Oh happy day!
It's PDF pattern release day - new projects to begin, scraps to pet and play with and so much fun in the coming months ahead!
I love that here in the states today is also a Holiday-Monday. No USPS service today so there is nothing for me to rush off to the office for.
I can take my time, get this posted, and think about the man behind this holiday and why it is important - to me and so many others
But we are here also for the release of my Unchained PDF pattern, and yes - a gift-away including fabric color rolls from Cotton to Quilts .
In my scrappy word there is nothing that pushes me forward
like the desire to use up leftover units from completed projects in a totally
new direction!
That is just what happened with Unchained.
I fell in love with a vintage quilt, started envisioning it
using up the remaining string units I had left from my Cherry Crunch quilt, and
off I went.
It quickly became an obsession if I am to be honest.
Inspiration quilt
The vintage 1940’s quilt had larger blocks, red squares and a
solid neutral background.
And yes, those neutral areas were all pieced from squares and triangles.
The original quilt design is listed as “Memory Chain” as
found in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns,
originally appearing in a publication of The Farm Journal.
I couldn't find a date of publication for this particular pattern, but my sample quilt is 1940s.
I was intrigued with this quilt! I dreamt about it. Those ovals and on point squares. How did it
fit together? I just couldn’t leave it
alone.
Everything I stitched into this quilt came from my scraps – the only place yardage came into play was with the inner border and binding.
The directions include speedy strip pieced sets for the colored square units - but could this also be made as a Leader & Ender project? Absolutely!
My yardage requirements include string pieced rectangles
that make up the background and the outer border, but if you wish you can skip
the string piecing and just cut the units out of your neutrals as a whole
piece.
Of course, if you are not doing
the string piecing, your quilt will require less neutral yardage due to lack of
so many seams. Adjust accordingly.
As with our Quiltville Mysteries, I provide more than one method to get the job done.
I've included a page of paper piecing templates if you would rather make the square-in-a-square units that way, rather than to do the stitch & flip corners for these small units. You choose!
Of course - assembly comes with a warning. Do NOT lay this out in a space where animals like the run through and block surf! LOL!
I only took a break to make a new cup of tea and I come back to this? Sheesh!
I loved making this quilt!
Each piece that went into it.
Could I have made it bigger? Yes. Would it be easy to make it smaller? Absolutely.
But I find this size to be just about right.
And our winners will also receive a Roy G. Biv Color Roll from Cotton to Quilts!
If you don't know what Roy G. Biv means (And I had to ask too!) It's an acronym for the order of the colors in the rainbow. Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet!
This roll is the perfect color enhancement to round out your fabric stash.
We'll draw for our winners on Monday, January 30th.
Good luck, everyone!
Introductory Special Pricing:
And to sweeten the creativity:
But hurry - Winter blues is 25% off through 1/31/23. Forever Mine pricing good through 2/14/23.
If purchasing through the Quiltville Store, check the "Featured items" at the bottom of the store front page. Unchained, Winter Blues and Forever Mine are in that section for easy access.
If looking at the Quiltville Etsy Pattern Shop Winter Blues is a bit further down the shop page. Forever Mine and Unchained should be right there at the top since they are new listings for me in that shop.
Retreats start back up for our 4th season at Quiltville Inn in just a few weeks, and yes, I've got the Forever Mine runner already in place on top of the dining room sideboard!
Okay. I think that's it for now. That's a lot.
Since it is a quiet and mid-winter freezing type of holiday, I'm staying cozy in the basement studio this morning and getting my Triple Treat top together since it is safely laid out on the basement studio design floor with dogs beyond a closed door at the top of the stairs.
Still undecided about borders. And already tuning in to what our NEXT Leader & Ender challenge will be come July!
What are your plans for today?
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
I believe this!
Happiness shared is happiness multiplied.
Go spread some happiness, wherever you are!
Lovely quilt, Bonnie. I really enjoy seeing the inspiration quilt and the differences, as well as similarities, you incorporate.
ReplyDeleteQuilters Newsletter printed a version of Memory Chain back in the late 1970s. I made one but the pieces were sized a bit bigger than yours are. I am tempted to get your pattern because it definitely is a great design for using up scraps.
ReplyDeleteUnchained has "Happy" written all over it. Thanks for sharing all your amazing creativity with all of us. By the way, I made your soup recipe the same day you posted it. It truly is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love Unchained--the inspiration quilt is really lovely. I think I may color mine the same way. I'm hoping to win the free pattern; otherwise, I'll do some shopping on the 31st!
ReplyDeleteIt's truly amazing how many quilts you make in a year. Beautiful quilt for sure. Good luck to everyone in the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteanother lovely scrappy find. if only i could stitch as fast as i do in my dreams. i'd have this made in no time. thanks for all you do for us. patti in florida
ReplyDeleteWell, Bonnie, I doing the same as you today. I am webbing the blocks together. I decided to write half of the blocks and then the rest otherwise I have too much of a dream. Once both sides are done, I'll sew the top together. I think this will be easier for me. I haven't decided on the border.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to stay home, but it was program Day at Tri-Cities Quilt Guild. The guest taught us many Quick and Better Tips for finishing projects. The sun was out and it ended up being a Beautiful Day!
ReplyDelete