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.

,

Getting Ready for Some Sewing!

012 
Woo hoo!  In about a week I am going to be getting together with some friends and do some sewing!  Mostly I am excited to see my friends, but also I wanted to get a seriously wonderful project ready to work on during the time that we will be sewing together.

I am working on a really lovely pattern called Shiloh, by Bonnie Blue Quilt Company.  I started these blocks a number of months back, BM.  That would be Before the Move.  Quilt projects come and go, but I have to say, this one really got my pulse racing.  Love these blocks.

010 
Here are a few of them laid out on the floor of The Studio-That-Isn't.  The jury is still out on whether or not the red blocks get to stay, but for now, I am thinking they are ok. 

I started out using a kit, and ended up using a few of the fabrics from the kit, and supplementing most of the others with scraps from my stash.  Then I discovered a layer cake of a collection called Arnold's Attic and went to town using that.  Why do I buy kits anyway?  I always end up changing them up completely.

8160H2 8160H3 8160H4

See what I mean?  Aren't those just too wonderful to not include in my quilt?

011 
This quilt has a L.O.T. of flying geese units in it, and I wanted to get all my units lined up and ready to go for my block construction.  No cutting for me while I am on retreat.  That never goes well.  I tend to get distracted and cut my 6 1/2" squares all 6 1/4" or something equally tragic.

What I will be doing is using my Fit To Be Geese ruler to trim my flying geese units to precisely the right size.  If you haven't tried this tool, you simply must. 

ImagesCAF2MDMT Best tool ever for making perfect flying geese!

60 responses to “Getting Ready for Some Sewing!”

  1. Looking at the quilt blocks you’ve already made, my vote is to keep the red blocks in. I think your quilt would be dull without them. Please share pics with us of the finished quilt and have a wonderful time at your retreat!

  2. Looking at the quilt blocks you’ve already made, my vote is to keep the red blocks in. I think your quilt would be dull without them. Please share pics with us of the finished quilt and have a wonderful time at your retreat!

  3. So far I like the red blocks. I will be excited for you to finish this one! It is a great project and great pattern. I have found that ALL of the FIT TO BE rulers are wonderful and provide great accuracy. Have fun at your retreat!
    Marsha

  4. So far I like the red blocks. I will be excited for you to finish this one! It is a great project and great pattern. I have found that ALL of the FIT TO BE rulers are wonderful and provide great accuracy. Have fun at your retreat!
    Marsha

  7. I would definitely leave in the red blocks. I too am working on a quilt with a ton of flying geese – I’ll have to look see if I can find the Fit to Be Geese ruler. Enjoy your retreat.

  8. I would definitely leave in the red blocks. I too am working on a quilt with a ton of flying geese – I’ll have to look see if I can find the Fit to Be Geese ruler. Enjoy your retreat.

  9. Lovely fabrics (reds included) and a wonderful block pattern! I’m from Tennessee where the Shiloh Battlefield is located so I may have to make this quilt.
    You know, I never buy kits because I don’t want to take time to make a quilt that has lots of duplicates in the world. Your solution using some of your stash fabrics mixed in with the kit fabrics gives you a one-of-a-kind quilt, too. Well done!
    I’ve never seen any Fit TO Be tool and find this one interesting. I use the method that gives you 4 matching geese at a time.
    How wonderful to happily anticipate sewing with your friends next week!!!
    Hugs!

  10. Lovely fabrics (reds included) and a wonderful block pattern! I’m from Tennessee where the Shiloh Battlefield is located so I may have to make this quilt.
    You know, I never buy kits because I don’t want to take time to make a quilt that has lots of duplicates in the world. Your solution using some of your stash fabrics mixed in with the kit fabrics gives you a one-of-a-kind quilt, too. Well done!
    I’ve never seen any Fit TO Be tool and find this one interesting. I use the method that gives you 4 matching geese at a time.
    How wonderful to happily anticipate sewing with your friends next week!!!
    Hugs!

  11. I agree. I think the red blocks really add a nice splash of color without taking away from the others.
    I am always in awe of your quilts and hope that one day I’ll be able to put one together as beautiful as your’s!

  12. I agree. I think the red blocks really add a nice splash of color without taking away from the others.
    I am always in awe of your quilts and hope that one day I’ll be able to put one together as beautiful as your’s!

  15. The blocks you’ve made so far have a nice amount of red, in my opinion. If you stay with that mix of colors you won’t go wrong! Have a great time on your retreat…better take a little photo of Eva so you can admire her cuteness as you sew!!

  16. The blocks you’ve made so far have a nice amount of red, in my opinion. If you stay with that mix of colors you won’t go wrong! Have a great time on your retreat…better take a little photo of Eva so you can admire her cuteness as you sew!!

  23. I like the red blocks a lot! Maybe you just need to see more red in the mix? And that Arnold’s Attic fabric is going to be a great adddition to your other blocks.

  24. I like the red blocks a lot! Maybe you just need to see more red in the mix? And that Arnold’s Attic fabric is going to be a great adddition to your other blocks.

  27. How fun to be getting together with friends to sew! I love Arnold’s Attic fabrics too. The greens and oranges are terrific. The blocks are looking wonderful.

  28. How fun to be getting together with friends to sew! I love Arnold’s Attic fabrics too. The greens and oranges are terrific. The blocks are looking wonderful.

  29. I like the red blocks and really the whole project. If you can add fabrics from your stash to make the quilt better (and more “you”) then I say go for it. I buy kits and sometimes wind up cannibalizing them for a completely different project. I am about to do that right now, as a matter of fact.

  30. I like the red blocks and really the whole project. If you can add fabrics from your stash to make the quilt better (and more “you”) then I say go for it. I buy kits and sometimes wind up cannibalizing them for a completely different project. I am about to do that right now, as a matter of fact.

  31. It looks great. We buy kits for the foundation of a quilt, not for the whole thing. It’s great to “mix it up” when it comes to fabric collections.

  32. It looks great. We buy kits for the foundation of a quilt, not for the whole thing. It’s great to “mix it up” when it comes to fabric collections.

  37. Gotta go with the red- IN! Gorgeous beginning your quilt. Have fun on your get together! Isn’t this an annual event???

  38. Gotta go with the red- IN! Gorgeous beginning your quilt. Have fun on your get together! Isn’t this an annual event???

  39. I love that pattern. My daughter made it as part of her wedding quilts and your little piles looked like the ones she made as she put hers together:
    http://strlady.smugmug.com/Quilts-and-More/Nyshmas-Quilts/i-LT3xMCC/0/O/Wedding-Quilts-Shiloh1.jpg
    Here is a pic of the final quilt:
    http://strlady.smugmug.com/Quilts-and-More/Nyshmas-Quilts/i-LT3xMCC/0/O/Wedding-Quilts-Shiloh1.jpg
    I just bound it the week before last. It is my favorite of all her wedding pieces. I’m sure it will become one of your favorites too.

  40. I love that pattern. My daughter made it as part of her wedding quilts and your little piles looked like the ones she made as she put hers together:
    http://strlady.smugmug.com/Quilts-and-More/Nyshmas-Quilts/i-LT3xMCC/0/O/Wedding-Quilts-Shiloh1.jpg
    Here is a pic of the final quilt:
    http://strlady.smugmug.com/Quilts-and-More/Nyshmas-Quilts/i-LT3xMCC/0/O/Wedding-Quilts-Shiloh1.jpg
    I just bound it the week before last. It is my favorite of all her wedding pieces. I’m sure it will become one of your favorites too.

  45. AWESOME!!!! She’s BACK! Yes, you! The sewer you! Who needs a studio when you have friends to sew with?? We always end up in someone’s kitchen(mine), dining room(best friend) or new studio(other close girlfriend!)
    It doesn’t matter WHERE you sew. It just matters that you sew!! Have fun! ;0

  46. AWESOME!!!! She’s BACK! Yes, you! The sewer you! Who needs a studio when you have friends to sew with?? We always end up in someone’s kitchen(mine), dining room(best friend) or new studio(other close girlfriend!)
    It doesn’t matter WHERE you sew. It just matters that you sew!! Have fun! ;0

  47. Great blocks. I like that you change a kit to make it your own, and that you precut before a retreat. It is fun to have it ready to just sit and sew!

  48. Great blocks. I like that you change a kit to make it your own, and that you precut before a retreat. It is fun to have it ready to just sit and sew!

  49. I like the red blocks. Looks like it will be a great quilt, and a fun project to work on at your retreat.
    I just bought the Fit to Be Geese ruler last weekend and am looking forward to using it.
    Have a good time!

  50. I like the red blocks. Looks like it will be a great quilt, and a fun project to work on at your retreat.
    I just bought the Fit to Be Geese ruler last weekend and am looking forward to using it.
    Have a good time!

  53. Red looks good so far..to my eye anyway.I am seriously considering these rulers you speak so highly about. I spent the afternoon with some quilting friends and there were a few antique quilts on the beds at the cottage. One of them was made with strips of flying geese. Simple but effective and I loved it. Putting that one on my bucket list. Looking forward to seeing this quilt finished. Just wondering…how many quilts live at your house, because you are one of the most prolific quilters I have ever “known”!

  54. Red looks good so far..to my eye anyway.I am seriously considering these rulers you speak so highly about. I spent the afternoon with some quilting friends and there were a few antique quilts on the beds at the cottage. One of them was made with strips of flying geese. Simple but effective and I loved it. Putting that one on my bucket list. Looking forward to seeing this quilt finished. Just wondering…how many quilts live at your house, because you are one of the most prolific quilters I have ever “known”!

  57. Arnold’s Attic will be a perfect addition to your quilt. Getting the cutting done in advance is a great idea.
    Can’t wait to see the completion.

  58. Arnold’s Attic will be a perfect addition to your quilt. Getting the cutting done in advance is a great idea.
    Can’t wait to see the completion.

  59. I would leave the red. It makes it sparkle. Love this pattern. I may have to get it. You are getting a lot done even if your sewing room is not put together. You go girl.

  60. I would leave the red. It makes it sparkle. Love this pattern. I may have to get it. You are getting a lot done even if your sewing room is not put together. You go girl.