Sentimental Stitches

Ella Maria Deacon Quilt – Month 5

by Gay on 8:21 am in Antique Quilt, Applique Quilts, Block of the Month, Ella Maria Deacon Quilt, News, Patchwork Quilts

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We're two weeks into 2020! How is the new year going for you? I'm making slow but steady progress in getting over the nasty bug that invaded my body just after Thanksgiving. I'll admit it's slowed me down a bit but another visit to the doctor yesterday assured me I'm on the mend. I am more than ready to be rid of this!

Some of last month's blocks were a bit challenging so I tried to take it easy on you this month. I think we need a "breather" month so I selected blocks that aren't too difficult or time consuming. Let's get the new year going!

Block 17

Sweet dream that winds through yonder glade, Apt emblem of a virtuous maid --

Silent, and chaste she steals along, far from the worlds busy throng;

With gentle yet prevailing forces intent upon her (siestinad?) course

Graceful and useful all she does, blessing and blissful where o'er she goes;

Pure bosomed as that watery glass and heaven reflected in her face

Mount Holly 1842

This block is a classic applique and uses the same red print throughout the block. There's nothing extra I need to tell you about this one.

Block 18

attributed to - Sarapta(?) Wills

Mount Holly 1842

You'd think this block could easily be rotary cut and machine pieced but in the end I decided against it. The measurements were just too challenging so I went with a foundation pattern. I've given you cutting measurements for the pieces so I know you'll have it together in a jiffy.

Block 19

attributed to - Samuel J Deacon / 1842

It's a petal month! I could make an entire quilt of these blocks. They're easy to applique and you can arrange them in a miriad of ways. This block uses red, green and brown prints.

Block 20

attributed to - Ann R Coles

What can I say?? More petals and I adore this block too. The pieced section is easily rotary cut and machine pieced. Applique the red petals in the center and you've got this one ready to go.

I'm giving you fair warning............next month we'll be doing some major applique. I know you'll be ready. Keep posting your blocks in the Facebook Group. We all love seeing everyone's quilt come together.

I'm heading out at the end of next week for the Shipshewana Quilt Retreat and Pajama Sale. Registration is closed for this retreat and the April retreat is already sold out. I've added a retreat in August while the Antique Festival takes place and hope you can join us and discover the charm of Shipshe for yourself!

I'm looking forward to seeing old friends, meeting new ones and sleeping all night long without taking a puppy out to go potty. It wasn't too bad when the weather was warmer but now that we have snow and cold I'm glad she's just about making it through the night. Gracie weighs 3.25 pounds now and is a little spitfire. She and Lily are becoming great friends and they keep me on my toes.

Until next month.....................

Ella Maria Deacon Quilt - Month 5

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Cheddarback Block of the Month – Month 11

by Gay on 7:46 am in Antique Quilt, Block of the Month, Cheddarback Quilt, Free Patterns, Patchwork Quilts

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Can you believe it? It's the start of a new year..............a new decade! I hope this year brings you all good things and so much joy. I never make resolutions - I can't stand the disappointment! I do set goals for the year and 2020 has some big ones. I can't wait for you to join me on the journey.

Block 44

Lot of great indigo prints in this block. Our quilter used four of them when putting this together. We'll be doing a combination of foundation paper piecing and templates for hand or machine sewing to construct this block.

Block 45

There's so much to love about this block. The beautiful purple print and rich red solid fabrics. The stripe for the center and background triangles was an interesting choice. You can rotary cut and machine piece this block.

Block 46

Be still my heart! This little gem is such a treasure. I can't imagine piecing this without a foundation pattern for all those triangles so that's what we'll be doing. There are templates for the center square and outside triangles. Patience is key with this one!

Block 47

I'm not usually a fan of peachy color fabrics but this one is a beauty. Putting it with an indigo print just makes it sing. You can rotary cut and machine piece this one!

Block 48

Settle in for some machine or hand piecing with this sweet little star. That background fabric is pretty wild but it works!

Click on the link below to head over to the online store and get your blocks.

Cheddarback - Month 11 Patterns - CLICK HERE

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Ella Maria Deacon Quilt – Month 4

by Gay on 9:17 am in Antique Quilt, Applique Quilts, Block of the Month, Ella Maria Deacon Quilt, News, Patchwork Quilts

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I've been presenting block of the month patterns for a long, long time and have a system I'm really comfortable with. This month things somehow went very wrong. I've never had a file be perfectly fine when I closed it and suddenly no longer open because it's corrupt. How in the world does that happen??? I'm going to do some research on that with my tech adviser to try and figure it out so I can hopefully make sure it doesn't happen again.

I know I told everyone in the Facebook group I wasn't going to spend my Sunday redrafting the patterns but what if we aren't able to fix the corrupt file? What if it takes several days and we're still stuck?

Christmas is fast approaching and I need to finish decorating the tree beyond Lily and Gracie's squirrel who is popping out and making us look like we're in the middle of a National Lampoon Christmas! I just didn't want unfinished patterns on my mind so I started over yesterday afternoon. This month's blocks are doozies and I won't tell you how long I worked last night or what time I got up this morning but I am happy to say they're ready so let's get this show on the road!

Block 13

attributed to: Hannah S. Horner / Jobstown

All of the circles in this block are going to make your head spin. I imagine it was hand pieced and then a signature square appliqued in the center. If you'd like to tackle it that way, you have my prayers and best wishes. The thought of that was more than I could take, so I'm going with applique and here's how I'm going to do it.

Applique the blue corners in position.
Cut a complete ring (or circle) of background fabric and applique the pink flowers at 12 - 3 - 6 and 9. Applique the outer edge of the ring over the blue corners.
Cut a complete ring of green print and applique the background color stems at 12 - 3 - 6 and 9. Applique the outer edge of the ring over the background ring.
Are you following me?
Applique the red print and center square on the last background circle and then applique it to the center of your block to finish. No small feat!

Block 14

attributed to: Elizabeth H.(?) Coles

This block is not as easy as it looks at first glance. We're using a combination of hand piecing and applique for it's construction. It's detailed on your pattern sheet. Templates have been provided but some of the pieces could be rotary cut and I've noted that for you.

Block 15

attributed to: Abigail Deacon

I love this block but sadly it's a five patch and with all of those pieces I don't think we can fudge the seams enough to get good results so it's presented as a foundation paper piecing pattern. The cutting instructions have oversized pieces so once you have things cut out you're ready to go.

Block 16

attributed to: Memorys Tribute / S.A.H. Deacon

A classic applique block but oh what a challenge this one will be. You're going to be experts at perfect circles and look at all those leaves...............with all those little fingers!!! Slow and steady when working on this one and you'll get there.

Thank you all for your patience with the blocks being late. I'll do my best to make sure we don't have that problem again but with technology you never know.

I'd also like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkuh! I hope your days are filled with family, friends, good health and lots of love. We'll be back together in 2020 for more quilty fun.

May God bless you all!

Ella Maria Deacon Quilt - Month 4

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