larger "Night Before Christmas" quilt. The patterns for the applique are all in one of my new Night Before Christmas patterns, "Patterns for Twenty 6-Inch Applique Blocks." What I love most about those little applique blocks is that they are small and simple -- each one took less than 30 minutes to applique. How cool is that?! So here is my new quilt, "Christmas is Coming." It has big, wide sashings: three inches by six inches. That helps grow a quilt quickly, right?!

"Christmas is Coming!"
56 x 56"

Now I want to figure out how to set the 12-inch blocks in a quilt top. There are lots of options. Most sampler quilts end up being humdrum: add sashings and cornerstones, and then frame the quilt with one or more borders. Sometimes, that is actually the best way to set a dozen blocks, but this week I intend to spend time thinking about how to set sampler blocks into a unique quilt top. Hopefully, you'll see my 12-inch blocks here, soon.

Until then...
Happy stitching!

Sue

(c)2008 Susan H. Garman

The Night Before Christmas...

Finally, finally, finally! I have finished the quilt top for Night Before Christmas. Below you will see all twelve blocks (and now you don't have to go and hunt the first six down from a previous blog post), as well as the setting option I have chosen. This quilt was truly a labor of love -- lots of hours went into it, but the results were worth the effort. Now, I'm chomping at the bit to start quilting the quilt. Quakertown Quilts (http://www.quakertownquilts.com/) is offering quilt patterns for this quilt, as well as fabric kits for those who want someone else to choose their fabrics. Below, I'll also describe some other options I've added to this block of the month.

"Twas the night before Christmas..."

"Not a creature was stirring..."

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds..."

"When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter..."

"When, what to my wondering eyes should appear..."

"Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound..."

"His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!'

"He spoke not a word but went straight to his work..."

"And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose..."

"But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight..."

"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

And here is the final quilt -- with large sashings that help each block define its own portion of the story. The applique blocks are each set with small cornerstone blocks -- there is a separate pattern available for all of the cornerstone blocks.

The Night Before Christmas
(c)2008 Susan H. Garman

There is also another separate pattern available with twenty different 6-inch applique motifs which are also appropriate for setting cornerstone blocks - or as small applique blocks for an entirely different quilt. Most of the applique motifs can be found in the larger Night Before Christmas quilt: stars, holly leaves and berries, assorted toys, Christmas trees, etc. They are simple and easy-to-applique blocks. I hope to post a quilt with these in the next few weeks!

Until then... I hope that life treats you well. Happy stitching!

Sue

All contents: (c)2008 Susan H. Garman

What's New?

I do not post new messages as often as I would like to. I find that I am beset with too many colliding deadlines, and choosing what to do next is often done before I even get around to casting my own vote. Today I decided to take a moment and just tell you what I'm working on now -- it's a new block-of-the-month that Quakertown Quilts will be selling, starting in April. I'm designing and making a "Night Before Christmas" quilt based on Clement C. Moore's poem. All of the blocks are designed, though they remain in draft form until I actually make the blocks. I like to have the option of modifying things along the way, and there are generally quite a few changes - mostly to make the design easier for different skill levels. Below is a sneak-peak of the design for Block One, followed by a picture of the beginnings of the first block.

"Night Before Christmas" - pattern

Each of the blocks in this quilt will have a portion of the words from 'Twas the Night before Christmas on it. I have yet to embroider the words on the first block (below); I need to see what all the blocks look like before I decide what will be the best color of embroidery floss to use.

"Night Before Christmas" - Block One

Christmas may be eleven months way - but it will be here before we know it. Time has a way of sneaking up on us!

Happy stitching -
Sue
(c)2008 Susan H. Garman