Another Split Four Patch

 This is such an easy AND attractive quilt to make. With a yard of complimentary fabric and a charm pack I can whip out a baby quilt in no time at all. For this particular project I wanted to focus on making a free motion with rulers quilting pattern in the border. 

I am still finding ruler quilting to be a challenge. So when I tried to use it to make the border I kept breaking my thread. I think it has to do with how hard I hold the ruler and try to push the fabric at the same time just puts too much stress on the whole thing. So I went ahead and Drew in this border with a pencil and then freehand free motion quilted the design.

Not bad! But I still want to later the ruler technique!

The charm pack was a baby themed pack in bold, bright colors. 

I free motion quilted the body of the quilt in a nice large loopy meandering pattern. Then I free motion quilted the inner borders and finally went with the braid quilting in the border.

SOLD on etsy to Debbie Hickson

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Rancheritaquilts

Flannel Memorial Quilt for Pete

The inspiration for this quilt was a flannel shirt that Pete brought home after visiting his mother after his father died. He told me he wasn't likely to wear the shirt it wasn't the right size it wasn't really the right color but his mother had really wanted him to take it home.

So being a plaid I decided to combine it with other flannel plaids and make a nice cozy flannel quilt blanket. Went through my Jo-Ann fabrics flannel stash and combined it with plaids and solids and a few pieces left over from quilts I had made Ezekiel through the years.

I decided to put a thin batting in the middle and then I did a meander quilting to hold it all together. The idea of this quilt is it can lay at the foot of the bed and be thrown over Pete on cold nights.

And keeping it special some of the blocks that were from his father's shirt still have the buttons and details on them.

The flannel back is multi colorful hands, peace signs, rainbow hearts and random leftover blocks from the front. 

A Cozy Dog Quilt

 I cut most of my novelty dog scraps into a four and a half inch tumbler pattern that I made on the computer many years ago. It is a paper pattern that I printed. I have since then bought a couple of tumblers but none of them are the exact same size so I continue to use this exact one for dog quilts.

So I cut these scraps many years ago and every once in a while I pull them out add some new Fabrics to the collection and put together another quilt. Now that I've started selling some of my quilts on Etsy I decided to try a dog quilt and see how it will sell.

I simply lay them out 9 blocks across by 8 blocks tall. The resulting little quilt is 32 inches tall and 28 inches wide. That's a nice easy small size for both mailing and quilting in the ditch along the tumbler shapes.

I backed it with a piece of dog paws flannel that I purchased at Jo-Ann Fabrics when it was 50% off. I'll let you know if I'm able to sell it!

SOLD BY CHRISTMAS 2021

Spool Stars Lap Quilt

 I made this quilt following a tutorial by Jenny Doan. Like so many of her tutorials after watching it I cannot wait to try making the blocks. In this particular tutorial which she made with a jelly roll, she ended it by asking the question what would it look like if done in just two colors? Well I could not wait to answer that question and so I went out to the studio and grabbed red and blue and of course white muslin.

This set of two blocks is made by creating a strip set and then cutting it diagonally and sewing pieces back together. Just one strip set renders both unique blocks!

It's easy enough, but a little labor-intensive. However it delivers some very dramatic results. I made the quilt taller with some two and a half inch strips.

Using this technique to create nine blocks I had these leftovers which I used to make the backing wider. This quilt finished at 44 inches by 58 inches.

Finally I am getting better at free motion quilting and this was the biggest project so far I've used the technique on. I think it's my new favorite 

Update: SOLD on etsy

Acorns To Oaks Bear Paw Quilt

 Made to auction off in Camp Stevens annual Autumn fundraiser, Acorns To Oaks.  I have never made a bear paw quilt and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. 

I used designer fabrics, 100% cotton batting, and a colorful back for this quilt. This is the first larger quilt I decided to do some free motion quilting in a swirly pattern. 

I cut my fabrics into 2 1/2 inch strips. The fabrics were a curated collection of 1/8 yards. I needed 2 strips to complete 4 paws, and I paired 2 paws with 2 of a contrasting color. There were 12 Autumn colors in the collection, which I purchased several years back in a fabric of the month club.  All light neutrals were from stash. Each neutral strip could finish  4 paws.... minus 4 pieces. That means if you search, you will find rich substitutions hidden in many blocks!

I have a substantial stash.....

Since this quilt is for a fundraiser, I went with a colored backing,  remaining in the Autumn theme. I'll sign, date, and inscribe the camp's fundraiser name on the label. 

The blocks tutorial can be found by searching on Missouri Star You Tube Video.

Dog Quilt For A Fund Raiser

 My cousin Patty is making a basket to be raffled for a fundraiser at her church. She was telling me it's to be DogThemed. Treats, toys, all sorts of dog goodies. I offered to add a dog QUILT to the basket!

Jazzy models the new dog quilt. 

The fabrics have been collected over many years. Dogs, cats, alligators and a few birds. Favorite dog FOODS, like BBQ and burgers. Animal skins, paw prints, and even Snoopy's Joe Cool all turn up on this little quilt. 

The back is a soft flannel. It reads, My favorite people are dogs! 

I stitched it down 1\4 inch from the ditch. One of my favorite go to easy quilting techniques. Works nicely when the blocks are tumbler shaped. 

Solids HST Baby Quilt for Min

 A delightful nurse I worked with for several years in the NICU is expecting her third baby. This will make three boys! Min has a beautiful style that includes solids,  dark colors and classic shapes. I made this quilt after starting and rejecting two others,  and I think she's going to love it. I added two receiving blankets including one halloween-themed for her October baby.

I went exciting for the back because I just can't restrict myself too much when making a quilt!

Dr Seuss Baby Quilt

 Not my usual style! This quilt has large blocks but that allows the fabric to take Center Stage. Figaro's with half store triangles as a byproduct let this quote come together quickly. I followed a tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt the title was One Direction.

https://youtu.be/1yRdSkvFnec?si=-B17KcpK6s7V8VKT

The blue of the body of this quilt is a blue and white weave very effective. How about that bright red binding? And the back is a simple soft white muslin.

I used an all-over loose stipple to Freemotion quilt this quilt

December 2023 SOLD on etsy