Big Horn Quilts

Big Horn Quilts
Thirteen years online!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Easy Quilt




I finished a quilt top that I started at the quilt retreat a week ago. I still have to put borders on it. The top now is 90 inches square, and if I put the borders I wanted on it, it will be way too big, so I'm trying to figure out about 5 or 6 inch borders.


It is really easy, you just cut a couple miles of 1-1/2" black strips, and take a whole lot of scraps and cut them into 3" strips. Sew black strips on either side of the 3" strips. With me so far?

Then cross cut the strip sets into little 5 inch segments. Sew them together, side of one to end of the other. Those are twosies. Sew the twosies together to make foursies, and so on. It works out really well, because the only place the seams would match is right where all the black strips come together so you can be a quarter inch off, and no one can see it unless they are a couple inches from the quilt. The foursies are about 9 inches square, finished, so 10 across and 10 down makes a 90" square like I've got. It went so fast I could have made it twice as big.

I did it to use up scraps, but unfortunately I turned out the lights and the scraps bred again in my sewing room.

I didn't vote for Obama, but I have hopes that he will learn fast once in office - he is pretty bright. Surely he'll realize our government is big enough and that we have to win the wars, not just quit. Its a little scary having both Congress and the White House the same party, but there are some good people in there with the crooks. Hopefully the good ones can keep the crooks reined in. I rarely wax political. Probably shouldn't.

21 comments:

Sylvia said...

Oh Julie, what a gorgeous quilt!! I am always amazed at how a "scrap" quilt can turn out so amazing.

Diane said...

LOL - never turn the lights off on your scraps!

I love the way this looks - I'm also thinking that if you used just three colors, the black and two others, you would end up with a neat woven ribbon effect.

Though that would eliminate the using of scraps, which was the purpose, wasn't it?! Happy Quilting!

Anonymous said...

Regarding your political remarks. I couldn't have said it better myself. Time will tell. To all that voted the Dems in, be careful what you ask for. 40% of my paycheck goes for taxes already. Looks like they will get the rest. If Joe the Plumber ever runs for anything, I'll vote for him.

Crochetin Feonix said...

Julie,
I am just a random person that gets the Newsletter and I LOVE this quilt. I dont think that you could ever make a quilt too big. When I sit and curl up on the couch with my yarn I usually have my comforter with me. What ca I say I like to snuggle lol.

Your quilt has inspired me to make an afghan similar to your quilt. I am pretty sure that I have enough sraps to start lol
Leanne

Anonymous said...

Love the quilt but the directions just went over my head, without pictures. Probably cause my head is all stopped up and I feel like crap! I'll have to try to read them later. As for you political comment, amen. I didn't vote for him either. With congress in complete dem control, we all need to keep pen and paper in hand and write or email all of them. Remember, when you make a government big enough to give you everything you want, it's big enough to take it all away. And when you get something from the government that you should be getting from your own work, WE are all paying for it, because in the end, WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT AND WE PAY THE BILLS!!

cj said...

Hi Julie-
Love the quilt! How 'bout a close up. Hope your knee is on the mend!

Anonymous said...

Your political remarks are well taken. Fortunately you can make them in a truly free society. For the past eight years whenever I disagreed with the party in power I was threatened, shouted down and accused of being un-American. I am 100% behind my President and I now feel like an American again!

Anonymous said...

regarding the quilt: I would not put borders on it. I think we get boxed in too much with borders and this quilt is gorgeous as it stands, no need to frame it up. I would love to see the pattern.

Anonymous said...

I agree with anon above. If it were my quilt I wouldn't border it either. Bind it in black and call it a day! I've been doing that a lot lately and find I really like the clean lines of it.
I just love how the different colors and values make the quilt apear to have curves! Great job! And many thanks for sharing the pattern with all of us. We all love a scrap quilt that sings!
Gayle from MI

Unknown said...

Ditto - no borders. Just make it the size you need and bind it in black as suggested. Looks GREAT!

Cheryl said...

Hello Julie, I love your quilt - I had an idea for you for the border I thought I'd share with you - how about a 'plaited' border of strips of the fabrics you used in the middle, perhaps one side black and one side the coloured strips - maybe the black side against your quilt edges and the coloured to the outside like a frame? hope this makes sense :o) have fun finishing your quilt! Cheryl; Wedderburn, Australia.

LouAnne said...

I love this idea for a scrap quilt, but I would also like it made with my collection of batiks. I would love to know how much black yardage you used. Because I don't have a large quantity of black Kona Cotton, I will need to buy enough. With dye lots, I think I need to have enough to start. I may have to make my quilt even larger since we have a king sized bed!

Anonymous said...

So you're saying after you sew the black on, the width is 5" so you can turn the pieces sideways to the long ways and they match? With the black in there, they look offset!What a neat illusion!!!

Anonymous said...

Where wars are concerned, nobody wins. I voted for our new president because the past eight years have been a steady decline in our household. Another four years and we won't have anything. We have very little right now, and I'm very lucky to have internet access at the library, since I can no longer afford it at home.
I'm convinced that it cannot get much worse. I had to vote for different. And I took a lot of abuse for it and lost almost every friend I had.
Go ahead and hate, but can suck it up like I had to.

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie,
I side with the others who said 'no borders' on that quilt. If a border is used, it should only be about as wide as the black strips used in the quilt, then bind it in black. A very beautiful quilt. I've got to try it!

I appreciate your gently put political opinion. I also hope and pray that they will all use some common sense up there. The beauty of our country and political system is that we can have hope: presidential terms are for four years and we get the chance to elect someone again. We will all be watching...

Anonymous said...

I agree with anon. I haven't been able to afford any little extras (like fabric or rotary blades) in months. I think any change is welcome around here.

I think a thin border is great on that quilt.

Anonymous said...

Are your scraps 3" square?

Anonymous said...

Tu quilting es fantastico
Your quilting is fantastic. Saludos Ana

Anonymous said...

I think batiks would be fantastic in this pattern and I have a lot of batiks. I made batik curtains for my computer room today. I made a couple of bright print pillowcases for the grand nephews (age 1 and 3). They go together really fast and the boys won't go down for naps anymore without their special pillowcases.So far theh have brightly colored dinosaurs,Clifford the Big Red Dog, Cat in the Hat, ScoobyDoo. Good sewing project for older kids just learning to sew and they can give them away for Christmas gifts or take them to slumber parties.

SandyQuilts said...

Love your quilt.

I didn't vote for him. He has kids with allergies ... how smart can be he be .. he smokes .. worse thing for kids with allergies.

Anonymous said...

He smokes?! How stupid is that...??
I also didn't vote for him, what you said is correct. Of course, we will have to see how it goes (no choice in matter now) have to give him the chance; but the Dems in both places~~scary!