Antebellum Sew Along ~ Part Four

I don't know about you, but I feel like these past weeks have just flown by.  Here were are at our final week of the sew along.  I'm really hoping you enjoyed this one as much as I have?

Let's make our last batch of Half Square Triangles.

Using (20) light print and (20) blue print 2 1/4" squares, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the light print squares.  Match each with a blue print square and sew 1/4" on both sides of the drawn line.  Cut them apart, press to the blue print.  Make (40) Half Square Triangles trimmed to 1 1/2" unfinished.

To complete our Antebellum quilt, sew (9) Half Square Triangles together for each side border; press seams open between HST.  Each side border should measure 1 1/2" x 9 1/2" unfinished.  Sew the side borders to the quilt center; press to the plain red border.

Then, sew (11) Half Square Triangles together for the top and bottom borders.  Like before, pay specific attention to the two HST on the ends of the bottom borders as they are turned differently than the others.  Each border should measure 1 1/2" x 11 1/2" unfinished.   Sew the borders to the quilt center; press to the plain red border.

Cut (2) 1 3/4" x 11 1/2" light print strips for the side borders, and (2) 1 1/2" x 14 1/2" strips for top and bottom borders.  Sew the plain light print border to the quilt center.  Your quilt should measure 14 1/2" square.  Bind with red print fabric cut 2" wide for single fold binding.  

I hand quilted my Antebellum quilt only in the light parts of the HST.  I'm still a beginner at hand quilting, and I don't really know how to fit a border design just yet.  It's plenty of quilting to keep it all together and enjoy it for the summer.  

I'd love to see your Antebellum quilt!  If you post it on social media, please tag me @heartspunquilts and use the hashtag #antebellumsewalong

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Father's Day to all our dads out there!  

Stay safe, keep creating and be well.....

Antebellum Sew Along ~ Part Three

So happy you're back with me for week three of the sew along.  Let's get started....

With the red print HSTs you made last week, and trimmed to 1 1/2", sew (5) of them together, pressing seams in between open for the side borders.  The side borders should measure 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" unfinished.  Check your measurements before proceeding and fix any issues that may arise.  Sew them to the center LeMoyne Star block; press.  (Press the HST border in the direction that is better for the points of your HST, and that may mean press the seam open.)

Next, sew (7) HST together for the top and bottom borders.

Pay specific attention to the orientation of the HST in the top and bottom rows, and how the bottom row is different.  Not exactly sure why the bottom row has HST turned this way, but I replicated the original exactly.  I think it's authentic this way, and kinda kitschy.  I like it, but if you don't, turn your HST  as you desire.  Press seams open between the HST.  The top and bottom borders should measure 1 1/2" x 7 1/2" unfinished.  Sew them to the quilt top; press.  Your quilt should now measure 7 1/2" square.

 Let's add the plain borders.  From your red print #2, cut (1) 1 1/2" X WOF strip ~ subcut (4) 1 1/2" x 7 1/2 strips for borders.

Since you have your red print #2 out on the cutting table, cut (2) 2" x WOF strips for single fold binding.  Set aside.

From the blue print, cut (4) 1 1/2" squares for border cornerposts.

Sew (2) 1 1/2" x 7 1/2" red print #2 strips to the sides of your quilt top; press to the red print border.  

Sew (2) blue print 1 1/2" squares to each end of the red print top and bottom borders; press to the red print borders.  Then, sew the top and bottom borders to the quilt; press to the red print borders.  Your quilt should now measure 9 1/2" square, unfinished.  

That's all for this week!!  Your quilt is looking so cute!  Don't forget to post your progress using #AntebellumSewAlong    
I sincerely hope you're enjoying the sew along, and that it's happening at a nice and easy pace for you.  I am planning at least one more later in the early fall!  Always trying to plan fun sewing projects for us to make together.

I had hoped to post photos of Plumberry this week, but the fabric didn't arrive until yesterday.  So, I will most definitely have an update for you this coming week.

Presently, I am deep into writing the directions for my new 2021 BOM.  I'm busy starching the fabric, too, and can't wait to begin cutting it up.  It will be introduced in July, so watch for exciting news on this program.  I can tell you it's very traditional, multi-colored in my core colors, and has just glorious fabric prints.  The border print makes my heart sing every time I look at it.  So...enough tempting you about it...but I am bursting to share it with you.  It's so hard keeping secrets!!

I hope you are staying healthy and can get out and about in the world a bit better.  I'm headed to my patio to work on the BOM outside because it's a beautiful day today.  Then, some evening stitching there as well.  I love summer!

Stay safe and healthy, and keep stitching!

Antebellum Sew Along ~ Part One

Antebellum ~ A Quilt Archaeology Sew along by Pam Buda ~ Heartspun Quilts

The day has finally arrived to begin my new Quilt Archaeology sew along called Antebellum.  I'm so glad you've decided to 'dig in' with me!  (If you are just joining us now, you can catch up, and read more details about this sew along, including yardage requirements here.)

Let's get started!  

I used four of the fabrics in my Bess' Flower Garden collection to make Antebellum

This week, we will make the LeMoyne Star center of the quilt.

Cutting Instructions

From light print
Cut (4) 1 3/4" x 3" rectangles
Cut (4) 1 3/4" squares

From red print
Cut (2) 2 1/4" squares for Half Square Triangles (HST)
Cut (4) 1 3/4" squares for Flying Geese 

From blue print
Cut (2) 2 1/4" squares for HST
Cut (4) 1 3/4" squares for Flying Geese

Directions

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of (2) red print 2 1/4" squares.  Match each with a blue print square and sew 1/4" on each side of the drawn line.  Cut apart, press to the blue print.  Make (4) red/blue HST trimmed to 1 3/4" square.

Arrange the (4) HST into a Pinwheel unit.  Sew together into rows; press for opposing seams.  Sew rows together; press.

If you know how to do a Four-Patch-Press (photo above), that will help a lot to reduce the bulk, which always means better accuracy.  

Make (1) Pinwheel unit measuring 3" unfinished.

Using the (4) light rectangles, (4) red and (4) blue 1 3/4" squares; draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of all red and blue squares.  

Place the blue square on the left side of the light rectangle, paying specific attention to the direction of the diagonal line.  (See the first sample in the photo above.)  Sew the connector corner square on the diagonal line (scant); press and trim.  (See second sample in the photo above.)

Repeat these steps with the red square on the right side of the rectangle.  Make (4) Flying Geese measuring 1 3/4" x 3" unfinished.

Arrange the pieces for the LeMoyne Star block as shown.  Sew together into rows; press for opposing seams.  Sew rows together; press.

Your LeMoyne Star center block should measure 5 1/2" square, unfinished.  

That's it for this week.  The next step is coming next Friday.

In the meantime, I need to pass along a huge Thank You to everyone who placed an order last weekend for a FREE Antebellum quilt kit.  All of the orders have been processed and the kits are on their way to you.  I can't tell you how I appreciate your orders and your business.  They quite frankly keep me able to do things like this sew along with you!  And, I'm so grateful for that 'cause it's so much fun!  If you decided to use your own stash....great!  I'm happy you're sewing along with me as well.  

Over the Memorial Day weekend, my family and I finally had a chance to move into the brand new patio addition to our home.  It took one year to complete...not because it's grandiose...No!    It's the dumb luck that seems to plague all construction jobs of never-ending delays.  Sigh....that was last year!  Now, we can begin to enjoy.  I'll be posting photos on Instagram and Facebook here and there.  Are you enjoying the end of spring/early summer?  Well....as much as we can during this quarantine.

I plan on stitching a whole lot on that patio this summer.  I hope you find time to enjoy the weather and stitch, too.  

Stay safe and keep creating!  

 Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes posts that don't appear here on the blog.  

Be well....

Brighten Your Day With Bess' Flower Garden

Nothing is better than getting a package of fabric in the mail, right?  While we're all tucked away safely at home, I thought perhaps you'd like to get a delivery of my new fabric, Bess' Flower Garden.  

I took my favorite prints from Mrs. Miller's Apprentice and recolored them in reds....luscious, beautiful red!  My favorite color!  

I couldn't stop there.....so I went into my fabric archives and chose 8 other prints to recolor in shades of blue....gorgeous blues.  My second favorite color....a close second to red.

No collection is complete without a variety of lights.  I went looking to recolor some favorite prints here, too.  Recognize them from past collections?  

Bess' Flower Garden Fat Quarter bundles are ready to ship today.  So, order a bundle of fabric happiness to be delivered to your doorstep!  

You can order bundles here.

Please know how much I appreciate you, dear reader and friend.  Your emails and comments mean so very much, and your support of my patterns and fabric....my little business, means a whole lot.  It enables me to keep doing what I love doing, and I hope you love it, too.  I'm always grateful for each and every order I receive.  

Confinement is going ok for me...so far.  Illinois has been in lock down since Saturday, so I've been home about a week.  That's not all that unusual for me...how about you?  I think it may become harder as the time goes by....not seeing people and going places.  So, it's important 

that we all keep a cheerful state of mind.

I have been trying to catch up on some work and sort through piles.  Piles seem to take on a life of their own here, which I don't like at all.  I'm an organized person at heart, so piles make me unhappy...yet I'm the one who makes the piles.  (Insert eye rolling emoji here.)

I have been sure to take some time each day for sewing.  That is, after all, our happy place.  I am finishing blocks for a trade I'm in with friends.  Besides shuffling piles around....I'm designing a new fabric collection.  Once that's finished, I'll be writing and sewing my 2021 BOM.  It's all designed and my sample fabric is in the house!  Can't wait to begin working on it and even more excited to show you!!  But, for now, that will have to wait.  

What a blessing our piecing/quilting is for us.  Almost makes me sorry for folks who don't sew.  We know that piecing has brought many, many women through hard, hard times, dreadful wars, heartbreaking loss and untold tragedies.  It's here for us today, getting us through whatever we have to deal with, offering an escape and still....making something beautiful in the end...a quilt.  Or, making a face mask to help in the time of need.  

So...we will stick together....all of us quilters.  Share our piecing experiences and all the beautiful things we make, and we know...this, too, shall pass.  

Above all...Be well.  

Bess' Flower Garden

Bess' Flower Garden ~ Red prints ~ Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics

I'd like to introduce you to Bess's Flower Garden.  The next new collection coming to your local quilt shops in just a few weeks!

Bess' Flower Garden ~ Light prints ~ Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics

Does Bess look a little familiar to you?

Bess' Flower Garden ~ Blue Prints ~ Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics

When talking with the execs at Marcus Fabrics one day, we all discovered we wanted to do a red, light and blue collection.  They suggested I recolor my favorite Mrs. Miller's Apprentice prints in red and add other favorite from recent lines.  So I did!!  

All of the reds were Mrs. Miller blues.  All of the lights and blues were recolored from many different past collections.  It would kinda be fun to have a questionnaire to see if you can identify what collections they all came from.

Wondering why I named the collection Bess' Flower Garden?  

If you made my Mrs. Miller's Apprentice quilt, you know it comes with a diary telling the story about Mrs. Miller and her apprentice.  Mrs. Miller's name in the story (and the real Mrs. Miller's name) is Elizabeth.  Because I recolored so many of those prints, and Bess is a nick name for Elizabeth, I came up with Bess' Flower Garden.  

Nomenclature is often a very difficult thing.  Sometimes the names come easily and sometimes you wrack your brain for an idea....any idea!!!  Bess was easy....and I think it's such a lovely collection of prints and colors.  I had such fun choosing prints and seeing them recolored from their original version.  

I've designed two new quilts using Bess' Flower Garden and will reveal them in the coming weeks.  They're being pieced now.  

Bess will be delivered to your local quilt shop the first of March...so not long from now!  Please ask for it at your local shop .....support your local quilt shop!  We love them and they need our business!!  

If and only if you can't find Bess at your local shop, I will have fat quarter bundles, yardage and kits for the two quilts.  So...stay tuned.  

In the meantime....Happy Stitches and be well.