Bountiful Blessings

It has been a while since I updated you on all the blessings of God on our lives. It seems that through our darkest valleys, God shines the brightest. Several things have been happening here and around the world. Firstly, about four weeks ago, my mother had another "episode", this time lasting three weeks. The first time was just over a year ago and she was away from us (like she was unconscious) for just over a week. This time however, it was three weeks. She is "awake" now but still not eating well and or moving around much. Times like these, I am very thankful for my sisters and brother who take very good care of her, with one keeping me updated on her progress from around the world. I love my parents dearly.

About a week and a half ago, our home was burgled. I lost my laptop, an old iPhone 3 I was using as an iPod, and Shane lost his iPad. We were pretty discouraged, I was very unhappy I lost my quilting and teddy bear patterns and instructions I had written. All those photos.....you know the drill. Two HUGE blessings: God used a friend in the church to supply me with a computer (new to me and better than the one I had) and my amazing husband was able to reload all the files I thought I had lost! I am truly one blessed lady.

We have been traveling to Tirau to the baby church for seven Sundays and God continues to bless with new faces for three weeks running now. Sundays are very busy with the afternoon service there, but we can see God at work here. God is using some of the local people to help with the set up and greeting of people, following the plan in His Word. The fellowship is so sweet.

In recent weeks, God has used His people to encourage, love, and bless us. There are just so many, I can't even name them all. I've even sold a bear recently and completed a quilt-along on my Crafters Thread facebook page. We will be starting a new mystery soon. I have two done and will be hard pressed to decide which one to do first!! All in all, through the challenging times and the easy times, I thoroughly enjoy watching God work in me and refining me to be more like HIM. The answers to prayer that only took a couple minutes to the answers that are still a "wait on Me" are abundant.

Blessed beyond measure,

Debi

Moving Along

Here are the instructions to the second border...Enjoy!!

Have an amazing day!! 

Debi

That First Border

Here are the instructions for the first border around our knot. I would love to see how your quilt is looking. I am working on quilting mine...I have the king finished with all four borders. Looking forward to our next quilt! You should be able to save and print from this .jpeg. 

Enjoy!!

Debi

Putting That Knot Together

Let's put that knot together now!!

Knot Quilt Along

Knot Cutting and Assembly Instructions

All measurements in this section are UNFINISHED

You will need for the 16” center:

4 x 4-1/2” x 2-1/2” black and white flying geese

4 x 4-1/2” x 2-1/2” white rectangles

4 x 6-1/2” x 2-1/2” white rectangles

4 x 6-1/2” x 2-1/2” red rectangles

12 x 2-1/2” black and white HSTs (if using a square and a diag. line 2-7/8”)

8 x 2-1/2” black and red HSTs (same as above for square/lines)

1 x 4-1/2” red square snowballed with 4 x 2-1/2” black squares

For the 24” center:

4 x 6-1/2” x 3-1/2” black and white flying geese

4 x 6-1/2” x 3-1/2” white rectangles

4 x 9-1/2” x 3-1/2” white rectangles

4 x 9-1/2” x 3-1/2” red rectangles

12 x 3-1/2” black and white HSTs (square method: 3-7/8”)

8 x 3-1/2” black and red HSTs (same as above)

1 x 6-1/2” red square snowballed with 3-1/2” black squares

For the 32” center:

4 x 8-1/2” x 4-1/2” black and white flying geese

4 x 8-1/2” x 4-1/2” white rectangles

4 x 12-1/2” x 4-1/2” white rectangles

4 x 12-1/2” x 4-1/2” red rectangles

12 x 4-1/2” black and white HSTs (square method: 4-7/8”)

8 x 4-1/2” black and red HSTs (same as above)

1 x 8-1/2” red square snowballed with 4-1/2” black squares

I am assuming you can assemble these without instructions, if you have any trouble, just let me know and I will certainly add the assembly instructions.

Your RED SQUARE snowballed with black corners will be surrounded with HST as shown in the following pictures. First sew the two side HSTs together, blacks touching. Then sew to the sides of your snowballed square.

Following the pic for the top and bottom, sew those HSTs together, then add to the top and bottom of the snowballed square.

You should have used all your black and white HSTs at this point.

Working with the red and black HSTs now, sew two together blacks touching, and add one of your longest red rectangles to make a long strip. We will be adding these with a partial seam. Working with the first one: sew it to the side of the center, only sewing down about a quarter of the way.

 

Working on the top now, sew on the top strip completely, followed by the left side and bottom. You should now be able to finish sewing down the right side we left open from above.

You should have used all your black and red HSTs at this point.

Using your black and white flying geese: sew your longest (6-1/2”, 9-1/2”, or 12-1/2”) white rectangles to each side of two of the flying geese and your middle (4-1/2”, 6-1/2” or 8-1/2”) white rectangles to each side of the other two flying geese. Add the shorter strips to the sides then the longer of the two strips to the top and bottom.

You should have nothing left over now.

Knots All Around!

Well, I've tried this way to get the .pdf on Facebook for you to start your quilt for our Knot Quilt Along, but it didn't work. I will keep trying, when I have found a way to give you a pdf, I will let you know. I've posted a pic here so you can refer back to it when you are choosing your colors. I used "black, white, and red" in the requirements. My suggestion is that you make the colors have a huge contrast. Bigger contrast...bigger WOW factor!

Knot Quilt Along

You have three size choices for your center. I have designed it such that it is easy for me to make bigger or smaller. You may choose your center (the knot) to be 16 inches, 24 inches, or 32 inches, since it is a square. I made the king and used the 32 inch center. I will also be giving you multiple choices on your borders. If you use a smaller center, you will need to use a smaller measurement on your borders as well.

I used red, black, and white. White is the background in my knot, but the black becomes the background for the borders. You can flipflop, or choose any colors you wish. You have a pic of what the finished product looks like. I find it easier to choose fabrics when I’ve seen the finished quilt.

OK, these requirements are for the ENTIRE quilt, not just the knot. These are probably on the generous side. I have guestimated on the 24 and 16 inch centers based on what I used for the king and a bit of math thrown in! Here are your fabric requirements…

For the 16 inch center knot:

Black 3 yards

White 1 yard

Red 2-1/2 yards

For the 24 inch center knot:

Black 4-1/4 yards

White 1-1/2 yards

Red 3-1/4 yards

For the 32 inch center knot:

Black 5-1/2 yards

White 1-3/4 yards

Red 4-1/4 yards

We will be making the center knot first, then adding borders. You can choose which borders to do or not to do, but I’m not sure if I can keep up with your math. I am willing to help sort everything out, just let me know when you need help!!

Rainy Days...

I guess it's like the song, rainy days and Mondays always get me down! BUT, that's not me!!! I am not down, but it is rainy and it is Monday afternoon! Oh well, there are exceptions to every rule! It has been a busy day, but we've gotten a lot accomplished. Bulbs in the ground, tomato seedlings in the pots, laundry done, MRI done, bank and grocery done, and Nikki did a batch of cookies! Not bad for a day's work. Now I can play for the rest of the day.

I will be sandwiching this medallion today as well. I have the batting and the backing sitting here waiting for me to pin it all together. The pic is a bit skewed, that's because the quilt is king sized and hard to photograph. This quilt will be published on the Quilter's Club of America after the first of the year as a quilt-along. Come join the fun, I will post the web address when I have all the necessary permissions in place.

I am hoping to work on the intricate squares I mentioned the other day. I have all the two and three piece units finished, now to sew the block together. Then finally, I get to sew the entire quilt together. Pics when I can. I can't wait to see this one! I am excited about the pattern. It will also be published on the QCA site, again, I'll post an address when I have one.

Thanks and Merry Christmas,

Debi

Back To It....

Well I have had a couple of days where I could just sit and sew. I made a lot of progress on a quilt I have been making. I took the intricate block from the last mystery and used a second pretty basic block for an amazing look! I have the second blocks all finished. I am ironing little pieces on the intricate block. I have most of the little two piece and three piece portions sewn. Now to get all the little two and three piece portions sewn to each other. I love this block, even if it has fifty-seven pieces! I used the first ones I made from total scraps as a table runner. I love it, it kinda looks a bit Christmassy on my table with my decorations on it. This is the mystery colored block. For the new one, I am using cream, maroon, and black. It is gorgeous!

With Christmas just around the corner, we are fully booked at our homestay. We will be very busy until the middle of February. Then we get a reprieve for a bit. I am looking forward to the extra money, but the work, not so much! Been pretty busy with washing, cleaning, and sleeping!

I have had a wee bit of of time to work on the new teddy bear I have been working on. I took a bigger pattern from one I designed a few years ago and tweaked it to be about half the size. I am enjoying the little time I do get to sew on it. I still have quite a ways to go, but at least I have gotten a start! Wish I had more time, I know we all wish the same thing!!!!!

Have a great week!

Debi