[Glynnis]

I'm not a quilter - yet - but I volunteered to make a 12" square that will become part of a charity-auction quilt for the dog breed rescue group I'm involved in (Welsh Terriers - like my sweeties Acorn and Merlin). Last month I took my Grandmother's very old English Singer sewing machine (a very early electric) in to have it cleaned and tuned-up so I can do this project. I probably could have bought a new machine for the same price, but this is such a cool old machine ... LOL. I've already bought two coordinating fabrics, some ribbon and an applique that will get sewn on after all of the squares have been put together and quilted. Any suggestions for a really simple pattern?

Glynnis

 

[Glynnis]

... the applique--is it a large one to go in the center of the quilt?
Betsy

It's 3" tall and 2" wide - a standing Welshie - for the center of the 12x12 square.

 

[Glynnis]

I just finished my first quilt square ever -- it's for a charity project where dozens of folks are making squares that will be sewn toghether for an auction quilt. The proceeds will benefit a dog rescue program. It was much harder to make this block than I'd expected, but I'm sure I'd get the hang of it if I made several dozen more:-0

My great grandmother and grandmother were fabulous quilters. I have a beautiful quilt that my great grandmother made (around the turn of the last century) that is made up of hand-sewn one-inch squares. My grandmother made me a wonderful quilt as a high school graduation gift - all of the squares were made from clothes that I had worn as a child. My mother/grandmother saved fabric pieces for years to make that quilt.

Unfortunately, I don't seem to have inherited the quilting/sewing genes ... but it was a lot of fun giving this a try and I'm excited to see the whole quilt when it gets put together. After reading
The Friday Night Knitting Club

... maybe I'll give that a try next! Great knitters on my Mom's side of the family.
Glynnis

 

[Glynnis]

I've temporarily changed my avatar to a picture of my quilt square (I don't have online storage for pictures), so hopefully you'll see this message before I change it back again. I used a Shoo-Fly block pattern -- a little harder than I thought it would be, but I'm sure I'd get better with practice. I ended up making two squares - I made a major mistake on the first one (a block sewn in upside down). Points and seams didn't line up as well in the second one, but by then I was nearly out of fabric. There are a couple of dozen folks making squares, all including an image of a Welsh Terrier, that will be sewn together and the final quilt will be auctioned off to raise money for rescue. It was fun (and I got to use my antique sewing machine), I'd be willing to try it again

Betsy wrote:
Glynnis--congrats on your square! Do you have a picture? Which pattern did you end up doing?

12"x15"