February 6th, 2010
Pat Nixon Rose BAQ Block
Hopefully you have your vine and leaves appliqued and are ready to ruch some roses. I suggest you make the roses and pin them to the block, saving the actual appliquing of the flowers to the quilt until after it is quilted. I know, I know… It’s hard to not finish the block completely, but your long armer will thank you!
If you’ve never ruched before, I hope you enjoy this technique. Make yourself a brooch as a test. It’s a very interesting procedure and it produces wonderful results. Enjoy… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, Free Quilt Pattern, Ruched Roses Instructions
Posted in 2010 Baltimore Album Quilt, Free Patterns, Gift ItemsTo Make, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
February 5th, 2010
It’s almost here! That most wonderful day of the year! Valentine’s Day. Hearts are one of my favorite motifs in quiltmaking. And here is the first in our series of small quilts that will celebrate my 10 years with the NOCCCD as their quilting instructor.
So I dug deep back in my archives to the first sampler quilt I taught… aptly called “starter Sampler” and chose this block on which to base our first little quilt.
Pictured above is the runner using three blocks, but you could… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Free Romantic Hearts Quilt Instructions, Valentine Gift to make, Valentine Table Runner
Posted in Free Patterns, Gift ItemsTo Make, Miniatures, Table Runners, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
February 4th, 2010
There’s that old saying, Better Late Than Never!
Now, although we swapped 10″ squares in class a couple of weeks ago… (That was the 1800s reproduction swap – 40 ea. 10″ squares) and because that swap was ostensibly for our 6″ Civil War reproduction quilt (the 150th anniversary of the civil war is in 2011), I did not design a pattern to go with that swap.
Well, one of my students asked,
“What about a pattern for that swap?”
So that set me to thinking… Hey, WHAT about a pattern for that swap?
SO….
Better Late...
I sat down and designed this quilt.
And named it… Better Late…
Now, I know what you’re thinking… It’s a 9-Patch… But not really like you think it is. The quilt is put together as a Puss in the Corner. Do you see it? Those large squares are the center of the block and they are framed with 2″ cut strips with light cornerstones.
Better Late Blocks
Then that block is sashed, also with a light cornerstone. The result is that small 9-patch. And the large squares really show off the 1800s prints… or any other group of fabrics you care to use. It’s could be a fun, very scrappy quilt or a controlled batik quilt or… well, there’s as many possibilities as there are quilters!
In short, the blocks go together super fast and if you aren’t swapping you could delve into your stash or grab a 10″ Layer Cake Precut Set from your local Quilt Shop and go to town with this pattern. And if you want a bigger quilt, add another whole cloth border (not on the pattern but another 2 1/2 yards of a great fabric would do it. The quilt is 55″ X 85″ as it is… so if you added a 6″ border it would be 67″ X 97″! And of course you can add or subtract blocks to make it just the size you need!
So the pattern is below this page break… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 1800s Fabric Quilts to make, Better Late Quilt, Dear JAne Reproduction Quilt, free simple quilt patterns, Layer Cake Patterns, Swap Quilt Free pattern
Posted in Antique Quilts, Dear Jane, Free Patterns, Swaps, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
January 29th, 2010
Pat Nixon Rose BAQ Block
This week’s block for our Baltimore Album quilt is a two week block… Which means, I will give you the hand applique instructions for the vine and leaves now, and leave the ruched rose instructions for next week. So, take your time and enjoy the handwork this week.
I am enjoying designing these blocks. I have six basically done (Well, OK, I haven’t stitched down any of my fused pieces!) and am working on the design for two more. You just have to stay tuned to see what we have in store. They are too much fun, if I do say so myself!
I live in Yorba Linda, California, home of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. So I thought what better Rose to include on my BAQ than the one honoring Pat Nixon. This rose is a dark, dark red-black so start scanning your stash. You’ll need about a quarter yard and that’s width of fabric to do the ruching. Of course, you can have any color rose you desire. Pink-yellow makes a Peace rose; Strong red makes an Abraham Lincoln rose and so on.
Now the Rose of Sharon design on the pattern sheet is just a place holder… Unless you don’t want the 3-D ruched roses (some quilters want their work to stay flat) then you can use that Rose of Sharon pattern as your rose. But you gotta try the ruching! It’s a ball! Anyway… It’s up to you! But that’s next week…
To my students… Don’t forget… Bring a 1 1/2″ width of fabric strip to class and we’ll practice ruching while making a brooch. I forgot to mention this in our Cypress class so spread the word… That’s a 1 1/2″ WoF strip pressed with the two long raw edges into the middle like bias tape; at least 2 needles and a spool of thread. Oh and be sure to bring whatever glasses you might need to see your work! This is for February 1 through the 5th… 2010!
For now, we are starting with the hand applique. First is the vine, which is very much the same as doing a basket handle. Then comes the leaves. They are simple shapes and I’m suggesting a very simple hand applique method where you baste the leaves over a freezer paper template. It’s a snap. But if you’ve never done hand applique before, my instructions may seem pretty rudimentary. Search around the Internet if you need more help. I tried to keep it simple. Sometimes I feel if the instructions get wordy, they get confusing so I stick to the KISS philosophy… Keep it simple… Sweetheart!
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, hand applique, Rose Wreath, Ruched Roses, Ruching instructions
Posted in 2010 Baltimore Album Quilt, Antique Quilts, Antique Red and Green, Free Patterns, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
January 22nd, 2010
Mexican Rose BAQ Block 2
In 1846, the United States and Mexico went to war. It was a defining event for the young nations, transforming a continent and forging a new identity for both countries. By the war’s end in 1848, Mexico had lost nearly half of its territory and the United States became a continental power.
These events brought thoughts of Mexico to the forefront of the American consciousness. On the east coast, these wonderful applique album quilts were being made. It is natural that a block commemorating our neighbors to the south be included in some of these quilts.
This rendition of the Mexican Rose includes a bit of reverse applique on the leaves. Applique the dark green edges of the leaves over the light green interiors of those leaves. My sample block is done with paper backed fusible web, but if you wish to use hand applique, just add your seam allowance.
This block also introduces layered applique. Note that applique should always be stitched from back to front. That is, the elements farthest from you are stitched first. In this block, the farthest layer is the light green which behind the dark green. So applique the dark green to the light green then the dark green to the background. Next would be the gold petals and finally the reds can be stitched.
That center circle is called out as gold. However as I worked on my block, I didn’t care for the gold, so I substituted green. You may even want to try the red. Whatever color you like is the one you should use!
The pattern given is one quarter of the block. The fusible will reverse the final outcome so always keep that in mind. It’s easy enough to repeat the elements to create the whole block…
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, Mexican Rose Quilt Block Instructions
Posted in 2010 Baltimore Album Quilt, Antique Red and Green, Free Patterns, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
January 14th, 2010
Crossed Laurel Leaves
Here is the first block on our Journey to Baltimore. This year, our class sampler quilt is going to be a Baltimore Album. I am striving to include many of the traditional BAQ motifs and techniques.
The supply list for this quilt has already been published. We’ve also discussed making the pieced backgrounds. Now we are starting on the blocks.
This first block is pretty straightforward… Crossed Laurel Leaves. As BAQ blocks go, this is rather simple, but still quite beautiful. Place it on the pinwheel pieced block or any other you choose. The instructions call for fusible and machine applique but add seam allowances for hand applique if you wish… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Block Of the Month Instructions Free, Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, Free BOM Block Of The Month Quilt Patterns
Posted in 2010 Baltimore Album Quilt, Antique Quilts, Antique Red and Green, Free Patterns, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
January 12th, 2010
New Layer Cake-Swap E Book For You To Download! Free For A While!
During 2009, the quilting classes of NOCCCD-SCE-OAP did a fabric swap every month. With summer off, we managed 9 swaps, including reds, greens, thirties, batiks, etc.
Confetti Swap Quilt
Each swap was the same, 36 ea. 9 1/2″ squares. For every fabric swap, I designed two quilts… That’s 18 total, in addition to our regular class work. It was quite a year.
MoonDance Swap Quilt
One great thing about these patterns is that each can be made from a Layer Cake Packet available from you local quilt shop, or from a swap you arrange with your favorite quilting group, or from fat quarters or from your own stash!
Sashed Tumblers Swap Quilt
Each of those patterns has been posted here on this site, but now I have combined all those instruction sheets into one complete download… This download will be available free for just a few weeks, so download it NOW! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2009 Quilt of the Month, Block of the Month, Layer Cake Quilt Pattern Free, Quilt ebook, Simple Free Easy quick Quilt Patterns, Stash Buster Quilt pattern, Stash Quilt Pattern Free, Swap Quilts though the year
Posted in Free Patterns, Gift ItemsTo Make, Jelly Roll Quilts, Layer Cake Patterns, Patterns from LynBrown.Com, Quilt Inspirations, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
January 7th, 2010
For the class I am teaching at the end of the month…
The New Year has begun and we are ready to start on a fabulous new project! This semester we are going to learn how to make a beautiful Baltimore Album quilt. I’ve already given you the supply list, now we are ready for the pieced background blocks. By the way, the quail and oak leaves block will be block number 4, so it will be available in a few weeks.
We are going to machine applique, hand applique, reverse applique, stuffed applique, ruching…Oh, just a whole lot of different methods involved with traditional Baltimore Album Quilts (BAQs).
By the way, if you want more free quilt block patterns, be sure to browse all around this site, www.LynBrown.com. We have lots of free quilt patterns all over the site!
The BAQ background blocks will measure 15″ finished. I am going to piece my backgrounds and will share the piecing instructions for the first six backgrounds in just a minute. But if you are thinking you don’t want to piece your backgrounds, that’s fine. Just cut 12 ea. 16″ squares from your background fabric(s).
Now if you want to follow along with me and piece those background blocks… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Block Of The Month Pattern, Block of the Week Quilt, Free Baltimore Album Block
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December 19th, 2009
We have been talking alot in class about the 1800s fabric needed to reproduce the Dear Jane® quilt. We are going to do a slightly different take on Jane this year… We are enlarging the blocks to 6″… That’s nearly twice the size of the original 4 1/2″ blocks. So we are only going to make 72 blocks… at 2 each week. If you want to follow along from out of the area, you’ll need the Dear Jane® book by Brenda Papadakis and the ability to enlarge the blocks to 6″.
We are also going to start off the year with a swap to use in our DJ quilt. The info about our swap is included on the supply list for this DJ quilt… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 1800 Fabric, Brenda Papadakis, Civil war era fabric, Dear Jane, Fabric Swap, reproduction fabric
Posted in Dear Jane, Swaps, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
December 14th, 2009
Staycation Quilt
Is it ever too early to open a Holiday gift?
Well, I hope not because here is my gift to you… I’ll only have this, my new pattern, up here on the site for FREE through December so download it now!
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Feliz Navidad! Enjoy!
The ink is still wet, and my borders are not yet on my prototype, but the pattern is complete. This is really a fun quilt. Working with the precut 2 1/2″ strips is always a blast, and this quilt is no exception. You get a lot of print variation and great color coordination as well. That’s the joy of working with the Hoffman Bali Pops, the Moda Jelly Rolls or any other set of these type of strips. Of course you could make this quilt from your stash or from fat quarters or from a swap… Whoa… Just make the quilt! The pattern is …. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Bali Pop, Free Bali Pop Quilt Instructions, Free Quilt Pattern, Jelly Roll, Stacation, Staycation Jelly Roll Quilt Pattern
Posted in Free Patterns, Jelly Roll Quilts, Swaps, Uncategorized, Weekly Classes | No Comments »
