Template Piecing

Template piecing is a fabric cutting technique that uses either paper templates or plastic templates for cutting the pieces needed for your quilt project. Using templates for me was at first baffling, then frustrating and now I appreciate the accuracy and ease of making quilts with pieces other than the basic square, rectangle and 45° triangles.

Christmas Is Coming

While browsing through Pinterest today I came across some quilted Christmas Tree Skirts and realized it's not too early to be thinking about Christmas. I think this one is a beauty from the fabric choices to the details like the green squares between the star points. I noticed that it is a 10 point star which is a size that you don't often find in quilt blocks.

Autumn Mug Rugs

Here are a few fall mug rug inspirations. I love mug rugs. I use them all the time for my ever present coffee, they're quick and easy to make and it's the perfect venue to try out that block you just found but aren't sure how to use in a full sized quilt. And I can't forget the orphan blocks, great way to use them up too.

New 1904 Star Block Calculator

I've just uploaded the 1904 Star Block calculator. It is a fairly intricate block that I made with multiple quantities only, but I think I've broken it down enough for easy assembly. It does use templates and  I have learned to embrace using templates except when my printer is out of ink :)

Some Pins to Admire

Getting more ideas for quilting was never easier with Pinterest. Here is a traditional quilt block set in a 5 by 5 grid that uses simple squares and half square triangles.

Go Forth and Share!

I was recently contacted by salvationarmypatchworkeasyas for permission to use the patterns on myquiltgenie.com website, which I was happy to do and those ladies sure can quilt.

Ideas from Pintrest

Pinterest has to be one of the best things to happen to quilters of all time. For those of you who don't know what Pinterest is, it is a virtual bulletin board for images. At first, I thought, "big deal", until I tried it. Now I have so many ideas for quilting and other things that the hardest part is getting off the internet and deciding which one to start first.

Potholders, Coasters and Mug Rugs

There are some more projects on the 54 40 or Fight quilt block calculator. Now you can make potholders, coasters and mug rugs too.

MyQuiltGenie - Bright Hopes

Bright Hopes
Newly Updated! Now you can use the calculator for quilts, potholders, coasters, mug rugs, borders & sashing.

'via Blog this'

Mississippi Star

The Mississippi Star block is a beautiful, but challenging block. Many years ago I attempted my first template pieced block with little to no instruction on how to do so. I tried to figure out how to make the template pieces fit strips cut at the ¼ inch and many more mistakes.

Kansas Troubles Quilt

In my previous 3 posts I showed different versions of a Kansas Troubles quilt block. Here I've put them together in a quilt. The original Kansas Troubles block in the middle with the other 2 variations around it.

Kansas Troubles III

Here is yet another variation of the Kansas Troubles quilt block. In this version you'll again use squares, half square triangles and quarter square triangles to make this block. To calculate what size the finished pieces should be choose a quilt block size that is easily divisible by 8 and follow the formulas below. All triangle seam allowances are for triangles cut from strips using triangle rulers or templates.

Kansas Troubles II

In my previous post, I described the Kansas Troubles quilt block. Today is the same named block in a different variation. In this block there are squares, half square triangles and quarter square triangles. Choose a finished block size that is again easily divisible by 8.

Kansas Troubles I

The Kansas Troubles quilt block was first seen in about the 1850's but it wasn't seen in print until 1890 with the name. See civilwarquilts.blogspot.com for more details about this quilt block.

Different sized half square triangles and squares make up the pieces of this quilt block. To make this version, decide how large you want the block to be choosing sizes that are easily divisible by 8.

Kings Crown

The King's Crown is a fairly simple quilt block using half square triangles, flying geese and squares set in a 2 by 2 square grid layout. There are several ways to use pieces in this block and as you can see at least 2 ways to select fabric.

Alternating Block Quilt

To the left is another version of the Broken Dishes block set in a 5 by 5 grid layout.

Double Stars

Double Star #2

Double Star #1

In quilting sometimes blocks have more than 1 name and sometimes more than 1 block has the same name. I was able to find 5 different Double Star quilt blocks. There are likely more out there that are a little harder to find.

Dog Tooth Border

The Dog Tooth border uses the Peaky and Spike block on the sides and a Crossed Canoe block in the corner.

Delectable Mountains

A famous example of a Delectable Mountains quilt was carried on the Lost Wagon Train of 1853 by Lucinda Anne Leonard Worth.

Grandpa's Delight

A while ago we were asked to paint a barn quilt. The block used is called Grandpa's Delight in honor of a recently passed grandfather. In the past I thought that painting quilts might be easier and faster than with fabric, however, now I know differently.