Jane Stickle Quilt: L-6

Block number/name: L-6 “Maze of Madness”

Date completed: November 18, 2009

Number of pieces: 47

Notes on block: I LOVE this block. I think it is so pretty. Construction was very slow. Forty-seven pieces = a LOT of seams! I’m also really proud of this block. I think I did a good job maintaining straight seams throughout (the bowing in the picture is entirely due to my poor photography skills). When the pieces finish at ¼” wide, keeping them straight is so important, and it can really be a challenge. Only three seams had to be unsewn in the making of this block. Woo hoo!

Jane Stickle Quilt: E-13

Block number/name: E-13 “Moth in a Web”

Date completed: November 17, 2009

Number of pieces: 22

Notes on block: This was a fun block to make. And I love the look of it. I seem to be in a productive Jane mode over the last few days, and I am really enjoying the process. This is my 152nd block. Only 73 to go!

Jane Stickle Quilt: RS-7

Block number/name: RS-7 “Fedelia’s Hearts”

Date completed: November 16, 2009

Number of pieces: 13

Notes on block: I’ve never been a big fan of hearts. They’re just not my thing. But, I actually do like this block. Maybe it’s the fabric I chose?

This block stitched up pretty quickly. For the upper section, I cut a rectangle and then used a vinyl overlay to help me with the placement of the hearts. After all of the appliqué was completed, I trimmed it down to size and attached it to the bottom section. It worked pretty well.

Jane Stickle Quilt: F-12

Block number/name: F-12 “Starburst”

Date completed: November 15, 2009

Number of pieces: 16

Notes on block: This is one of my favorite greens! When I first started work on my Jane blocks, back in 2004, my mother-in-law bravely entered into a quilt shop for the very first time to buy some green fabric as a Christmas gift. She ended up with a fat quarter bundle and put it in my stocking. This green is from that bundle.

Construction was pretty straightforward until the last four pieces. I decided to do needleturn appliqué for the inset star areas. There was so much bulk from all of my seams that it was very difficult to turn under the white fabric. But, I suspect it was still easier than an inset seam, and I’m happy with the result.

Greenpiece goodness

Over the summer, I saw some pictures of the beautiful Moda Greenpiece quilt and decided that I wanted needed to make one.


So I signed up for a BOM program through Gathering Fabric, a local quilt shop. While most shops are doing wool applique (as in the original Moda quilt), this particular shop decided to treat the applique blocks as optional, and is not including fabric for it (though the background fabric is included). But it is providing the patterns and the embroidery files, leaving the choice up to each individual... wool applique, traditional applique, embroidery, or blank. The best part about this is that the price of the BOM reflects that. I also really like having choices. Since I know almost nothing about wool, I've decided to go the traditional needleturn applique route for mine.

A few weeks ago, I picked up my first set of pieced blocks, and also purchased some fat quarters for the applique blocks.


The fat quarters are all from Andover's Itsy Bits III line. The shop has a completed sample using these fabrics and it is really cute, so I thought I'd give them a try.

I haven't managed to complete any applique yet, but I do have my first pieced blocks complete.


I'm really happy with how they turned out. The instructions for the first block included a really spiffy, new-to-me method for completing flying geese. No triangles and no waste! It is pretty snazzy. (Patti R. Anderson has a basic tutorial that shows how it works.)

I really want to try and stay kind of on top of this project, so I'm hoping to get going on the first applique blocks here soon (especially since I'll be picking up the next set of blocks later this week!).

Guild night

Last Thursday evening was the November meeting of my quilt guild. I thought I'd show you the block I made for this month's block lotto:


The fabric we were given was the purple/gold batik and the theme for the month was stars. I found this block on the McCall's Quilting site. They have a ton of free block instructions offered there. This one is called, "54-40 or Fight." Curious, I actually looked up the phrase and learned that the block name comes from a slogan popularized during a boundary dispute between the United States and the British Empire over control of the Oregon territory, located west of the Continental Divide, north of the 42nd parallel north, and south of the parallel 54°40' north. The Wikipedia article, "Oregon boundary dispute," suggests that the block was originated by women of the time who used quilts to express political views.

History is so fascinating!

Anyway, I didn't win any blocks this time, but it was fun seeing all of the different blocks people created.

Nursing cover

Back when I was breastfeeding the Boy, I learned about the Hooter Hider. It's a blanket-type thing that one can hang around one's neck for privacy while nursing. I thought it was the niftiest thing ever, particularly since I was very nervous and self-conscious while nursing in public. In fact, I generally didn't go out at all because I didn't want to be nursing in a public situation. When I saw the nursing cover-up, I thought to myself-- "I can make that!" And so I did. It wasn't a perfect design, but it really helped make me feel more comfortable about nursing.

After seeing the price tag of a Hooter Hider, a friend recently asked me if I could make a nursing cover for her. So I took my old design and refined it and came up with a new, and definitely improved, version.


My friend chose the fabrics. Isn't the batik pretty?


It is fully lined, and has a pocket on the inside (handy for a little wipe-up rag, or maybe a binkie).

She was thrilled with the finished product and excited to start using it (and she didn't waste any time... baby was being fed within five minutes of receipt!).

I'm really happy with how it came out too. So much so, that I definitely plan to make another one for me. Baby #2 is on its way!!!! I'm currently 16 weeks along, and everything is looking healthy and good. And hopefully, we'll be greeting a new baby sometime near the end of April.