Applique quilt projects – Page 3 – Quilting my way through life!

Applique quilt projects, Dresden Plate Quilt, Dresden Plates, My Life

My Dr. Pepper Circles

September 23, 2016 suznquilts

I’m working on Tiny Dresden circles this morning.

suznquilts1inchdpcirclestack

A little bit of glue and the Apliquick rods that I mentioned yesterday.

suznquilts1inchdpcirclestart

I designed this quilt before I knew of the William Morris Paradise collection by Barbara Brackman with Moda.

Suzn+Quilts+Yummy+Morris+Group+opened+2

Funny how I don’t necessarily have distinct plans for everything,

but everything kind of works out anyway.

In my opinion,

there’s only one fabric in this collection that would be right for the center circles that will pull this quilt together.

suznquilts1inchdpcircle4togo

And even though I have plans when I start, (red centers on a rainbow of plates)

since nothing is set in stone, I have a tendency to stew over the next step…

(Robin my tech editor and friend can attest to this, right???)

This morning I finally decided that the Dr. Pepper reds

ARE the perfect fabric for these center circles!

suznquilts1inchdpcircle5212

WEIRD coincidence, huh?

I’ve been debating exactly what color this is… not red, not pink…

With the help of the Dr. I made the 52 Tiny circles this morning.

I made the 12 Mini circles earlier this week.

Notice my rod case?

It’s actually a knitting needle case.

I found it at the Wabash Antique Mall in Decatur, IL last winter.

What a day that was!

wabashtrainstationantiquemalldecaturil

David had meetings in Champaign so I went along like I’ve done lots of times to ~~get out of my boring four walls~~ broaden my horizons.

Well it was super cold and it was going to snow A LOT!

So we left early trying to at least get ahead of some of the bad weather and not be on the road at night.

Well, soon after getting on the road it started snowing and blowing.

The wind out there in the very flat land was horrible

which makes the roads very slick.

suznquilts1inchdpcirclesnowycarwreck

which makes driving no fun.

suznquilts1inchdpcirclesnowystopped

And even treacherous!

suznquilts1inchdpcirclesnowywreckercleanup

So after about the 6th incident

and when the snow really picked up…

David decided at Decatur we’d get off the interstate and wait it out.

Good thing because just down the road the interstate was closed because of another truck wreck! We would have been stuck on the road instead of having something fun to do like find the Wabash and then Olive Garden…

Anyway, I found this case there at the beautifully renovated train station.

I’m thankful the owners came in that day.

Many of the Decatur businesses didn’t even open because of the weather.

Since David isn’t into antiques he chatted with the owners and learned a lot about the train station and how it became renovated and then turned into an antique mall instead of being torn down. That would have been a shame.

I found this cool case to house my very special Apliquick rods!

suznquilts1inchdpcirclerod-case

It’s maple and I believe it’s German but I don’t know what it says.

Anyone else know?

It came with knitting needles inside so I know what it was made for.

MUST GET BACK TO WORK!!!

Just keep sewing…

Susan

Applique quilt projects, New Quilt Pattern Magazine, Quilt Magazines

Autumn & Quiltmania Pumpkins

November 15, 2014 suznquilts

Everywhere you look is seems like Christmas is already here,

but there are several more weeks of fall here, people!

Don’t get gypped out of your fall.

There is still time to make a fall quilt &

Quiltmania has quite a few in their Special Autumn 2014 issue!

My Pumpkins in the Patch table runner for instance would look great on your Thanksgiving table or sideboard.

You still have time.

There are many other projects included too.

I want to make one of each…

Even if you don’t have time this fall,

you’ll want to find this issue for future fall projects!

Just keep sewing…

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, new fabric collection, New ideas, New Pattern Sample, New Quilt pattern sample

A Little Help in my Sewing Studio

September 29, 2014 suznquilts

I’ve been wanting and therefore looking for a particular helper for my studio for years.

As we all know, good help is hard to come by.

Finally last weekend I found her!

So far she appears to be perfect, just what I was looking for!

She’s been around the block a few times.

Not at all pristine & immature.

Because of her maturity, I’m pretty sure she’ll be able to do everything I expect of her.

No flimsy, immaturity that you sometimes find in the her younger counterparts.

Today she’s helping me with a new pattern sample.

She’s holding chain-pieced petals, keeping them wrinkle-free for the next step.

I’m making tiny Dresden plates with my new template

and I’m using the new “Hearts Content” collection by Laundry Basket Quilts

so generously given to my by Moda.

I intend to make a tutorial for all of you who don’t already know how easy & fun Dresden plate blocks can be.

For now, my helper & I need to get back to work.

I just know we’re going to be friends!

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life

Sewing with my Sunglasses!

July 10, 2014July 10, 2014 suznquilts

It’s that time of year again & yeah is all I can say!!!

It’s the time when my north facing sewing room with all its windows is taking in the early morning sunshine.

When I sit to sew in the 6 a.m. hour,

I need my sunglasses…

Again, yeah!!!

And if I’m sewing at the other end of the day,

I’ll need the sunglasses then too.

The evening sun will come in on my left!

I am not going to complain.

This is the time of year I long for all year!

When it’s cold out, hate it!

Short days of winter, hate them!

Long dark evenings, hate them!

Long, long, dark evenings…

Give me sunshine & heat, ahhhh!

I try not to dwell on the fact that when June 21 rolls around

the days are getting shorter from here on out.

Instead I remind myself the sun is shining & it’s hot outside!

December 21 is a day of celebrating in my mind.

Why?

It’s the shortest day of the year and from there on out,

the days are getting longer!

Today it’s sunshine!

Give me my sunglasses,

I have sewing to do.

I’m working on my second set of my new

Tiny Dresden seasons.

The patterns are getting closer to being printed.

I can’t wait to show you these pretties!

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, New Pattern Sample, New quilt pattern, New Quilt pattern sample, new quilt patterns

A Pretty Table, Suzn Quilts New Patterns Continued

May 17, 2014May 14, 2014 suznquilts

I’m excited to next show you a new addition to my Quilt-as-you-go patterns.

You probably remember my best-selling pattern,

A Pretty Package?

Well, when taking it to market & other venues the last couple of years,

I’ve had many inquiries asking to have a table runner adaptation.

Not only did I do this, but I also designed place mats to coordinate.

Meet A Pretty Table!

What do you think?

I’ve made the lap quilt in non-Christmas colors for birthdays,

and I’ve also received lots of emails from quilters that made it for other occasions too.

Mother’s Day, retirement, etc.

It’s now available on my website.

Think outside the box!

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, New Pattern Sample, New quilt pattern, new quilt patterns, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Suzn Quilts New Patterns Spring 2014

May 15, 2014May 14, 2014 suznquilts

I’m excited to show you the tiny Dresden plates that I’ve been working on for months & months…

Remember, I’ve been giving you little snippets of them here & there?

They are part of my new Christmas sampler.

It’s written in a way that will make it a perfect Block-of-the-month or mystery club quilt.

The quilt measures 45″ x 48″ and includes:

-Hand embroidery

-Tiny Dresden plates

-Freezer paper applique

-Traditional pieced blocks

-Saw tooth border

It’s also possible to make the same components & instead have one or four individual quilts:

You can make four gifts, or display the smaller quilts around your home.

The pattern is available for $28.00 & includes the Plexiglas template!

The Tiny Dresden Plate blocks measure 4-1/2″ finished.

The template is also available separately for $8.00.

It’s available on my website.

Stay tuned for more new patterns!

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, New Pattern Sample, New quilt pattern, New Quilt pattern sample, quilt as you go lap quilt, Quilt Market

Frosty, Suzn Quilts New Patterns Continued…

May 14, 2014 suznquilts

Meet Frosty!

It’s another of my Quilt-as-you-go lap quilts.

What a fun way to wrap you or a loved in on a snowy winter day!

My quilt-as-you-go lap quilts are very popular.

You can view a tutorial here.

If you’ve not made one yet, this is why you should:

They’re quick,

they’re easy,

& they’re fun.

Once you make one, you’ll want to make more!

Frosty starts with cutting some strips.

Some of the strips have corner cut-off sewing.

Then, after you sew the strips to the foundation,

there is a bit of fusible web applique.

Sew on the binding and your lap quilt is complete!

It’s a great quilt for a grand child to cuddle under,

but it will also look good hanging on your wall all winter long.

It’s now available on my website.

Stay tuned for more!

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, Finishing up a quilt project, My Life, New Pattern Sample, quilt as you go lap quilt, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Best selling pattern, A Pretty Package Follow-up

April 11, 2014 suznquilts

Well, I got busy and forgot to let you see my progress on the latest A Pretty Package, sorry!

I finished sewing the strips on and then fused the bow pieces.

Next I stitched the applique with my Sulky 12 wt. thread.

This is a close-up of the buttonhole stitch.

I had a call last week from a quilter whom I met at Houston Festival last fall.

We discussed this stitch that I use almost exclusively for my applique.

She remembered we have the same older Bernina machine

but she could not find the buttonhole stitch anywhere.

Well, it’s actually called a toweling stitch on our machine.

So, if you look around you might find it on your machine too (if you’re lucky)

but perhaps with a different name!

I finished the hand-work on the binding at Rosemary’s tips club yesterday.

Here is A Pretty Package in its completed state.

It looks pretty good on my favorite rocking chair, don’t you think?

I know where this quilt will land after market next month!

Winterlude fits perfectly in my living room.

Perhaps it will fit in yours too?

You’ll be seeing it in shops in June.

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, New Christmas Quilt Fabric, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, new fabric collection, New ideas, New Pattern Sample, New Quilting Template, New tiny Dresden plate quilts, Suzn Quilts Patterns

How Does My Garden Grow?

March 12, 2014 suznquilts

With Winterlude by 3 Sisters for Moda of course!

More & more flowers…

These have become addicting!

Each one is cuter than the last.

With my new template being just 2″, one might think tedious,

but I’m loving this!

So precise!!!

The complete little plate is just about 4″.

Now, I’m on to the next step,

gluing the plates to their background squares.

Then it will be back to stitching…

Can’t wait to show you the finished quilts!

What are you working on?

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, New Christmas Quilt Fabric, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, new fabric collection, New Pattern Sample, Quilt Market

Knee deep in petals

February 27, 2014 suznquilts

These petals can grow & multiply even in frigid temperatures!

The weather is still crazy cold here.

It was just 12 degrees here this morning,

but it’s warm in my sewing room!

I’m sewing up my new Christmas designs for spring market using the new “Winterlude” by 3 Sisters for Moda that I showed you a while back.

So far today I’ve made these blue plates.

They’re actually mini Dresden plates.

They will make a 4-1/2″ finished block.

I told you they were MINI!!!

Now I’m working on green plates.

I like to make these in assembly line fashion.

Cut a million petals…

Stitch a million petals…

Trim a million petals…

I found a way to use my new bowl that was a Christmas gift from my friend, Kathy.

She sells the hand made pottery in her new studio.

It’s best to keep the different fabrics segregated since they’re so close in color & design.

That’s what I like about this collection.

There aren’t a lot of different colors, just a few used over and over with different patterns.

This quilt will have an organized scrappy feel to it with a feel of antiquity.

I love this collection!!!

I think I’ll move this to the living room tonight.

I can turn a million…

Press a millions..

all while watching my favorite shows!

Perhaps I’ll move my featherweight in there too.

This is a fun little project for that machine.

The days are getting longer.

Think spring!!!

Until next time,

Susan