The antique quilt redone, Rebecca's quilt

One of my favorite places to visit and stay is Shipshewana Indiana. It is like a second home to me, a place where I always feel the peace and love of the community. 

  
On my last trip to Shipshewana this past April I visited Rebecca at Rebecca Haarer Arts and Antiques shop. Her shop is not only filled with wonderful antiques but many, many beautiful quilts. As we walked to where all the Quilts were stored, there was a beautiful nine patch quilt that was surrounded by smaller squares hanging on the wall. The quilt was started in the 1890s and thought to be finished in the 1920s. It was meticulously hand pieced together, just amazing especially because there's over 4000 squares in the quilt. I knew that I wanted to bring the quilt home. Rebecca talked about the quilt being finished many years later and that may be the person that finished it wanted to make the quilt larger. For those of you that know me, that is the first thing I do when I look at a quilt is to figure out how I can make it king-sized. I am not sure why I do that but I knew at that moment that there was no doubt that I had to take the quilt with me.

   
   It was made in the Indianapolis, Indiana area. It has over 4000 squares, consisting of starting with nine patches in the center that are 3 inches and working to the outside where the pieces are 1 1/2 inches. It was one of the most awesome experiences bringing that quilt home and reproducing it. I have reproduce plenty of historical quilts, most of the time I'm looking at photographs but to actually have the quilt in my sewing room where I could study it and assemble it together exactly like the quilter did was just unbelievable to me.  

     
I thought of the quilter through the entire process and I wondered so much about what she thought, what her stash was like, what age did she make the quilt at, so many things I wanted to know the answers to but the information was not available. Even the name of the quilter I did not have. I named the quilt, Rebecca's quilt because it was Rebecca who inspired me that day in her shop. 

 
 The quilt finishes 102 x 111". It was a little bit larger than the original so that the pieces would be easy measurements to work with . I love the finished design this quilt makes, The quilter just wasn't placing squares wherever, she had a plan. I cannot wait to find another wonderful antique quilt like this to reproduce.

If you would like to make Rebecca's quilt, The pattern can be ordered for $12 . Click here :
http://rosemaryyoungs.com/eshop.php?view=productPage&product=22&category=

 The CD will contain at least a dozen photos, EQ file and diagram, block templates, and directions for assembling the quilt. 

Hope you have a wonderful day and find a little bit of time to work on a special project.
Happy stitching,

Rosemary

New pattern, Sampler Times Four Quilt

This also might be a great way to usesome of your orphan blocks,  My newest pattern I called Sampler Times Four quilt, it is a really fun quilt to work on with easy blocks. Each quadrant of the quilt is the same so you make each block four times. I really enjoyed that part and the layout was inspired by the Compass Coverlet in the the Victoria and Albert Museum. Most of the blocks are 6 or 3 inches. Included in your pattern packet are all the paper patterns to make the quilt, also a CD that contains some pictures, diagrams and the blocks drawn into electric quilt that can be ran off if you would like to change the size or print the foundations. The electric quilt CD can be opened with electric quilt five, six or seven. I will post more pictures after the quilt is quilted. The finished size of the center is 48 in.² and the finished size of the quilt is 108 in.²

The price of the pattern and the bonus CD is $25, they can be ordered on the my website, Rosemaryyoungs.com

If you have any questions, email me anytime. Hope the sun is shining where you are today, it is here. 

Happy stitching,

Rosemary

Have you finished your Happy Scrappy Orphan Block Quilt

 Good evening,

I am actually amazed at how many orphan blocks I have collected since I finished my quilt, pretty soon I think I'll have enough to start another one. LOL

Some of you have made good progress, some of you are actually finished. If you finish your quilt, send me a photo and I will publish it here. 

Have a great evening, here are a couple finishes.

Happy stitching,
Rosemary

Out of orphan blocks here, two different ways to finish your quilt.

Good evening,

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. Trying to finish up things here, ready to start on new ones next year. I hope you are making good progress on your orphan block quilts. I have made quite a few of them and it is sad that I don't have enough orphan blocks left to do another one. I guess that is a good thing.

There are two different ways to finish your orphan block quilt, right now your quilt should measure 82 1/2 inches square. If you are out of orphan blocks like I am, it is time to add borders, if you have more orphan blocks, instructions are given on how to finish just using orphan blocks.

I added two borders to my orphan block quilt. First I added a 3 inch white border to frame the orphan blocks, then I added a 8 inch brown outer border. My quilt finished to 104 in.².

If you have more orphan blocks and you want to continue, you are going to add four more sections to your quilt. To each of the sides you were going to add a section of orphan blocks that measures 12.5" x 82.5". Your quilt will then measure 106 in.² by 82 1/2 in.².

Next you will add a section of orphan blocks to the top and the bottom of your quilt. This section will measure 12 1/2 inches by 106 1/2 inches. That will give you a final measurement of 106 in.².

I have enclosed photos of my orphan block quilt. I would love to see some photos of yours or post them on the Flickr page.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/2659397@N23/pool/

Have a wonderful holiday season and email me anytime.
Ryquilter1@msn.com

Happy stitching,
Rosemary

Happy holidays and end-of-the-year sale

Good evening,

I hope this email finds you ready for the holidays and also finding a little bit of time to work on special projects. I certainly am ready to work on some new and different things next year.

For those of you that joined the list recently, as you can tell we do not really post much anymore but the list is open for instructions in the files. Right now I am having a buy one book get one free end of the year sale.

Right now if you purchase the Civil War Anniversary Quilt Book you will receive Quilts from the American Homefront book free. The same deal goes for the CDs, purchase one CD the other one is free. Only these two titles are included in the sale. Two books and two CDs will fit in one priority mail envelope. The offer will run until January 4, 2015.  

If you place your order through the website, I will send you a corrected PayPal notice or total if you're paying by check or money order.

Email me if you have any questions. ryquilter1@msn.com 

Enjoy your holiday season, I look forward to sharing new  projects with you after the new year.

Happy stitching and happy holidays,

Rosemary

Orphan block quilts I completed this past year

Next section, running out of orphan blocks here

Good evening,

Well we set some records for the most snowiest November that we've had here in Michigan in Grand Rapids. Not the record we were trying to set. This December we have had almost no snow. Not complaining as it has been nice to get out shopping and making holiday preparations without the snow.

I hope you're enjoying your holiday season and finding a little bit of time to work on your special projects.

 Instructions for your orphan block quilt  are simple.Your quilt right now should measure 68.5 x 82.5. The section you are going to construct next should measure 12.5" x 82.5". Have fun choosing different sizes of blocks to put together your unit.  After you add this section to the side of your quilt and it should measure 82.5 in.².

I have used up almost all of my orphan blocks, next month instructions will give you two choices, to continue adding orphan blocks or to add a border so you  can finish your quilt.

Enjoy your holiday season and if you have any questions at all, just email me. Below are pictures of some of the quilts I have made with my orphan blocks this past year.

Happy quilting, 

Rosemary

November is here already, time for another section.

Happy November,

It is hard to believe that the holidays are around the corner, started my Christmas shopping and getting ready to plan Thanksgiving. 

Believe it or not it is time for another section. I am amazed at how fast my orphan blocks are disappearing and that is a good thing. Today we are going to work on a section to add to the side of your quilt.

Your quilt right now should measure 56.5 x 82.5". The section you are going to construct next should measure 12.5" x 82.5".  It is really nice to have 12 inch blocks, it certainly makes the section go together faster.

Just have fun with it, add the section to the side of your quilt. After you add the side section to your quilt, it should measure 68.5" x 82.5".

It really gets easier with every section that you construct. Stay tuned, December will be here before you know it and another section.

 I wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

Happy quilting, 

Rosemary

I just might run out of orphan blocks and that is a good thing!!!

Happy October,

It has been beautiful here weatherwise, experiencing some nice sunshine with warmer temperatures. One of my favorite weekends of the year as we are going to be carving pumpkins with the children and the grandchildren.

I am running low on orphan block, but I just love every section then I add. Today we are going to add another section to the top and one to the bottom.

Each of the sections that you are going to add are going to measure 56.5" x 12.5". One will go at the top of your quilt and the other at the bottom.

Your quilt will now measure 56 1/2 inches by 82 1/2 inches. I just love working on orphan block quilts. It is like a memory quilt  of different projects that you have work done in the past. If you have any questions as always, email me anytime. ( ryquilter1@msn.com) It is so interesting how so many of you picked up the process and have already finished your quilts. 

Enjoy the rest of the fall season,

Happy stitching,

Rosemary

Time to add another section to our quilt

Happy Fall,

October is one of my favorite month, I love the transition into the cooler weather.

I am looking forward to the winter months, I love the sewing that is accomplished during those times.

I pulled out  my bucket of orphan blocks, I think it actually has grown a little bit since last month. I love putting together orphan block quilts, you don't have to think, you don't really have to do much planning, everything just seems to go together. Worked on the next section, just a variety of different blocks. The section measures 12.5" x 56.5"

Add the section to the right side of your quilt. Your quilt should  now measure 56 1/2 in.²

Some of you you might be running short with your orphan blocks or maybe you want to lap size quilt. If you want to stop now and add borders, I would recommend a 2 inch inner border and a 6 inch outer border. Your quilt will finish 72 in.².

For those of you making a large quilt and  continuing on the journey, stay tuned for next post. In the meantime have a great week full of stitching. Email me if you have any questions at all. Ryquilter1@msn.com

 Happy stitching,
Rosemary

Another section for our Happy Scrappy Orphan Block quilt

It is hard to believe it is the end of August already, summer has flown by, has been an unusual cooler summer here in Michigan.

We had such a great time at the AQS quilt show last week, came home very inspired with many more projects I would like to work on .

I am posting the next section for our happy scrappy orphan block quilt , your quilt right now should measure 32.5 x 56.5".  It seems like my orphan blocks box  keeps growing with every project that I do.  I am hoping that when I'm done with this quilt the box also is empty

 

Today we are going to add a unit to the side, the unit that you are going to be adding should measure 12 1/2 inches  by 56 1/2 inches .   I used a variety of squares and sizes of the blocks to make my unit, if I had to cut off part of a block  to get it to measure the right size,  I did that.  I have to laugh, one of the blocks in  this section  is made out of the first  Debbie Mumm fabric,  that definitely  was a while ago.

 

The section that I'm adding again is very scrappy, blocks from 1930s reproduction through Civil War reproductions .

 

It was really hard to stop with only adding one side , your quilt should now measure 44.5" x 56.5" . For those of you that love working ahead, we soon will be adding another side unit that measures  12.5" x 56.5"  to the other side  to make our quilt 56 1/2 in.² .

 

Any questions at all, just ask. I'll be more than happy to help you. Ryquilter1@msn.com

 

 Happy Stitching,
Rosemary

More orphan blocks

Good Afternoon,

Just returned from a week of spending time with family on vacation, thought it was time to get caught up on the blog. Today we will add another section to our happy scrappy orphan block Quilt.

I used
1 -  12 inch block
5 - 6 inch blocks
1 - 5 inch block
 2 - 3 inch blocks and a couple of filler strips.

Whatever you chose , you're finished unit needs to measure 12.5 x 32.5"

After you finish your unit you will add it to the top of what we have been working on so far. Your unit will now measure 32.5" x 56.5".  So easy and so much fun to use up the orphan blocks.

 If you're thinking, I don't have any three-inch blocks or I'm short 12 inch blocks, and you want to make a couple, simple block patterns are provided here.

http://www.rosemaryyoungs.com/freepatterndescriptions.php

The block pattern as well as foundation patterns can be printed off , there are  a variety of blocks that are really easy to put together.  

Please email me if you have any questions. ryquilter1@msn.com

Until next time, happy stitching,
Rosemary