March 6th, 2010
Pomegranates In A Basket
Pomegranates are a very traditional motif in quiltmaking. However, this is a bit of an atraditional portrayal. Yet somehow it works! That openwork woven basket also appears often in Baltimore Album quilts. And the birds! They just finish of this block.
Here the background is our pieced log cabin, though you could place this block on a whole cloth background or any other of our pieced blocks. The basket is placed 1 1/8″ (to be exact!) from the bottom of the raw block. The birds are placed using the diagonals of the block as a guide.
My favorite thing about this block is that leaf that tucks under the middle stem. It brings a little character to the block while adding a cohesion of the motifs. We’ve had some discussion in class this week about the stems not being seen inside that openwork basket. This is “seen” over and over again with the open work baskets, but if you want to see those stems, by all means, extend their length.
I don’t give a specific layout here. Use some of your own creativity to find a natural feel for your leaf placement and such. The block picture is provided as a guide, but use your own eye to lay out your block, just remember to keep all the motifs within the 15″ finished size!
Go to next page for the block instructions…. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Applique Basket, Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, Openwork basket simple quilt block, Pomegranate quilt block
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February 27th, 2010
Baltimore Oranges Close-Up
Here is a close-up of the oranges, leaves and blossoms for the Orange Tree block. Below is the instruction sheet for making the stuffed oranges and those adorable orange blossoms.
One of my favorite things about orange trees (other than the sunshine-sweet fruit and delicious juice!) is that they can have both fruit and blossoms on the tree at the same time. And the scent of those blossoms is heavenly, especially on a warm day. Wow! These trees are just beautiful.
One other noticeable thing about orange trees is they tend to drop fruit. Some of my observant students added an extra fruit next to the pot. Very cute and true-to-life! Hope you are enjoying… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, Orange Tree Quilt Block Free Pattern
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February 20th, 2010
Orange Tree Topiary
One of the hallmarks of the Baltimore Album Quilts produced in the mid 1800s is their depiction of everyday visuals. The Albums protrayed the things that the quiltmakers often saw around town, from memorials to local homes to the ships in the harbor. For more of a discussion on the historical aspects of these quilts, check out Quilter’s Muse.
Taking this cue, I have patterned something I see everyday from my southern California window… Orange Trees. Now if you don’t see orange trees too often, make this a fruit tree of your choice… Apple, Pear, Cherry or anything else.
Or, how about a Family Tree? Just ink the names of family members on your leaves. Or use this pattern as a Tree of Life, another very traditional quilt motif. In short and as always, make this the block you want to have in your quilt!
Here is the pattern…. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, Free Quilt Pattern, Fruit Tre Applique Quilt Block, Orange Tree Quilt Block, stuffed oranges on tree quilt block, yo-yo blossoms
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February 13th, 2010
Quail and Oak Leaves
If you are just joining us on this Baltimore journey, browse around the site for the first three blocks. They are easy to find and wonderful to make! Then join us every week for a new block in your Baltimore Album.
This week we have a lovely block and relatively easy. Of course, you are encouraged to make this by hand (add seam allowances), but mine is fused down (and will soon be stitched!) Just watch the direction of the leaves… Some spin clockwise, and others counter-clockwise so lay them out to look their best and you’ll always have a beautiful block in your quilt!
I’ve placed mine on the Square in a Square block from my 2010 Baltimore album 1st six background blocks sheet (the next six background blocks are coming soon!) If you are placing on a whole cloth piece, just watch the placement of the leaves that the quail fits and they don’t get wider then the 15″ finished size of the block.
Here is the pdf… Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Free Baltimore Album Quilt Block Pattern, Free Quilt Pattern, Fusible Applique
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 »
