Sweet Liberty Quilted Table Runner - American Flag Style!

Doesn't the Coca-Cola fabric scream Americana?
I pulled several other red and white prints with a similar vibe

Finished Size 21" x 42". I used a double layer of poly batting since it will be stored so often throughout the year.

I really love the Stars block, well I really love friendship blocks and my thought was that it is pretty cool to see them used in a patriotic way.

The following shot was photo-bombed!
Desert wildlife, can you see him?

The pattern I tested for Julie at Intrepid Thread. Memorial Day seemed like a great time to share the photos. When I considered whether Julie had released the pattern yet, I Googled 'Quilted Flag Tablerunner' and found a free pattern site that led me to her original tutorial. The pattern is called Sweet Liberty Table Runner - it is found at Quilted Fish . Posted back in 2011, it seems this pattern is no secret after all!

I had to lay it on the sand to get a full-on shot, without the wind ..

BTW, the free pattern site I mentioned is pretty awesome! Have you been to Quilt Inspiration? Loads of quilt pattern links, and grouped by pattern type. I found this Sweet Liberty Table Runner on the patriotic and flag quilts page.  Check it out if you want quick ideas for summer celebrations!

Thank you for reading today! I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend! An extra day to browse the Friday Finish Linkups:-)

Rarely do I have a post ready a day early, so I am happy to be linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday as well !!

Flight Plan Re-Routed; A Star is Born

I was inspired a few month's back by a quilt that was designed by Kimberly Einmo, called Flight Plan. I found the pattern in American Patchwork & Quilting (December 2013).

The layout is pretty cool, and I planned to use the quilting pattern as well. A quick finish I figured, since the decisions were all made.
I think it was March when I set to work cutting strips from my batik stash...

With my 'Jelly Roll' done, I just needed to pick up the background fabric and I was finally set to create a quilt for my amazing Mother-in-Law, Donna!

Solid White was a pretty quick decision (for once), and I dove right in. The blocks were created,

And lookin' so fine hangin' on the Design Wall...

 

But there the blocks lingered, 

taking up space,

for far too long..

 

Why do I have to read the whole menu before ordering?

 

Really. I had a plan.

It was already In-flight.

 

But I just had to play..

 

hmm, how would it look ...

This way,

(Or that..)

This phase I have coined D.W.I.

(perhaps Michele would like to add this to her ongoing list of acronyms)

The Flight was officially delayed.

Yep, stalled by 'Design Wall Indecision' (Not at all uncommon around here),

 

April flew by, and May rolled in..

 

Finally Donna stopped over for a visit

(A Snowbird headin' Northbound!)

And I gave her the gavel!

 

It was a pretty long hanglayover, and it is her quilt after all! 

 

Flight Plan was officially re-routed, and a new destination planned.

 

Determined to clear my design wall, I set My June AYOLF goal to complete Donna's quilt sandwich.

 And a Star was Born!

Basting was completed early this morning. (check check!)

My design wall has new space :-)

Projects tend to get stuck on that darn wall, beckoning me to make decisions. It seems I am even more indecisive when it comes to choosing quilting patterns. Now I am debating between swirls and on-point echoing for the background. Actually I really don't know yet about the stars either. Oh, the decisions..

hmmm...

Just for you Donna, here's a teaser-peek of the back..

Yep, your favorite;-)

 

Linking up with Fiber of all Sorts to celebrate with other quilter's who've managed to complete their  AYOLF goals this month!

8 Point LeMoyne Star Tutorial - No Y Seams!

Tuesday I attended my first meeting with a local quilt group called Boulder City Cut-Ups. This was actually the first time I have ever packed up my machine (purchased in about 92) to sew outside my home. I felt very welcomed, and although it was well attended, plenty of space was made for me. We were instructed to bring some red, white, and blue fabrics for this month's project. Mary Lou demonstrated for us a technique for the LeMoyne Star with no inset seams. Gotta Love it!

Food for thought before we begin: For this block, I used dark thread for stitch visibility, however I probably would have anyway. For dark stars, I usually do use dark thread. If any seams were to show their threads on this type of block, it is most likely to happen in the center of the dark star where a white thread would really pop out. This to me is a bigger risk than the thread showing through the seam of the white...

Here is how it was done: