Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

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Indecision in the Sewing Room

 

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I am itching to start a new project, and I had it in mind that I would get back to my simplified Granny Square blocks.

But then….

I was reading the blogs in my blog feed and found a recent post by the folks at Primitive Gatherings.  You may or may not know that they have expanded their Wisconsin operation and have opened a new brick and mortar shop in Southern California.  Well.  The Primitive Gathering So Cal folks are hosting a Summer Sew Along and it is really appealing. Also super expensive, at $22 per week for 15 weeks ($330).  $242 if you pay all up front.  Their version of the Bow Tie quilt is quite large and is made with charm packs from what I understand.  An awful lot of them apparently!  Believe it or not, they were not prepared for the volume of orders that came in and had to order more fabric.  Lots of people want to make this quilt.  Their quilt is beautiful and I loved it, but could not justify the expense just now.

Then, I got to thinking…(no it didn't hurt too much).  I am working on that Civil War Stars project Barbara Brackman is hosting, and heaven knows I have enough CW charm squares to make two or three quilts.  Why not dig into that stash and make my Bow Ties out of that?  I could then use the Civil War Star quilt and the Civil War Bow Tie quilt to decorate in the same room, and it would be a great look!

Of course I have no idea how big the Primitive Gatherings bow tie blocks are.  Lisa Bonjean has been making teeny tiny blocks lately and using her great new teeny tiny rulers, so for all I know they could finish up at 1 1/2 inches or something.  I searched the internet for tiny bow tie blocks and got a terrific result.  

Quiltmaker Magazine started up a program they call "Itty Bitty Blocks" last January.  Their first month's offering was a 3 inch finished Bow Tie block.  Free pattern.  Works for me.  I got out my tub of Civil War charm squares and started cutting and stitching.  Oh my goodness, those little blocks are so darn cute!  I highly recommend that you check out the link to Quiltmaker Magazine–each month they have had a block of the month that was "itty bitty", with free instructions.  It makes me want to make them all.  You can do some blocks and make a mini quilt, or loads of blocks and make a big quilt.  

You could also order the $22 weekly shipment of charm squares from Primitive Gatherings–an option for sure if you don't have a stash of your own.

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Look how adorable those little  3 inch blocks are.  I can tell you, my loyalties are divided between the two very different projects on my design wall!  

57 responses to “Indecision in the Sewing Room”

  1. Well, since I’m currently making bow tie blocks (4″) and since I love CW fabrics, my loyalties would be to your bow tie project. But I do love your updated Granny Square project, too. 😉

  2. Well, since I’m currently making bow tie blocks (4″) and since I love CW fabrics, my loyalties would be to your bow tie project. But I do love your updated Granny Square project, too. 😉

  3. Well, since I’m currently making bow tie blocks (4″) and since I love CW fabrics, my loyalties would be to your bow tie project. But I do love your updated Granny Square project, too. 😉

  4. Oh, what a delightful dilemma! For you, of course, it’s not an either/or situation. If you do Bow Ties this week, in less than 2 weeks, you can do the simplified Granny Squares … or vise versa. You’re fast, doncha know?!!
    The Granny Square fabrics do say SUMMER to me since they’re popsicle flavor colors!
    Have fun!
    Hug!

  5. Oh, what a delightful dilemma! For you, of course, it’s not an either/or situation. If you do Bow Ties this week, in less than 2 weeks, you can do the simplified Granny Squares … or vise versa. You’re fast, doncha know?!!
    The Granny Square fabrics do say SUMMER to me since they’re popsicle flavor colors!
    Have fun!
    Hug!

  6. Oh, what a delightful dilemma! For you, of course, it’s not an either/or situation. If you do Bow Ties this week, in less than 2 weeks, you can do the simplified Granny Squares … or vise versa. You’re fast, doncha know?!!
    The Granny Square fabrics do say SUMMER to me since they’re popsicle flavor colors!
    Have fun!
    Hug!

  10. Do a few bowties, then a few Granny Squares and ta da, you’ve got two quilts done! And you don’t get bored with one or the other! And they do look like popsicle colors! Enjoy!

  11. Do a few bowties, then a few Granny Squares and ta da, you’ve got two quilts done! And you don’t get bored with one or the other! And they do look like popsicle colors! Enjoy!

  12. Do a few bowties, then a few Granny Squares and ta da, you’ve got two quilts done! And you don’t get bored with one or the other! And they do look like popsicle colors! Enjoy!

  16. I love the bow tie quilt. And agree w/you that the price is tooooo pricey. I have seen the quilt in person. The size of the the bowtie blocks are 2″ finished. (The lite background squares are cut 2 @ 1 1/2 and the bow tie fabric is cut 2 @ 1 1/2 and 2 @ 1 inch.) There are 36 bowties to one block alternating dark and medium bowties. One row with bowties going from left to right and the next right to left. Also note the placement of the dark bowties as they create a path for visual effect when the quilt is put together. I started making this size bowties many moons ago using scrappy lites instead of same background, so this is what I am using and a way to use up my stash. Hope this helps – I must warn you these itty blocks are addictive.
    Cass

  17. I love the bow tie quilt. And agree w/you that the price is tooooo pricey. I have seen the quilt in person. The size of the the bowtie blocks are 2″ finished. (The lite background squares are cut 2 @ 1 1/2 and the bow tie fabric is cut 2 @ 1 1/2 and 2 @ 1 inch.) There are 36 bowties to one block alternating dark and medium bowties. One row with bowties going from left to right and the next right to left. Also note the placement of the dark bowties as they create a path for visual effect when the quilt is put together. I started making this size bowties many moons ago using scrappy lites instead of same background, so this is what I am using and a way to use up my stash. Hope this helps – I must warn you these itty blocks are addictive.
    Cass

  18. I love the bow tie quilt. And agree w/you that the price is tooooo pricey. I have seen the quilt in person. The size of the the bowtie blocks are 2″ finished. (The lite background squares are cut 2 @ 1 1/2 and the bow tie fabric is cut 2 @ 1 1/2 and 2 @ 1 inch.) There are 36 bowties to one block alternating dark and medium bowties. One row with bowties going from left to right and the next right to left. Also note the placement of the dark bowties as they create a path for visual effect when the quilt is put together. I started making this size bowties many moons ago using scrappy lites instead of same background, so this is what I am using and a way to use up my stash. Hope this helps – I must warn you these itty blocks are addictive.
    Cass

  19. I fell in love with the PG bowtie quilt but also thought it was very expensive. I’ve got a lot of charm squares and scraps and I’ll be joining you in making my own!!

  20. I fell in love with the PG bowtie quilt but also thought it was very expensive. I’ve got a lot of charm squares and scraps and I’ll be joining you in making my own!!

  21. I fell in love with the PG bowtie quilt but also thought it was very expensive. I’ve got a lot of charm squares and scraps and I’ll be joining you in making my own!!

  25. I love your bow ties and you’re right $330 is really expensive. But since I would have to pay for the shipping extra (and that counts for all BOMs) I never do them. Even a monthly BOM would add up to about $300 just for shipping … mmh, no, I rather spend my money for fabric;-) So it’s either free patterns or PDFs for me (and I think for most not-Americans). Love our tiny bows think it’s also a great leaders/ends project!

  26. I love your bow ties and you’re right $330 is really expensive. But since I would have to pay for the shipping extra (and that counts for all BOMs) I never do them. Even a monthly BOM would add up to about $300 just for shipping … mmh, no, I rather spend my money for fabric;-) So it’s either free patterns or PDFs for me (and I think for most not-Americans). Love our tiny bows think it’s also a great leaders/ends project!

  27. I love your bow ties and you’re right $330 is really expensive. But since I would have to pay for the shipping extra (and that counts for all BOMs) I never do them. Even a monthly BOM would add up to about $300 just for shipping … mmh, no, I rather spend my money for fabric;-) So it’s either free patterns or PDFs for me (and I think for most not-Americans). Love our tiny bows think it’s also a great leaders/ends project!

  28. wow! tiny is beautiful! split your time? one week on one project. the next week work on the other? just a thought.
    me? i am on day 3 of doing a massive reorg and cleaning of my sewing room. if you never hear from me again….my body can be found under a pile of plastic bins and/or fabric. ;p

  29. wow! tiny is beautiful! split your time? one week on one project. the next week work on the other? just a thought.
    me? i am on day 3 of doing a massive reorg and cleaning of my sewing room. if you never hear from me again….my body can be found under a pile of plastic bins and/or fabric. ;p

  30. wow! tiny is beautiful! split your time? one week on one project. the next week work on the other? just a thought.
    me? i am on day 3 of doing a massive reorg and cleaning of my sewing room. if you never hear from me again….my body can be found under a pile of plastic bins and/or fabric. ;p

  31. When I saw your bowties my first thought was that you were making the Schnibbles Bennington quilt.

  32. When I saw your bowties my first thought was that you were making the Schnibbles Bennington quilt.

  33. When I saw your bowties my first thought was that you were making the Schnibbles Bennington quilt.

  37. I like both of your projects and Civil War is my favorite fabric! I am making the 6 1/2″ churn dash blocks and beginning 6″ civil war stars too. Love Primitive Gatherings projects but too pricy for me!!

  38. I like both of your projects and Civil War is my favorite fabric! I am making the 6 1/2″ churn dash blocks and beginning 6″ civil war stars too. Love Primitive Gatherings projects but too pricy for me!!

  39. I like both of your projects and Civil War is my favorite fabric! I am making the 6 1/2″ churn dash blocks and beginning 6″ civil war stars too. Love Primitive Gatherings projects but too pricy for me!!

  40. Thanks for the link to small Bow Ties! Appreciate your willingness to share whatever you find! I saved the Bow Ties…as if I need another project….

  41. Thanks for the link to small Bow Ties! Appreciate your willingness to share whatever you find! I saved the Bow Ties…as if I need another project….

  42. Thanks for the link to small Bow Ties! Appreciate your willingness to share whatever you find! I saved the Bow Ties…as if I need another project….

  46. I love the bow tie quilt. I have a 30’s reproduction charm pack and planned on using it for a bow tie mini! I’m sure whatever you decide on will be beautiful!!

  47. I love the bow tie quilt. I have a 30’s reproduction charm pack and planned on using it for a bow tie mini! I’m sure whatever you decide on will be beautiful!!

  48. I love the bow tie quilt. I have a 30’s reproduction charm pack and planned on using it for a bow tie mini! I’m sure whatever you decide on will be beautiful!!

  49. I love both of the projects you have up on your design wall right now! I would have a hard time deciding which project to work on since I love quilts made with bow tie blocks AND I absolutely love, love, love the bright citrusy colored fabrics that are out right now. Call me crazy but if those projects were mine, I would probably have two separate stacks of block parts by the sewing machine so I could feed blocks for each quilt thru at the same time and then I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about the one that got left behind :o)

  50. I love both of the projects you have up on your design wall right now! I would have a hard time deciding which project to work on since I love quilts made with bow tie blocks AND I absolutely love, love, love the bright citrusy colored fabrics that are out right now. Call me crazy but if those projects were mine, I would probably have two separate stacks of block parts by the sewing machine so I could feed blocks for each quilt thru at the same time and then I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about the one that got left behind :o)

  51. I love both of the projects you have up on your design wall right now! I would have a hard time deciding which project to work on since I love quilts made with bow tie blocks AND I absolutely love, love, love the bright citrusy colored fabrics that are out right now. Call me crazy but if those projects were mine, I would probably have two separate stacks of block parts by the sewing machine so I could feed blocks for each quilt thru at the same time and then I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about the one that got left behind :o)

  52. Love your bow tie quilt.I made the bow tie quilt with Temecula Quilt Shop last year. They were all 2″ finished with the background all one color. I used ecru Moda and my Cival War fabrics. Loved making the quilt.

  53. Love your bow tie quilt.I made the bow tie quilt with Temecula Quilt Shop last year. They were all 2″ finished with the background all one color. I used ecru Moda and my Cival War fabrics. Loved making the quilt.

  54. Love your bow tie quilt.I made the bow tie quilt with Temecula Quilt Shop last year. They were all 2″ finished with the background all one color. I used ecru Moda and my Cival War fabrics. Loved making the quilt.