I might work toward the size for Keeper’s chair but right now it doesn’t matter because this quilt is done in assorted sections something like this.
Or you could decide to make yours as 12” blocks. Or any size – just don’t overthink this! Just keep sewing pieces together with straight edges.
DO NOT OVERTHINK THIS!
Kathy sent a selection of low volume pieces and asked me to comment.
Reader photos
We’re getting some much needed rain tonight. Hazel is not a fan of thunder!
Thanks for your conversation – I just love it! I’ll read the comments tomorrow morning over my coffee.
Good Night, All!
Thank you Mary for the improv quilt instructions. I am not very good at making scrappy quilts, but I like them. I am working on a string quilt at the moment and will send a picture when it is put together. I am also hand stitching a small Kawandi quilt which is very scrappy. I’ll send a picture of it too when finished.
I love the pictures of the goats and Three! God bless.
Isn’t Three necessary to make that quilt? Looks like she knows what to do. They have to help. Thanks for the improv directions. I don’t know if I have enough scraps from quilt projects, but I do have enough strips. They are running me out of the house.
The quilt for the S-I-L went to the quilter this morning. Had to search for the house #. After a couple trips down the road, I saw the house # blocked from view by a pickup! A good reason for putting the # higher?
We’ll keep quilting. Betty in Rapid City
Betty – haha! Yes, Three is a big part of my sewing! I have just cleared out scraps, too, but I cut strips last night – a 3 or 4” strip of a few fabrics will give you a good start.
The post is so good. Mary I agree with you when you talk about choosing fabrics. When you work with more fabrics, more different fabrics can be used. I was putting away fabrics from a project that used about 70 different prints
While I was putting away I decided to make a table runner using only three fabrics. I had a very hard time getting three that would together from those fabrics. Often times it is the odd ball fabric that makes a project sing.
Marie – Connie and I ALWAYS said a 4 color quilt is the hardest to make and sometimes customers came in with that in mind. I found it very hard to help them. Why use one blue when you could use 10 different blue fabrics?
I must admit that I really like the cheddar quilt with the black and white pieces, great color combo. This blog about nothing covered so many topics today. We had a show of quilts and discussion on fabrics for quilts, then geese, dogs, goats and African violets. I do enjoy the comment section.
Kim – the comment section is just the best, isn’t it? I love hearing what the readers are doing or what they think of something we’ve mentioned. Yes, the topics have a big range. I just don’t know how you did all that repair work for your friend. YOUR friend or both of you? I don’t think Rick would do that. I told him about your new lawn mower – and your well cared for woods! So fun to hear it!
Mary, The african violet picture reminded me of my experience. I gave my mother an african violet but it quit blooming so after about 5 years, she gave it back to me. Then I looked at green leaves for a few years. My family went on vacation for about a week and turned the ac off. When I got home, the temperature was super hot and the plant had so many blossoms, you couldn’t see the leaves. It stayed like that for about a year and died. Oh well.
Today’s challenge is to find a new tv service to subscribe to. AT&T/Direct are way beyond greedy and terrible. If hubby would agree, I’d get rid tv.
Janet – what do you suppose happened to that violet? I couldn’t be happy without tv! Think of all the sports I’d miss. I’d pay for the cable service first – ha!
Three is one of my favorites; he is precious! Thank you for the ‘low volume’ guidance. I think it is the perfect quilting path for me.
As always, thanks so much for this wonderful blog, 🥰
I love the low volume quilt with a low volume cat sitting on it! LOL!
Sheryl – I LOVE your Be my neighbor quilt in last post! It’s been on my to make list for many years and I’m so happy to see yours. I have the pattern and fabrics all picked out inside a tote to sew someday. My label will be like yours with the dates too. Love it!
Thank you! I made the blocks as they were released. I wish I waited until the end and I would have made different fabric choices. One reason it sat so long was because I wanted to change the red checked roof. I added a colored border after I finished quilting it because it looked unfinished. I made the label in 2023 and tried to rip part of the 3 out to make it a 5 and made a hole so the label looks ruff. But I decided “I don’t care!” Those are our new freeing words! I love it!
Sheryl – your quilt is great – I’ve seen the pattern for years.
Your improv quilt is fabulous! I have never seen a quilt that features low volume fabrics that captivated me till today. I have been marking your posts frequently with “quilt idea” so I can go back later and make some of them. The only problem is my age – I am 79 and have over 20 UFOs. I so enjoy your blog, Mary. I read it every day and sometimes do a second read too. Thank you
Elizabeth – I do know how you feel because I’ll soon be 77 and I can’t sew fast enough! I haven’t bought
Elizabeth – I haven’t bought much fabric since we closed 10 years ago but I still like my fabric and intend to use it. Now if there were a convenient quilt store near me I’d certainly be tempted to shop. And by the way, who says you have to finish all those UFO’s?
I always enjoy viewing your dog quilt as I contributed the dachshund block. She has long since crossed the rainbow bridge but she is still missed.
Karen – oh, I was hoping maybe someone would remember making a block! Thank you for mentioning it. The quilt was a challenge to put together and I hope the winner still treasures it.
I love your improv quilts. I think it will be nice to use scraps instead of just strip piecing.
Thank your for your pattern picture.
Dogs! What can you say, they are truly a gift from God.
Love your posts!
Judy B – Michigan
What a great post.
Thank you, Mary!