Scrappy Postage Stamp Quilt

For the longest time I’ve wanted to make a postage stamp quilt. I find this classic yet timeless quilt pattern to be so charming and eclectic at the same time. There are so many variations of this classic quilt that one doesn’t even know where to begin. After a while of considering different layouts I chose a checkerboard pattern alternating between prints and solid Kona Cotton.

I think a postage stamp quilt is a great to use up scraps and the variety of prints adds to its character. For this quilt I cut squares 2.5 inches by 2.5 inches. I ended up using a total of 729 squares. It was a slow process; every change I got between projects I would pick fabric from my scraps basket and cut it up into squares and set them aside in another basket. I tend to use only Kona Cotton in Snow for the background of my quilts and I keep a separate basket with all of those scraps, so it was easy to pick and cut the solid squares. Once I felt I had enough squares I began sewing. I made 9 patch blocks and then join them together. At first I had a hard time building the blocks as I was overthinking how to layout all of the different prints, but once I let go and allow the layout to be random it was a very easy and liberating process.

This quilt measures 54X54 inches and I quilted it in a simple cross hatch pattern. I just love how this quilt turned out and I’ already planning the next one.

Wishing you a wonderful week. Until next time.

Martha

Argyle Diamond Quilt

Hello Friends

I wanted to share with you this special quilt that I made a while ago. It was one of my longest work in progress. As it was my first time working with diamonds, so there was a bit of trial and error. But after a few encounters with my seam ripper I think it turned out pretty good. When I designed this quilt I wanted to replicate the classic Argyle diamond pattern very popular in sweater vests and cardigans but with a fun twist. I used some of my very favorite Denyse Schmidt prints that I had collected since I started quilting.

For the backing I made and improv patch work of various prints. A bit more vibrant than my usual style, but I think it really complements the quilt and adds to its playfulness. I opted for simple straight line quilting to allow the patterns of the fabric shine and stand out.

I love how vibrant and fun this quilt turned out and the Argyle Dimond pattern is something I want to play around with a bit more. Maybe make another quilt and write up the pattern.

Now this quilt lives at my sister’s and I couldn’t be happier that it found a great home.

Until next time

Martha

Scrappy Quarter Log Cabin Quilt

Hello friends… it has been a long time since I posted here. While I love blogging and connecting with other makers in this community, life has been busy and has kept me from coming to this space. However, while I haven’t been posting here, I’ve been able to work on several projects and I can’t wait to share with you everything that I’ve been creating.

Last December I decided to tackle my scraps. If you sew or quilt, you know that every project leaves you with a number of scraps and after a while begin to accumulate. Then after a while the pile of scraps becomes so big that feels overwhelming. So I decided to crate some scrappy quilts and try to get those scraps under control.

I finished this wonky quarter log cabin quilt last spring. The blocks were easy to make and came together rather quickly. No math, not precise cutting, no being picky with color or fabric choices; just go with the flow and see where the process takes you. At first it was challenging to let go, but after a few blocks I decided to trust the process and I love the result. It is wild, eclectic and for some reason all of those prints together work. I love scrappy projects!! And have a few more to share with you.

Until next time

XX

Martha

Halloween Patchwork Quilt

There is something enchanting about the simplicity of a classic patchwork quilt. I just love the harmony of the checkered pattern the squares make. This quilt was commissioned to me by Tiny Paws Pug Rescue for the annual Halloween Fundraiser. This is the second quilt that I created for them.I talked about about the first quilt on my previous post.

I haven’t made many patchwork quilt before, I don’t know why. They come together rather quickly and in my opinion they are beautiful in all their simplicity. I see myself making a few more in my future. I love how this quilt turned out. The polka dot fabric and the purple binding really help show off the skeletons print without overpowering. For the quilting I decided to try diagonal lines at 45 degrees and I’m quite pleased wit the result. I hope the people participating on the fundraiser like it and helps raise some needed funds for the pugs in the rescue.

Until next time friends

Martha

Triangle Halloween Quilt

Hello friends,

I hope you are doing well. I have been doing a lot of sewing lately. I just finished this lovely quilt commissioned to me by Tiny Paws Pug Rescue, a wonderful organization that is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of pugs in need. Their mission is so dear to my heart; I love pugs and as you know I’m a pug mom myself. They will be having a Halloween festival and fundraiser and they asked if I could make a quilt for the auction ( I made two). I was happy to be able to contribute a little something. They provided me with the whimsical Alexander Henry Dia De Muertos dog print as a starting point. I thought the triangles would be good shape to highlight the cute skeletons print. And to add a pop of color I decided to go bold with a neon pink binding. I think it came out really cute. I hope this quilt goes to a good home and helps raise so much needed funds to cover the medical needs of so many pugs brought into the rescue.

I can’t wait to share with you the second quilt I made for the auction.

Have a wonderful week

Martha

Modern Christmas Tree Quilt - Free Pattern

Hello friends.

I hope you are having a lovely end of the summer. It feels to early to be thinking of winter and holiday season. But time flies and if we want to gift our loved ones a handmade quilt we have to start our preparations with months in advance. Last year I created a quilt similar to this to donate it for a fundraiser for pugs in need (you can see if here). I really loved how it came out then, so I decided to recreate it and write the pattern for it; and share with you. It is a simple pattern but creates a fun quilt. I hope you make it for you or to give to your loved ones this holiday season. The pattern comes together easily and it is beginner friendly.

I hope you enjoy this pattern and if you make it please share your photos and tag me on Instagram.

You can download the free pattern HERE

Enjoy and happy sewing

Martha

Campfire Quilt

The Camp Fire Quit pattern by Suzy Quilts, but I like to call it the friendship quilt. I did not make the quilt top, a friend gifted it to me. She was making it with the intention of making the quilt into a wall hanging for her sewing room but something was not clicking for her and lost interest on finishing it. She offered to me and I happily took it off her hands. I think the pattern is beautiful and the colors she chose are stunning. I absolutely love it. To finish the quilt I backed it with this sweet orange gingham fabric that was gifted to me by another friend; her mom who was downsizing her sewing room and my friend kindly set aside a box full of fabric as well as the lofty batting that I used for the quilt and gave it to me. As you can see, basically all the materials for this quilt came from friends. The binding fabric is the only thing that came from my stash. Hence my decision nickname this the friendship quilt. I used a crosshatch pattern to quilt it and I love the texture that it gives to this quilt.

This quilt now hangs in the quilt ladder in my sewing room. I love that every time I look at it reminds me of friends. And at the same time it is fulfilling its purpose that it was originally created for… a wall hanging for a sewing room.

Wishing you a lovely week. Until next time.

Martha

Lately

Hello friends

I hope you had a lovely weekend. I wanted to share with you some scenes from my sewing room from this weekend. I’ve been working on organizing my fabric scraps and trying to use at least some of them. As you know every project creates more scraps and as quilters we have an endless supply of scraps. Sometimes they add up faster than we can use them, and it can become overwhelming. So I been trying to bring some order to the chaos that it is the scrap bin. I finished this quilt top that has been in the works for quite some time. It is a bit more wild and loud than my usual style. I had many doubts throughout the process, but now that the quilt top is finished I like very much. I got so motivated that I started a couple more projects using scraps. Scrappy projects I think are long term projects and you build them slowly. But I think it is part of their beauty and what makes them more precious; they are a collection of many fabrics, sort of a scraps book of many projects and they are definitely a labor of love.

Wishing you a wonderful week. Until next time.

Martha