Cats and Mice Quilt Block
"This quilt has been cat inspected (tested) and approved."
Greetings Quilter - Chalk it up to being a Disney fan, but off we went - Last weekend was the first D23 Expo - The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience. No quilts to look at, but artwork of a different kind - pictures and movies mostly.
My friend, Jim, and I got to see previews of movie productions from Disney Studios and their joint venture partners will be producing in the upcoming years, learn about some of the fun new 3D technology that some of our favorite - and new - Disney characters will be exploring, and see (live and onstage) some of the brilliant producers and stars involved with Disney movies. A fun time was had by all. And, even though Mickey couldn't join us, I was able to get my picture taken with second-best, Minnie! New Electronic Delivery of Video Products During our survey at the beginning of the summer, several of you said that you were interested in getting your hands on our DVD products, but the shipping and handling charges were just too much. We agree, and we heard you! We searched to find the most convenient way to deliver the information, so you could get immediate access right after you complete your purchase, and now it is available. You'll find the details below. This information is available instantly, and you save money by our discounted price plus saving shipping and handling. This is a test, and if it works, we'll be offering many more video products for electronic delivery. The Fat Quarter Quilt Progress continues on the Fat Quarter Quilt. The zigzag (Seminole-style) borders are on two sides of the quilt with a narrow dark purple strip separating the center of the quilt and the border. Next is to decide about the corners. It appeared to be very complicated to miter the corners of the zigzag so that it all fit together, and the easiest alternative was to add cornerstones. Many experiments later, I plan to make a version of the Utility Block used in the center of the quilt. In this version, the block will be "squared up" by adding triangles around the outside. You'll see the design in the upper right corner. Once added, I'll be ready to layer and quilt the top. I have decided to use bamboo batting and, therefore, will be machine quilting this one. Keep your eyes open for more progress on this quilt.
Until later - - - Happy Quilting!
Block of the Month Log Cabin
The Log Cabin quilt block pattern has been a favorite in the United States since it first began appearing in the mid 1800s. The pattern has a square in the center, with various strips stitched around it, creating the “log” effect. The strips are usually made of light and dark fabric variations to symbolize the light heartedness and sometimes heavy issues of family life. The center square block was often red to symbolize the hearth as the warming center of the home. Another version of the quilt had the center square of the blocks as yellow to represent a candle burning to guide a family member home. Since the Log Cabin quilt gained its popularity during the Civil War era of the United States, it is rumored to have helped slaves escape to safety. The story is that Log Cabin quilts displayed with a black center square signaled slaves to seek escape through the homes displaying those quilts. The Log Cabin quilt is constructed from the center square outward. This represents the construction of a home, with the foundation first, then “logs” being added around it to create the home…or in this case the quilt block. We assume that the Log Cabin quilt block pattern became popular when so many families moved westward after the U.S.’s Civil War, setting up homestead in log cabins themselves. Some believe the design has actually been around much longer, just not in quilt form. In the early 1800s, a design very similar to the Log Cabin quilt was seen in the tombs of Egypt. A log cabin-looking pattern was noticed on fabrics that wrapped mummified pets placed in the tombs. Other theories include that the Log Cabin design resembles the plowing and irrigation setup of European farmers in the Middle Ages. Still other researchers say they can trace the Log Cabin design back to the early Greek and Roman era. Back in the early days of the Log Cabin quilt, the finished quilts were often tied with yarn instead of quilted with stitches. Early quilters tied their Log Cabin quilts simply because they were so difficult to quilt through all the small stitches on the quilt top. Many present day quilters still honor this tradition simply as a characteristic of the quilt pattern. What's fun about the Log Cabin quilt block is that you can create all kinds of quilts using different color variations.
Banish Lumpy, Bumpy Binding. Forever! Imagine Yourself Stitching Binding on Your Quilt That is So Beautiful It Looks as If It Were Sewn by a Professional. Learn 6 different ways to bind your quilts with perfection - you'll have smooth and square mitered corners; hand sewn blind stitches that are completely hidden; a smooth closing where the beginning and end of the binding meets; and even edges all the way around your quilt. Using this resource, your binding worries will be over forever, and all of your binding will be beautiful and easy to make. For more than a year now, hundreds of quilters have used this valuable resource to create perfect binding for their quilts, and now it is available for you to download immediately. That's right - you can get this great information right after you complete your purchase, save shipping and handling charges, and get it at at reduced rate, too.
Postcard Quilts for the Troops – Halloween Roundup!
It's time once again for our Annual Halloween Postcard Roundup. This has been one of our most popular Roundups because it is just a fun holiday that even kids have a great time decorating fabric postcards for. The deadline is September 22. Send your cards to: Diane Malaznik Diane will send a box of our postcards to be distributed to soldiers on Halloween. Remember, if you have sent a postcard already, you can see pictures of it at www.Fabric-Postcards.com. And, as always, free postcard patterns are available at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com. Make your holiday card list to see how many you will need to create, then have fun with the free patterns at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com. Be sure to make a few extras to send as last minute gifts or just to be a step ahead for next year! Fabric postcards are also a very special way to say “thank you” for the holiday gifts you receive.
Featured Block in Video Cats and Mice Quilt Block
It seems appropriate to feature the Cats and Mice quilt block this week, having had my picture taken with my second favorite mouse, Minnie, and with m. mouse, the www.How-to-Quilt.com Siamese cat enjoying progress on the Fat Quarter Quilt. This quilt block is pretty easy to sew together, and it's part of my Halloween quilt. For the next few weeks, several additional Halloween quilt block patterns will be featured. Get a free download of this quilt block pattern at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com and check out the other patterns there, too!
Enjoy!
September Quilt Block Patterns The August selection of free quilt block patterns includes
Click here to download your September FREE quilt block patterns |
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