JANUARY 2020 -The Elephant's Trunk

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

JANUARY 2020

"The Elephant's Trunk" is named after the huge flea market in New Milford, CT 

because like the flea market, this quilt is full of surprises! Anything goes.

Cut strips 1.5" x any length. Butt them together to make seven 55" lengths.

Sew two strips together. Press the seam while closed, then press it open.

Continue adding each 55" strip the same way.

This quilt was made using the same pattern by quilters from all over the world so it was named the World Quilt. Click to read about it. I can't wait to see what our quilt looks like.

I know it will be a stunner!

November 2019 - Winding Trails

Winding Trails is a great scrap quilt block. Use any prints, solids, stripes, dots; it's all good. 

Scroll down to see the sample.

Choose two fabrics. Cut one 4" square and one 3" square. 

Then cut the 3" square in half on the diagonal, as shown above.

Position the two triangles "by eye" as shown above, and then sew 1/4" from the long edge.

Press open. Trim. Make a bunch so they can be used in columns, as shown below. 

Here's my Winding Trails quilt, so you can see one way these blocks might be used.

 I can't wait to see all our blocks on the wall.

 I like that crazy gold and green fungus fabric on the left (below). Bold stripes look pretty cool too. 

I could be happy making Winding Trails quilts all day long!

By the way, Winding Trails is in Farmington, where we used to bring our sons to swim in the 1980's.

October 2019 - Elizabeth Park

This floral string quilt is named in honor of Elizabeth Park Conservancy, 

over 100 acres in downtown Hartford, a very beautiful place known for its roses.

Choose two fabrics, including at least one floral. 

Cut two strips of each fabric, 2" wide x 40" long.

Use a 12.5" square quilter's ruler as a guide. Choose one fabric for the middle, call it Fabric A.

Cut one strip 19" long from Fabric A (shown above).

Cut two strips 17" long from Fabric B.

Cut two strips 14" long from Fabric A.

Cut two strips 11" long from Fabric B.

Cut two strips 7.5" long from Fabric A.

Cut two strips 5.5" long from Fabric B.

Sew one 17" strip to each side of the center strip. Press. Then, sew a 14" strip to each side.

Continue as shown in the photo above. Press. Trim to 12.5" square.

A variety of high and low contrast blocks will give a sun-dappled look to this beautiful garden quilt.

NOTE: If your 1/4" seam allowances are on the generous side, cut the final two strips 2.5" wide x 5.5" long. That way your block will be big enough for the 12.5" ruler.

September 2019 - Hammonasset

Named after our longest beach in Connecticut (2 miles), Hammonasset 

(pronounced Ham-in-ass'-it) is a quilt featuring the colors of beach towels.

Choose any number of solid colors. Cut six rectangles 2" x 3.5."

Sew them in a row. Press. 

Choose a solid white, off-white, or low-volume print. Cut one 4.5" square. 

Then cut it in half on the diagonal. 

Sew the white triangles to the stripes, as shown above. Press. Trim to a 6" square.

Making this block can be addictive.  :)

Enter the drawing once for each block that you bring.

Here are just a few ideas for using these pretty blocks.

These blocks were brought to the September meeting. Nice job! 

Congratulations to Diane who won the blocks.