Dust Off a Quilt Book Blog Hop
I’m joining host Beaquilter today for the Dust Off a Quilt Book Blog Hop, and I’m excited to share not only the book I pulled of my shelf, but also the nifty quilt I made from a pattern in that book.
My Oldest Quilt Book
Bea encouraged us to find one of our oldest quilt books. I knew exactly which one it was. Not only is this my oldest quilt book, it is my very first quilt book. I cannot recall whether I bought it or whether it was given to me.
Little Quilts All Through the House by Alice Berg, Mary Ellen Von Holt, and Sylvia Johnson still remains one of my favorite quilt books. I recall that I read this book cover to cover, and I learned so much! I still think about the “magic” fabrics when I make a quilt – those colors you wouldn’t normally put in the mix, but when added, make the quilt sing. So many wonderful memories – and little quilts – from this book. It has been well loved and well used.
The copyright date of this book goes back a few years to 1993. That’s almost 27 years ago! Sure doesn’t seem that long ago . . .
My First Quilt
My very first quilt is also the very first quilt made from a pattern in this book – a mini log cabin. On an afternoon sew date with my good friend, Connie, I started sewing strips together for a little log cabin quilt. I was new to quilting and I’m sure my cutting and seam allowances were a bit off. The finished quilt is much smaller than the pattern!
For this blog hop, however, I’m not repeating that little log cabin. I’ve made an updated version of another pattern in the book, one that I always wanted to make all those years ago.
My Newest Quilt from This Book
The left over fabric from my Spring Paws quilt makes me think of summer days and picnics in the park. It would be perfect for the pattern I want to make for this quilt, aptly named Let’s Have a Picnic.
I don’t think red/white/blue quilts ever really go out of style. I wanted to keep to the same color scheme, but use more modern prints. The little quilt, with its 9-patch blocks, goes together quickly.
I had to get just a bit creative in order to have enough fabric, but in the end it all worked out.
For the 9-patch blocks, I used low volume scraps for the white squares and dug into my red scraps for the red squares. I chose fabrics that might have a picnic theme – musical notes, coffee beans. I kept it as random as I could. The blue floral fabric and the red gingham inner border fabrics are from the Dixie fabric line by Cluck Cluck Sew.
Just Barely Enough!
I had just enough of that red gingham fabric to just eke out a narrow border.
The blue floral fabric in the alternate blocks and border is a fun change from the homespun fabrics in the original pattern, don’t you think?
For the quilting, I stitched a quick diagonal through the 9-patch blocks, and straight lines through the inner border. In the blue floral blocks and border I stitched an orange peel design. You can see the design better on the back of the quilt.
The backing fabric is a red Quilt Minnesota fabric from my stash. I thought it blended nicely with a nod to a little Minnesota touch in the quilt as well!
This quilt will be a fun companion to my Spring Paws quilt for use during those sunny summer months of evening meals on the patio. Maybe I’ll even take it on a picnic!
Don’t Miss the Giveaway!
Thanks, Bea, for letting me be a part of this fun blog hop. Be sure to head over to her blog, Beaquilter, and leave a comment and get your name in the giveaway. She has something good in store for the winner!
Here are the links to the other bloggers participating in the Dust Off a Quilt Book Blog Hop – do click on their links, check out their books and projects, and leave them a comment or two!
March 2
March 3
March 4
March 5
March 6
Happy Stitching, my friends!
Wendy
33 Comments
marissthequilter
You have made me feel quite nostalgic about quilting books that have become like old friends. Just yesterday I looked up the drunkard’s path pattern in my oldest quilting book, The Perfect Patchwork Primer by Beth Gutcheon (first published in 1973!!).
Your picnic blanket quilt is lovely.
Cindy Pieters
An older book but an up to date quilt. I love it! That red gingham looks great.
Julie Holleran
Lovely choice of fabrics for your mini Little Quilt …hugs, Julierose
Linda
Your updated fabrics are beautiful! I love the pattern, scrappiness and colors, and your quilting looks great.
I still have my first quilt book, and I love looking through it in spite of dated colors and dim photography! I’ll have to dust it off and find a pattern I want to update.
Shasta
Wendy, your picnic quilt is darling. The floral fabric in the alternate setting really makes it sing. I am glad you managed to eke out enough fabric for that inner border. I too am participating in the hop. Today is my day.
karenfae
that looks like it is a cute book. I really got into quilting after a visit to the Old Country Store in Lancaster VA in 1988 – I know I got some fabric there and a book and got started.
Rose Moy Mikulski
We must have been sisters separated at quilt birth since Little Quilts was one of my first books. Inmade the scrappy flag which I still have in my family room. You know why I love the red gingham which always look great with a floral. P.S. my book is signed.
Cheree
Ha! I have that one! It was one of the first that I bought. I thin my books down occasionally but I will NEVER get rid of that one. I’ve made at least 10 or 12 minis (and several mini pillows) from it, including 2 of those log cabins—one Christmas and one fall.
lapaylor
what an interesting topic. I am trying to think what my oldest book would be… maybe Georgia Bonesteel’s book on quilt as you go.
laughinggasquilts
What a darling little quilt! It’s hard to beat the classics, isn’t it? Your fabric choices certainly added to the timeless vibe. May you have many lovely picnics on it.
Needle and Foot
I have that book too! It was in a bag of books given to me by my neighbor before she moved. I love it – I made a little American flag wall quilt that my parents hang on their deck each summer. I need to look at it again and choose another project from it. Love yours – both of them – very fun!!
Diann Bottrell
I noticed several of your commenters said they have that book, too, and I’m going to chime right in and say, “Me, too!” I think a friend gave it to me, but I don’t think I’ve ever made anything from it – which is funny because I love having small quilts all around the house. I guess that’s why our quilt books get dusty! I love your sweet little quilt – especially that floral that goes perfectly with your nine patches!
Kathleen McCormick
I love this and the blue print is perfect! It is a perfect little quilt and really a fun finish.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! I have this book in my collection as well. And I’m pretty darn sure our first quilts were made using this book as inspiration. You fabric choices are just PERFECT for this timeless beauty. Great job, Wendy. ~smile~ Roseanne
My Sewful Retirement
Wendy, both your old and new quilts are cute! I used to have that book also– unfortunately it didn’t make come with me to Florida!
Karrin Hurd
I remember that book, though I never bought it. One of my quilting teachers was always talking about that one. Cute quilts! Thanks so much for sharing!
Carol Andrews
Wendy I really like the picnic quilt. Sweet fabrics and beautiful quilting. Thanks for sharing.
Anonymous
A beautiful project. Thanks for sharing.
Janet T
Cute quilt! I always liked that book.
Frédérique
A lovely mini quilt!
Gail
What a great little quilt!
anudge
Both your quilts are darling. I love the newer one with its RWB color scheme. That book almost made it into my 200 book pile, However, my daughter beat me to it at the discount table at a quilt show charity corner. But it’s not far – lol. Thanks for sharing.
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
Ohh, I love that book! Great job making yours look modern, Wendy!!! Love the orange peel quilting!!!
farmquilter
Cute little quilt and perfect for a picnic, even in your own back yard!
Quilting is in my Blood
What a cute picnic quilt, and it does go perfectly with Spring Paws. I really like your quilting, even to give it interest but not overly fussy. And great styling with the picnic basket! Love your style in general! Take care, Mary.
Kathryn
What a wonderful book, a treasure. And love the two quilts you have presented here from it. Gorgeous.
annalutzbrown
Very very nice tyty for sharing got to love older books…. happyness04431@yahoo.com
Carol
This is a great idea for a hop. I often think I will chose patterns from a book I have when my quilting ramps up after we move.
xx, Carol
Janice
Oh, I LOVE this little 9-patch red, white and blue quilt. Wow! Love your choice of fabrics and it was meant to be when you have “just enough”. 🙂
Preeti Harris
A lovely little quilt 🙂
sewswift
Two very cute quilts and I’m loving that checkered border! Thanks for sharing!
thedarlingdogwood
So cute, and perfect for a picnic or dinner on the patio! Great finish, and your book is absolutely older than mine! (I should check my shelves for my oldest book–I went with project I most wanted to make instead 😉 )
Turid
What a beautiful little quilt. And your old one is great too. Log cabin is so fun.