Sentimental Stitches

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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Cheddarback Block of the Month – Month 10

by Gay on 12:12 pm in Antique Quilt, Block of the Month, Cheddarback Quilt, Free Patterns, News, Patchwork Quilts

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Wow! What a difference a day can make. I went to bed and heard thunder and saw lightening during the night and never imagined .............................

my back yard would look like a winter wonderland! It is still beautiful 8 hours later and the dogs have been having a great time playing in it. It's not very cold out but that snow sure is wet and heavy. A good day for quilting!

Block 39

We have a purple mourning print, a chocolate brown print and a blue and white shirting print in this block.

The quilter took care to get the stripes in the right places when she pieced together the center squares of the block.

There a seam running through one of the squares which makes me wonder........did she sew the two pieces together or was the square cut from a blouse or shirt? The fabric feels like it could have been either or even a summer dress. We can only guess.

Block 40

This block has a sweet, homespun pink and white check along with two black prints. The pattern only lists one black fabric but you can select a second one for the center square if you like. I'll admit, this one tested my patience when it came to drafting and I have a feeling it'll test yours when you hand piece this block. Those little slivers between the pink petals are what makes the block, but they are tiny buggers.

Block 41

This block isn't difficult but it's oh so fun. The main part of the block is pieced and then fussy cut something special to applique in the center of the block!

Block 42

This is my choice for our Block 42. It's a fun little basket that's easy to construct and will look nice in the quilt along with the other blocks.

Block 43

Nothing difficult about this block but look at that teal fabric and the black one too. I recognized them both as soon as I saw them. I have reproductions of both of those.

This one is like the teal print and oh, so old. I used it in my Simple Summer Sampler quilt and wish I had more. I don't know the manufacturer. My gut tells me it might be an old Pilgrim/Roy print but I'm not sure. The black print is at the cottage with a hand piecing project so I can't tell you anything about that one either.

Speaking of the cottage - we seem to be the new party house. Every afternoon for the last few days a group of at least 100 ducks travel up from the water through the front yard and graze on the hill at the edge of the woods and then make their way back down to the water after a little while. I'm not sure what kind of mess they're making but it's kind of interesting to watch.

One more thing............I was asked for close up pictures of the fabrics used in the letters on the quilt so here are some pictures of them for your reference.

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

Cheddarback - Month 10 Patterns - CLICK HERE

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Ella Maria Deacon Quilt – Month 3

by Gay on 6:46 am in Antique Quilt, Applique Quilts, Block of the Month, Ella Maria Deacon Quilt, News, Patchwork Quilts, Shipshewana, Shipshewana Quilt Retreat

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This month's patterns were fun to draft because I got to bounce around between the top and bottom of the quilt to surprise you. I will admit to my brain being a bit scrambled as I write this. I'm still recovering from my time in Shipshewana. It was a wild, crazy and oh so wonderful time having Bonnie Hunter join us for classes! She'll be joining us again in April of 2021 but please don't email or call asking if you can sign up already. I can say with confidence I won't be opening registration until after the April 2020 retreat but do have some great news about the April 2020 retreat that will make some of you happy. The retreat sold out a few weeks ago but I'm adding a second room and will open registration again next week for some additional places. After the added room is filled, that's it folks until the NEW August retreat taking place during the Shipshewana Antiques Festival. I should have registration for that retreat open next week too.

Let's get to this month's blocks -

Block 9

attributed to H Middleton 1842

There wasn't anything that worked out mathematically for this block so I've given you a foundation paper piecing pattern along with cutting measurements for over sized fabric pieces to use. If you'd rather hand or machine piece the block you can easily make templates from the foundation pattern and put the block together that way.

Block 10

attributed to Ann Whoades 1842

Here's our first chance at some broderie perse. I was excited to see this and even more excited when I realized how familiar that fabric looked to me. I went to my stash and....................

look what I found! I've had this fabric a long time. It's Matters of the Heart by Kaye England for South Seas Imports. To be honest, I don't know if South Seas is even producing fabric any longer but this sure is a great reproduction of the antique fabric used in this block. Kudos to Kaye England and South Seas!

I've given you the outline drawing of the shapes to use for scale when picking out a fabric to use in this block. You really could use any fabric suitable for broderie perse and have a wonderful block for your quilt.

Block 11

attributed to Rebecca of Philadelphia / March 4 1842.

It's inscribed around the block as follows: This block my friend I give to the in token of my regard. It is a smalle affare, but it is all I have to give, and hope the will accept it, and when the looks upon it, remember Rebecca of Philadelphia March 4, 1842

(the word thee is spelled 'the' on the block along with a couple of other spelling errors)

Block 12

attributed to Rebecca Coles

Here's our easy to rotary cut and machine piece block for the month. Pick out some pretty fabrics and have fun!

I hope you're having fun making the quilt. I looked for sashing fabric while I was in Shipshewana, IN but didn't find what I was looking for so my hunt continues.

If you're in the United States you'll be celebrating Thanksgiving soon. In spite of some very sad times in the last year, I have much to be thankful for and count those of you supporting Sentimental Stitches by visiting the blog each month among them. You inspire me with your comments and and bless me by joining in my quilt a longs. I'm truly grateful for each one of you. Thank you for being you!

Ella Maria Deacon Quilt - Month 3

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